Very best wishes to everyone for the coming Tibetan New Year – the year of the Metal Rabbit. I have recently returned from a ten-day visit to India to sort out the UK Trust’s work over the coming year.  It is a lovely time to visit – hot sun during the day, but cool at night, and an unusual lack of biting insects to bother me!  

During my visit I had a series of meetings with the Administrators of the monastery, discussing the current projects and future plans for touring and supporting the monastery through the UK Trust. 

Our major project is the construction of the Choera or Debate Hall.  Taksel or Debate is a vital part of monastic education, especially in the Gelug tradition.  Once the texts are memorised, they are analysed in great depth using the energetic system of dialectical debate, which many of you may have seen during one of our tour performances.  In Tashi Lhunpo, all the senior monks (and many of the younger ones) take part very enthusiastically twice a day in a session of debate.  Sadly the old Choera is now far too small, and during the rainy season the debates sometimes have to be cancelled as there is simply no room for the monks to work under cover.  The Trust has been raising money to build a new one, and the funding for this is very nearly complete.  Work will start within the next couple of months, and should be complete within a year.  We still need to raise the next £7,500 to complete the payment, which we hope to do during the next tour.      

A busy debate in the old Choera

While I was there, the temple was being prepared for the New Year celebrations, and I was very lucky to see the monks making the torma or offerings for the celebrations, with the most intricate butter sculpture decorations.  These will now stay in the temple for the next twelve months.

This picture shows Kachen Lobzang Tsultim (rt) and Ven Lobzang Thokmed putting the torma into the display cabinet in the temple. 

Other projects we are working on through the Trust include the repair of the monastery’s water tower, which has sprung a leak.  This is something of a landmark, and will provide water to help the irrigation of the plantation of silver trees, which we hope will mature in the next ten years and provide income for the monastery, as well as the necessary water for the construction of the new Choera.  Better water supply has also enabled the monastery to grow more vegetables and fruit which is helping to reduce the daily food bill.  They are growing spinach, chillies, mooli (white radish) and tomatoes. There is even a crop of bananas on the way!

Many of the monks who are being sponsored in the UK hold important jobs within the Monastery, and here are some who have particular responsibilities.

Kachen Sherab is the Acting Abbot.  The Abbot himself lives in America, so Kachen Sherab represents him on the main administration committee, which takes responsibility for the day-to-day running of the monastery, and has the casting vote when necessary.  He has many philosophy students of his own, and also represents the monastery in meetings involving the whole Gelug tradition.  In addition, he is President of the New Dukhang Committee, responsible for building the new temple, on which work has now started. 

Kachen Choera, Geykoe Lama, Kachen Tsultim Nima & Ven Nawang la

Kachen Tsultim Nima has toured in the UK on several occasions.  In April 2010, he was elected by the monastery to be Chamtzöd, or Administrator, and will serve with three others for a period of three years.  He has overall responsibility for chairing the main committee of the Lachi or main office, and authority to confirm spending of up to Indian Rupees 1 lakh (Irs 1,00,000 = c. £1,500).  He will meet visitors to the monastery and help them in making offerings during prayer sessions, as well as working with the Disciplinarian (Geykoe Lama) to ensure that all is in order. 

Kachen Namgyal is ‘Kachen Choera’ – responsible for the monks’ study of philosophy and supervising the daily debates.  Each day there are two debate sessions – one from 8-9 am and another from 7-11pm.  He will consult with individual teachers to ensure that students are studying at the correct level.  Kachen Choera is also responsible for organising the Jamyang Kunchok – the debates between all monasteries in the Gelug tradition.  Held in a different Gelug monastery each year, about fifty students from Tashi Lhunpo will stay for a month, debating twice a day with scholars from other monasteries, taking both debating exams and written tests. 

Ven Kunchok la is Comnyeir – Manager of the Prayer Hall.  Each day before the prayer sessions, he will play the conch shell trumpet (dung-kar) from the temple roof to call the monks to prayer.  His responsibilities include making the daily offerings, and meeting and welcoming visitors to the prayer hall, answering any questions they may have about the statues or thangkas.  He is also responsible for the upkeep of the building itself, and is very happy that the new painting of the inside of the veranda will be finished in time for the New Year celebrations in March.

