Happy Birthday, Your Eminence!
Wishing Your Eminence Gyalwa Dokhampa a very Happy Birthday!
May Your Eminence Live long for the benefit of many mother sentient beings and help us to lead a meaningful life.
- Office Bearers & Volunteers at Office of Gyalwa Dokhampa
Losar Tashi Delek!
Tashi Delek! Happy Losar to all!
Life is in constant transformation due to many causes and conditions,
Therefore, a New Year is full of potential and opportunity to transform our Life positively!
May all of us accumulate the causes for Good Health, Happiness and through a Meaningful Life!
Love,
From Gyalwa Dokhampa
and all the Members of His Eminence's Offices.
Foreign Pilgrims in Punakha
Over 500 monks and nuns, plus nine trulkus and lamas, from Nepal and India, came for the blessing
Dechhog Khorlo Dompa: Amid the 100,000 devotees seated for the Chakramsamvara blessings in Punakha, was an elderly man dressed in maroon jersey and black trousers. A long shiny rosary hung around his neck.
Phurita Sherpa, 61, from Boudhanath, Nepal was listening carefully, trying to follow what was being transmitted by His Holiness the Je Khenpo in Dzongkha. In his hands were the empowerment and teachings written in Tibetan.
“As long as I’m a part of the mandala (kilkhor) of the empowerment, I don’t care much about the words,” Phurita Sherpa said. “Devotion is key in Vajrayana Buddhism.”
The elderly man had crossed three borders of Nepal, India and Bhutan, along with 18 others from Nepal, to attend the Chamkramsamvara. They arrived a few days before the blessings started, about two weeks ago, on December 20.
Another pilgrim from his group, Karpo Lama said the blessing was sacred in Drukpa Kagyu lineage. “Because of that I came, despite coming to Bhutan not being as easy as I thought it would be,” he said.
He said the journey was worth it, not only for the blessing, but because it felt like home, since his grandparents had migrated from Trashigang. Karpo Lama is from Tashi Choedong goenpa in Yulmu, a day’s journey by car from Kathmandu.
“I heard about the blessing from a monk, who served the late Kuzhu Tshechu rinpoche,” he said. “There are over 200 monks and between 50-60 devotees from Nepal here.”
Pilgrims from the neighbouring countries have travelled a distance of over 1,000km by road. “Distance doesn’t matter, so long as we get the blessings,” a monk said. “Nowhere in Buddhist countries, like Nepal or India, are there huge numbers of Drukpa Kagyu practitioners, like in Bhutan. Even in Tibet, the numbers are dwindling.”
About 45 monks have also made plans to visit other pilgrim sites, like Paro Taktsang and sacred nyes in Bumthang.
For 32-year-old monk, Tashi Gyalsten, fom Tashijong shedra in Himachal Pradesh, India, what stood out was the peaceful and humble nature of Bhutanese. “Everyone, including the King and the ministers, is humble,” he said. Khamtrul Rinpoche, Jigme Pema Nyinjadh, under whose guidance foreign devotees travelled in, said over 500 monks and nuns, and around nine trulkus and lamas from six Buddhist institutes in Nepal, and around nine institutes from India, came for the blessing.
Rinpoche said devotees from as far as Rametse in Nepal, and Ladakh and Hemis in India, were attending the Chakramsamvara.
Khamtrul rinpoche said, apart from the sacredness of the blessing, the unbroken ties between Bhutan and monasteries in neighbouring countries, established since the time of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, was the reason pilgrims were in Punakha.
“After that, the first Drukpa Thuksey rinpoche and the first Khamtrul rinpoche strengthen the relationship,” said Khamtrul rinpoche. “Today, the annual Drukpa council, a religious forum to exchange teachings and empowerments among the Kagyu lamas, has been maintaining the chain of relationship.”
Source: Kuensel Newspaper
Happy New Year - 2013!
By the blessings of the Dragon Masters inseparable from the Wish-fulfilling Tara, may the New Year fulfill the wishes of all beings.
