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Newsletter: March 2004 Issue
SPRING:
THE BEGINNING OF THE LIFE CYCLE
The celebration for the Spring starts in the Eastern cultures with the first and second moon cycle after the winter solstice. This period is the beginning of life in the Northern hemisphere around the planet. The festivities change according to different countries, always doing offerings to their deities, gods, and goddesses pertaining the different philosophies they believe and practice. In the rituals they incorporate chanting, music, and a variety of offerings to all the spirits - they believe – take actions in the life of the planet. According to their beliefs, there are an extensive variety of spirits or “lords,” who are protectors of the flora and fauna of the oceans and continents. These spirits will help the environment if we know how to praise them. In our Western cultures, the Vernal Equinox on the 20th of March also represents the beginning of spring. In the culture of northern native Americans many rituals and offerings are also part of welcoming the spring. In general, in our western cultures we just take the Vernal equinox as determining the position of the planet and the change of seasons for the year (spring, summer, autumn and winter) in the Northern hemisphere.
March 20, 2004, Vernal Equinox starts at 6:49 Greenwich Meridian Time. During the time of the equinox, the days and nights are of the same hour length.
It is recommended to plant trees and seeds during this time. Also releasing animals in captivity will increase our spiritual growth and stabilized the flow of energy in the environment.
The Tibetan culture is predominantly Buddhist, and among their practices and rituals is the Earth Treasure Vase, which is used to protect the environment. One of my Precious Tibetan Buddhist Teachers, H.E. Lama Kunga Thartse Rinpoche, makes these vases and empowers them with many prayers and substances. Rinpoche is the director of Ewam Choden Tibetan Buddhist Center in Kensington, California. (www.ewamchoden.org)
THE EARTH TREASURE VASE
“THE VASE OF THE LIFE ESSENCE of the Earth (Sa-bcund Bum-ba) is meant to bless and empower the earth where it is placed. It is a way of putting positive mind energy into the natural environment. The benefits of the Vase as told in ancient texts were the prevention of problems due to imbalances in the four elements of earth, water, fire and air. The Vase prevented the degeneration of the life essences of the Earth so that fruits, grains and vegetables would thrive and be tasty and nutritious. It restored the life force and fertility of the ground itself, particularly if the ground had been misused or the soil depleted. The Vase protected the land from the ravages of earthquakes, floods, thunder and lighting. It was considered beneficial in preventing damage from pollution, erosion, and over-fertilization. It is said that the blessings from the Vase extend for fifteen miles around where the Vase is placed. Within this area people will experience good health, long life, wealth, protection, and peace. Contentions within families or groups will be reduced and working relations will be good. Prosperity will prevail.
EMPOWERMENT
The Vital essence of the earth is concentrated into the Earth Treasure Vase through the practice of very ancient transmissions of empowerment bought to Tibet by mahasiddhas in the eight century. Lama Kunga Rinpoche empowers the vases by a series of rituals and prayers. He transmits thought images to the Vase invoking Bodhisattvas, higher spirits, and wealth deities. The textual basis of this empowerment is from the teachings of the Boddhisattva So Nyongpo (Heart Essence of the Earth).
OUTER MANIFESTATION
The outer manifestation of the Earth Treasure Vase is as a vessel, which contains images and mantras of the many divine beings, which inhabit the Vase. It contains a host of precious substances of the earth such as gold, silver, turquoises, rubies, lapis, pearls, garnets, jade, amethyst, emeralds, and onyx. The Vase also contains minerals, water and soil from various sacred places such as Mt. Shasta, Lake Manoswar, Mt Kailash, and the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It also contains grains and many sacred herbs from around the world.
INNER MANIFESTATION
The inner nature of they Vase is as a celestial abode for Vajarapani, Jambala, Sadag Wangchen, six aspects of the Bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteshvara, the Northern king Kuvera, NoGyunma, and the eight Naga kings. Ruling over these Bodhisattva of the earth, So Nyimpo, and the Goddess of the Earth, Ten Ma.
SECRET MANIFESTATION
The secret nature of the Vase is the increase of goodness and the elimination of evil.”
- H.E. Lama Kunga Thartse Rinpoche, Director
Ewam Choden Tibetan Buddhist Center
To order the Vase:
EWAM CHODEN TIBETAN BUDDHIST CENTER
254 Cambridge Avenue
Kensington, California 94708
Telephone: 510-527-7363, or see the Ewam Choden web page: Ewam Choden Earth Treasure Vases
© Copyright: All Rights Reserved. Feng Shui, Inc., Ileana Guelbenzu-Davis
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