Activities at the Monastic Junior High School
There are more than one thousand monks studying at Namdroling’s Monastic Junior High School. This year, the students at the Jr. High School were taught Tibetan grammar, the History of Dharma, the Political History of Tibet, Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend, Thirty-seven Practices of Bodhisattvas, English, how to play ritual instruments like trumpets, flute and cymbals; rhythms and tones for chanting; and how to prepare tormas (ritual cakes). As per the wishes of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, beneficial advice is given every month to the students. Different types of rituals for the longevity of His Holiness the Fourth Penor Rinpoche are also held frequently. On 1st April, in the presence of the principal and teachers of the Monastic School, Chogtrul Mugsang Kuchen Rinpoche, a president of Namdroling Monastery, chaired the exchange of posts for the school. On 2nd May, Khenpo Tobgyal and other teachers bestowed advice on the students. On 8th June, the school staff met together to discuss the basis of the administration of the school.
More than 45 teachers are working tirelessly for the welfare of the Monastic School. The students’ exams will start from 19th December and will end by 4th January, 2015. Then, most of the students will travel to Bodhgaya to attend the 26th Annual Nyingma World Peace Ceremony.
Activities at the Nunnery Dratsang
In addition to the Junior High School and the Institute, the Tsogyal Shedrub Dargyeling Nunnery also has an active Dratsang and Retreat Centre. This year, around 30 new nuns have enrolled in the Nunnery Dratsang. The nuns perform monthly feast offerings according to the Nyingma tradition, initiated by former supreme lineage holders. From 9th to 16th March, 2014, for the long life of the living masters of dharma, peace and prosperity in the world, and particularly for the longevity of His Holiness the Fourth Padma Norbu Rinpoche, the Ratling Tsechog, the ritual for procuring long life, was performed successfully.
From 19th March, more than 300 nuns and other devoted practitioners undertook the annual month-long retreat, where His Eminence Gyangkhang Khentrul Rinpoche, Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso and Khenchen Pema Sherab bestowed the teachings of Namchö Ngondro, Tsalung and Dzogchen respectively.
In accordance with the noble wishes of His Holiness the Third Penor Rinpoche and Khenchen Pema Sherab, the construction of a new retreat centre for the nuns was successfully completed, and the consecration ceremony was carried out on 5th April. The three Khenchens chaired the historic occasion. Subsequently, Khenchen Pema Sherab bestowed the oral transmissions, secret instructions and profound advice on the first group of 20 nun retreatants. The retreatants officially commenced their practice from 27th May, and will remain in retreat for three years, three months and three days.
On 4th May, in an event chaired by His Eminence Khentrul Gyangkhang Rinpoche and Khen Rinpoche Tshewang Sonam, the former president, the previous workers and staff were discharged and new ones appointed. They also bestowed spiritual advice upon the nuns.
On 5th May, Khen Rinpoche Tandin Sithub, the current president of NNI and chair of the nunnery’s Board of Directors, also bestowed spiritual advice on the nuns. Starting from 12th May, five days of rituals, such as a Smoke Offering and Dharmapala supplication offerings, were carried out for the welfare of all beings, and especially for the welfare of the nuns in the nunnery. After that, 25 monks from Namdroling’s Dratsang were invited to perform the exorcism rites.
From 7th to 13th June, an eight-day Minling Dorsem sadhana was performed. A feast offering, butter lamp offering, and dedication and aspiration prayers marked the successful end of the sadhana.
This year, under the Board of Directors of the nunnery, headed by Khen Rinpoche Tandin Sithub, the ‘Three Dharmachakras’—reading, hearing and contemplation—are being upheld as usual.
During the Summer Retreat, more than 100 nuns of the nunnery’s Dratsang performed the rituals of Solkha, Minling Dorsem, Sengdong, and Tsechog followed by the Nyungne (fasting ritual).
Activities at the Ngagyur Nyingma Nunnery Institute
The reopening the Institute at the Tsogyal Shedrub Dargyeling Nunnery, and the announcement of the previous year’s examination results, were carried out on the same day as those at the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute. Nuns from Tibet, Bhutan, India, Nepal and abroad are studying at the Nunnery Institute. All the subjects the nuns learn and the rules and regulations they follow are almost identical to those of NNI. The entrance exams for the newcomers were conducted on 3rd and 4th April, 2014. Under the Board of Directors of NNI, lecturers from NNI and graduate nun lecturers teach and look after the affairs of the Nunnery Institute. Unlike previous years, all the subjects from the first to the sixth year are being taught by the nun lecturers, with monks only needed to lecture on the final years’ tantra subjects.
The courses for the new academic session started from 7th April. This year, 20 nun lecturers are currently teaching in Nepal, India and Bhutan. From this year, a new decision was made to conduct monthly tests below the fourth year.
On the 29th day of the fourth lunar month, 26th June, the parinirvana anniversary of Mipham Rinpoche, the great master of the Ngagyur Nyingma tradition, was organized. On that day, the mandala of Manjushrinamasamgiti was established and colossal feast offerings were arranged to mark the festive ceremony with the purest devotion and respect. All activities like carrying out the Summer Retreat and competitions for the betterment of studies fall on the same period as those at NNI. The nuns’ exams will begin from 19th December and end by 4th January, 2015. After their exams, the nuns will travel to Bodhgaya to attend the 26th Annual Nyingma World Peace Ceremony.
Activities at the Nunnery Junior High School
On the 10th day of the second lunar month, 30th April, 2014, Khen Rinpoche Tshewang Sonam, the former president of NNI and NNNI, chaired the announcement of the examination results for the Nunnery Junior High School, where prizes were awarded for the top students and certificates for the nuns who had completed class eight were given. Khen Rinpoche also bestowed advice about the importance of good conduct. Nuns from different parts of the world—Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan and elsewhere—study in the Nunnery School under the guidance of one senior and one junior principal, plus around 20 teachers. They study the same subjects as the monks in the Monastic Jr. High School. The monthly exams on Tibetan and English subjects are being conducted to improve their studies. Their self-study will begin from 12th December and exams from 19th December.