Ven Lobsang Jamyang is Totampa – the supervisor of Lobnyeir or Director of Studies.  ‘Tato-pa’s’ responsibilities include the setting of philosophy examination dates and question papers, including deciding the topics for debate.  Once the exams have taken place, he will organise the marking and issuing of results.  Elected by the monks (as is the case for all these posts) Ven Lobsang Jamyang will hold this post for three years before stepping down.

Some sponsors have visited the monastery this year, and I know that the monks were very happy to meet them.  The next group of monks will be coming to the UK in September 2011, and preliminary details are already in the Tours section of the website.  If anyone has any ideas for arts centres, theatres, schools or other venues where a performance or workshop would be of interest, please do get in touch.  ______________________________________________________________________

PO BOX 2284, SALISBURY SP2 2JA

After many years of planning, we are delighted that the construction of the new Assembly Hall for Tashi Lhunpo Monastery has now begun.

On 3rd September 2010, His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited the monastery and this is the report of his visit:

Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, 3rd September 2010.

At 9.10am His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived at the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. The rain had stopped and the weather was perfect for the welcome ceremony to His Holiness. Everyone was so happy to welcome His Holiness. It was a great and auspicious moment for Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. He was greeted by the Abbot, Former Abbot, Lamas, the monks and lay people. 

Around 500 people both monks and lay people were present at the monastery to welcome and receive blessings from His Holiness. Also present were the Tibetan government officials from Dharamsala.

Actually the visit was scheduled from 11.50 am to 1.50 pm with a Lunch at the monastery, but due to some circumstances we were informed that His Holiness will be visiting the monastery at the morning hours. 

Inside the main prayer hall, the prayer offering of His Holiness the 1^st Dalai Lama Gyalwa Gedun Drup was recited and then offering of tea and ceremonial rice was served.

His Holiness inquired how many monks are there in the monastery and also inquired about the monk who recently came from Tibet. He was called upon and had conversation about Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Tibet. His Holiness also inquired about the progress on the New Temple construction. Ven. Lobsang Dorjee la informed that the construction work will begin from October, His Holiness reiterated his support and asked to contact him about the progress of the New Temple.

Most importantly, His Holiness stressed on the importance of Education and asked the monks to do their best. 

We had the opportunity to take a group photo with Holiness and every one was so happy to capture this moment.

Later, His Holiness was invited to visit the New Temple model which was placed in the Palace.

                                                                                                                                                The construction of the new Assembly Hall began on 13^th November 2010 with special prayers in the monastery.  The construction is to be undertaken by a local contractor, Mr Seena, and yesterday 5^th December, the architect Mr Sangay Choephel la and his engineer arrived at the monastery to give guidance on the positioning of the pillars.

If you would like to offer a donation towards the cost of this very important project for Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, or would like any additional information, please do get in touch with us at info@tashi-lhunpo.org.uk, +44 (0)1722 782265, or send a cheque made payable to Tashi Lhunpo Monastery UK Trust to PO Box 2284, Salisbury SP2 2JA.  Thank you for your support.isHis

Dorset-born composer Barry Ferguson has agreed to join the Tashi Lhunpo monks during their residency at Dartington Summer School in July, and is writing music specifically for the event. 

The beautiful blessing, “Shijoe”, which the monks use to dedicate their performance for the benefit of all sentient beings, has inspired him to write vocal pieces for participants on the course, using the pentatonic scale on which the melody of the Tibetan prayer is based.  A full day will be devoted to working with Barry during the week-long summer school course, and there will be a performance of the new works that evening.

In the meantime, Barry has again honoured the monks by composing a very beautiful hymn tune.  Called ‘Tashi’, the hymn is to be used especially on the Feast of the Annunciation (25th March).  The words are by Christina Rosetti. 

We hope this will be the beginning of a very interesting partnership, and an interesting joining of the cultures of East and West.

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2008

Thank you, as ever, for your continuing support for the Monastery through the work of the UK Trust. 

