h.e Khamtrul Rinpoche IX - The Official Tenzin Palmo Website

Dr. Karan SinghPATRONh.e Khamtrul Rinpoche IXSPIRITUAL DIRECTORDr. Bhupendra Kumar ModiPATRONGATSALISSUE No.29 Newsletter of the Dongyu Gatsal Ling NunneryMAY 2013

Front cover: H.E. Khamtrul Rinpoche at DGL Temple Consecration.Dear friends,This edition of our GatsalNewsletter is full of the recent activitiesat our Nunnery culminating in 3days of celebrations for our Templeconsecration which also commemoratedthe completion (almost) of the Nunnerybuildings.Last October 2012 all our nunsand staff went to Jangchub Jong - themonastic settlement of Kyabje DorzongRinpoche - for 3 days of empowermentsand teachings on Chöd bestowed by HisHoliness the Gyalwang Karmapa. It wasa very joyful and inspiring occasion inthis perfect setting and was especiallymeaningful for our nuns since theyperform a short Chöd ritual everyevening and a 4 hour Chöd puja eachfull-moon day.In January my assistant Ani Aileenand I went to Vaishali in Bihar to attendthe International Sakyadhita conferencebeing held this time at the place whereMaha Prajapati - who was the LordBuddha’s aunt and stepmother - becamethe first Buddhist nun. The VietnameseNunnery in Vaishali went to greattrouble to create a charming setting forthis gathering - despite the cold weather.Sakyadhita (Daughters of the Buddha)is an important women’s organisationthat brings together female scholars andpractitioners from around the world tomeet and discuss topics of interest toBuddhist women.Also in January five of our seniornuns went to His Holiness the GyalwangDrukpa’s Nunnery in Nepal to learn thesacred art of Khandro Cham - DakiniDancing - with the intention of bringingback what they had learned and teachingsuitable nuns here at DGL. HH theGyalwang Drukpa kindly covered all theirAbove: Jetsunma with nuns after Guru Rinpoche puja.expenses and provided ten of the elaboratecostumes needed for these dances.During February all our nuns tookpart in the International campaign called“One Billion Rising” to raise awarenessabout violence towards women. We helda local march, joined enthusiastically byour on-site workers both women andmen. Later a busload of our senior nunstravelled to Dharamsala to take part in anevening candlelight March to the mainTemple. By this time the nuns were wellpractisedin their Hindi campaign songand were the defining voice of the March!Our second graduating class of 6nuns travelled to Sri Lanka in March,again sponsored by HH the GyalwangDrukpa, to join 400 others (mostlynuns) on a Walking Pilgrimage, knownas a Padyatra. The walk covered over 500kilometres and was a Peace walk fromsouth to north, visiting many Pilgrimageplaces along the way. It was a very2 GATSAL ISSUE 29www.tenzinpalmo.com

Top left: Gyalwang Karmapa bestowing Chöd empowerment.memorable trip for everybody.Nowadays our nuns are alsopractising their typing skills and thesenior nuns are receiving computerinstruction from an IT couple namedAnu and Ravi who have been wonderfulin teaching the nuns so that they cangradually take over more of the tasksinvolved in running this Nunnery.Also in March 2013 the KhampagarMonastery at Tashi Jong held their annualGuru Padmasambhava Cham or LamaDances for 3 days. This year was especiallyauspicious as it commemorated the300th anniversary of the 3rd KhamtrulRinpoche’s vision of Guru Rinpocheand his Eight Emanations on which thedances are based. This year our nunswere requested to join the monks intheir chanting rituals inside the newlyrebuilt shrine room [Kunga Rawa] atTashi Jong. This must be the first timethat such an invitation has been offeredto nuns in the history of Khampagar!Shortly afterwards Kyabje DorzongRinpoche assisted by 9 senior monksof the Khampagar Monastery offeredGetsul ordination to 19 of our nuns.They were very happy to receive thesevows and now all but the smallest nunshave this novice ordination.The main event of the Nunneryhas been the consecration of our mainTemple on 18th April officiated byKyabje Khamtrul Rinpoche with KyabjeDorzong Rinpoche, Kyabje DuguChoegyal Rinpoche and other Lamasand monks including five togdensfrom Khampagar Monastery and themonks of Jangchub Jong Monastery.Our nuns displayed their confidencein ritual by enacting the roles of chantleader, sacristan and musicians whilethe monks joined in the chanting whichlasted throughout the day.The next day was the Celebrationattended by almost 1000 guests - monks,nuns, officials and friends from aroundthis region. Speeches were given andafter lunch the nuns gave performancesof which they have written their ownaccounts within.I feel that this entire project has beenin the hands of Arya Tara and fulfilsthe wishes of my root Lama KhamtrulDongyu Nyima. How much gratitudewe have to all those who have madeDongyu Gatsal Ling a reality throughtheir generous offering of service andsupport throughout the years.Now Dongyu Gatsal Ling is no longera dream but a reality that we pray willrealise the intentions of the Three Jewelsand all our precious Lamas. Thank you.May you all be well and happy,MAY 2013 www.tenzinpalmo.comGATSAL 3

