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30 April 2009
To read the latest
Newsletter from Ling Khangtsen, please click here
13 January 2004
With the burgeoning population in the monasteries and at
Ling Khangtsen, Drepung Monastery, it is becoming increasingly
difficult to accommodate and provide facilities to monks who
are presently living there, as well as, the steady stream
of new comers from Tibet. Therefore, for pragmatic reasons,
we at Ling Khangtsen decided to alleviate the situation for
our monks by embarking on a building project that would cater
to the present and future monks community's accommodation,
prayer and study facilities.
We have also kept in mind the extremely kind benefactors,
who have helped us by including within the plans, simple but
comfortable, guestrooms for our kindly benefactors and visitors.
Due to the critical reasons that the existing prayer hall
(Gompa) is too small to accommodate our monks during the prayer
sessions and teachings, we are compelled to start the construction
of the prayer hall this year and then slowly carry out the
others.
For additional information on the building plans, land purchase,
and to see an architectural site plan of the proposed Ling
Khangtsen Building Project click
here or click over the diagram above to view the proposed
site plan.
If you would like to contribute toward this project by making
a donation to our Building Fund please click
here . Your kind help and generous contribution to this
very important project is greatly appreciated.
The Monks of Ling Khangtsen
31 December 2003
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"May all beings
be free from all states of no-leisure
And be endowed with faith, wisdom and kindness
With food and excellent conduct,
May they be mindful throughout their lives."
Shantideva (8th century
Buddhist master)
Greetings for the New
Year with our prayers
and good wishes that you have a
Happy and fruitful
year ahead.
Office of Ling Khangtsen
Monks of Ling Khangtsen
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7 May 2003
Drupa Tulku Rinpoche's studies in Malaysia
My visit to Malaysia was a dream come-true. Being a former
British colony, Malaysia has many institutions teaching the
English language. I always wanted to improve my English but
never expected to be able to travel to study and certainly
not that soon.
It all started when I expressed my wish to study English
to my sponsor from Malaysia who visited Drepung Monastery
to attend my "Geshe Tongo", a traditional Offering
Ceremony marking the completion of the full curriculum of
monastic studies. As a result of her sponsorship, I arrived
in Kuala Lumpur at the end of August 2002.
In Kuala Lumpur, I saw the famous Twin Towers, the world's
tallest building which is the ornament of Malaysia and pride
of Malaysians. I also saw many wonders like the driverless
(computerised) trains, the highest flag pole and the statuesque
Radio Tower. However, these things did not impress me. What
really touched my heart and inspired me was the strong commitment,
devotion and the faith of the members of LDC (Losang Dragpa
Buddhist Centre) in Ampang, Malaysia.
The members here put much effort in their practice of Dharma.
During my first attendance at one of their Guru Pujas (they
do it twice a month), I was shocked and surprised. I couldn't
believe my ears as I listened to their chanting and recitations.
They were not only reciting the puja in Tibetan but also with
melodious tunes which monasteries do only during major prayer
sessions. I myself have not memorised some of the tunes! From
outside, it sounded like a nunnery chanting their prayers
as most of the attendees were females. Not only they have
mastered the pujas but most importantly, they always try their
best to integrate Dharma in their daily lives, as the story
below will illustrate.
I met many people who sacrificed a lot, even giving up many
personal benefits in their business life, for the sake of
Dharma. For instance, there is one friend of mine who was
approached by a person who worked for a company and was in
the position to award lucrative contracts. This person wanted
to make money for himself on the side and approached my friend
to enter into a special arrangement whereby he would grant
the contract to my friend in exchange for my friend issuing
high bills and part of those bill-payments would go to this
person. If my friend had agreed, he would have been assured
of many contracts in the future. However, as it involved dishonesty,
my friend thought very hard and felt that to agree to it would
be like stealing from that person's company which would engage
negative karma, both for himself (my friend) and that person.
So, at a great loss of profit, my friend declined the offer
and was cut-off from doing business with that company. The
happy ending to this story is that overall, my friend's business
has improved despite the loss of that particular "deal".
I was very impressed by his thinking of Dharma even under
critical business situations. These kind of Dharmic acts are
very common amongst the members here in LDC.
In total, I spent eight months in Malaysia. First I joined
ELS, an English language institute franchised by an American
company and later joined British Council. As a result of having
to speak and write in English everyday, I learned a lot. My
classmates were from various countries thereby exposing me
to many different cultures and traditions. Many times I found
there to be differences in the way of thinking between Tibetans
and the peoples from developed countries. The impact of materialism
and spirituality on people from the various countries was
also markedly different. Then there was the interesting contrast
between atheists and non-atheists. Overall, life each day
was full of colour, new experiences and a greater appreciation
of what I had.
29 April 2003
Ling Choktul Rinpoche
The respect accorded to His Eminence Ling Rinpoche is not
confined to the Gelug tradition alone.
