Dratsang
On December 22, 2017, His Holiness the Dalai Lama consecrated the recently renovated main temple, Orgyen Dongag Shedrup Yoesel Dargyeling (widely known as the Golden Temple).
On February 3, 2018, as usual, all the monks gathered together to commemorate the Mahaparinirvana of great charioteer of the Ngagyur Nyingma teachings, the omniscient Longchen Rabjam, and performed rituals for his death anniversary.
Starting from February 10, monks of Namdroling monastery performed the rituals of Gutor, Vajrakilaya, Gurdrak, Sengdongma and Kagye. On the 14th, the three rituals of subduing, incinerating and casting out were conducted and the seven varieties of ritual dance of Gutor were displayed amidst a large gathering of faithful followers. On the 15th, Tsechog was performed to conclude the annual event of the Tibetan Royal Year 2144.
On the first day of the Tibetan Royal Year 2145, February 16, 2018, at 5 A.M. , monks along with khenpos, tulkus and lopons of the monastery gathered in the main temple led by His Eminence Gyangkhang Rinpoche. After that they lit butter lamps and recited the prayers of The Eight Auspicious Ones, Remembering Buddha Shakyamuni and others. Then H.E. Gyankhang Rinpoche, followed by the khenpos, tulkus, monks, nuns and laypeople, offered scarves before the throne of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and H.H. Pema Norbu Rinpoche. According to tradition, the losar (new year) celebration was carried out for three days.
On February 23, the Palyul drubchen (great sadhana) started. In the main temple, presided over by H.E. Gyangkhang Rinpoche, the assembly performed Thukdrub Palchen Dupa. Similarly, in the other temples, the Tsechog, Phurpa, Zhithro, Namchoe Solkha, Nyingthig Solkha and Dralha Sang rituals were performed simultaneously. On April 3, the drubchen ended with dedication of merit.
On April 25, the twelfth throne holder of the Palyul tradition, H.H. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, arrived at Namdroling Monastery and was welcomed by a procession of lamas along with a gathering of monks and nuns.
His Eminence Mugsang Kuchen Rinpoche undertook the huge responsibility of building a reliquary stupa for the late H.H. Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche, the eleventh throne holder of the Palyul tradition. On April 28, inside the ground floor of Zangdog Palri temple, the consecration ceremony of the newly completed reliquary stupa of H.H. Drubwang Rinpoche was presided over by H.H. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche along with a large congregation of monks and nuns.
On April 29, H.H. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche inaugurated the reliquary stupa and it was then made accessible for the public to see it and receive its blessing.
On the morning of April 30, led by H.H. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, the two head tulkus and Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso, along with all the monks, gathered there together and performed a vast feast offering. At around 9:30 A.M., H.H. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche enthroned the seventh group of khenpos, who numbered 163, along with 4 tulkus and 21 lamas. At around 1:30 P.M., H.H. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche bestowed a long life empowerment to the large gathering.
On May 3, the preliminary practices of Namcho, “Bumnga”, began. A total of 120—61 monks and 59 laypeople—participated in this.
On May 19, the Kama Drupchod began with the preliminary ceremony in the morning and a display of tsa-cham (root ritual dance) at noon. On the evening of the 22nd, the actual drubchod commenced: Tsog Chen Dupa (The Mandala of the Sutra Practice of the Great Gathering), presided over by H.E. Gyangkhang Rinpoche in the main temple; and Gyuthrul Zhiwa Thro (The Peaceful and Wrathful Magical Net); Sangay Nyamjor (The Union of the Buddhas); Shinje (Yamantaka); Rongphur (Rongzom’s Tradition of Vajrakilaya); and Yangdag Heruka in other temples.
On May 24, a thangka of the Buddha was displayed to a gathering of monks, nuns and other devotees. On May 29, in the morning, the fire offering ritual in the four directions was performed and in the afternoon the blessing of the accomplishment practice was granted to the gathering of devotees. It was then followed by the butter lamp and dedication prayers in the evening that brought the Kama Drubchod, which lasted for eleven days, to its conclusion.
