Science Workshop & Conference at Namdroling
A four-week science workshop for monastic graduates and senior educational leaders took place at Namdroling Monastery from 7th September, 2015. This programme was jointly organized by the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA) and Science for Monks with support from the US-based Templeton Foundation. Twenty-seven monastic graduates from fifteen monastic institutions throughout India attended the workshop. The sessions were based on the topics “Fabric of The Universe”, led by Julie Yu from the Exploratorium’s Teacher Institute; “What is Life?” by Lori Lambertson of the Exploratorium’s Teacher Institute; “Brain and Mind” led by Eric Chudler from Centre for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering, University of Washington; “An Introduction to Astronomy to Cosmology” by Bryce Johnson (from the Exploratorium’s Teacher Institute) and Chris Impey from the University of Arizona, Tucson; and “Quantum Mechanics”, led by Tim Maudlin of New York University.
At the end of this workshop, there was a three-day conference at the congregational hall of NNI on Cosmology and Consciousness IV, focusing on “Emptiness and Quantum Mechanics: A dialogue between scientists and Buddhist scholars”. Scholars from different institutions along with 7th and 8th year NNI and NNNI students attended the seminar.
The first-day session started with the topics, “Foundation of Quantum Mechanics—An Introduction to Science and Philosophy”, moderated by Bryce Johnson of the Exploratorium. Tim Maudlin from New York University made a presentation on “Particle and Wave”; Barry Loewer from Rutgers University presented “A Quantum Mechanical Experiment”; and Geshe Lhakdor from the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives spoke on the “Foundation of Buddhist Emptiness” followed several questions and answers on the “Foundation of Buddhist Emptiness and Quantum Mechanics” by the panellists and audience members. The second-day session was moderated by Rajesh Kasturirangan of the National Institute of Advanced Studies. Chris Impey from the University of Arizona, Tucson, spoke on “Cosmology and the Void”; Thabkhe from Sera Jey Monastery presented “Buddhist Philosophy of Particles”; Tim Maudlin discussed “Distant Connections in Quantum Theory”; Barry Loewer spoke on “The Measurement Problem in Quantum Mechanics”; and the panellists took questions about “What Does It Mean to Observe—The Role of the Observer” and “The ‘Strange’ Results of Quantum Mechanics”. The third-day session was moderated by Geshe Ngawang Norbu. Father Mathew Chandrankunnel of Dharmaram College talked about “Bohmian Mechanics Applied to Consciousness”; Katalin Balog of Rutgers University gave a talk on “Mind and Conscious Experience”; Rajesh Kasturirangan discussed “Nonlocal Reasoning: Philosophy and Science across Cultures”; and Khenpo Sonam Tsewang of Namdroling spoke about “Emptiness”. Afterwards, the panellists had a question and answer session on “The Human Condition and the Nature of Reality”.
The conference finished successfully with a Closing Ceremony and Presentation of Traditional Tibetan Scarves to all the presenters, organizers and sponsors.
Activities at the Monastic Junior High School
Yeshe Wodsal Sherab Raldri Ling Junior High School reopened on 23rd March, after their winter vacation. On 26th March, the results of their 2014 academic year were announced in the basement of the Golden Temple in the presence of Gyang Khang Khentrul Rinpoche, Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso and other faculty members of the school. They also bestowed meaningful speeches to the students. This year, 128 students from various parts of India, Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan joined the school. The current number of students is 890. This year, 1 khenpo and 34 lopons are working tirelessly for the welfare of the students and the school. Like other years, this year the students were taught Tibetan grammar, the history of Dharma, the political history of Tibet, Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend, and Ngulchu Thogmed’s Thirty-seven Practices of Bodhisattvas. In addition, 31 senior students from NNI have also been appointed to teach English, mathematics, making ritual cakes, drawing, playing ritual instruments like trumpets, oboe and cymbals as well as the rhythms and tones for chanting to the young monks of the Jr. High school.
On 27th April, Khenchen Pema Sherab bestowed spiritual advice about the conduct of adoption and rejection to the teachers and students as per the request of the school’s faculty members. To fulfill the wishes of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, Khenpo Yama Chime, newly appointed president, and other teachers bestowed beneficial advice to the students every month. Different types of rituals for the longevity of His Holiness the Fourth Penor Rinpoche and for the welfare of the school family, as well as for mother sentient beings, were also held frequently. On 20th April, in presence of the NNI’s 2014 president, Khenpo Tandin Sithub chaired the exchange of posts for the school.
As per the school’s rulebook, students are taken monthly tests four times. The first was completed on 12th June and the English test was taken on 18th July. The other three tests were taken as scheduled. Students, especially non-Tibetan-speaking students like Nepalese, Bhutanese, Ladakhis, etc., from 4th standard and above take a Tibetan-speaking test at least thrice a year to improve their language for better understanding of the texts. Accordingly, the first test was conducted by the standing committee of the Jr. High School on 27th, 28th and 29th July. Similarly, the second and third test were also held.
The final exams will start from 22nd November and will end by 6th December. Then, most of the senior students will travel to Bodhgaya to attend the 27th Annual Nyingma World Peace Ceremony. The junior students will remain in the school having two classes a day.
