on 22nd of June 2009

News about our Lamas
 
Greetings from India,

These few lines are written to keep you informed of the evolution of our young lamas here in India at Khordong Byangter Gompa.
On the overall we can say that they have grown up a lot, in size as well as in mental development. Their minds have been broaden up and disciplined throughout last year education program. Families could already witness the changes in January this year when we went to make lamp offering in Yuksom, the place of origin for quite a number of them.

Last year was fully dedicated to teach the younger ones Tibetan language and grammar, while the elder ones were deepening their understanding and learning by heart the Big Rigdzin. Since February they have all passed to the next level of learning the foundations of Buddhist philosophy.

Starting from the 4 disciplines all the way to the 4 nobel truths, including the 10 virtues and 10 non-virtues, the 6 paramitas, the five poisons, the five wisdoms, the 4 joys, the two obscurations, the 6 realms of existence, the 3 Kayas and so on. They are learning these precepts from excerpts of the Kunzang Lamai Zhelung ( Words of my Perfect Teacher) as well as from the 37 verses of the Bodhisattva and some others texts selected by their teacher.

These teachings are making a big impact on them and can be seen in their change of behavior for most of them. They are also going forward in their learning of puja texts.
Having learned by heart the Small and Big Rigdzin last year, they started this year with the Marme Monlam while the elder ones are learning the Byangter Ngondro also known as 5 nails, together with the Byangter lineage prayer and Byangter protector puja. Recently they have also started to learn how to perform the Drowa Kundrol (Chenresig) puja. The elder ones have also learned very fast and well from Norbula to make tormas for various types of pujas.

In parallel they receive daily teachings of English, Math and General Knowledge. English is a long process to teach them, especially for the younger ones. But even them, slowly start to speak and try to make themselves understood, while elder ones can now understand nicely but remain shy to speak it.

On the first week of June they all had their exams and did very well in general.

At last, once a week since the month of March, they now have Art classes where they specially learn drawing with great joy. It is also our wish to slowly introduce them to music. All the classes are taking place in the forest with a very precarious set up, the young lamas and their teachers are then quite eager to see the construction of the study grounds completed soon. So far pillars for two study grounds are erected and the work is going on.


The sad news is that 3 of them have left our Gompa. Wangchuk and Dorje Wangdi had to leave respectively for discipline reasons, while Lakpa had to go back to Sonada for health reasons, at the request of his mother. He is now studying at Kalu Rinpoche Gompa there. While Wangchuk follows his grand-father to perform pujas in their neighborhood and Dorje Wangdi clearly stated he did not want to become a monk and wishes to become a mechanician. Meanwhile the young Migma from Yuksom has joined us last April.

Otherwise our four lamas studying in Shimla are developing very well and are extremely happy with their life over there. Going through the process of education according the Byangter system, learning the dances and rituals and so much more.

It is Tulku Ugen wishes to accept 10 more lamas before the end of this year, together with another teacher to strengthen the structure of the team.

Thank you for your support all along the year.

Sarwa Mangalam,
Khordong India
http://www.khordong-india.org/

E.mail Gompa: thechhimedrigdzinsociety (at) yahoo (dot) com