This is a translation of a video message delivered by His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang in Chinese with regard to the flooding in Taiwan on the occasion of the Amitabha Phowa Ceremony in Taipei Arena on Oct. 4^th 2009.

Welcome to all of you who have gathered here today to attend this Drikung Kagyu Amitabha Phowa (transference of consciousness) ceremony.

The flooding disaster in Taiwan this past August made dramatic changes to the landscape as well as separating a large number of families. Such disasters remind us how insignificant we human beings are in the face of our natural environment, and how urgent the need is for environmental protection. All composite phenomena are impermanent. All births will end with death. All things constructed will one day fall. We who meet together today will separate someday. Therefore, we must have a solid understanding of impermanence as well as the right attitude toward it. It is very important to face reality, and by doing so, our sufferings will be reduced. Though I was far away in India at the time of the flooding, I was constantly concerned about the news, and, at each opportunity, performed rituals to pray for and dedicate merit to the victims and all those in the disaster area. I have made a contribution of 2 million NTD through my disciple Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche to Taiwan’s Department of Social Affairs, Ministry of the Interior, for the post-disaster reconstruction fund. I hope it may be of some small help to those who are suffering.

It has been many years since I presided over the phowa ceremony in Taoyuan, Taiwan, in 2002. The year 2010 happens to be the 830th anniversary of Drikung Kagyu lineage’s founding by Lord Jigten Sumgön. And so, I will return to Taiwan to preside over a ceremony in cooperation with all the Taiwanese Drikung Kagyu centers on June 6, 2010, for all of you, that I may pray for you and make virtuous connections with you.