Similarly, the Mahakala sadhana was performed from May 22–29. On the 29th, it was concluded by performing the subduing, incinerating and casting out rituals.
On the evening of May 23, the annual account of the expenditures of the Dratsang was read out by the treasurer in the presence of the president of Namdroling, H.E. Khentrul Gyangkhang Rinpoche, and the gathering of monks. At the end H.E. Gyangkhang Rinpoche gave advice on how to adopt virtuous deeds and abandon non-virtuous deeds.
On August 26, the monks of the Dratsang performed the fire ritual of Vajrakilaya.
From July 28, the lamas, the monks of the Dratsang and the senior monks of the junior school began to perform rituals coinciding with the 45-day summer retreat. This ended on September 9.
On October 4, H.E. Gyangkhang Rinpoche consecrated a newly constructed building.
On December 29, the lamas and the monks performed the Vajrakilaya ritual, Namcho Solkha and Nyingthig Solkha for three days.
In the 11th month of lunar calendar, many monks of the Dratsang will travel to Bodhgaya to attend the 30th Nyingma Monlam Chenmo.
Ngagyur Nyingma Institute (NNI)
On December 4, 2017, the Tibetan Royal Year 2144, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama was invited to Thegchog Namdrol Shedrup Dargyeling (Ngagyur Nyingma Institute) for the consecration and inaugural ceremony of the newly renovated Golden Temple. Coinciding with the ceremony, His Holiness distributed Nge Sang Legshe Zod Chang (master in Buddhist philosophy) certificates to 443 lopons and 88 loponmas (nun teachers), who had completed their nine-year course of study in Buddhist philosophy.
Starting from January 7, 2018, for seven consecutive days Khenchen Pema Sherab ordained 147 monks and bestowed novice vows to 218 nuns and monks.
As always, the winter vacation of two months came to an end and on March 20 the institute started the new academic session for the year. The oral examination of the newcomers was conducted on that same day. In the evening, everybody gathered together and recited the Eight Auspicious Ones prayer and others to bring auspiciousness for a good beginning to the new academic year.
On March 8, four researchers (three khenpos and one loponma) completed their PhD course by composing a doctoral thesis each and one thesis jointly. They had enrolled as the first batch of researchers in March, 2014, in the research centre of Ngagyur Nyingma Institute that was started in the same year.
All four jointly wrote a doctoral thesis on “Nangwa Lhardrub” (Establishing All Appearances as Divine) composed by the Mahapandita Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo. They also individually wrote theses on “Thegchen Tsuljug” (Introduction to the Way of the Great Vehicle) composed by Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo; “Samten Migdron (The Lamp for the Eye of Contemplation) composed by Nubchen Sangye Yeshe; “Ka Yangdak Pai Tsema” (The Flawless Words of Profound Teachings) composed by King Trisong Deutsen; and “Tawai Khepar” (Varieties of View) composed by Yeshe De.
As of today, there are four researchers in a second batch who are currently taking up the course.
This year, there were 110 students who undertook the entrance exam for the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute’s preliminary class and 10 students who took the entrance exam to enrol in the first year.
On March 25, H.E. Khentul Gyangkhang Rinpoche personally awarded the mark sheets to all the graduates of the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute and Ngagyur Nyingma Nunnery Institute. Prizes were awarded to the first, second and third position holders of the respective grades for their achievement. Similarly, gifts were awarded to those individuals who memorised 100 or more pages of text as a gesture of appreciation.
From April 6–9, the recitation of the Buddha’s canon (Kangyur), smoke offering and Vajrakilaya rituals were performed for the welfare of NNI members.
On April 10, the actual teaching session of NNI began.
April 18 was the post-exchanging day of the NNI committee for the new academic year. The former president of NNI, Khenpo Tashi Namgay, gave a speech of thanksgiving and gifts were distributed to the former staff and workers who had shouldered their responsibilities for the previous year.
