Main Assistants of the Dharma King Main Assistants of the Dharma King
Inspired by the Protector chapel at the holy Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Kechara Forest Retreat's Dorje Shugden chapel also has likenesses of the entourage and... Main Assistants of the Dharma King

Dear friends around the world,

I hope this latest post finds you all well. In 2009 I visited Tibet and one of the places was the holy Tashi Lhunpo Monastery of His Holiness Panchen Rinpoche. Panchen Rinpoche’s previous ten incarnations have been great masters, scholars and yogis benefiting hundreds of thousands of beings in Mongolia, China, Tibet, Nepal, India, Russia and Siberia. His previous lives left behind many volumes of writing on history, tantra, meditation, commentaries, dialectical texts and philosophy. They are stored in Tashi Lhunpo Monastery but proliferated all over the North Asian regions. After His Holiness the Dalai Lama left Tibet in 1959, His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama became the main source of inspiration, comfort and spiritual solace for the people of Tibet. Thousands from China as well as Mongolia are also his students. The 10th Panchen Lama’s mastery of Buddhism, display of paranormal feats and teachings have touched the Tibetan people beyond any sect although Panchen Lama is a great lama of the Gelug School of Buddhism.

I have visited Panchen Rinpoche’s monastery of Tashi Lhunpo in Shigatse. I was happy to find a large chapel dedicated specifically to Dorje Shugden and entourage. Pujas and prayers are held daily and thousands of pilgrims visit Dorje Shugden here. His Holiness the Panchen Lama is a great practitioner of Dorje Shugden throughout his 10th incarnation and well as the 9th. I was happy to see the beautiful Dorje Shugden statue and of his entourage on this trip. So I took pictures and decided in the future, I will also create large statues of Dorje Shugden and his entourage. I have finally done so! With the great assistance of so many devoted people in Kechara.

In this short video, you will see our wonderful group consecrating the entourage of Dorje Shugden and placing them below the throne in Kechara’s Wisdom Hall.

Entourage includes:

  • Kache Marpo
  • Namka Barzin (already there)
  • 8 Guiding Monks
  • 9 Dakini Mothers
  • 10 Youthful and Wrathful assistants

That would be 29 holy beings which primarily assist Dorje Shugden. In Dorje Shugden’s mandala including the four primary Shugden emanations there are a total of 32 primary beings. Some would include Namka Barzin who is a later assistant that joined only about 80 years ago. That makes it 33. But most still consider it 32. Above Dorje Shugden in his mandala on the next story resides the great protector Setrap who is also called Tsangpa. Yes, Setrap abides in the same mandala house with Dorje Shugden. Above Setrap in the top-most story is Buddha Amitabha. Dorje Shugden’s divine *mandala house is filled with spiritually-charged Buddhas (click here to see the mandala and who resides in it).

We have ordered these beautifully carved images, painted them ourselves and filled them with mantras. Then the proper pujas were done to consecrate them in the traditional manner. Please see the short video. You will be very happy.

I send my greetings and good wishes to all students, sponsors, volunteers, staff and friends who participated in this holy event from beginning to completion. May we be blessed by Dorje Shugden’s holy presence as well as his entourage. Dorje Shugden’s lineage will proliferate and spread further in this world as his time for us has come.

Tsem Rinpoche

Watch the video of the offering ceremony here

This is Wisdom Hall in Kechara Forest Retreat, Malaysia which is our space dedicated to the World Peace Protector Dorje Shugden.

This is Wisdom Hall in Kechara Forest Retreat, Malaysia which is our space dedicated to the World Peace Protector Dorje Shugden.

In Kechara, we have a special chapel named Wisdom Hall dedicated to World Peace Protector Dorje Shugden in Bentong, Malaysia.

In Kechara, we have a special chapel named Wisdom Hall dedicated to World Peace Protector Dorje Shugden in Bentong, Malaysia.

To consecrate the statues and prepare for them to be escorted onto our altar, soongdroop and rabney puja were performed by our very own pastors who learned these rituals authentically and as per the scripture from monks who came to visit us from the monastery. The monks stayed with us for a few months to teach our Kecharians to do their own pujas exactly as it is done in the monastery. Here you can see the set-up done for the soongdroop and rabney pujas as seen in the day time.

The Shakyamuni statue is here gracing the hall temporarily till we finish our larger prayer hall where Shakyamuni will preside permanently. This hall here which seats 700 is specifically dedicated to Dorje Shugden, His lineage, practice and rites.

