Auspicious interdependence of the Odsal Ling Temple

So much has happened in the last few months. What to say? When I review the photos I am moved to tears. So many blessings have rained down on us and we have been truly amazed by the auspicious interdependence that seems to surround the Odsal Ling temple project. Lama Rigdzin has spent four wonderful weeks with us, filling the four statues with their gold inscribed central channels, hundreds upon hundreds of mantra rolls, and sacred relics from the great masters of our lineage.

We received a special Tara statue from Jigme Tulku Rinpoche that belonged to the predecessor of the previous incarnation of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche and he requested that it reside as the jannasattva in the heart of Chagdud Rinpoches statue. We also received a beautiful Guru Rinpoche statue from Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche, which was placed in the heart of the large Guru Rinpoche statue.

At the precise moment the Guru Rinpoche statue was finished, a double rainbow appeared in the Eastern direction over the temple. Lama Rigdzin also supervised the consecration and filling of the wealth chamber with all its traditional offerings.

On the last day of the wealth puja we were honored by a visit from Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche, and he helped bring down the blessings and later consecrated the mantras for the prayer wheel.

Jetsun Kushog also was able to visit the temple and delighted us with her presence and toured the temple and paid respects to Chagdud Rinpoches stupa.

Toward the end of Lama Rigdzin’s visit, he somehow found the time to fill and consecrate almost a hundred of the sanghas own statues, as well as supervise the construction and installation of the Vajrasattva prayer wheel. The hand turned prayer wheel was made in a traditional manner, with a central channel and the mantra sheets wound in between layers of fabric.

The temple itself is now fulfilling its purpose, with the offices, kitchen, and store pretty much operational and with Lama Tsering happily in residence in the cupola. Now the joyful task of finishing and painting all the exterior and interior architectural details lies ahead of us, and will occupy much of our time in the months ahead as we prepare for the consecration, now scheduled for the end of the year.

Lama Norbu – February, 2008