May the New Year give joy to those who lack it and may the joys and happiness of those who have it in their life be further increased!
With love and prayer,
Gyalwa Dokhampa
"Live for what?": His Eminence Khamtrul Rinpoche talks to juvenile delinquent
Text: Goon Yung; photo: Ho Yan & interviewee. Special thanks to the interviewee.
His Eminence the 9th Khamtrul Rinpoche is young, friendly and approachable. With commitment to ‘Live to Love’ motto and selfless loving kindness, he has got in touch with various social classes through different charity activities such as visit, public talk and seminar. In particular he wishes to share his own experience with young generation so as to bring to them short but enduring influence. He has been in touch with Hong Kong students including those from University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Lingnan University, HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity and Ko Lui Secondary School.
HE Khamtrul Rinpoche was invited to re-visit Hong Kong by Drukpa Hong Kong in August 2012. He decided to visit a Correctional Institution for young male offenders in Hong Kong. During his visit there, a documentary entitled ‘Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey’* was screened. HE shared with young inmates the positive message of the film – which emphasized tackling a difficult situation with positive thoughts and attitude. He also made use of the opportunity to teach them how to meditate.
We conducted an interview with HE after his talk in that Correctional Institution. We wondered what advice and suggestion this 31-year-old Rinpoche would like to give to Hong Kong youth in general.
‘We live for what? It is for love, not for hatred.’
-- Motto of HE the 9th Khamtrul Rinpoche
Human being is only part of the world
Reporter (R): In this materialistic world, people become so egocentric that they only live in their own world. They put their own interest first and usually ignore whether their own behaviour will affect or even hurt other beings and natural environment. During HE’s visit to this institution, the film ‘Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey’ - about the trajectory and experience of the pilgrim - was screened in order to convey a very important message of living philosophy.
Khamtrul Rinpoche (K): This short film - ‘Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey’ - indeed is to bring along a very important message that we should know human being is only part of the world. We are not the whole world. In this world, there are other animals, living beings and natural environment, floral plantation and forestry, mountains and rivers etc. Human being is not the master of the world. We are just part of it. If we don't understand this important point, we wont be able to concern and love this world and the natural environment. We won't be able to care for our friends and family members. We will become selfish and indifference. We will then feel like we are independent entity and can do whatever we like to. We will not care for others – including feeling of our relatives and friends. We eventually will do things that hurt others because of our negligence and indifference.
Simple life can bring happiness
(R): Why do people commit crime? Nowadays mass media aspire to consumerism, which in turn promotes branding and entertainment endlessly. They advocate going to movies will make you happy. They give people an impression that possession of material goods will make them happy - movie stars have got houses, money and are very well off. But in reality, how many people can lead such kind of life?
(K): In real life, it is impossible for every one of us to become billionaire. Shouldn't we be unhappy? However, given adequate clothing and food, we can survive. Why don't we feel happy? As for those rich people, are they really so happy? Perhaps for those media who keep on promoting consumerism, they never have indeed communicated other messages.
Without spiritual guidance, youngsters will be easily subjected to media influence and cannot sense alternative thinking. They may feel if they want to be happy, they have to follow mass consumption. If it happens to be too difficult or non-attainable, they would try by all means.
In our walking pilgrimage, seven hundred people joined this ‘Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey’. During the 45-day journey, we led a simple life of having three meals a day and dressing light with one jacket. But we were very happy and contented. The main difference is usually our ‘desires’ are overwhelming and never ending. But in fact, our real ‘need’ is not so much! For instance, local people are living in poverty. They make just one thousand Hong Kong dollars a month. But they share all they have with their family members. They live together amiably. In short, happiness doesn't necessary come from materialistic satisfaction. Simple life can be happy.
Turn difficult time into opportunity
(R): Many people appear to be free spirit, but they are often disturbed by anger or hatred. Or they cannot let go attachment to people and past events. To some extent, they are tightly tied by these invisible chains and cannot relieve themselves from internal prison. Can they be genuinely happy?
