Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche left Kathmandu for Singapore on 31st August 2011 to celebrate his 80th birthday with disciples and friends in Malaysia and Singapore. However, due to the infection of his middle finger, on 1st September, Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche underwent a successful operation to remove the first phalange of that finger. Rinpoche is fine and is recovering well and in good spirits.
Upon the strong request of Benchen Karma Kamtshang Ling (BKKL), Rinpoche and his entourage left for Johor Bahru in Malaysia on 13th September. Rinpoche was quite relaxed as it is only an hour and a half’s drive across the causeway from Singapore.
For the next three days, Rinpoche conducted the White Mahakala Puja to consecrate the White Mahakala Wish-fulfilling Vases. On the last day of the puja, Rinpoche conferred the White Mahakala Torma empowerment to the participants.
BKKL celebrated Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche’s 80th birthday on 17th September. A very well organized dinner was held at the Amansari Resort Ballroom and by the time Rinpoche, who was accompanied by Sangter Tulku Rinpoche arrived at a little after 7.00 pm, most of the guests were already seated and waiting to welcome Rinpoche. The Minister of Higher Education, Dato Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin, Permas State Assemblyman, Datuk M.M. Samy, Johor Jaya State Assemblyman, Mr. Tan Cher Puk and other dignitaries were amongst the invited guests.
Although of different faiths, they respectfully conveyed happy birthday wishes to Rinpoche. The Minister gave a lengthy speech stressing on religious freedom in Malaysia and the importance of religious harmony, which is the source of peace.
Rinpoche extended his greetings and thanked everyone for coming.
The guests were plied with good food and were kept entertained to a cultural show by a professional troupe from Perak, another state in Malaysia. BKKL had organized this as a charity dinner. A local Chinese school, an old-aged home, Benchen Free Clinic, a dialysis machine for a dialysis centre and BKKL welfare fund were amongst the beneficiaries of the fund-raising dinner. Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche, the minister and political representatives presented mock cheques to the representatives of the beneficiaries. Claps of appreciation resounded loud and long in the ballroom that night.
The BKKL committee members let their hair down that night, joining the entertainers on stage at the end of the dinner. This auspicious night concluded with everyone wishing Rinpoche a long life and requesting him to continue to turn the Wheel of Dharma.
The following day, at 9.00am, Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche, Sangter Tulku Rinpoche and the Benchen Lamas led a special long-life prayer with the Puja of the 16 Arhats. It was attended by the committee members and disciples. At the conclusion of the puja, there was an offering of the mandala and body, speech and mind, dedicated to the long life and good health of Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche.
BKKL offered lunch to everyone that day. A life-releasing ceremony followed. More than 1 000 fish of all sizes were released after the dedication of a short Chenrezig puja and mantra recitation. Rinpoche blessed the fish before they were released into a nearby lake.
© Benchen Monastery Journal, Photos by Sherab Wangchuk