Temple ConsecratiThe following are a compilation of accounts written by various nuns.How lucky we are! It has taken some years to build ourtemple and finally the opportunity came for consecrationby His Eminence Khamtrul Rinpoche with H.E DorzongRinpoche, H.E Choegyal Rinpoche and some other tulkus.All nuns were very busy up to this day and everyone veryexcited. The Temple has been very nicely painted frominside and outside. It had also been beautifully decorated.On the morning of April 18th we were ready to welcomeH.E. the 9th Khamtrul Rinpoche, Shedrup Nyima, theSpiritual Director of our nunnery.After these offerings we started our Vajrasattva Puja. Wewere very happy to join the puja because this is first timeto celebrate puja with our root guru in our nunnery. Wetried to lead our puja to the best of our ability. Ani JigmeChodron was the Umze – chant leader – she did very well.It was her first time to lead chants with monks. Althoughshe was feeling shy on this day, her voice was steady whenwe do the puja.All the nuns were wearing ceremonial dress for theoccasion and playing cymbals and trumpets. He was givena very warm welcome and we escorted him to the Templewhere he cut the ribbon and did some auspicious prayersoutside the new Temple’s door and then we all went insidetogether. Later Jetsunma and nuns offered mandala to ourguru for Long Life. Then we offered sweet rice to Rinpocheand all the others.Now the 3 statues in the Temple are blessed. We werevery happy that from now on the temple was blessed bygreat Rinpoches, Tulkus, Togdens and Khenpos. It wasa star Puja! I love my temple. All the Rinpoches, Tulkusand Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo were highly pleased with ourperformance.Khamtrul Rinpoche, Dorzong Rinpoche, ChogyalRinpoche and some of the Togdens stayed overnight in ourtemple. We were so lucky that they accepted our request.4 GATSAL

on & CelebrationsI was the chanting leader (Umze) at thattime. I felt so worry of that and I thoughthow is it going to happen. Because Inever done before. It was my first time tobe Umze with my root guru and monks.At first I was little bit nervous. SuddenlyI thought I am very lucky because I gota very good opportunity to do Puja withmy guru. When I thought this I felt veryhappy and comfortable. Therefore myvoice was stronger than before.Jigme ChodronNext day on the 19th April there was a celebration ofthe Consecration. Nearly 1000 people had been invitedand sitting arrangement had been made for all, with theRinpoches and VIPS sitting on the porch outside the hugedoors of the temple and the rest down below on chairskept in row. We were honoured that Kalon Pema Chinjor(Minister for Religion & Culture) and Rinchen KhandroChoegyal (Director of Tibetan Nuns Project) were inattendance and gave speeches.about how much knowledge is useful to our life. ThenH.E. Dorzong Rinpoche gave his long speech. He spoke ofJetsunma’s life story.Finally, H.E. Khamtrul Rinpoche was invited to deliverhis speech and bless the people gathered in the courtyard.He said in his address how to go about the future plans ofthe DGL nunnery. He also gave some important pieces ofadvice to the nuns reminding us that it is important to notjust study but to practice whatever we study. We need totrain our minds. If we have lots of material things we donot get happiness but if we train our minds then we getinner happiness. He thanked Jetsunma for establishing thisbeautiful nunnery for the benefit of girls from the Himalayanregion. We felt so happy listening to him. Whatever he saidis so very useful for our present and future.After the speeches, then it was time for lunch. At 1 30.pmall assembled once again in the courtyard. Then there wasprogramme presented by the DGL nuns. The first item wasthe Dakini dance. The first dance was only five nuns. Theyare looking very nice because they are wearing the brocadeKhandro-ma dress. The next dance was with 16 Dakininuns. Everybody liked it.The celebration started with Ven Jetsunma’s speechwelcoming everyone. She thanked first our root guru andother people. She gave a brief history of DGL nunnery,explained what made her to set up the nunnery here, howshe raised funds for building it, who all were involved inits construction and she explained how many difficultiesto build our nunnery together with the nunnery aims andobjectives. She was loudly cheered by the audience whenshe finished her speech.Both Rinchen Khandro and Kalon Pema Chinjor spokeGATSAL 5

Temple ConsecratiThe nuns also performed a very funny play where theywere trying to get the attention of a nun who had gone intoSamadhi. Everybody laughed a lot.The Rinpoches said that we looked like we had beendoing this dance for a long time but we had just learned itand this was our first time doing it in public.(see report on Trip to Nepal on page 8)After thinking a lot, I decided to learn theDakini dance. Many nuns volunteered butonly 13 were chosen. First I worried, then Ithought I will offer this dance to my guru.Very calm I was very happy to my lamas andeveryone. This was my first time to show theDakini Dance. I am so grateful to offer theDakini dance to my Root Guru, Jetsunmaand all the people who came to see. I was sohappy of that.Samten ChodronThen there was a short play by the nuns relating tothe Buddha’s life and his Step Mother, Mahaprajapati, thefirst ordained nun of the sangha. It was quite a movingperformance.6 GATSAL Tenzin Lhakpa Dolma Keither