Recently, H.E. Ling Choktul Rinpoche was invited by the Drikung
Kagyu sect to Dehra Dun for the opening ceremony of their
grand new Songten Library. During that visit, Rinpoche visited
the Celment Town and Rajpur to meet His Holiness Sakya Trizin
Rinpoche (head of the Sakya tradition) and also the Mindroling
Monastery of the Nyingma tradition.
H.E. Ling Rinpoche rarely misses any teachings of His Holiness
the Dalai Lama and the Spring Teaching 2003 was no exception
and an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama was held
during that time.
Some news about Dharamsala by Gala Tulku Rinpoche
Dharamsala is situated on the beautiful hillside of the Himalayan
range in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Located
at 3,730 ft. above sea level, Mcleod Ganj (upper part of Dharamsala)
is the hub of Dharamsala and is also where thousands of Tibetan
refugees have made their home to be close to His Holiness
the Dalai Lama & the Seat of the Tibetan Government in
Exile, Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, Tibetan Astrological
and Medical Centre, and the biggest Tibetan refugees school.
Mcleod Ganj has over the years become like a little Tibet.
Once there, we get the feeling of being in Tibet.
In recent times, the remote hillside enclave has transformed
into a busy international tourist destination. During the
peak (summer) season, there are more tourists than locals.
I think the Tibetan community has been the main source of
attraction to the tourists to Dharamsala. The consequence
of this is that the lifestyles of local people (Tibetan as
well as Indian) have become tourist oriented.
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There are colourful range of restaurants, lodging houses,
shops, cyber cafes, yoga and meditation centers and trekking
guide centers. Compared to food in South India, food and lodging
in Dharamsala is more costly and the weather is extremely
cold. Dharamsala to Delhi is only about 12 hours away by bus
but I found it to be somewhat a hard journey. Sharp curves
and high altitude can make it a horrible experience for those
not used to travelling over such terrain. My friends and I
had headaches and went through travel sickness of all sorts.
However upon arriving in Dharamsala, all seemed worthwhile
as Dharamsala is a peaceful and lovely spot in the Himalayas
and Tibetan culture thrives there.
Monlam Events
In the past, and prior to the invasion by the Communist Red
Army, Tibetans would join in the historical Lhasa Monlam Chemo
(Great Prayer Celebration) at Drepung and Gaden monasteries
in Tibet (two of the three great Gelug monastic Institutes
of Tibet). Since then those two great monasteries have now
been re-established in South India and they help to preserve
this time-honoured tradition of the Monlam Chenmo.
This year, Monlam Chenmo started with all the monks of Gaden
monastery coming to Drepung monastery premises to join the
monks there for the prayers. Around five thousand (5,000)
monks comprising the abbots, ex-abbot, Tulkus (Rinpoches or
recognized reincarnate Lamas) and ordinary monks of Drepung,
Gaden and Rato monasteries assembled in Drepung main prayer
hall and thus the Monlam Chenmo of year 2003 began on the
8th day of the Tibetan New Year i.e. 4th of March 2003, with
Mangcha (main prayer meeting or tea gathering prayer) at 6:00am
and at 7:30am.
The new Geshe Lharampas (Doctorate in Theology), who have
to participate in the mandatory debate in front of the Monlam
assembly for their Geshe degree, took their seat for the Namdrel
debate and the floor (other monks) had the opportunity to
engage in vigorous debate with them.
Gaden Tri Rinpoche (101st holder of Tsongkhapa throne) gave
a discourse about the life story of Lord Budhha (Kerab Sodun).
At 10:00am there was an another Mangcha (prayer meeting) followed
by another round of debate before the Monlam Chenmo assembly.
Finally, Gaden Tri Rinpoche came back to the assembly and
the assembly recited prayers in conclusion.
At night, the prospective Geshe Lharampa candidates sat for
their Zod (Abhidharma-The metaphysic) and Dhulwa (Vinaya-The
monastic disciplines) debating exams in front of the assembly
of senior monks. The senior monks examined the candidates'
knowledge by debating with them while the young monks stayed
in their respective rooms doing self-study. The same schedule
was followed for the next five days of Monlam Chenmo.
On the 15th day of the Tibetan New Month (full moon day)
the special butter-sculpture and a picture of His Holiness
the Dalai Lama were displayed for the public audience. The
local school band played music; lay people danced and sang
songs in celebration.
On the 16th day of the 1st month of Tibetan calendar, the
senior Lama did the popular ritual-cake-throwing ceremony.
On the 17th day, the symbolic reception of the next Buddha
(Buddha Maitreya) was done. Thousands of monks and lay people
lined the streets to pay respects and receive Buddha Maiterya
statue. This was followed by entertainment in the form of
games such as stone-lifting competition, cycle-racing, running
competition and alike, among the nine Tibetan settlement camps
in Mundgod. A mighty fire puja was performed for the well-being
of all sentient beings and to remove all obstacles to the
successful practice of the Path. With this, the grand Monlan
Chenmo was concluded.
