Local gods in trance pay homage to Dorje Shugden in Bentong | 文冬地区地方神明降乩向多杰雄登敬礼
Bigfoot is always here with me like he was in Tibet in another time. ~ Tsem Rinpoche
Why Bigfoot?
Since young, I have been fascinated by Bigfoot. I would read and watch everything related to Bigfoot as a child. Though my schedule is a little busier nowadays, I still try to keep up with the latest news and read about this favourite topic of mine whenever I can.
Bigfoots, also known as Yetis or Sasquatches, have been part of the culture of Tibet, Mongolia, Nepal, Bhutan, North India and Western Russia since the beginning of their respective histories. In Nepal, Bigfoots are called Yetis. In Tibetan, they are called Migurs. The Himalayan folks talk about Bigfoots as part and parcel of their land and existence, and sightings are common. To them, Bigfoots are just like any other animals they have spotted for generations over many centuries in the areas they live.
Some of Tibetan lamas in the monastery told me that certain Bigfoots delivered messages from one lama to another. In return, they would receive food from the lamas. It seems that Bigfoots are tamed and calm around highly evolved Tibetan holy masters. Just like the St. Bernards dogs in Switzerland that were trained to find avalanche victims and carrier pigeons, it is definitely possible for Bigfoots to carry messages on paper from one high lama to another as normal transport was difficult in the immensely vast Himalayan regions, and Bigfoots can traverse great mountainous distances effortlessly.
One of my previous incarnation’s disciples told my students that I too used Bigfoots as messengers to send messages to masters or students in distant places because Bigfoots were quick. Other lamas, such as Kyabje Domo Geshe Rinpoche was known to do the same. Perhaps this explains my fascination with Bigfoot since I was a child. Hence, for me, Bigfoots represent the dissemination of Dharma as I have used Bigfoots to bring Dharma to people in my previous life. It is my wish that the Buddhadharma can be propagated in the Bentong township and everyone who visits our store, and so I decided to name this store Bigfoot.
The Bigfoot Store’s Chapel
On the busy street of Jalan Ah Peng, between many varied businesses, is the ever vibrant and inviting Bigfoot store. You can find many spiritual items at the store, such as incense, holy images, protection amulets and many more. At the entryway, there is a small Dorje Shugden chapel with a 5 feet (1.5 metres) tall Dorje Shugden. Sharing the same space is a 7 feet (2.1 metres) tall wood carved Bigfoot statue in the iconic bigfoot ‘Patty’ pose, recognisable all around the world.
Thousands of people have visited the chapel to pray, to make offerings or just to drop by for a visit. It has become one of the must-visit attractions in Bentong. Many visitors have shared tales of how their wishes were fulfilled and they returned to the chapel from time to time to pray. Some of them told us that they struck the lottery and their immediate financial problems were solved, some shared that their loved ones recovered from their sickness or misfortunes, some spoke about their successful business deals or employment, and many more simply told us that they are more positive, hopeful and optimistic after they came across Dorje Shugden in this little chapel.
From the Bigfoot store chapel, some even drove to Kechara Forest Retreat to pay homage at our special wish fulfilling Gyenze chapel, our outdoor Dorje Shugden shrine and made candle offering to the various Buddhas on the Holy Walk route. The Holy Walk features ten holy sites of ten Buddhas, each bestowing special blessings of protection, healing, purification and the fulfilment of wishes.
Trance & Paying Homage
There are many Chinese and Indian temples in Bentong. In the temples, mediums are common within the Chinese and Indian culture as they play a pivotal role in the temples, taking trance of various gods, goddesses and beings.
Taking trance of deities such as wealth gods, Sin Sze Si Ya, other Taoist and Hindu deities, or local deities of a particular area, these mediums are very much relied upon for advice, creating talismans, blessings, and healing rituals. In these cultures, mediums are also consulted for purposes of dispelling sorcery or black magic, spiritual protection, improving wealth, and enhancing relations. These mediums continue to be relied on today by Bentong folks.
Every year, during the first and seventh months of the Chinese lunar calendar, the Wealth God temple in Kampung Perting and the Indian temples in Bentong organise processions of the Taoist and Hindu deities in Bentong town. Various statues of gods and entourages, deemed to be the dwelling places or perhaps access portals of deities in the human world, are placed on adorned vehicles that parade through town to bless the town and people. Mediums of these gods take trance and walk together with their devotees, blessing the public along the streets. To show the presence of the gods in trance, some of the mediums pierced their cheeks with long metal skewers throughout the event. This has been a tradition of Bentong for many years.
