8 September 1998
新明日报 (Shin Min Daily News), 8 September 1998 Page 10
The article reports on the formal enthronement of Shangpa Rinpoche as the resident abbot of the Karmapa Buddhist Centre in Singapore. A traditional Buddhist enthronement ceremony was held at the centre, attended by monks, devotees and invited guests. Prayers and auspicious longevity prayers were recited, followed by offerings and a celebration marking Rinpoche’s appointment and 39th birthday.
At the time, the centre near Geylang Lorong 22 had already been established for more than a decade and had grown to around 500 members, with several thousand followers. The appointment of Shangpa Rinpoche was seen as an important step in strengthening and expanding Buddhist activities, particularly the study and practice of Vajrayana Buddhism in Singapore.
The article gives some background on Rinpoche’s life. Born in the Himalayan region of Nepal, he was recognised at the age of two by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa as the reincarnation of the previous Shangpa Rinpoche. His previous incarnation had been a disciple of the 15th Karmapa.
From a young age, he trained under his teachers in Buddhist rituals, scriptures and philosophy. At 16, he went to India to further his studies at a Buddhist institute, where he studied Buddhist philosophy, literature, poetry and Sanskrit. He subsequently received teachings and transmissions from many eminent masters and travelled to different countries to teach the Dharma.
The article notes that Rinpoche had first come to Singapore in 1982, when he was invited to serve as the resident spiritual guide of the Karmapa Buddhist Centre. Following his appointment as abbot, he hoped to further develop the centre and promote the study of Vajrayana Buddhism, including establishing a more formal Buddhist academy.
In essence, the article captures an important early chapter in the development of Vajrayana Buddhism in Singapore — the arrival and establishment of Shangpa Rinpoche as a resident Vajrayana master, and his efforts to build a stronger foundation for Buddhist study and practice in the country.
At the time, the centre near Geylang Lorong 22 had already been established for more than a decade and had grown to around 500 members, with several thousand followers. The appointment of Shangpa Rinpoche was seen as an important step in strengthening and expanding Buddhist activities, particularly the study and practice of Vajrayana Buddhism in Singapore.
The article gives some background on Rinpoche’s life. Born in the Himalayan region of Nepal, he was recognised at the age of two by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa as the reincarnation of the previous Shangpa Rinpoche. His previous incarnation had been a disciple of the 15th Karmapa.
From a young age, he trained under his teachers in Buddhist rituals, scriptures and philosophy. At 16, he went to India to further his studies at a Buddhist institute, where he studied Buddhist philosophy, literature, poetry and Sanskrit. He subsequently received teachings and transmissions from many eminent masters and travelled to different countries to teach the Dharma.
The article notes that Rinpoche had first come to Singapore in 1982, when he was invited to serve as the resident spiritual guide of the Karmapa Buddhist Centre. Following his appointment as abbot, he hoped to further develop the centre and promote the study of Vajrayana Buddhism, including establishing a more formal Buddhist academy.
In essence, the article captures an important early chapter in the development of Vajrayana Buddhism in Singapore — the arrival and establishment of Shangpa Rinpoche as a resident Vajrayana master, and his efforts to build a stronger foundation for Buddhist study and practice in the country.
4 September 1998
Page 60 Advertisements Column 2The Straits Times, 4 September 1998, Page 60
4 September 1998
第21页 广告 专栏 1联合早报 (Lian He Zao Bao), 4 September 1998, Page 21
20 July 1998
新明日报 (Shin Min Daily News), 20 July 1998 Page 7
This article reports that Shangpa Rinpoche was appointed as the first resident lama and abbot of a local Buddhist centre in Singapore, with the formal enthronement ceremony scheduled for 4 September 1998.
The centre, located near Geylang Lorong 22, had already been established for about 18 years, with more than 500 members and several thousand followers. The ceremony would include prayers, celebrations and traditional Buddhist auspicious rituals.
The article also gives a brief biography of Shangpa Rinpoche. Born in the Himalayan region of Nepal, he was recognised at the age of two by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa as the reincarnation of the previous Shangpa Rinpoche. His previous incarnation was a disciple of the 15th Karmapa. From a young age, he studied Buddhist philosophy, rituals and scriptures under his teachers and later continued his studies in India, including Buddhist philosophy, literature, poetry and Sanskrit. He also received teachings and transmissions from various masters and served in Buddhist centres and monasteries in Nepal and beyond.
After being invited to Singapore in 1982 as a spiritual guide, he became increasingly involved in the development of Vajrayana Buddhism here. Following his appointment as abbot, he expressed his wish to establish a Buddhist academy and develop the centre as a place where Vajrayana practitioners from Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia could study and practise the Dharma.
Overall, the article reflects an early period of the development of Vajrayana Buddhism in Singapore, highlighting the growing number of practitioners and the intention to establish a more structured centre for Buddhist education and practice.
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