22 March 2003
His Holiness the Dalai Lama giving the Monlam teachings
in Dharamsala, India.
18 March 2003
Gala Tulku is currently in Dharamsala attending the Monlam
teachings being given by His Holiness. The focus of these
teachings is Shantideva's "A Guide to the Bodhisattva's
Way of Life" and Nam-kha Pel's "Mind Training Like
the Rays of the Sun." These teachings are scheduled for
March 19th through April 2nd.
14 March 2003
For world peace, the Khangtsen performed The Incense Offering
Puja (a prayer ceremony offered to Buddhas, bodhisattvas,
and Dharma protectors) on the 3rd day of Tibetan New Year.
The first month of the Tibetan calender has great religious
significance because this coincides with the period when Buddha
displayed miracles to generate faith in His followers and
subdue the non-Buddhist teachers of that period. Hence, this
whole month is said to have a merit multiplying effect in
tandem with the Buddha's said deeds i.e. all positive action
done during this period will have magnified positive results;
likewise with negative action!
The renowned Lama Tsongkhapa (founder of the Gelug tradition)
offered a crown of precious jewels to the statue of the Buddha
in Lhasa (the Jowo statue) during the first month of the Tibetan
new year and offered extensive prayers, the virtue of which
is reputed to have resulted in the extension by 500 years,
the duration of the Buddhadharma in this world. Since that
time, similar prayer ceremonies have been conducted and named
the Monlam Festival (the Great Prayer Festival). Gaden and
Drepung Monasteries in South India take turns to host the
Monlam Festival.
This year it will be held here in Drepung Monastery and there
will be more than 4000 monks, with the Gaden Tripa (head of
the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, to which HH Dalai
Lama belongs) giving teachings.
7 March 2003
New photographs of Venerable Ling Choktul Rinpoche's visit
to South Korea in October 2002 have been added to the
Photo Gallery section.
6 March 2003
About H.E. Ling Choktrul Rinpoche
At a time when genuine spiritual practitioners are rare and
real spiritual realizations even more rare, reincarnate Lamas
such as His Eminence Kyabje Ling Choktrul Rinpoche are very
precious indeed. Such lineage teachers dwell amongst us to
ensure that the Buddha's teachings remain unadulterated and
yet dynamic for present day needs.
Recently, His Holiness the Dalai Lama bestowed the Kalachakra
Initiation in Bodhgaya to Kyabje Ling Choktrul Rinpoche and
almost two hundred thousand devotees from all around the world
- what is especially interesting is that His Holiness received
this initiation from the previous
Kyabje Ling Rinpoche (named Kyabje Ling Dorjee Chang)
in 1940s in Tibet!! Hence, the unbroken commitment of our
Teachers to return for as long as they are needed, to guide
many beings to ultimate happiness.
Between end Feb 2003 and end March 2003, H. E. Ling Choktrul
Rinpoche will visit Dehra Dun to attend the opening Ceremony
of Drikung Kagyu New Library and thereafter, attend His Holiness
the Dalai Lama's Losar teachings in Dharamsala on the "Guide
to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life" and "Training
the Mind like Sunrays".
Ling Khangtsen's Other Lamas
Ven. Gungbar Chungtsang Rinpoche was requested by Gyuto Tantric
University to teach at their Gyuto Wheel of Dharma Center
in Minnesota in the United States and is expected to stay
for a year till early 2004.
Ven. Drupa Rinpoche had completed his monastic studies in
Drepung Loseling College in 2002 and is currently in Malaysia
undertaking advanced English language courses at British Council
and will be returning to India in mid-April 2003.
Events of Interest
DEBATE!! Debating is a mandatory part of monastic education
in the Tibetan tradition. It is taught that debating helps
one to sharpen one's knowledge of the Dharma. It also helps
the debater to cultivate a calm, clear and objective mind
when one's faith or philosophy is being challenged. Drepung
Loseling monastery (to which Ling Khangtsen belongs) is presently
having its annual Geshe Dhamcha for 8 days. This is a debating
season where all the monks will assemble to hear the prospective
Geshes (a Geshe is a professor in theology) answer the questions
put forth by the monks starting from all Rinpoches and then
by Geshes and others by classwise. These questions are raised
on an impromptu. It takes an average 20 years of monastic
study to achieve the highest level of Geshe. This year there
are 18 new Geshes including two Geshe Lharampa (the highest
level of Geshe.)
5 March 2003
Transcripts of two teachings have been added to the "Teachings"
section - one is a teaching given by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche
at the Tibet House in New Delhi, India on 16 March 1983 and
the other is a teachng given by Venerable Ling Choktul Rinpoche
at the Tushita Meditation Center in Dharamsala, India on 13
December 2000
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