(K): In the tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism training, we’ll conduct retreat. The retreat period can be as long as three years and three months. In Bhutan, according to tradition of Himalayas region, people shut the door of retreat cave with stone and cement. Only one tiny hole is left for food delivery. People follow this practice because they know that happiness does not come from external world. It is from within, your own heart.
To a certain extent, young inmates here are similar to us retreat practitioners. I wish they could look at life from the perspective of retreat training. Although they are living in this place (correctional institution), it is not at all bad. They can make use of this opportunity to train up their mind - to tame their mind to become more compassionate and forgiving. When they come to leave this place, they can then face and tackle any upcoming situations. If the mind is without desire, attachment and anger, internally it will become peaceful and graceful. Naturally he/she will feel at ease and pleasant. Thus, all depend on our mind and what attitude we adopt to look at happenings.
Neither good nor bad
(R): Everyone may have his/her time of anxiety and fearful moment. For these young people, they may worry that their background, identity and wrongful deeds once committed would have a bearing in their future. They may not be able to find a good job; or they may even be looked down on and viewed as unworthy. Because there is no bright future ahead, their self-esteem will become low and lack of confidence. Hence they will become shy, shameful and unable to face other as an equal. How can they overcome this psychological barrier?
(K): In fact, we do have a common point. That is, we all want to live happily and do not want to suffer. From this perspective, we are all equal. We are not so different. There is neither good nor bad in one’s job. The main thing is people classify work by using different standard and viewpoint according to different social and cultural norm. For example, in some developed countries, chef is regarded as a very nice and trendy profession and can make big money. However in some traditional regions such as in the Himalayas regions, working as a cook is a very low level job. These people have no social status. From Buddhist point of view, there is not much difference whether you are a banker or a caretaker. The reason is no matter how much money you may have made, you only take care of yourself and your family. You are solely responsible for ‘your own good’ and ‘your family’. If we look at it from a spiritual point of view, it doesn't matter what you do. If your motivation is to help other people, and whatever you do is from your heart and with sincerity, this is a great job. You will not only benefit others, but also yourself. It is because you are developing a compassionate heart.
Use positive attitude to face difficulty
(R): Why do you like to teach young inmates to meditate? What do you want them to experience in meditation?
(K): Practicing alone, meditation very much relies on one’s own will. However, it can be carried out whenever one chooses. With mindfulness and focusing on positive thoughts, meditation practices can help people calm their mind whilst feeling sad or encountering undesirable incident. In particular, when stranded in an unchangeable position, a positive attitude should be adopted to tackle and henceforth change one’s habitual attitude. One should focus on one’s possession rather than craving to what’s lacking. Otherwise one will become even more depressing. For instance, though we were extremely tired at times in our journey of ‘Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey’, we persevered climbing a mountain or dipping into water. The road was very harsh. At that moment, we didn't look up to check how long the road we needed to traverse. Rather, we looked back and checked how far we had come to this point. In this way, we could encourage and support ourselves.
Afterword: seed of love and compassion
We heard that not only the young inmates benefited from this short sharing and conversation, but also staff and officials of correctional institution. The latter appreciated most both inspiration and methods of the interaction and communication.
While upholding the principle faith of love, His Eminence Khamtrul Rinpoche spread the seed of love and compassion to the mind field of these young men. With karma ripening in due course, HE is hopeful that these seedlings will naturally sprout and healthily grow. They will be enhancing and inspiring examples to their dear ones too.
(Translated by Carol P. Lai in Beijing, 29 October 2012)
Ladakh, Bhutan relationship date back to 16th century
The opening of the Annual Drukpa Council (ADC) in Ladakh provided a moment for the Bhutanese and the Ladakhis to recount the relationship the two shared centuries ago.
Speaking at the opening yesterday at the Hemis monastery, home minister Minjur Dorji said friendship between Ladhak and Bhutan was established in the 16th century between Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and Ladakh King Singay Namgyal.
