(By Tsem Rinpoche)

Dear students and friends,

Many years ago, I spoke briefly about Wealth Vases and Wealth Boxes (Wealth Cabinets or Yangkham), and at that time I mentioned that we will create a Wealth Box in the future… Now, the time has come for us to make a Wealth Box in our beautiful Kechara Forest Retreat (KFR) which will be extremely beneficial.

Having a wealth box attracts the energies of abundance and increase so that all activities that are done within Kechara Forest Retreat and the Kechara organisation will be more successful and will have more results. For example, those who come to KFR to do practices and meditations will find their practices bearing fruit faster and dharma will also grow faster within the Sangha and lay community; those who come for healing and rejuvenation will have better results and even the medicines they consume while on the land will be more effective; and the wealth box will also help to attract the resources that we need to build Phase 2 of KFR as well as the many projects that we are doing now and in the future for the growth of Dharma… this is very important.

A Wealth Box is traditionally kept in a private location, at home or in the monastery’s administrative office, and is not put on display for the public to view. Also according to tradition, the wealth box is only opened once a year for the annual wealth puja (Yangdup), which is a 1-3 day ceremony during which perishable offerings like tormas and tea are replaced, and other items symbolic of wealth and auspiciousness are added into the wealth box… it is very important that the items offered into the wealth box do not reduce, but increase over the years. When the Yangdup puja is completed, the wealth box is then locked and sealed until the following year.

Many, many years ago, when I was having tremendous financial problems and difficulties, I went to Sera Monastery to consult the Panglung Kuten who is an oracle of Dorje Shugden, Setrap and other enlightened protectors. While in trance, Dorje Shugden advised me to make a wealth vase and a wealth box to overcome my difficulties. I followed his advice, of course, and I was very, very lucky… I managed to get hold of a wealth vase which was handmade by my root Guru, H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, and I received instructions on how to make a wealth box from my teacher, H.E. Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche in Gaden Shartse. After all the pujas were done to consecrate and seal the wealth box, my situation drastically improved for the better.

Every monastery has a wealth box which is usually the size of a small cabinet. However, the size of the wealth box is entirely dependent on the maker and on the sponsor. A wealth box can be as big as an entire room, or as small as a medicine cabinet. Of course, the larger the wealth box, the more offerings and items can be placed inside, so that all who have contributed to it may receive its benefits.

So today, we are all very fortunate to be able to be a part of this very important and iconic project, which will be supervised by Dato’ Ruby Khong and Beng Kooi. I have given them clear instructions on how the wealth box should be made and what should be placed inside. Everything will be done according to tradition, and we are very fortunate that the Yangdup Puja to consecrate the Wealth Box will be performed over three days in Kechara Forest Retreat by the Ven. Panglung Kuten himself, the same oracle who advised me to make my first wealth box!

Everyone can receive the merits and benefits of this wealth box by contributing time, effort, funds or materials to the work. Making a wealth box should be an act of generosity (according to the law of karma, the result of miserliness is poverty, hence the antidote is generosity) so we offer the best that we can afford into the wealth box. I encourage everyone to get involved in the Wealth Box project as the benefits are tremendous, not only for gaining material resources and support for one’s practice of Dharma, but also for the growth of Dharma realizations and attainments within oneself.

Sarva Mangalam.

Tsem Rinpoche

The Wealth Box in Kechara Forest Retreat

[Written by Admin]

Preserving and spreading the Dharma is no doubt a virtuous deed, however like all things in samsara, even noble activities are met with obstacles. One of the ways obstacles can arise is in the form of a lack of resources for one to practice, and the capital required to build Dharma institutions and infrastructures needed to foster the growth and practice of Dharma. The antidote to this is merits. Merits overcome obstacles and create the causes for capital, material resources, and manpower to manifest so that Dharma can flourish.

In Tibetan Buddhism, one of the proven methods of overcoming the lack of resources for Dharma growth is the Tibetan Wealth Box. The tradition of Wealth Vases and Wealth Boxes began with Lama Atisha, the great Indian Pandit who was a key figure in the revival of Buddhism in Tibet. When Atisha arrived in the Land of Snows, he discovered a country with rocky, barren and largely unusable land. Unlike India, resources were scarce in Tibet and that, coupled with the fact that knowledge of Dharma was not yet widespread made it difficult for Atisha to find the means and resources to build monasteries and re-establish Buddhism.

So, Atisha prayed to his yidam, Tara, whom Atisha had direct visions of and who had helped Atisha throughout his life. It was Tara who advised Atisha to create wealth vases in order to attract the financial resources and people necessary for Atisha’s work, and transmitted the instructions of how to do so. Atisha then passed this lineage on to others, and this tradition has been preserved and practiced ever since. Looking at how Buddhism has thrived in Tibet since Atisha’s time, it is safe to say that the Tibetan Wealth Vase and Wealth Box has been effective in attracting wealth to support the Dharma.

An example of a small, simple wealth box

Just like Lama Atisha, Tsem Rinpoche has used his entire life for the Dharma and also like Atisha, Rinpoche is constantly faced with challenges in finding the necessary resources to build Dharma institutions and a Dharma community. While much has been accomplished, there remains more that needs to be done to further the growth of Dharma and Dharma attainments in the region. This includes Phase 2 of Kechara Forest Retreat, accommodation for a growing Sangha and Pastor community, Dharma education programmes including the study of Buddhist philosophy and debate, and the development of Tibetan art, culture, pujas and rituals within the local community.

