Monastery to Celebrate Saka Dawa
June 7, 2009 - Full Noon of the 4th Tibetan Lunar Month

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500 Monks of Drepung Gomang Monastery
Attended His Holiness' Teaching at Sarnath, Varanasi

His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Sarnath

After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya the Buddha went to Sarnath and it was at Sarnath that he preached his first discourse in Deer Park to set in motion the 'Wheel of the Dharma'. It is one of the most holy sites in India as it was in this place that the stream of the Buddha's teaching first flowed.

From January 8 to 14, 2009, His Holiness gave a seven-day teaching on Kamalashila's The Middling Stages of Meditation (gomrim barpa) & Shantideva's A Guide To the Bodhisattva's Way of Life(chodjug). Five hundred monks of our monastery took a journey of three days and three nights by train and buses to reach Sarnath to attend the teachings.

The Drepung Gomang Tour Group, sponsored by Drepung Gomang Institute in Louisville, Kentucky, is currently touring the United States. The monks are presenting programs to the public featuring the creation of the Peace Mandala, as well as more traditional mandalas and art workshops. Geshe Lobzang Sandup, tour leader, has been active in giving teachings on Buddhist philosophy--particularly topics relating to wisdom and compassion.

The tour group was part of Tibet House's Annual Losar Celebration and performed at Carnegie Hall on February 3. They have traveled through many states, including Kentucky, Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvia, and Conneticut. Before they return to India, the monks will have also visited Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina.

Monks Working on Peace Mandala - Florida Keys	Completed Peace Mandala--Florida Keys

For a look at their intinerary and to view pictures on their scrapbook, please visit their website at www.gomang/org/08dgi_tour.html.

Gomang's Parchen Class

As per tradition, the monastery honored the monks of the Parchen Class this year with a celebration called “Parchen: Paramita Class Day." The class members were given a feast offering (dacha). In addition, text books and Tibetan scarves (khataks) were given to each and every monk. The ceremonies took place on November 19, 2008, a very auspicious day, since it was also Lhabab Duchen, a holy day which commemorates Buddha's descent from heaven)

Monks Receiving Books & Khataks	Parchen Monks with Monastery's Congregation

During His Holiness the Dalai Lama visit to Sera monastery, about 180 monks of our monks undertook full ordination vows. (Bhikshu: Gelong vows) They took their vows from His Holiness. The monastery--with kind donations from donors--was able to provide cloth for the monks' robes. We sincerely thank the donors for their kind generosity.

Cutting the Cloth for the Robes	Monks Receiving Their Robes

On January 14, 2009, Drepung Gomang Monastery conducted a cake burning ritual. After several days of prayers, a ritual cake was bought out in open space. A huge fire was lit and the ritual cake was thrown into it. The monks prayed for the removal of all obstacles and evil spirits, and for the well being of all sentient beings.

Ritual Prayers	Chanting Before the Torkya in Front of the Temple

The Tibetan New Year, Losar 2136 (February 25, 2009), the Year of the Earth Ox,was not celebrated with festivities as a mark of respect to all those brave Tibetans who have been killed and who are missing since last March. The lack of celebration also served to commemorate the 50 years since Tibet was occupied and Tibetans have been forced into exile. Only religious activities related with the New Year were conducted this year. The Torkya (Cake Buring Ritual) on the 16th day of Losar and the Maitreya procession on the 17th morning of Losar was carried on sans the usual cycle race and stone lifting competition.

Torkya Ritual	Maitreya Procession in Front of the Temple

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

On the occasion of the Earth-Ox New Year of the 17th Rabjung cycle in the Tibetan Royal Year 2136, I would like to greet all Tibetans, both inside and outside of Tibet. I pray that there be peace and prosperity, and that our just cause may see gradual resolution.

Although there is no old or new phase in the continuous cycle of planetary movements, which results in the days, nights, months and years, there is a tradition throughout the world to observe the beginning of a new year upon the completion of the previous one. Likewise, in the snow land of Tibet, we have the tradition to observe the New Year in the first lunar month with elaborate celebrations incorporating both spiritual and temporal elements. However, last year in Tibet we witnessed hundreds of Tibetans losing their lives, and several thousands facing detention and torture, in response to the widespread display by Tibetans all over Tibet of their discontentment with the Chinese authorities' policies.

Therefore, since they faced immense difficulties and sufferings, the occasion of this New Year is certainly not a period when we can have the usual celebrations and gaiety. I admire the determined move by Tibetans, inside and outside of Tibet, not to indulge in celebratory activities during this New Year. Instead, everyone should utilize this period in abandoning non-virtuous acts and engaging in positive actions, thereby cultivating virtuous merits so that all those who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet, including those who lost their lives in the tragic events of the past year, may have quick realization of Buddhahood through successive rebirth in higher realms. The dedication should also go to those currently undergoing suffering so that they may immediately be able to enjoy the happiness of freedom. Through such an accumulation of collective merits we should all strive for an early solution to the just cause of Tibet.

Just as we had suspected, the strike-hard campaign has been re-launched in Tibet and there is a heavy presence of armed security and military forces in most of the cities all over Tibet. In all the places those who dare to come out even with a slight hint of their aspirations have to face torture and detention. In particular, special restrictions have been imposed in the monasteries, patriotic re-education has been launched, and restrictions have been imposed on the visit of foreign tourists. Provocative orders have been passed for special celebrations of the Tibetan New Year. Looking at all these developments it becomes clear that the intention and aim behind them are to subject the Tibetan people to such a level of cruelty and harassment that they will not be able to tolerate and thus be forced to remonstrate. When this happens the authorities can then indulge in unprecedented and unimaginable forceful clampdown. Therefore, I would like to make a strong appeal to the Tibetan people to exercise patience and not to give in to these provocations so that the precious lives of many Tibetans are not wasted, and they do not have to undergo torture and suffering.

It goes without saying how much admiration I have for the enthusiasm, determination, and sacrifice of the Tibetans in Tibet. However, it is difficult to achieve a meaningful outcome by sacrificing lives. Above all, the path of non-violence is our irrevocable commitment and it is important that there be no departure at all from this path.

Once again, I pray that the Tibetan people are freed from oppression and torture, and enjoy the happiness of freedom. May all sentient beings enjoy happiness at all times.

The Dalai Lama
February 25, 2009
(corresponding to the first day of the first month in the Earth Ox Tibetan Year)