We remain enormously grateful to all of you who are sponsors of monks.  Your donations contribute to the well-being of the entire monastery, through the food fund, in education, healthcare through the clinic, as well as giving the individual monk a connection with someone from the other side of the world.  Thank you so much for your continuing support.

News from the Monastery is that the project to add a second floor to the school building has now been completed, and that the students are very happy with their new accommodation.  Last year a donor gave funds for the purchase of a photocopier, and we are now looking for a projector for use during lessons, so if anyone has a spare/second-hand one that is no longer needed, it would have a good home in the school!  The construction of the Choera (Debate Hall) will start within the next few months, and this, when completed, will be of immense benefit to the monks.  We have also recently learned that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be in South India during February and early March 2009, and we hope he will visit the monastery at some stage during his time there and see the improvements which the monks have made.   The major appeal for funds continues for the construction of the much-needed new Assembly Hall, of which the Choera makes the first stage. 

The cultural tour of eight monks during 2008 started auspiciously with a Chenrezig Sand Mandala exhibition in King’s College Chapel, Cambridge as part of the Heart of the World Festival.  This offered the opportunity for a couple of ‘sporting’ activities: a second cricket match with the Britten Symphonia and punting on the Cam, both of which were greatly enjoyed by all involved.

The visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the UK in May again saw the monks in splendid surroundings, making a Mandala in the Upper Waiting Hall of the House of Commons prior to His Holiness’ visit to address the Members of Parliament in the Foreign Affairs Committee. 

 

Photo:  © Georgina Cranston

The monks were also in Nottingham during the five days of teachings organised by Dharma Network, and offered prayers on stage ahead of each session of teachings, as well as completing a vajrasattva Mandala.

We returned to Bournemouth for a sand mandala exhibition in the Library and performance in the BIC, and were invited to tea with the Mayor.  A small contingent drove to the Netherlands for the Mundial Festival near Eindhoven where, in spite of constant rain, Ven Thokmed la managed to make a peace mandala to huge popular acclaim.  Although prevented from taking the whole group due to problems with visas, we have been invited back for the same festival in 2009, and hope that we will manage to get all the monks there this time.  We also worked in Spain with our Agent, who has been finding a lot of good work for us.

The next stage of the tour took us to Suffolk, Exeter, Yorkshire, Newcastle, Chipping Norton, Sandwich and back to Jersey on the Channel Islands for two performances in the Jersey Arts Centre.  We were, as you can imagine, very grateful for our new/secondhand minibus, which made the driving much more comfortable.  More highlights included a week on the Isle of Wight at Quay Arts Centre in Newport, a performance at Womad near Malmesbury, after which Rinpoche gave an interview for Radio 3, and a final four days in Devon and Cornwall.

The monks returned to India at the beginning of August, and came back to the UK for a second mini-tour at the beginning of October, when they spent a week in Bath at the beautiful Museum of East Asian Art.  We drove to Bridlington for a performance at Sewerby Hall for Music Port, which was only marred by a broken clutch on the way home which necessitated an AA relay journey home.  The monks spent a week in the Czech Republic where they had a great VIP reception and were personally entertained by the Mayor, staying in a five star hotel.  We now have rather a lot to live up to!

We have been developing our workshops over this year, and have been invited to a number of very interesting places, including a school in Puddletown, organised by Salisbury Cathedral interfaith organisation, a series of Nottingham schools in the wake of HH the Dalai Lama’s visit, a return visit to Port Regis School in Dorset and three days in HM Prison The Verne, where the monks made a mandala and ran a series of art and performance workshops for the prisoners.

A film crew from Channel 4 followed us around for most of the tour, and we are hoping that we will hear that a short film has been commissioned.  We also brought out are new CD, ‘Dawn till Dusk’, which was reviewed favourably in Songlines, the world music magazine, and brought us quite a lot of good publicity during the year.

The monks will be back in the UK for another series of performances in 2009, and we very much hope to see you at some point during the tour.  The full programme will be here as usual in due course.  We are also planning a visit to Ladakh during the late summer 2009 to visit many of the places where the monks from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery come from.  Please do contact us if you are interested in coming along.

Please do keep in touch with us, and thank you again for your support over the past year. 

With very best wishes for a happy Christmas and a successful and prosperous 2009.