Pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya

More than 50,000 people from Tibet, China, Bhutan, Nepal and other Himalayan region of India and also non-Buddhist countries like Australia, Italy, the Czech Republic, Spain, England, Brazil and several African and Asian countries gathered at Bodh Gaya, the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage site to attend the teaching of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on January 5 to 8, 2010.

 
Temple at Bodh gaya

His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave five-day teachings on Nagarjuna's In Praise of the Transcendental (jigten ley depar toepa), Atisha's Lamp of the Path to Enlightenment (jangchup lamdron), Longchen Rinpoche's Mind In Comfort and Ease (semnyid nyelso) & Tsongkhapa's Short Version of the Stages of the Path To Enlightenment (lamrim dhuedhon).  The teachings took place on January 5th to 8th, 2010 as part of the seven-day Gelug Monlam, the biggest religious festival of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism. More than 700 monks from our monastery attended the teachings at Bodh Gaya.

His Holiness Teaching at Bodh Gaya

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Celebration of Losar -  February 14, 2010 - Year of the Metal Tiger - 2137

Prayer Flags Displayed During Losar

Monlam Ceremony 

In Tibet before the Chinese invasion, the biggest annual religious festival, Monlam Chenmo used to draw thousands of pilgrims from the regions of Amdo and Kham who walked days and nights to receive blessing .  H. H. the Dalai Lama and other important Tulkus and officials graced the occasion. The main purpose of this ceremony is to pray for the long life of all the holy gurus of all traditions, for the survival and spreading of the Dharma in the minds of all sentient beings, and for world peace.  On the sixteenth of first month of the Lunar Calendar, the sacred statue of Maitreya Buddha is carried in procession around Gaden or Drepung, as was done in Tibet.  Preceding the statue as it leaves the main entrance of the Prayer Hall are monks of both monasteries bearing victory banners, and blowing conch shells.  They are followed by Gaden Tripa (the throne holder) and Abbots of various monastic colleges, and common monks reciting their prayers.

People from all walks of life throw white scarves towards the tractor/chariot carrying the sacred statue, some pushing and pulling, trying to get a closer look and receive a blessing from the sacred statue--looking forward to being reborn in the age of Maitreya.  On the seventeenth day, the cake burning ritual is performed. The monks pray for the removal of all the obstacles and evil spirits, and for the well being of all sentient beings.

 

Maitreya Parade	Statue of Maitreya

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Completion of 2009 Tour

2009 Tour Group 
 

The Drepung Gomang’s Monastery’s  official tour to the United States was concluded in December 2009.  All but  one of the  monks of the tour group returned to the monastery and handed over their report to the monastery. A special prayer was organized at the prayer hall to thank all the kind supporters:

• National Coordinator – Sue Simone

• The  inviting organization-  Drepung Gomang Institute and its kind members

• All local coordinators, volunteers, hosts,  friends, schools, health care centers, libraries, museums, and advisors

• Driver and translator - Tsondue la

• Gen. Lobsang Samdup, Ven. Ngawang Tashi

• And many others for making this tour a success.   

Many people will be truly benefit from this kind and altruistic assistance from so many people.

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Delay in 2010 Tour

There has been delay in the start of 2010 tour due to the visa process.  We sincerely extend our apologies for the delay and request all local coordinators, volunteers, hosts, friends to keep checking with our inviting organization, Drepung Gomang Institute,  and our National Coordinator, Mrs. Sue Simone, for up-to-date information on when the tour group will arrive in the USA.

World Health day was celebrated on April 7^th, 2010.  This year the Drepung Gomang Community Dispensary organized the program at the Settlement Community hall where monks and students from the Tibetan Settlement School attended. Ven. Tsewang Norbu, Supervisor of Gomang Community Dispensary,  gave talks on the importance of health practices and an awareness towards preserving our environment. Carry bags made from cloth materials (instead of plastic) were distributed to all who attended.

Ven. Tsewang Norbu	Distributing Carry Bags to School Children

Logo on Carry Bags Distibuted to Settlement School Children

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Abbot and Chanzoe  Visit the USA

Arjia Rinpoche, Director of the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center (TMBCC) in the  United States,  extended an  invitation to Khen Rinpoche Geshe Yonten Dhamchoe and Gomang Director (Chanzoe) Ven. Tempa Dawa to attend His Holiness’s teaching of the “Heart Sutra” in Bloomington.  

His Holiness at Bloomington IU Auditorium	Khen Rinpoche at Teachings (arrow points to him)

In addition to visiting the TMBCC, they were also able to stop by the monastery’s sister organization Drepung Gomang Institute in Louisville, Kentucky.   They also saw our monks and friends in New York, Philadelphia, Miami, New Jersey, Virginia and many other places. 

Khen Rinpoche With Members of DGI Sangya	Khen Rinpoche Giving at Teaching at DGI

At Gethesemani, Kentucky - Gravesite of Thomas Merton

The visit of the Abbot and Director was very successful.  We thank you all so much for the support and assistance that you extended and give a special  “thank you”  to everyone who made this visit possible.

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Parchen Thug Chora

One of our annual monastic religious programs was held here at the monastery in June.  For several days,  groups of monks from each Parchen class debated with monks from other Parchen classes.  The best moments of these debate occur  when a  group gets intensely into the debate.  Sometimes  there is pulling and pushing of classmates when a monk poses his toughest questions to the other party.  The discipline master and his assistant have to control all of this jostling.

Monks Debating during Parchen Thug Chora

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DGI Members at the Temple	Receiving Katas from Khen Rinpoche

Geshe Sangay Greeting a Member of the Tibetan Settlement	DGI Members Eating Lunch

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New Gegu (Discipline Master)

Geshe Lobsang Gelek - New Gegu

The term of discipline master in our monastery is for one year.  The Gegu (Discipline Master)  is responsible for the overall discipline of all the monks of the monastery.  He is assisted by two ‘chabre’ (assistant disciplinarian). The iscipline master is elected by the monks during the prayer congregation whereasthe  two assistant are appointed from the 16 khangtsens by rotation. This year, Geshe Lobsang Gelek (Hamdhong Khangtsen) has been eelected as the new Discipline master (Gegu).

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Saka Dawa

Saka Dawa was observed from May 14 to the 12^th of June.   It  is one of the most important sacred Buddhist days in the year and  is celebrated during the entire fourth month of the Tibetan Calendar. On the full moon day of this month,  we celebrate the three most important events of the Buddha’s  life:   his Birth, his Attaining Enlightenment, and  his death (Parinirvana) .

Monks Doing Prostrations	Butter Lamps

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New Administrative Staff

Each and every Tibetan Buddhist monastery has a group of directors and an administrative staff who look after the welfare and finances of the monastery.  Here in our monastery, the Directors, the Tibetan secretary and the Accountant are voted in by all the monks at a prayer congregation. The term of their service at the office is for three years.

The newly elected administrative staff who will take charge beginning December 1, 2010 are 

• Chief Executive Director:  Geshe Samten Gyatso (Chief Executive Director), 

• Directors:  Geshe Tsewang Thinley,  Geshe Tsonye Gyatso, Geshe Tashi Gyamtso, Geshe Tsering Phuntsok,, 

• Tibetan Secretary:  Ven. Tenpa Rinzin  

• Accountant:  Geshe Kalsang Dawa