Report on activities from the "Moving In" Day at NBIEC in Seattle
by Lynne Conrad Marvet
The blessing pujas, offerings, prayers, ceremonies and Guru Rinpoche feast at the new Nalandabodhi International Events Center went splendidly on Friday, November 7.
The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Acharya Tashi Wangchuck, Lama Rabten, and Lama Sangye Trinley lead a full day of chanting in Tibetan to purify, pacify, and bless our new space. A short sadhana of Shakyamuni and the 16 Arhats was offered. We had a traditional fire puja and burned juniper and cedar and offered many tormas to the protectors, deities and dharmapalas. In the afternoon, Mahakala puja and other protector chants were offered. In the evening the sangha gathered for a Guru Rinpoche feast. It was a long and full day of blessings and great joy!
Rinpoche remarked, "It has been a wonderful month and year for Nalandabodhi... For our little sangha to acquire this place has been a great practice for us. It has been our common goal and dream. A lot of hard work and diligence brought us to this point....It has been a great experience to work here with sangha members on the renovation." Rinpoche joked about his role doing "touch ups" to the space and in general, this is his work with the sangha -- to do "touch ups."
Rinpoche went on to say, "This is a place for all our sangha throughout the world. We can bring genuine dharma here to the West. All our effort, hard work is solely for the purpose to bring dharma here....We should rejoice in this effort and achievement."
Toasts were offered to the sangha, to His Holiness Karmapa, and to the lineage masters. Many 'thank you' offerings were made.
A good time was had by all and the merit was dedicated to the happiness and liberation of limitless sentient beings!
Welcome to the new Nalandabodhi weblog! Jean Peters-Do, our Nalandabodhi communications director, will use this weblog to keep you informed about sangha news and events.