As the mediums walked by during the recent procession, without being prompted or told, the mediums in trance of the gods themselves purposely stopped and paid homage to Dorje Shugden while passing the Bigfoot store. When they did that, Dorje Shugden blessed the gods to take a good rebirth where they can practice Dharma and liberate themselves after they die. There are many level of gods, but whatever level they are, they also have limited lifespans although very long. Some gods can live thousands of years before they pass away to take rebirth. Clearly, the gods saw the high-level nature of Dorje Shugden and perceived His presence in the shrine at Bigfoot. It showed us that these gods who took trance are perhaps of the positive nature because they showed respect to Dorje Shugden. Gods and ethereal entities with negative natures would run or leave fast as they would want to avoid Dorje Shugden or be afraid of him. Dorje Shugden is a very powerful being and method to dispel negative spirits and protect us from them. Many invoke Dorje Shugden to rid themselves successfully of harmful spirits and invoke his continued protection. However, Dorje Shugden blesses humans, gods and all beings in existence. So definitely those gods who take trance and pay homage to Dorje Shugden at Bigfoot will receive his powerful blessings and plant karmic seeds for a better rebirth in the future. Dorje Shugden is an emanation of Manjushri, so the blessings from Manjushri Dorje Shugden will be very potent.
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/BigfootBentong.mp4
Bentong, just like many parts of Malaysia, is a melting pot of various ethnic groups that include the Malays, Chinese, Indians and many others. It is wonderful that the different ethnic groups respect each others’ religions, and live side by side in harmony. It is this harmony that has allowed us the honour to offer this beautiful chapel to the Bentong people whom we find are friendly, helpful, easy going and warm. We enjoy being a part of the Bentong town, and they cooperate with us very much for accomplishing beneficial work. This Dorje Shugden chapel at Bigfoot is just one among many chapels we build around Malaysia as we would like many to be blessed and protected by Dorje Shugden.
Although Bentong is relatively small in size, it is a hidden gem with some interesting places to explore and also a must-visit food mecca in Malaysia. Labelled the first “Fresh Air Lung Washing” destination in the country, you can find a hot spring, a waterfall, and enjoy recreational activities among nature, all in Bentong. Famous for its Bentong ginger, Musang King durians and ‘taufu pok’ (fried tofu puffs), Bentong has many more delicacies to offer. People from all over Malaysia, Singapore and China would make special trips, usually in groups to Bentong to savour durians and enjoy our friendly little town, as well as dropping by our quaint little Bigfoot store and its Dorje Shugden chapel. I welcome you to Bentong, and I hope you will have a wonderful trip.
Tsem Rinpoche
More pictures of the Bigfoot Store in Bentong
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
About Bentong Town
Bentong town as it is known today was established in the late 19th century. The district of Bentong has been around for a long time and was known as ‘Kapong’ prior to World War I (1914). Bentong’s economy was primarily driven by tin mining and other related businesses of the mining industry up until the 1940s. Stepping into the 21st century, Bentong has gradually transformed itself from a primary sector economy dominated by small-scale agricultural and mining enterprises to a multifaceted, year-round economy which focuses on tourism and other service industries. This notable transformation has contributed to rising living standards for local residents. Today, Bentong is a diverse and vibrant community which embraces modernism without forgetting its rich history.
Location
It is approximately 80 kilometres (49.71 miles) northeast of the capital city, Kuala Lumpur, just across the Titiwangsa Mountain range. Visitors can easily reach the town via an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur. Therefore, Bentong is a perfect getaway from bustling city life.
Administratively, the Bentong district covers an area of 1,831 square kilometres (706.9 square miles) and includes the towns of Bentong, Genting Highlands, Karak, Telemong, Manchis, Sungai Dua and Bukit Tinggi.
Although Bentong is a relatively small town, it has all modern conveniences and amenities draped amidst a backdrop of the past. Many buildings in Bentong are over a century old but they are mostly well-maintained and authentically preserved. This is truly a town where history meets modernity.
野人一直在这里陪伴我，正如过去某个时候他在西藏时一样。～ 詹杜固仁波切
为什么是野人?