After the soongdroop and rabney pujas were performed, the set-up remained in Wisdom Hall for our Dorje Shugden kangsol (monthly puja) done the same night. Wisdom Hall is our space dedicated to Dorje Shugden prayers, liturgies, rituals and learning.

After the soongdroop and rabney pujas were performed, the set-up remained in Wisdom Hall for our Dorje Shugden kangsol (monthly puja) done the same night. Wisdom Hall is our space dedicated to Dorje Shugden prayers, liturgies, rituals and learning.

The 8 Guiding Monks of Dorje Shugden's entourage.

The 8 Guiding Monks of Dorje Shugden’s entourage.

The 8 Guiding Monks of Dorje Shugden’s entourage, who assist Dorje Shugden for growth of the Dharma and the establishment of the mind training teachings (Lojong). These monks bless the establishment for the Sangha to grow, and for the increase of more practitioners who will hold the three sets of vows (Pratimoksha, Bodhicitta and Tantric).

The 9 Beautiful Mothers.

The 9 Beautiful Mothers.

Five of the 9 Beautiful Mothers bless each of our senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch) and remaining four control the elements (earth, air, water, fire) in our external environment and internally within our bodies. They also confer blessings to achieve tantric attainments, and give auspicious signs and omens along the way to encourage our practices.

The 10 Youthful and Wrathful Assistants.

The 10 Youthful and Wrathful Assistants.

The 10 Youthful and Wrathful Assistants assist Dorje Shugden in removing obstacles in samsara for practitioners. They wear Chinese, Tibetan, Mongolian, Kashmiri, Indian, Nepali, etc. garments to indicate where they come from. These assistants travel the formless, desire and form realms at the speed of thought.

A close-up of the altar set-up with the mandala deities of Dorje Shugden's entourage. Also included are newly arrived Setrap statue and two pieces of Kache Marpo, the main attendant minister of Dorje Shugden.

A close-up of the altar set-up with the mandala deities of Dorje Shugden’s entourage. Also included are newly arrived Setrap statue and two pieces of Kache Marpo, the main attendant minister of Dorje Shugden.

Each month, our students gather to perform a monthly Dorje Shugden kangsol or puja in front of our Dorje Shugden holy statue. This month, they had the great honour and privilege to invite Dorje Shugden’s entourage onto the altar so I recorded a short message for them. I wanted to explain the significance of offering entourage statues to Dorje Shugden, and also a little bit about my trip to Tibet where I visited Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and saw their Dorje Shugden chapel which housed also the entourage of Dorje Shugden. Tashi Lhunpo is the monastery of the Panchen Lamas who are very high-ranking and considered next to Dalai Lama. Frequently when the Dalai Lama is in between rebirths, the Panchen Lamas would assist to oversee the overall spiritual matters in Tibet and help to recognise the next Dalai Lama when his predecessor has taken rebirth.

Students are listening carefully to my video message as to what are the entourage of Shugden.

Students are listening carefully to my video message as to what are the entourage of Shugden.

We begin every kangsol or Dorje Shugden puja by reciting the 50 Verses of Guru Devotion by Ashvagosha to remind us of the kindness of our lamas.

We begin every kangsol or Dorje Shugden puja by reciting the 50 Verses of Guru Devotion by Ashvagosha to remind us of the kindness of our lamas.

Our 24ft (7.3m) Dorje Shugden is filled with trillions of Buddha images and mantras, as well as many, many holy relics, high lamas' clothes, texts and precious items. We are extremely fortunate to have such a wonderful statue in front of which we can renew our commitments to Shugden monthly.

Our 24ft (7.3m) Dorje Shugden is filled with trillions of Buddha images and mantras, as well as many, many holy relics, high lamas’ clothes, texts and precious items. We are extremely fortunate to have such a wonderful statue in front of which we can renew our commitments to Shugden monthly.

Datuk May Phng who is the President of Kechara House, offers on behalf of the whole organisation a statue of Kache Marpo. Kache Marpo is Dorje Shugden’s chief minister and an emanation of Hayagriva. He is therefore enlightened himself, and can be considered a Dharma Protector in his own right. Interesting to note, Kache Marpo was known as Tsiu Marpo and one of the protectors of Samye Monastery, the first monastery built in Tibet by Guru Padmasambhava. Kache Marpo is still worshipped in other schools of Tibetan Buddhism under the name of Tsiu Marpo.


