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The grounds of Rinchen Jangsem Ling illuminated by 50,000 candle light offerings. December 8, 2024. Photo thanks to RJL.
The grounds of Rinchen Jangsem Ling retreat center (RJL) in Triang, Malaysia, were illuminated by fifty thousand candle lights during its recent light offering ceremony on the evening of December 8, 2024. From late afternoon until dusk, hundreds of visitors from near and far participated in the event, lighting candles following RJL resident sangha Ven. Jampa sharing the benefits of making light offerings. Volunteers placed candle-holders around the holy objects forming the letters, “KLZR SR,” signifying the strong wish and dedication for Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Swift Return.
About offering lights, Lama Zopa Rinpoche said, “By making light offerings, you are able to dispel the darkness of ignorance and achieve wisdom. By offering light, you are never in darkness while you are circling in samsara. There will always be light. And offering light just one time to Buddha creates the karma to have great wealth for many hundreds or thousands of lifetimes.”
Daytime view of RJL grounds with stupa and large Twenty-One Tara thangka in view. Photo thanks to RJL.
Geshe Zopa making prayers at the 50,000 light offering event at RJL. Photo thanks to RJL.
Visitors also admired and received the benefit of seeing a very large Twenty-One Tara thangka on display. The thangka was auspiciously hosted on the foundation which will become, on the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the world’s largest three-story prayer wheel, which will contain within a pavilion at least one hundred trillion OM MANI PADME HUM mantras.
After sunset, Geshe Tenzin Zopa led the light-offering prayers in front of the Twenty-One Taras thangka. This was followed by circumambulation of RJL’s holy objects and a spectacular fireworks display to conclude the first part of the evening.
With high spirits, the retreaters then joined the overnight Tara practice where they recited Praises to the Twenty-One Taras through until the morning. The sadhana practice was divided into four sessions, two sets recited in Tibetan and English and two in Chinese. Geshe Zopa offered commentary and oral transmissions related to the practice.
The evening included purification practice that lasted through dawn. The retreatants then enjoyed breakfast together thanks to the RJL’s dedicated cooking team.
RJL shares, “Heartfelt thanks to Geshe Tenzin Zopa and all the volunteers who worked tirelessly to actualize their inaugural Fifty Thousand Light Offering and All Night Praises to Twenty-One Taras event that benefited so many. May Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche quickly return to guide us soon!”
With grateful thanks to Janet Lui for submitting this report on the light offering event.
Learn more about how to make light offerings and other offerings in the book Extensive Offering Practices by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, available in The Foundation Store.