自小，我就被野人吸引。我会阅读和观赏一切跟野人有关的事物。虽然我目前的时间表有些紧凑，但只要有机会，我还是会尝试跟进这个我喜欢的项目的最新进展。
野人，也称雪人或大脚怪，自始就一直都是西藏、蒙古、尼泊尔、不丹、北印度和俄罗斯西部的文化之一。在尼泊尔，野人被称为雪人（Yeti）。在西藏，他们被称为密古斯（Migurs）。喜马拉雅人说起野人，就像是他们的土地和存在的一部分，目击野人是很常有的事。对他们而言，野人不过就像他们世世代代在他们所居住的地方所看见的其他动物一样。
一些西藏喇嘛寺院里的西藏喇嘛告诉我，有些野人会帮一个喇嘛传递讯息给另一个喇嘛。作为回报，喇嘛们会给他们食物。看起来，野人在高度进化的西藏神圣大师身边是驯良和平静的。就像瑞士的圣伯纳犬被训练来找寻雪崩受害者和充当信使，野人绝对有可能帮助一个喇嘛将纸上的讯息传递给另一个喇嘛，因为在极度广阔的喜马拉雅地区，使用一般交通工具并不容易，而野人却能毫不费力地在大山间穿梭。
我其中一个前世的弟子告诉我的学生说，我也使用野人作为信使，将讯息传递给住在偏远地区的大师或弟子，因为野人的速度很快。众所周知，其他上师如嘉杰托摩格西仁波切也会这么做。这也许解释了为什么我自小就对野人如此着迷。对我而言，野人象征佛法的传递，因为我前世曾经使用野人把佛法带给人们。我希望佛法能在文冬这个城镇以及在每个前来拜访这店铺的人之间弘扬开来，因此我决定给这个店铺取名“野人”。
野人精品店的圣殿
在繁忙的辛炳街上，在许多不同的商店之间，伫立着充满活力和吸引力的野人精品店。在店铺内，你会看到许多宗教灵修类物品，如香、圣像、护身符等等。在商店的入口处，有一个小型的多杰雄登圣殿，供奉着一尊五尺（1.5米）高的多杰雄登。同一个空间内，还有另一尊七尺（2.1米）高的野人雕像。摆着全世界都认得的野人“帕蒂”的标志性姿势。
成千上万人曾到这所圣殿参观、祈愿或供养。它已成为文冬必游景点之一。 许多游客跟我们分享了他们的愿望如何实现的故事，所以他们每隔一段时间都会回来祈愿。有些人说，他们中了彩票，解决了当下的财务问题；有些说他们的亲人从疾病或厄运中复原了；有些分享了他们在商业交易或就业上取得的成功，更多人只是告诉我们说，自从在这个小圣殿遇到多杰雄登后，他们变得更积极、充满希望和乐观了。
从野人精品店圣殿，有些人甚至开车前往克切拉禅修林，到我们特别的满愿
金泽财王殿、户外多杰雄登佛龛朝拜，并随殊胜道之行向众佛供蜡烛。殊胜道之行共有十尊佛像，每一尊都赐予庇佑、疗愈、净化、满愿等特别的加持。
降乩和敬礼
文冬地区有许多华人和印度寺庙。在华人和印度人的文化传统中，乩童（降乩媒介）十分常见，他们接受诸神灵降神，在寺庙中扮演了关键角色。
这些乩童接受神明降乩，如仙四师爷，其他道教神明和印度神明，或某个地方的地方神明，人们高度仰赖他们拿忠告、护身符、加持和进行疗愈仪式。在这些文化中，人们还会向针对去除巫术或邪术，给予庇护，增进财富和改善关系的问题而请教乩童。直到今天，文冬人还继续依赖这些媒介。
每一年的农历一月和七月，玻璃口新村的财神庙和文冬市的印度庙都会在文冬市区内举行道教神明和印度神明出游。被视为神明住所或进出人间门户的众神和眷属像被安置在花车上，游行穿过城镇，给予城镇和人民加持。已经被神明降乩的乩童和信徒们一起行走，沿途给群众加持。为了显示众神的存在，有些乩童全程让金属长矛穿刺自己的脸颊。这是文冬市多年来的传统。
在最近一次的众神出游期间，已经被神明降乩的乩童在无需提醒或告知的情况下，在经过野人精品店时刻意停下，并向多杰雄登敬礼。这些神明这样做，是让多杰雄登可以给予他们加持，让他们死后能够投生在一个能够修持佛法和得到解脱的地方。
神明可分成许多级别。但无论他们是什么级别都好，尽管他们的寿命可以很长，但始终都有个限度。有些神明在最终死去和投生之前，可以活上好几千年。显而易见，这些神明看到了多杰雄登的高级体性，也在野人圣龛上感知到他的存在。这显示了这些降神的神明也许拥有良善的体性，因为他们会向多杰雄登敬礼。具有恶意的神明和灵体会很快逃跑或离开，因为他们想要避开多杰雄登或害怕他。在驱除邪灵和保护我们免受他们伤害这一件事上，多杰雄登就是一个十分强大的存在。许多人请求多杰雄登帮他们摆脱这些有害的灵体，并祈请他持续给予庇佑。然而，多杰雄登会加持包括人和神在内的一切众生，因此那些降神并向野人店铺内向多杰雄登敬礼的神明，必然都会得到他的强大加持及为来世得到更好的投生种下业力种子。多杰雄登是文殊菩萨的化身，所以来自文殊多杰雄登的加持是非常有力的。
或在我们的伺服器观赏视频： https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/BigfootBentong.mp4