On April 29, 2018, Tibetan Royal Year 2145, Rabjung 17, His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, the twelfth throne holder of the Palyul lineage, awarded “Ngesang Legshed Zod Chang” certificates to 8 lopons and 22 loponmas, coinciding with the inaugural and consecration ceremonies of newly completed reliquary stupa of His Holiness the Third Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche. Similarly, the certificates of “Thadrel Mrawai Wangchuk” (diploma in Buddhist philosophy) were given to 624 monks and 137 nuns, and certificates of “Pharchyin Rabjam” (bachelor in Buddhist philosophy) were given to 635 monks and 138 nuns, who had all completed their studies in higher sutras between the years 2011 to 2018.
On April 30, at 9:30 A.M., H.H. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche conferred on 163 lopons the title of khenpo inside the Golden Temple.
On June 12, the statue of Mipham Rinpoche inside old shedra temple was carried to the main temple by NNI final year students. After placing the statue in the main temple, everyone recited “Beacon of Certainty”, an important text composed by Mipham Rinpoche.
The actual Mahaparinirvana Anniversary of Mipham Rinpoche was organised inside the Golden Temple on June 13. It was carried from early morning till late at night, featuring discourses and debate competitions by NNI students, and other activities in the intervals.
On the Universal Incense Offering Day, June 28, most of the monks went to Betapur Hill to participate in the event.
On July 16, coinciding with Choekhor Duchen (of the holy day commemorating the Buddha’s first teaching), 19 khenpos, tulkus and lopons gave Dharma talks to laypeople in response to their invitation.
On July 27, the monks and nuns took the vow of the 45-day Yarney (annual monastic rains retreat). Yarney was full of activities like exposition, debate, grammar competitions and others. Unlike the previous year, the question-and-answer sessions were between ten selected students from the 8th year, and other monks. Moreover, this year, students from the 2nd to the final year had to compose theories on topics from Mipham Rinpoche’s “Beacon of Certainty”. On September 8, the gathering of monks and nuns performed Gagye (release from the vow of Yarney after accomplishing it) and on September 9, they engaged in Jongju (the ceremonial stroll after Gagye), which concluded the 45-day Yarney.
On September 22, the results for the competitions held during Yarney were announced in front of all the monks and nuns.
From October 11–12, a seminar on “The Unique View and Tenets of the Ngagyur Nyingma Tradition” was carried out. Unlike the previous year, khenpos and lopons of Namdroling, Palyul Chokhorling, and Dzogchen monasteries in India, Lhodrak Kharchu and Gangteng monasteries in Bhutan, and Shechen monastery in Nepal participated in the seminar.
On October 31, coinciding with Lhabab Duechen (Descent of Lord Buddha from Trayastrimsa Heaven), the teaching sessions in NNI came to their conclusion. Following this, the monks of NNI performed rituals for three days.
On December 3, the monks will take their first examination. Then they have to appear for the next examination after three days. On December 19, they will complete the fifth examination which will bring the 2018 academic session to its conclusion.
Afterwards, most will then go to Bodhgaya to participate in the 30th Nyingma Monlam Chenmo.
Monastic Junior High school
On March 2, 2018, Namdroling’s junior high school reopened after two months of winter vacation.
On the evening of March 20, the results of the previous year’s examinations were declared in the presence of H.E. Khentul Gyangkhang Rinpoche and Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso.
Coinciding with the visit of His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, this year, the junior high school committee requested His Holiness to bless them with some wisdom on the governance of the school. Accordingly, His Holiness then gave advice on conduct and study. Later, H.E. Khentul Gyangkhang Rinpoche and Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso also gave them advice.
Currently, there are 44 teachers and the president is Khenpo Sonam Nyima. There are also 38 students from NNI who teach English, painting, and rituals to the higher classes, and reading techniques to the lower ones.
