Teachings at Tenzingang and Bomdila

In the afternoon of 3 June 2017 His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche arrived in New Delhi, from Dharamshala, and on the following day His Eminence Rinpoche attended the administrative meeting of Ayur Gyan Nya; in the afternoon, His Eminence Rinpoche spared time for people coming for audience.

In the morning of 5 June 2017 His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche departed New Delhi, and thereafter, upon arrival at Guwahati airport His Eminence Rinpoche was accorded revered welcome by Abbot of Gontse Gadhen Rabgyeling Monastery Bomdila, President of Preservation of Buddhist Teachings and Culture Bomdila, Abbot of Mon Tawang Gadhen Lhatse Monastery, Settlement Officer of Tenzingang Tibetan Settlement, Administrator of Tenzingang Gyuto Monastery and others. On the way, His Eminence Rinpoche was welcomed at Bhairavkund, at the India-Bhutan border,by the owner of the main hotel offered tea; the local dignitaries came to pay respect. Likewise, upon arrival at Tenzingang Gyuto Monastery, His Eminence Rinpoche was welcomed by the monastery’s ordained members and the general public.

In the morning of 6 June 2017, as requested by Tenzingang Gyuto Monastery, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche bestowed to the general congregation of ordained and the public, a permission-blessing longevity-empowerment of Amitayus, in the system of Siddhirāja. His Eminence Rinpoche spared time for devotees seeking audience.

In the afternoon, upon arrival at Gontse Gadhen Rabgyeling Monastery, Bomdila, the ordained members and the lay public welcomed His Eminence Rinpoche.

Starting from the afternoon of 8 June 2017, for the next 8 days (till 18 June 2017), at the request of Gontse Gadhen Rabgyeling Monastery, Bomdila, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche continued from last year’s teachings, on Jey Tsongkhapa’s text The Middling [Length] Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, at the monastery’s congregation hall.

At the start of each day’s teachings, His Eminence Rinpoche advised on the need to set altruistic motive and appropriate conduct in listening to the sublime teachings, as instructed from The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. Continuing on the way of training the mind on the stages of the path common to intermediate capable person, His Eminence Rinpoche taught in great details, and explaining further on the way of training the mind on the stages of the path of the great capable person, His Eminence Rinpoche completed during this teaching visit the entire text. In between the sessions of teachings His Eminence spared time for audience by devotees and others.

 

Those at these teachings comprised of devotees from Bomdila, Tawang, Lawu, Dirang, Salari, SengeZong, Rupa, Tenga, Jang, etc.

In the morning of 18 June 2017 Gontse Gadhen Rabgyeling Monastery, Bomdila, offered a Tenshuk (a formal request to kindly continue to live long) to His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche.

In the afternoon of 20 June 2017, organised by Bomdila Buddhist Society, His Eminence Prof.Samdhong Rinpoche gave a talk on the requested theme of “The Three Altruistic Commitments of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” at Bomdila Auditorium.

At the start, Sangja Khandu (Principal, Government College, Bomdila) gave a welcome speech. Thereafter, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave the talk, pointing out: Since His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a bodhisattva, His Holiness would work for sentient beings’ welfare, yet the reason why there is the first commitment—to promote human ethical values—is because except for humans the other species (such as animals) do not have the ability to communicate through intellect and vocal expression; the problems in the world are inclusive to the five major problems/conflicts, which are all man-made, stemming from decline in human ethics; His Holiness the Dalai Lama these days endevours to give guidance on ethics through education.

His Eminence Rinpoche, in that connection, cited the books by His Holiness for promoting ethical values, and gave the insight that it is due to lapses in carrying out our universal responsibility towards the whole world that there are the five inequalities.

His Eminence Rinpoche thereafter spoke on the contributions by His Holiness on the second—Religious Harmony—and the third commitment, for Tibet’s cause.

Furthermore, His Eminence Rinpoche mentioned of the relevance of Gandhi’s non-violence view; the methods to reduce greed; how to carry on our universal responsibility; and other issues.

At the end His Eminence Rinpoche answered questions, followed by gratitude speech by Dorjee Tsering (Chairman, Bomdila Buddhist Society.

In the afternoon of 21 June 2017, organised by Society for Preservation of Buddhist Teachings and Culture Bomdila, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave a talk on the requested theme of “What is education?,” at Bomdila Auditorium. At the start, Ven. Geshe Thupten Kunphen, the Chairman of the Society for Preservation of Buddhist Teachings and Culture, gave the welcome speech.

Thereafter, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche began the talk, giving the insights that: Education is to be understood as that by which intellect could be awakened; if one is able to awaken one’s intellect, ethical values would ensue naturally.

Continuing on, His Eminence Rinpoche described the Meaning of education; Purpose of education, The aim of imparting education; viewpoint as regards teachers; viewpoint as regards students; viewpoint as regards the methods of teaching; although many years have elapsed since India gained independence, yet its legal system, its administration, its education system are still the same from that of the time of British rule.

After touching upon other related points, His Eminence Rinpoche answered questions, followed by gratitude speech by Ven. Sangye Tsering, Disciplinarian of Gontse Gadhen Rabgyeling Monastery. A large gathering of audience at the talk comprised of local political dignitaries, doctors, teachers, students and others.