就如马来西亚的许多地方一样，文冬是集合了马来人、华人、印度人和其他多元种族文化的大熔锅。不同种族尊重彼此的宗教，和睦相处，这是十分美好的。正是这种和谐，让我们有幸能为我们视为友好，乐于助人，随和而温暖的文冬人提供了这个美丽的小圣殿。我们喜欢成为文冬市的一员，而他们也非常愿意跟我们合作，共同完成有益众生的工作。这位于野人精品店内的多杰雄登圣殿，只是我们全马各地的圣殿之一，因为我们希望许多人都能得到多杰雄登的庇佑。
尽管文冬的面积相对较小，但它可是一个小宝藏。那里有好一些新鲜有趣和值得探索的地方，也是马来西亚必游的美食圣地。你可在被标榜为全国首个“清肺”目的地的文冬找到温泉、瀑布，并享受大自然的休闲活动。文冬除了以文冬姜、“猫山王”榴莲及豆腐卜（油炸豆腐泡芙）闻名，还有其他更多美食可供选择。来自马来西亚、新加坡和中国各地的人们会特别组团前来文冬品尝榴莲，享受小镇的友好，并顺便拜访我们古朴的小野人精品店和以及它的多杰雄登圣殿。我欢迎你前来文冬，并希望你能有一个愉快的履行。
詹杜固仁波切
文冬野人精品店的更多照片
关于文冬
今日您所看到的文冬市建于19世纪末。文冬县已存在了很长时间，在第一次世界大战（1914年）之前被称为“Kapong”。 直到20世纪40年代，文冬的经济主要受锡矿业等其他采矿相关业务的推动。进入21世纪后，文冬逐渐由小型农业和矿业主导的第一产业经济转变为以旅游和其他服务业为重点的多元化全年候经济结构。 这显著的转变促进了当地居民生活水平的提高。今天，文冬是一个多元化和充满活力的社区，拥抱现代之余也不忘自身丰富的历史。
地点
它位于首都吉隆坡东北约80公里（49.71英里）处，刚跨越蒂迪旺沙山脉。 游客从吉隆坡开车一小时即可轻松抵达城镇。因此，文冬是远离繁华都市生活的完美之选。
在行政方面，文冬县占地1,831平方公里（706.9平方英里），包括文冬、云顶高原、加叻、地里望，文积、双溪都亚和武吉丁宜等城镇。
文冬虽然是一个相对较小的城镇，但在历史的背景下，它拥有一切现代化的便利和设施。文冬市区内的许多建筑都已有一个多世纪的历史，但它们大都保存完好，且保留最初的样貌。这真是一个历史与现代相融合的城镇。
For more interesting information:
- A Bentong Series
- A History of Bentong Town
- Go Bentong!
- Cleaning Up Bentong for Malaysia Day
- Reaching Out in Bentong
- Chinese Influx to Bentong in the Early Days
- The Guangxi Community in Bentong
- The Dorje Shugden category on my blog
- Dorje Shugden Gyenze to Increase Life, Merits and Wealth
- Dorje Shugden Shize: A practice for healing and long life
- Dorje Shugden Trakze to Dispel Black Magic & Spirits
- Dorje Shugden Wangze for Power and Influence
- Which Dorje Shugden Style Is Your Favourite?
- Dorje Shugden: My side of the story | 多杰雄登：我这方面的说法
- Dorje Shugden – The Protector of Our Time
- H.E. the 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s Biography
- Various prayers to Dorje Shugden composed by His Holiness the Omniscient 10th Panchen Lama (download PDF)
- The 14th Dalai Lama’s prayer to Dorje Shugden
- The Fifth Dalai Lama & Dorje Shugden
- Never Seen Before Footage of Dorje Shugden Oracles
- What He Can Do For Us?