Students and friends took turns to offer the 32 entourage statues on behalf of the whole Kechara organisation. It began with Pastor Yek Yee who is our Head Pastor, followed by Datuk May Phng who is the President of our Kechara House. After that, the other pastors offered a statue each and then members of the Board of Directors and also our older members.

The holy entourage of Dorje Shugden fully enshrined under the benevolent throne of Dorje Shugden, the World Peace Protector.

The holy entourage of Dorje Shugden fully enshrined under the benevolent throne of Dorje Shugden, the World Peace Protector.


Some additional information and pictures

Panchen Lama's Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Shigatse, Tibet.

Panchen Lama’s Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Shigatse, Tibet.

Panchen Lama's Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, Tibet.

Panchen Lama’s Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, Tibet.

Dorje Shugden chapel in Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. This whole building is dedicated to the practice of Dorje Shugden. Monks gather daily to propitiate Dorje Shugden here. Below is the inside.

Dorje Shugden chapel in Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. This whole building is dedicated to the practice of Dorje Shugden. Monks gather daily to propitiate Dorje Shugden here. Below is the inside.

The main prayer hall of Dorje Shugden chapel within Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. Extensive offerings and pujas are offered to Dorje Shugden daily as instructed by the great Panchen Lamas themselves. The tradition alive and well today.

The main prayer hall of Dorje Shugden chapel within Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. Extensive offerings and pujas are offered to Dorje Shugden daily as instructed by the great Panchen Lamas themselves. The tradition alive and well today.

Dorje Shugden statue inside the chapel of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. Even the immaculate Panchen Rinpoche adopts Dorje Shugden as one of his principal protectors.

Dorje Shugden statue inside the chapel of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. Even the immaculate Panchen Rinpoche adopts Dorje Shugden as one of his principal protectors.

H.H. the 9th Panchen Lama.

H.H. the 9th Panchen Lama.

His Holiness the 9th Panchen Lama. Great scholar, master, yogi and writer whose many works are studied in the monasteries today. He was a devoted Dorje Shugden practitioner.

H.H. the 10th Panchen Lama.

H.H. the 10th Panchen Lama.

His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama. He offered solace, dharma, education, comfort and tremendous hope to the six millions Tibetans inside Tibet. He was an ardent practitioner of Dorje Shugden and had pujas done daily to this protector in his Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.
Panchen Lama’s sungbum (collected works) with Dorje Shugden prayers. These prayers to the World Peace Protector Dorje Shugden was composed by His Holiness the 10th Panchen Rinpoche himself. They have gone for repeated reprints in Tibet as they are very popular and the monastic bookshops sell out fast. Majority of the high Gelug Lamas and some Sakya Lamas have practiced Dorje Shugden for four hundred years. To say Dorje Shugden is something other than beneficial is to degrade the wisdom, learning and attainments of high lamas like Panchen Rinpoche who practiced Dorje Shugden throughout their lives.

Table of contents: Manjunatha’s (Tsongkhapa) Lineage protector Dorje Shugden and five forms wrathful propitiations and confessional prayers and fulfillment of activities rites by the 10th Panchen Lama.

Table of contents: Manjunatha’s (Tsongkhapa) Lineage protector Dorje Shugden and five forms wrathful propitiations and confessional prayers and fulfillment of activities rites by the 10th Panchen Lama.

The hard copy of the 10th Panchen Lama's collected works.

The hard copy of the 10th Panchen Lama’s collected works.


For your blessings and as a gift, I am including the complete volume to this holy text by Panchen Rinpoche which includes the Dorje Shugden prayers on PDF format. You may print out and share or read. You can also keep it on your shrine. Even download into thumb-drives to insert into holy stupas and statues of Buddhas. Click here to download the collected works of the Panchen Lama.

More interesting links about Dorje Shugden:

More information about Kechara Forest Retreat:


The Mandala of Dorje Shugden
With his four primary (cardinal) emanations and entourage

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  • William Chua

    Posted on August 24, 2016 #1 Author

    We Kecharians are indeed very lucky and blessed to be able to witness the consecration of the beautiful statues in Kechara Forest Retreat. This is made possible with the vision of of our guru who wants to benefit us and Dorje Shugden practitioners. Now, people will be able to have audience with our Dorje Shugden and his entourage in Malaysia or in Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. I was fortunate enough to be involved in the painting of the entourage statues. The act of beautifying a Buddha statue brings much merits and is an offering to Buddha. I am truly appreciative of this experience.

