Guidance in Bylakuppe, Southern India
In the morning of 18 November 2019, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche departed Institute of Gandhi Studies, Wardha and paid a visit to Acharya Vinoba Bhave’s residence at Pawnar Ashram, Wardha. Thereafter, taking a flight from Nagpur and arriving in Bangalore, His Eminence continued by car and upon arrival at Lawa Khamtsen, Sera Je Monastery, Bylakuppe, His Eminence was reverently welcomed by the Khamtsen’s ordained congregation and natives of Jol (His Eminence’s birthplace region) who have come from various parts of the world.
In the afternoon of 19 November 2019, requested and organised by Sera Je Secondary School, Sera Jey Monastery, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave a talk on the theme, “The responsibilities and ways of implementing, in the twenty-first century, by the exile monastic schools, the four commitments of His Holiness the Dalai Lama”. His Eminence also answered questions from the students. Thereafter, to mark His Eminence’s 80th Birthday Anniversary, the school offered the Three Represents (Enlightened Body, Speech and Mind, represented by a Buddha statue, a text and a stupa), in formally requesting His Eminence to kindly continue to live long.
In the morning of 20 November 2019, on the occasion of His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche’s 80th Birthday Anniversary, the people—both ordained and lay—of Jol offered His Eminence an extensive tenshuk, formal ceremony of requesting to kindly continue to live long.
Convened in the vihara-temple of Lawa Khamtsen, present at the ceremony were the honourable Abbots of Sera Jey and Gyudme Tantric Monastery; Kongpo Khensur Rinpoche; reincarnate lamas; the director of the Tibetan settlements in southern India; the Chief Officers of the five Tibetan settlements in southern India; a large contingent of Jolpa people from many countries.
In the afternoon, as repeatedly requested by Tashilhunpo Monastery, His Eminence Rinpoche visited the monastery and gave a guidance talk to the ordained congregation in the monastery’s main vihara-temple.
In the evening, Bylakuppe area alumni members of Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, convened a celebration of His Eminence’s 80th Birthday Anniversary, where the members, as expressions of gratitude, offered His Eminence gratitude citation and customary items. At their request, His Eminence gave a guidance talk on the occasion, emphasizing the need to be in service of society at large through being ethical and leading in thought.
In the morning of 21 November 2019, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave a talk to Jolpa people who have gathered from various parts of India and many countries.
In the afternoon, at the request of Jolpa people, His Eminence Rinpoche gave a commentarial teaching on the text The Seven-point Thought Training.
In the morning of 22 November 2019, His Eminence departed Lawa Khamtsen, for Kannur, from where by a flight His Eminence arrived in Delhi in the evening. The following day, in the morning His Eminence departed Delhi and arrived in Dharamshala.