From the very beginning, Rinpoche has depended on his Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden to provide conducive conditions for the Dharma to grow. Dorje Shugden has assisted Kechara to come this far and most recently, Dorje Shugden through the Ven. Panglung Kuten has advised Tsem Rinpoche to construct a Wealth Box for the next stage of Kechara’s growth and expansion, to become a hub for the pure Gaden lineage to flourish.

What To Place In A Wealth Box

Kechara’s lineage of Wealth Box teachings originated from H.E. Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche who transmitted the teachings to Tsem Rinpoche. The proper way to regard a Wealth Box is as the divine abode of the wealth deities themselves. The Wealth Box can be made of any material, but preferably of the highest quality. After all, what we offer is what we receive in return. The KFR wealth box will be painted with a pair of auspicious jewel-spitting mongoose on the outside, and gold on the inside. It will have three shelves.

The highest shelf will hold two Dorje Shugden wealth vases that were handmade by H.E. Guru Deva Rinpoche (or Sogpu Rinpoche) who is regarded as an emanation of Gyenze. Other wealth vases of different wealth deities such as Dzambala, Tara, Vaishravana (Namse) and Gongkar (White Mahakala) may also be placed here. The top shelf will also have representations of the Buddha’s body, speech and mind, images of the lineage lamas, the eight auspicious signs, the seven royal emblems, the eight auspicious substances and two wealth arrows wrapped with five-coloured silks.

Another important feature of the wealth box is the wealth bags which will be hung on the walls of the wealth box at the top level. These bags contain a variety of substances including the personal effects of individuals such as jewelry, valuables voluntarily offered by successful and influential people, earth and water from holy sites as well as different countries, holy objects and sacred relics. It is important that the contents of the wealth bags do not diminish, but instead are added to every year, symbolic of wealth not being depleted.

Rinpoche alone has a large collection of very precious holy objects and relics, many of which cannot be found anywhere else. These include highly energized malas of great Mahasiddhas, robes of highly accomplished masters, leaves from the tree where Lama Tsongkhapa was born, consecrated water from Wu Tai Shan and Namtso Lake, and such like.

The middle shelf will contain multiple sets of sensory and commitment offerings, and a ganze, which is an offering of implements to the Protector. Finally, the lowest shelf will hold the various torma offerings to the yidam, the protector and their entourages. Other offerings that may be placed into the wealth box include precious and semi-precious stones, auspicious animal figurines, herbs and medicines. All perishable offerings will be changed yearly.

All these items, put together into a wealth box and consecrated with puja and ritual, will create a powerful magnet that draws positive energies to Kechara Forest Retreat, the surrounding environment, the country, and everyone who comes into contact with this sacred ground. Our wealth box will be consecrated by the Ven. Panglung Kuten with three days of special puja to invoke and seal the power of the wealth deities. Once consecrated, the wealth box is not to be moved or opened until the next annual wealth puja.

The making of the KFR Wealth Box is a rare opportunity for everyone to take part in an extremely meritorious Dharma activity that will serve to benefit countless thousands. On our own, it will be difficult to create such a singularly power-packed wealth box. However, if we contribute our time, money, materials or effort, we may partake in its tremendous blessings. By obtaining precious items from families and friends, we also create the opportunity for them to similarly be bestowed great fortune and a bounty of merits. This again is highly meritorious to ourselves.

Here’s how you can be a part of this blessed project of making Kechara’s first Wealth Box:

1. Precious Items

Each individual may place one item that you consider precious into the Wealth Box, for example, a small piece of jewelry, a precious stone, a family heirloom, a personal trinket, etc. These do not necessarily have to be items that are high in monetary value, but are objects that are precious to you.

WHAT TO DO: Place the precious item into a small ziplock bag and label it clearly with the name of the person to whom the object belongs.

[NOTE: Once placed in the Wealth Box, the items are considered offered and can no longer be removed or returned to the owner.]

2. Money

Each individual may offer a single coin or note to be placed in the Wealth Box. If you are acquainted with people of power, wealth and influence, do ask them to give a small coin or note too – this will add their energies to the Wealth Box and will also bring them luck and benefit.

WHAT TO DO: Place the coin or note into a small ziplock bag and label it clearly with the name of the person to whom the money belongs.

[NOTE: Once placed in the Wealth Box, the items are considered offered and can no longer be removed or returned to the owner.]

3. Earth from Different Places

If you or someone you know is travelling, we need soil, leaves, or stones from different countries around the world, especially from holy places (eg. Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Gaden, etc.) and from places of influence (eg. royal palaces, residences/offices of world leaders, etc.). The earth will be placed into the wealth box, and more earth from different locations must be added on a yearly basis.

WHAT TO DO: Place the earth, leaves or stones into a ziplock bag and label it clearly with the place of its origin.

4. Water from Different Places

If you or someone you know is travelling, we also need water from different countries around the world, especially from holy places (eg. Namtso Lake, etc.) and from places of influence. You may collect water from natural water bodies or simply from tap water. The water will be placed into a special bottle within the Wealth Box and more water must be added on a yearly basis.

WHAT TO DO: Place the water into a small bottle. Add a teaspoon of salt to the water you collect, so that if the water dries up, the salt crystals will still be present and can be used to reproduce the water. Label the bottle clearly with the place of its origin.

5. Contributions

Your generous contributions towards the construction and offerings to be placed in the Wealth Box is greatly appreciated. Below is the full list of how you can contribute to support the creation of this blessed Wealth Box.

All items to be placed in the Wealth Box should be delivered to Kechara House by 5 July 2015 for inclusion in the first year, and at any time for inclusion in the following years. To make a contribution or for more information, please contact Beng Kooi (+6012 3130489) or Pastor Jean Ai (elena.khong@kechara.com) or email care@kechara.com‬).

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