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Eminence
Kenting Tai Situ Rinpoche in 1982, and thus, the Buddhist
Choir and Meditation Centre was transformed into the first Karma
Kagyu Centre in Sarawak. The change was officially accepted by the
Registrar of Societies on 24th December 1984.
The
Buddhist Choir and Meditation Centre was then sited in a very small
wooden house with attap roofing. With the help of devotees, we then
moved to the 3rd floor of a rented shophouse and was again moved
to a rented detached house several years later.
In
September 1992, following the advice of Ven. Shangpa Tulku
Rinpoche, a sub-committee was formed to try and acquire our own
premises. With the blessings of our lineage masters and the strong
support of all the devotees, we finally bought the current building
on 27th July 1994.
Outside
view of the Karma Kagyu Dharma Society,
Kuching - (enlarge 72kb)
The
year 1996 was full of dharma activities for the centre. His
Holiness 17th Gyalwa Karmapa's photo was erected on his throne in
April and celebrations for His Holiness's birthday took place in
May. The 7th Executive Committee then took the initiative to start
the following events:
1) A blood donation campaign (which was opened to members and the
public)
2) The first family day outing for members of centre (a picnic by
the beach)
3) Participated in fund raising food fairs organised by non-governmental
organisations, such as:
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a)
Mental Health Association
b) The Salvation Army
c) School for Mentally Retarded Children
d) Malaysian Red Cresent Society
e) Lions Nursing Home
f) Malaysian Leprosy Relief Association |
4)
Started yearly Dharma activities like:
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a)
Lung-Ta (prayer flag) ceremony in January (where prayer flags
are raised at the centre's premises for the benefit of all senteint
beings)
b) Amitabha Puja for the deceased (performed in conjunction
with the Chinese hungry ghost festival)
c) Year end Mahakala Puja |
In
1997, the 7th Executive Committee invited Ven. Lodro Raphel
Rinpoche (who was based in Kuala Lumpur Karma Kagyu Dharma Society)
to be the resident Rinpoche of our centre (this was to last until
the end of the 7th Executive Committee's term as office
bearers).
The
Shrine Room at Kuching KKDS - (enlarge 77kb)
Since
the 2nd visit of His Holiness Shamar Rinpoche in December 1997,
our centre, through it's 7th Executive Committee in office, started
to concentrate on an "open door" policy to enable more
people to learn about Buddha Dharma and our lineage (the 6th Ececutive
Committee concentrated more on the maintenance and up-keeping of
the centre). Concentration was focussed on relationships with NGOs
and the results were very heartening.
In
1998, Ven. Lodro Raphel Rinpoche initiated the setting up
of a Karma Kagyu centre in Miri (which was to be called Dusum Khyenpa
Kagyud Dharma Society) for the benefit of the devotees in Miri and
Brunei. As the running of a new centre is not easy, the 7th Executive
Committee of Kuching Karma Kagyu Dharma Society assisted in the
running and management of the centre.
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The
year 1999 saw the first visit of His Holiness the 17th
Gyalwa Karmapa, Trinle Thaye Dorje, to Kuching. The committee
and members worked very hard round the clock to offer a grand
welcoming ceremony for His Holiness and entourage. People
came from all over Sarawak and Brunei to welcome His Holiness.
It
was a very grand and auspicious occassion for the people here.
His Holiness gave a White Tara initiation (at the centre),
and a Chenrezig
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HH17 Karmapa, Thaye Dorje |
(Avalokiteshvara)
initiation at the Sarawak Buddhist Society premises. Hundreds of people
came to receive the initiation and His Holiness's blessings.
The
8th Executive Committee invited His Holiness Shamar Rinpoche to
visit Kuching again in January 2001. This time Shamar Rinpoche
stayed in Kuching for 5 days and performed prayers for our yearly
Lung-ta ceremony and also blessed our centre's first Mani Project's
mandala and Mani pills. Rinpoche also performed Nam-To-Se (wealth
bestower) puja, Mahakala puja, gave a teaching on the practice of
Chenrezig and then officially appointed Lama
Tsultim Gyaltso Rinpoche as resident Rinpoche and Lama Chompel
as resident Lama of Kuching Karma Kagyu Dharma Society.
Our
centre's first Mani project was also held in the month of January
2001. Without much experience, the committee planned and worked
very hard for this meaningful project. Despite not being able to
complete the 100,000,000 Mani mantras on time, the committee felt
happy as they had gained much experience from the preparations.
The Committee decided to make this a yearly event in the future.
The year 2001 also saw the very first Executive Committee of Miri
Dusum Khyenpa Dharma Society elected with helping hand from Kuching
centre.
9th
Executive Commitee of Karma Kagyu Dharma Society,
Kuching - (enlarge 59kb)
The
9th Executive Committee worked very hard in promoting the activities
of His Holiness 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Trinle Thaye Dorje, the supreme
head of the Karma Kagyu lineage. The aims of the 9th Executive Committee
were :
1) Acquire a piece of land to build a bigger centre to accomodate
the increasing number of members.
2) To built a stupa in the centre premises for the benefit of all
sentient beings.
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