His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche’s extensive benevolent programmes at Mundgod, southern India
On 27 October 2015 His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche arrived at Phukhang Khangtsen (Phukhang Residential Department), Drepung Loseling Monastic University, in Mundgod Dhueguling Tibetan Settlement.
On 29 October 2015, in the morning inaugurated the formal opening of Phunkhang Khangtsen’s newly built Congregation Hall—including the holy Represents (images, paintings, etc.) and the residential quarters of the ordained. Rinpoche gave a formal speech on the occasion.
From 30 October 2015 till 1 November 2013, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave a daily spoken commentarial teachings, in the Congregation Hall of Phukhang Khangtsen, on Jey Tsongkhapa’s text The Foundation of All Excellent Qualities. On the last day of these teaching, Rinpoche gave specific advice to the monastic scholar practitioners. Over two thousand ordained and lay people attended the teachings.
On 2 November 2015, from Phukhang Khangtsen, Rinpoche arrived at the general Congregation Hall of Drepung Loseling Monastic University, where Rinpoche gave a 12-day commentarial teaching—from 3 November till 15 November—on Nagarjuna’s The Fundamental Wisdom and Buddhapalita’s Buddhapālita. Up to the fourth chapter was completed this time. Rinpoche concluded the series of the teachings by giving a specific guidance advice to the monastic scholar practitioners.
In the morning of 5 November 2015, on the occasion of Rinpoche’s birthday, DrepungLoseling Monastic University organised a programme, in celebration of the birthday. Early in the morning the general congregation of sangha held, in the Congregation Hall, a session of prayers and supplication request to kindly live long. Thereafter, in the upstairs Conference Hall, the officials of the monastic university gathered for a formal function, expressing gratitude and requesting Rinpoche to kindly live long.
During the 12-day teachings there were intermittent requests for teachings and blessing-transmissions on a variety of texts and practices. At the request of the Elder Sthavira Geshe Losang Phuntsok, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave the blessing-transmission of Saying Manjushri Names, along with brief commentarial instructions. At the request of Geshe Paldhen Drakpa, Rinpoche gave the blessing-transmission of The Praise to Buddha for Having Taught Dependent-related-arising. In explaining The Praise, Rinpoche touched upon the anecdotes indicating the greatness of Changkya’s literal Commentary, and Cho-ne Lama Rinpoche’s meaning Commentary, The Praise in Blend. At the request of Tulku Association of Drepung Loseling, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave the blessing-transmission of Six-Session Teacher Integration Practice, compiled by Kyabjey Phabongkha Dhechen Nyingpo.
In the evening of 8 November 2015 Rinpoche visited the whole-night dialectical debate on Middle View, at Drepung Loseling Monastic University. Also in attendance were His Eminence Gadhen Tri-Rinpoche, the Honourable Abbot and the Honourable Former Abbots.
On 9 November 2015, at the invitation of Sangbum Rinpoche, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche visited Sangbum Ladrang, where the gathered Sangbum Rinpoche and others offered to Rinpoche the request to kindly live long, by way of making Mandala Offering and offering of enlightened Body, Speech and Mind. Along with the Re-emanated lamas (Tulkus) of Drepung Loseling, Rinpoche did a Lama Choepa Tsog Offering (Delighting Teachers Offering rites). In the evening, at the residence of Drepung Loseling Congregation Hall, Rinpoche gave guidance instruction to the incoming new Administrative Officials—headed by the Honourable Abbot—of Drepung Loseling Monastic University.
In the morning of 15 November 2015, Drepung Loseling Monastic University offered a Tenshuk (a formal ceremony of request to kindly live long) to His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche.
At these series of teachings at Drepung, headed by the Honourable Abbot of Loseling, the Honourable Former Abbots, the senior officials and the Text Tutors, over 2500 devotees attended the teachings.
In the morning of 17 November 2015, at the request of Drepung Tsawa Khangtsen (Tsawa Residential Department), His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche bestowed the permission-empowerment of White Manjushri, in the system of the teacher Mati. Also, at the request of Tsawa Khangtsen, Rinpoche bestowed the blessing-transmissions of Saying Manjushri Names and the Praise to Manjushri Your Intelligence. Some 2500 devotees attended the session.
In the morning of 18 November 2015 His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave a guidance talk at the Great Dialectical Meet on Middle View and Perfection of Wisdom, in the main Congregation Hall of Drepung Monastic University, organised, by all Gelug, in celebration of the 80th Birth Anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and in remembrance of His Holiness’ kindness. Also present at the event were His Eminence Gadhen Tri-Rinpoche, the Honourable Abbots and the Honourable Former Abbots of Gadhen Monastic University and Drepung Monastic University.
The same morning, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave a guidance talk at Gadhen Jangtse School, on the unique knowledge heritage of Tibet, and the benefits in studying Buddhist teachings. Also, on the occasion, Rinpoche formally launched the School’s Children’s cartoon stories—Wonders of the World—Series One and Two.
After having well fulfilled the numerous requests of teachings and guidance at Mundgod, thus, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche headed to School of Snowland Studies, Gyudme, for programmes there.