He said King Singay Namgyal had offered many religious monuments and temples in Ladakh to Zhabdrung.
He also said the prince of Laadakh, Tenzin served under Zhabdrung and later became the Wangduephodrang dzongpon.
“The younger prince Tenzin Duba was said to have been enrolled in one of Zhabdrung’s dratsangs and he was appointed as the Paro Penlop.” he said “He later became the eighth Je Khenpo of Bhutan.”
Ladhak autonomous hill development council’s executive councellor Rigzin Spalbar said the Bhutan and Ladakh could rekindle that relationship in the years to come.
He said about 9,000 Ladhakis had already visited Bhutan last year on pilgrimage.
Hundreds of people took part during the opening ceremony at the Choekhang.
Chairman of the ongoing ADC Thuksey Rinpoche said the main aim of the council was to bring all the Drukpa linage masters together and create unity in the Drukpa teachings.
Khamtrul Rinpoche, in one of the earlier interviews pointed out that about 40 percent of the Drukpa teachings had vanished thereby demanding such kind of meetings among the relevant masters to look for ways to revive those lost teachings.
“When there is a spiritual unity among the people, they can help each other revive dying cultures and teachings,” he said.
The head of the Drukpa linage Gyalwang Drukpa and Lyonpo Minjur hoisted the Drupa flag to open the ADC.
Today, the ADC participants and locals led by Gyalwang Drukpa and Lyonpo Minjur Dorji will plant 100,000 trees in an hour at Tungkalatok.
Historic nangten display at Hemis monastery
Annual Drukpa Council: For the first time, three nangtens (relics) of lhakhangs in Ladakh were displayed for public viewing yesterday at the Hemis monastery during the annual drukpa council.
The Dorji Phurpa Drothrabma (winged vajra dagger), which is the main nangten of Hemis monastery, Dorjisempa’s statue and Milarepa’s statue were the three relics.
Khamtrul rinpoche, Jigme Pema Nyinjadh, who was the chairman of first and second ADC, explained that the 31-inch tall winged dagger, which is 500 years old, is believed to have flown around those days, showing marks on its wings and distorted ears. “It has the power to cut off ignorance from the humans,” he said.
The Dorji Sempa statue of Kordzog lhakhang near Tshomoriri at Jangthang, which is about 180km away from Leh, was brought to the Hemis monastery. The statue, which is about 1,000 years old, was built by Guru Rinpoche, with a small Guru statue as the heart. Khamtrul rinpoche explained that the Guru’s statue inside the 31-inch Dorjisempa statue always keeps moving.
He said the four-inch tall Milarepa statue is a personal statue of Gyelwang Drukpa, and was built by Milarepa’s younger sister Peta Goenkyi. “It’s said that the hair grew on the head of the statue, and fell on its own,” Khamtrul rinpoche said.
Rinpoche, during one of the press meetings, said the statues have been in the safes of the lhakhangs until today, and were displayed to the public this year, following an order from Gyelwang Drukpa. “If you make a wish in front of these statues, you’ll be able to accomplish them,” he told the press.
On the night of October 29, Bhutan’s cultural team screened the shot-in-Ladakh Bhutanese film Sa Dha Naam, and performed cultural programmes yesterday night.
Sermon by Khamtrul Rinpoche
GANGTOK, 14 Oct.: The IXth Khamtrul Rinpoche Jigme Pema Nyinjadh of Druk-Sangag Choeling Gumpa, Darjeeling delivered a sermon here in the capital today. Although he frequently visits Sikkim, this was his first sermon here.
The Khamtrul Rinpoche and Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche are the spiritual heirs to the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa of the Drukpa Lineage. The lineage acquired the name Drukpa in the twelfth century when assuming human form, Avalokiteshvara, the Lord of Compassion - manifested in Tibet as the disciple of Mahasiddha Lingchen Repa and was called Drogon Tsangpa Gyare...(Please read full news in the following original news-clip)