- Calling Upon the Divine
- Namkar Barzin
- The Jolenpa (Bodhisattva) Gen Nyima
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
谢谢分享。
一个非常有趣的视频， 当华人民间信仰或神明遇到西藏佛教护法会发生什么事情呢？
很显然神明是可以知道西藏佛教护法的能力。 在视频中， 在降神中的乩身主动向多杰雄登像顶礼、敬礼， 就如同我们见到长辈或是我们尊敬的人一般。
多杰雄登为文殊菩萨的化身， 是一位已经完全证悟的佛。 神明们当然也有神通看到这个事实， 所以向前顶礼。 这是可以解释视频里乩身的动作的一个说法。
谢谢
Bentong is a town located in the western part of the Pahang state in Peninsular. Its famous for Bentong ginger, Musang King durians and ‘taufu pok’ and varieties of delicious food to offer to many. Short video yet it tells all. Its wonderful even Taoist God came to pay homage to Dorje Shugden during the procession while passing the Bigfoot store at Bentong. It’s the way when different religion and briefs should respect each other for the sake of peace and harmony in the communities. Dorje Shugden is an emanation of Manjushri, those gods who take trance and pay homage to Dorje Shugden at Bigfoot will receive his powerful blessings. Most religions recognise other faiths and encourage tolerance and different ethnic groups respect each others’ religions. May more and more will visit Bentong town, Bigfoot store and the chapel at Kechara Forest Retreat.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
This is an interesting video. Even Taoist God came to pay homage to Dorje Shugden during the procession. Bigfoot is located strategically in the main road of Bentong. So Bigfoot has not only attracted the locals to visit but many tourists who came to Bentong too. Rinpoche has make it so convenient for everyone to be connected to Dorje Shugden and be blessed by him. May KFR and Bigfoot become the must visit place when people come to Bentong and more people will engage in Dorje Shugden practise.
Thank you Rinpoche and blog team for this blog post and the video. Dorje Shugden is fully enlightened and it’s amazing to see that the Taoist Gods spontaneously offered homage. They can comprehend his true nature and they pay him reverence without any enticement from anyone. Anyone else catch at the end of the video that Taoist gods appeared to be prostrating three times? May they be blessed by Dorje Shugden, and may all who visit the Bigfoot Chapel.
This is really an interesting blog post that reveals to us the true identity of Dorje Shugden. Dorje Shugden is a fully enlightened Buddha which means he is above all the gods. This is one of the evidence of Dorje Shugden being enlightened in nature. From the video we can see clearly that the gods paid respect to Dorje Shugden when they passed by the altar. Thank you very much Rinpoche and blog team for this interesting and wonderful sharing!??????
在视频中，我们看到正在降神的乩童很自然的走到野人店前就慢下脚步，并以各自独特的方式向多杰雄登致敬。他们其实没有必要那么做，文冬地区地方神灵每年都出游，也没有任何人规定他们必须走到哪一个站一定要停下来，况且，相比之下，他们在这个地区的时间都比这个多杰雄登圣殿来得久，且已经有了固定的信众作为基础，照道理他们才算是地方老大，为什么却对多杰雄登表现出谦卑敬重的模样？唯一的解释一定是他们看到了在多杰雄登圣象里属于多杰雄登的真实体性，知道这不是一般神灵，而是证悟者，所以他们也想从多杰雄登护法那里得到加持。这个视频虽然短，但隐含的意义却十分重大。我观看了好几次，依然为多杰雄登护法的慈悲和地方神灵的善良而深受感动，也为他们随喜。
Thank you Rinpoche and the blog team for sharing this blog post. It is an interesting blog post that reveals to us the true identity of Dorje Shugden. Dorje Shugden is a fully enlightened Buddha which means he is above all the gods. The gods will pay respect to him when they meet him to gain his blessings.
This is one of the evidence of Dorje Shugden being enlightened in nature. Since all of us can’t see the true nature of the being, it is best for us to refer to incidents like this. From the video, we can see clearly that the gods paid respect to Dorje Shugden when they pass by the altar.
Gods are sentient beings too and they will too die when their karma comes. They also need blessings from Dorje Shugden to plant imprints in them so that they eventually they can become enlightened.
If the person holding the camera has known earlier, maybe she/he could take the video from a nicer position?. Although it’s short, but definitely a great video showing that those who were in trance were paying homage to Dorje Shugden. Even those following behind were curious for the unexpected stop. From this gesture of respect, it shows that Dorje Shugden definitely ranks higher than them and as a matter of fact, Dorje Shugden is the emanation of Lord Manjushri.
I stayed opposite of Bigfoot twice and I found that the presence of Dorje Shugden together with Bigfoot certainly have added colours to the surrounding area, making it calm and peaceful at night. There were times where I saw the locals and tourists stopped by and folded their hands while passing by theshop. By the way, I love seeing Mr.Bigfoot at the doorstep. I think KFR will be a safe place for them to stop by for a visit or maybe delivering messages to Rinpoche one day!