Khenpo la’s 30th Anniversary Celebrations

HELD AT KAMALASHILA TIBETAN BUDDHIST CENTRE
8 December 2024

On Sunday 8 December, we celebrated the 30th Anniversary of our Precious Teacher Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe’s living and Turning the Wheel of Dharma in Australia. 
Many students from as far away as Perth, Broome, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney gathered the night before to help in the preparations. Many had been students of Khenpo la for over 20 years. It was a wonderful reunion. 

The celebratory morning commenced with the official opening of our new “Little Gompa”, and the unveiling of the upper part of the stupa, up to the pinnacle revealed. Everyone gasped at the beauty before them. Khenpo la invited the major sponsors and workers on the project to untie the ribbon (khatas) to the front doors. The Ayyas Jitindriya and Jayasara were requested by Khenpo la to recite auspicious prayers from the Theravada tradition, then Venerable Tsultrim sang The Four Immeasurables. Lastly, Khenpo la recited Tibetan prayers, followed by acknowledgements, offerings of khatas and gifts to the main sponsors, and workers on this special project. The sangha was then invited by Khenpo la to circumambulate the gompa/stupa, reciting the Buddha Shakyamuni Mantra, and enter inside. The sound of the chanting inside was so very beautiful.

Those gathered were then invited to enter the main gompa to honour our precious Teacher in The Sixteen Arhat Puja. The shrine was carefully prepared with many offerings. Upon entry attendees were invited to make a light offering for the long life of Khenpo la, all our teachers and for the benefit of all sentient beings. Auspicious rice and tea offerings were made. The DBI committee sangha made a special Thanksgiving Mandala Offering to Khenpo la. During this time Khenpo la wore ‘His Khenpo Enthronement Hat’, which was so special. Khenpo la explained that this was only the second time he had worn this ceremonial hat. Many offerings were made to Khenpo la from the centre and individually from those attending, including the magnificent Amitayus Long Life Deity statue offered by the centre. Jack had arranged for its consecration and blessings from His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen, the 41st Sakya Trizin for Khenpo la in India. Then later in the ceremony Khenpo la walked around the gompa, touching the statue to each person’s head sharing all the blessings. 

Other offerings were a book conceived and prepared by Suzi Walker and a few helpers, inside these special letters of acknowledgment of Khenpo la’s Dharma activities over the 30 years from the Holy family members, His Holiness 41st, 42nd and 43rd Sakya Trizins, His Eminence Luding Khenpo Rinpoche and Her Eminence Jetsun Chimey Luding Rinpoche, together with beautiful writings of student’s acknowledgments of Khenpo la. Karma made a special offering to the centre on this auspicious occasion, of a beautiful Tangka from Tibet of the Twenty-one Taras. It was displayed to everyone and there were gasps of joy from all present. 

We all gathered for an incredibly special lunch, which had been so thoughtfully and beautifully prepared by our wonderful dharma brother and chef Garth, along with his assistants in the kitchen. Wyn played a lovely set of music and song for everyone to join in, and then the ceremonial cake was cut by Khenpo la. Thank you so much to everyone involved, for attending, for helping in so many ways including flower arranging, setting up for the puja, for lunch and tidying up. Most of all to Khenpo la for being such a shining light to us all for these 30 years. 

We would like to share a some of the images from the day, thank you Giovanna for such memorable photos.