Dehradun, Mussoorie and Rajpur visits

On 5 September 2017 His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche departed from Dharamshala, and upon arrival in New Delhi participated in the two-day (6 – 7 September 2017) meeting of Ayur Gyan Trust.

Thereafter, on 8 September 2017 His Eminence Rinpoche headed to Dehradun by train, where at the train station His Eminence Rinpoche was accorded a revered welcome by the Representative of Dekyiling Settlement, the General Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of Tibetan Homes Foundation, Mussoorie, and many dignitaries of the area.

On 9 September 2017, as requested since many years past, His Eminence Prof.Samdhong Rinpoche delivered Vinoba Memorial Lecture, on the requested theme of “Relevance of Vinoba thought in the current context.”

Organised by Dehradun Sarvodaya Mandal, and convened in the conference hall of MKP College, Dehradun, the event commenced with His Eminence Rinpoche and Dr Indu Singh, the Principal of the college, offering flower garlands to the picture of Acharya Vinoba Bhave, followed by a prayer recital by a group of students from the college, and a short welcoming traditional dance.

Dr Indu Singh gave a speech, outlining the differences in the ways of eastern thinking and that of the west.

Shri Pawan Kumar Gupta then gave a speech introducing His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche.

Thereafter, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave the lecture, giving insights into the ways of thinking of Acharya Vinoba Bhave; Vinoba’s meeting with Mahatma Gandhi; and the works undertaken subsequent to the meeting.

Continuing on, His Eminence Rinpoche presented perspectives on diverse demarcations of what is to be meant by “current context,” in the lecture’s theme.

In conclusion, on the point of whether or not Vinoba’s thought would be relevant is to be judged through whether or not one implements into practice the thought. His Eminence Rinpoche then explained in great details on the two outcomes.

His Eminence Rinpoche then answered questions from the participants, followed by Mr Biju Negi, on behalf of the organising host, expressing gratitude for the lecture. Dignitaries, Gandhi followers, teachers, students, and others from the area attended the lecture.

On 10 September 2017 His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche departed from the guest house of Rajpur Tibetan Homes Foundation, and upon arrival at Tibetan Homes Foundation, Mussoorie, was accorded a revered welcome by the school’s (THF) teachers, staff members, foster parents, and school prefects.

After a brief rest in the office of the General Secretary, Tibetan Homes Foundation, His Eminence Rinpoche headed to Tsering Dolma Hall, and there gave a guidance talk on the requested two-part theme of “Subsequent to schooling, the ways of taking social responsibilities; and, to be grateful for kindness.”

After a welcoming speech by Mr Gedun Rinchen, the Assistant General Secretary of the foundation, His Eminence Rinpoche gave the guidance talk, pointing out that: the systems of education, law and administration made by the British have remained the same in India; unless the collective karma do not become ripe, things would be difficult; that there is a decline in ethics in the present society is the most obvious evidence of the insufficiency of the present education system; decline in ethics gives rise to the present situation of ever-increasing sustenance poverty, the gap between the poor and the rich, killings and oppressions in the name of religion.

Furthermore, His Eminence Rinpoche continued: It is as if the modern education system teaches competition of defeating others and winning for oneself, oppression and exploitation, and so forth; as such, His Holiness the Dalai Lama strongly emphasises the need for promoting ethics in the education system; if what one knows becomes positive attribute it then becomes knowledge (this is the etymological sense in the Tibetan of the compound word śes-yon, knowing-attributes, education); if one has such an education then there naturally would be the thought of duty; if what one knows do not become positive attributes, there would then be the present post-modern ills of viewing the individual as more important than the collective, rights rather than duties, competition over cooperation, and so forth.

Touching upon the importance of one’s language, His Eminence Rinpoche advised: If one forgets one’s language—the clearest and the most important mark of one’s race/ethnicity—one has not accomplished the duty of one’s race; since conceptual thoughts and expressed language are mutually dependent, one’s native language is so important; if one does not have freedom over language, one has no freedom over thoughts and behaviour, and if there were no freedom over behaviour there would be no freedom over making decisions.

At the end His Eminence Rinpoche answered questions, followed by a thanksgiving speech by Mr GedunRinchen, the Assistant General Secretary.

In the morning of 11 September 2017 His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave a guidance talk, at Tibetans Homes Foundation, Rajpur, on the requested theme of “The ways students should see the nature and objectives of education, and the ways teachers and parents should bear the responsibilities and give guidance in achieving them.”

Mr Gedun Rinchen, the Assistant General Secretary, Tibetan Homes Foundation, gave a welcoming speech.

Thereafter His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave a guidance talk on the theme. His Eminence Rinpoche remarked on the need for secular ethics, and also gave extensive advice on ways of providing means and medium for the four attributes—freedom, altruism, continuity and innovation—within the minds of students. His Eminence Rinpoche answered in great details the questions at the end, followed by a word of thanks by Mr Gedun Rinchen.

The same evening His Eminence Rinpoche departed Rajpur, boarded a train for Pathankot, arriving there the following morning, and thereafter arrived in Dharamshala.