    Reply

  • jerry_sito

    Posted on August 24, 2016 #2 Author

    感谢尊贵的第廿五世詹杜固仁波切您

    因为仁波切对于尊贵的宋仁波的诺言与教诲的那一份坚定不移的守护的心,造就了今天位于马来西亚文冬的克切拉禅修林拥有着一份纯真的传承,并且让我们拥有着与其他伟大寺院如扎什伦布寺一样的完整与非常殊胜庄严的多杰雄登护法佛龛。

    佛菩萨总是十分慈悲,化作种种不同的形象来帮助与利益我,如文殊菩萨化作多杰雄登护法,喀切玛波拥有着与马头明王一样的心识,多杰雄登再慈悲地化作8僧侣9明妃10勇士等,更细的在特定的领域中帮助佛法增长以利益一切有情众生,并且这完整的多杰雄登护法佛龛,每当我们在其面前诵经与做供养的时候,能够更快速的累积到大量的功德,来帮助我们能够获得“证悟”以脱离六道轮回之苦。

    谢谢仁波切
    Jerry sito

    Reply

  • KarenC

    Posted on August 24, 2016 #3 Author

    Under Rinpoche’s guidance, we Kecharians are super fortunate to be able to learn the authentic teachings about Dorje Shugden. It was a great honour to be able to participate in prepping these entourage statues when they arrived, from cleaning, painting, filling holy items, and finally display at Wisdom Hall. In Kechara, there are so many opportunities for everyone to make connections to the Buddhas through different activities, and most of all, to be able to collect merits. It’s all thanks to Rinpoche’s kindness that we the students are able to contribute to Dharma in different ways.

    Reply

  • Sock Wan

    Posted on August 27, 2016 #4 Author

    Thank you Rinpoche for such a detailed teachings on the entourage of Dorje Shugden. It is not easy to find many information about the iconography of a Buddha deity, let alone the explanation of the significance of their mandala, their entourage. With better understanding of their significance, when we do our prayers, when we do our practice, we will be able to vizualise better and our faith will be stronger because we know why we are doing this or that.

    In Kechara, we hold weekly DS pujas in our city Gompa for people who are interested to start the practice. The pujas are done in both Chinese and English, if you are interested to know more, do contact Kechara House Frontdesk at +603-7803 3908.

    Reply

  • Wylfred Ng

    Posted on August 29, 2016 #5 Author

    非常让人感到振奋的文章。

    谢谢詹杜固仁波切规划了克切拉禅修林, 也把多杰雄登带给我们, 让我们有机会接触和修持如此殊胜的法门。 很多大师比如至尊赤江仁波切、至尊宋仁波切、历代班禅喇嘛等等也是修持多杰雄登, 也积极弘扬多杰雄登法门。

    我们非常有幸可以来到克切拉禅修林接受多杰雄登和所有眷属的加持。 而且多杰雄登眷属的造像也是以班禅喇嘛在西藏的寺院–Tashi Lhunpo 寺内的多杰雄登殿的佛像为蓝本。 这代表着克切拉禅修林的多杰雄登眷属像都传承自伟大的班禅喇嘛。

    我非常有幸在眷属像安装当天也在场, 感受到如此殊胜及历史性的一刻。 感恩上师詹杜固仁波切及所有负责成就如此伟大事业的人。

    谢谢

    Reply

  • Carmen

    Posted on August 29, 2016 #6 Author

    Due to Rinpoche’s guidance, and blessing, it is fantastic that Kechara is skilled to commission statues, paint them, insert mantras into them, and then perform a rabney and soongdrup puja to consecrate the statues by our various talented people in the organisation. From beginning to end, Kechara is able to provide you the services right to your doorstep, and I am so proud to be able to learn and continue my Dharma practice in Kechara.

    It was quite a sight, to witness each of Dorje Shugden’s entourage be offered up, and placed at the altar of the world’s largest Dorje Shugden statue. From Rinpoche’s wish, it manifested to reality, and we are indeed very lucky to be able to invite Dorje Shugden, and his entourage to reside in Kechara Forest Retreat.

    If anyone would like to invite any statues of Dorje Shugden back home, you may visit our Kechara Paradise outlet, or http://www.vajrasecrets.com

    Reply