According to the wish of late H.H. Penor Rinpoche, every month, khenpos and teachers counsel them. Besides this, every month, they perform prayers for clearing away obstacles and benefitting sentient beings.
Nunnery Dratsang
This year, Tsogyal Shedrub Dargyeling nunnery Dratsang had 48 new nuns join.
At 3 A.M. on February 16, 2018, the first day the Tibetan Royal Year 2145, the nuns conducted the ritual of Tara and a smoke offering. Right after completing that ritual, they gathered at the Golden Temple for celebrate Losar in the presence of H.E. Gyangkhang Rinpoche, the khenpos, tulkus and teachers, and all the monks.
From Feb. 23 till March 2, they performed the Palyul drubchen.
On March 4, the one-month retreat of ngondro, tsalung and Dzogchen from the Namcho tradition began. It was concluded on April 2, by engaging in a feast offering, thanksgiving activities and others.
As per the noble wishes of H.H. Drubwang Pema Norbu, every morning they performed the ritual of Tara and every evening, they performed other prayers. Moreover, monthly they conduct the ritual of Rigzin Dupa and the feast offering of Yumka Dechen Gyalmo on the 10th and 25th days of the lunar calendar, respectively.
On April 20, former NNI president Khenpo Tasi Namgyal, along with the former workers and staff, were discharged and new ones were appointed.
On April 21, Khenpo Tsewang Norbu, the current president of NNI, along with the some staff of the nunnery, offered advice to the gathering of nuns.
From April 23–25, annual rituals were held for the welfare of the nuns, which included reading the Kangyur (translated words of the Buddha in 108 volumes), the ritual of Tara, smoke offerings and so on. From April 24–27, venerable Lama Phurpa Thinley with 30 monks from Namdroling dratsang conducted a Vajrakilaya ritual in nunnery to clear any obstacles.
At 3 P.M. on May 4, H.H. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche conducted the ritual of the preliminary ceremonies for the construction of a new temple at the nunnery. His Holiness also visited the nuns’ retreat centre and gave spiritual advice.
On May 23, the Minling Dorsem Sadhana started and it concluded on May 29.
From July 27, presided over by Lama Phurpa Thinley, the nuns of the Dratsang performed many rituals coinciding with the 45-day Yarney retreat.
Ngagyur Nyingma Nunnery Institute (NNNI)
The new academic session of the nuns’ institute started on March 20, after two months of winter vacation. On that same day entrance examinations were conducted for new students. This year, there were 89 newcomers: 47 in the preliminary class and 22 in the first year.
On March 24, in front of H.E Gyangkhang Khentrul Rinpoche and Khenchen Khenpo Tsewang Gyatso, the results of the previous year’s examinations were announced.
On the March 10, the khenpos, lopons and loponmas started teaching the first regular classes.
On May 13, the 106thMahaparinirvana Anniversary of Mipham Rinpoche was held. During that day, all the nuns engaged in the academic activities like discourse, debate and others.
From July 27 till September 9, all the nuns observed 45-day Yarney retreat.
On October 31, the academic session for this year came to end. From December 4–20, the nuns will take five examinations with three days’ break after each exam. Then they will head to Bodhgaya to participate in the 30th Nyingma Monlam Chenmo.
Nunnery Junior High School
On the 10th day of the second month of the Tibetan Royal Year 2145, March 27,2018, in the presence of H.E. Gyangkhang Rinpoche and Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso, results of the previous year’s examinations were declared. Rinpoche awarded certificates to the nuns who had completed the eighth grade of the junior school. Rinpoche also gave advice on good conduct and studies.
The nuns study the same subjects as those in the monks’ junior school. During the eight-year course, they study handwriting, Tibetan grammar, history, English, science, mathematics and other subjects. Students above class five study ritual details, including making ritual cakes and so on.
There are around 20 loponmas, teaching and guiding the nuns in the junior school.
Currently there are around 600 nuns studying Dharma and other subjects who came from various parts of Asia.