Activities at the Nunnery Dratsang
The Tsogyal Shedrub Dargyeling Nunnery Dratsang had 37 new nuns enrol this year. During the Tibetan New Year, the nuns gathered inside the Golden Temple in the early morning along with the whole Namdroling family. During Drubchod, the seven-day great accomplishment ceremony held from 26th February to 5th March 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, Rigzin Thugdrub Palchen Duepa was performed successfully. From 8th March, more than 300 nuns and other devoted practitioners undertook the annual month-long retreat, where H.E. Gyang Khang Khentrul Rinpoche, Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso and Khenchen Pema Sherab bestowed the teachings of Namchö Ngondro, Tsalung and Dzogchen respectively.
On 23rd April, as per the noble wishes of Khenchen Pema Sherab, the International Nyingma Dictionary Editorial Committee was inaugurated by the standing committee. Four loponmas are currently working on the treasure teachings of Ratna Lingpa and the collected teachings of Three Omniscient Ones: Omniscient Longchen Rabjam, Rongzom Maha Pandita, and Jigme Lingpa.
As usual, due to the noble wishes of H.H. Penor Rinpoche, Tara prayers in the morning and supplication to the Dharmapalas in the evening were performed every day as well as offerings to the Guru, Deva, Dakini and Dharmapalas on the tenth days of the waxing and waning period of the moon of every lunar month. These are mainly dedicated to pacify infectious disease, famine, war and disputes and to bring the ultimate benefit and happiness to all sentient beings in the six realms.
On 8th April, H.E. Gyang Khang Khentrul Rinpoche and H.E. Mugsang Kuchen Rinpoche presided over placing the relics of body, speech and mind on the axis pole to be placed at the centre of the reliquary stupa of H.H. the Third Penor Rinpoche. Similarly on 11th and 12th April, presided over by Lama Sonam Gyatso and Lama Phurpa Thinley, they along with 30 monks from Namdroling Dratsang and all graduated nuns performed the accomplishment prayers of the contents to be offered inside the stupa. Other nuns also did auspicious dedication prayers. Accordingly on the morning of 25th April, 8 A.M., the sacred remains of H.H. Penor Rinpoche were received in a ceremonial procession in Tsogyal Shedrub Nunnery and the nuns were able to receive blessings. The next day, presided over by Khenchen Pema Sherab, the nuns did Tashipai Sojong and Lama Sonam Gyatso offered the dharanis inside the stupa.
On 23rd April, chaired by Khenpo Tandin Sithub, the former president of NNI, and Tulku Drong Ngur Choje, the vice-president of Tsogyal Shedrub Dargyeling, offered auspicious scarves as thanksgiving to the previous workers and staff as well as appointed new ones for the next one year. They also bestowed spiritual advice to the nuns. On the next day, Khenpo Yeshe Dorje, the current NNI president, along with faculty members of NNI and the nunnery, gave spiritual and inspirational speeches to the nuns. Starting from 4th May, six days of rituals, such as the ritual of Tara, 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 Dratsang were invited to perform the exorcism rites. From 27th May to 3rd 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 Khenpo Yeshe Dorje, the ‘Three Dharmachakras’—reading, hearing and contemplation—were 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 of the Institute at the Tsogyal Shedrub Dargyeling Nunnery and the announcement of the previous year’s examination results were carried out on the same dates as those at the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute (NNI). 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 23rd and 24th March. This year 61 newcomers—40 in the preliminary class and 21 in the first year—enrolled in NNNI. The courses for the new academic session started from 14th April. Under the Board of Directors of NNI, lecturers from NNI and graduate nun lecturers teach and look after the affairs of the Nunnery Institute. Six khenpos and lopons were sent from NNI to teach on the final years’ tantra subjects as well as Arya Vasubandhu’s Abhidharmakosha in the 4th year and Maitreya’s Prajnaparamita in the 6th year. The rest are being taught by around 19 loponmas. This year, 18 nuns graduated; 110 nuns have graduated so far since 2004. As per the request of other monasteries and institutions, 20 nun lecturers have been sent to teach in Nepal, India and Bhutan.
On 15th June, the parinirvana anniversary of Mipham Rinpoche, the great master of the Ngagyur Nyingma tradition, was organized. On that day, students of NNNI gathered early in the morning inside their main temple and offered prayers for the whole day. Meanwhile, a few selected students gave discourses and debated on their respective subjects. During the Universal Incense Offering Day on 2nd July, senior nuns from the final year and a few other nuns joined the prayer-flag offering ceremony at Betapur Peak along with the NNI presidents and around 250 monk students.
This year, more than 200 nuns stayed for yarney, the summer retreat. All activities like exposition, debate and composition competitions for the betterment of studies were held accordingly. The nuns will appear for their annual exams from 8th to 24th December. After their exams, they will travel to Bodhgaya to attend the 27th Annual Nyingma World Peace Ceremony.
Activities at the Nunnery Junior High School
On 9th April, chaired by H.E. Gyang Khang Khentrul Rinpoche, the announcement of the examination results for the Nunnery Junior High School was held. Rinpoche awarded certificates to the nuns who had completed class eight, the final year of the Jr. High School. Rinpoche also bestowed advice about the importance of good conduct and the importance of Buddhist education. More than 600 nuns from different parts of the world—Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan and various parts of India—study here under the guidance of one senior and one junior principal, plus around 21 teachers. They study the same subjects as the monks in the Monastic Jr. High School. The monthly exams on Tibetan and English subjects were conducted to improve their studies. Their self-study will begin from 27th November with exams being held from 4th to 20th December. Senior nuns will travel to Bodhgaya to attend the 27th Nyingma Monlam Chenmo for World Peace which will run from 10th to 19th January, 2016.