on & CelebrationsThis was followed by a scene about the Buddha. TheRinpoches and everybody stood when the Buddha walkedin. It was very special. Our Gen la, Tsultrim Zangmo, whoguided us with these plays made a special hat of black beadsfor the Buddha’s hair. She asked many tailors, they could nothelp. So she made one herself, it took her a long time to do.Then there was an exciting philosophical debate. Ourdebate teacher is Gen Ngawang Losal from KhampagarMonasteryFinally the function came to an end and all the visitorswere invited for tea on the other side of the temple. Theywere all given packets of Tsog (blessed food offerings) forthem.All people enjoyed and it was very auspicious day. Allnuns did very well and all peoples were very happy. All kindof programs which we made went very well. It was kind ofour Genlas who helped us in every way.After our program finish on the third day we have thespecial Puja of Guru Padmasambhava in our new Templefor all sentient beings. On that day it was only our nunsattending and after the puja we got blessing from Jetsunmaand we have our photo taken with Jetsunma.I played the role of the Buddha. I was happyto act as the Buddha. I was feeling so good.I felt as if the Buddha himself was helpingme to behave and speak the way I did onthat day.Sherab TsomoI was scared at the beginning of the Buddhaplay but after some time I was fine. WhenI was saying the food prayer I did not evennotice anything around me. I was feelingvery light calm and happy. I was thinkingonly of the Buddha and even after the playwas over I stayed in that very light feeling ofbeing with the Buddha. I wanted to stay likethat all the time.Tsewang ChodronGATSAL 7

Dakini Dancing at Druk Amitabha in NepalWe five nuns went to Druk Amitabha Mountain tolearn Dakini dances on 19th December. We were there for20 days. They taught usvery happily and nicely.All the nuns werevery welcoming. Ourteachers, Gen-la Tenzinand Gen-la Yeshe didnot behave like teachers,more like friends.Because it is our firsttime dancing ever Idid not know how todo the hands, legs andbody. They were verypatient. Gen-la Tenzinis studying English inDelhi but she made timeto come to Nepal so shecould teach us. For the first day it looked very difficult and Ithought how am I going to learn it. So I practiced again andagain and became even more interested to learn properly.On New Year’s Eve from 10.pm we did a big Puja withH.H. the Gyalwang Drukpa, Rinpoches, Tulkus and all thenuns. There were manybutter lamps and eachnun took a lamp andcircumambulated theStupa while chanting.After we learned thedance the GyalwangDrukpa called us withthe Gen-las to showhim what we hadlearned. (see photo) Wewere scared and happybecause it is lucky tohave the chance todance in front of him.He asked us not toforget the steps and topractice the dances in our nunnery. He offered ten brocadeDakini costumes clothes to our nunnery. That was verykind and so nice.When they returned to DGL the nunstrained other DGL nuns in dancing skills.Within a short time they practice hard andwere able to do it nicely. We were asked togive a performance at the Consecrationceremony. Though we had less time yetwe practiced really very hard to put up agood show. At first as I was dancing I onlyconcentrated on my steps, however after aminute or two I was hardly aware of others. Irealized I had regained my confidence. I feltas if the Dakinis themselves were helping mein my various dance movements. I started toenjoy every moment of it. I was overjoyedlater to learn that everyone present weredelighted to see our performance evenKhamtrul Rinpoche and H.E. DorzongRinpoche and H.E. Choegyal Rinpochewere very happy to see us dancing so welldespite our little practice. I am sure if we getanother chance to present the dance againwe will do much better.Kelsang Tsomo8 GATSAL www.tenzinpalmo.comISSUE 29

PADYATRAIN SRILANKAIt is a tradition of DGL Nunnery to send thegraduating senior nuns once on a Pilgrimage tovarious religious sites within India. This year it wasour turn. We were very lucky as we were chosen to goto Sri Lanka to join a Peace Pad Yatra which is leadingby His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa.His Holiness was invited by His Excellency MahindPaypaksa, President of Sri Lanka, to undertake thissixth Pad Yatra, which was also the first to be heldoutside of India. From the beginning we were veryhappy and excited about this Pilgrimage. None of ushad been outside the country and had not seen theocean ever once.From here at DGL we went to Delhi by bus, fromDelhi we took the train to Chennai, from Chennai wewent to Colombo by air. In Sri Lanka we were all givena very fine Reception Party. The Pad Yatra started onMarch 6th. We walked 15 kilometres every day. Wewent to many holy places there including Sri Pada,Kandy, Matale, Dambulla, Sigiriya , Polonnawuwaand Auradhapura. We went to Jaffna also.We cooked our food ourselves. We were put ingroups of ten nuns each. Each of us carried our ownbedding material. When we reached some goodplace we slept there by spreading our beddings onthe floor. We would always get up four o clock, didour Puja, then we would have our breakfast. Afterthis we resumed our march. At 12 noon we cookedour lunch, listened to a Dharma teaching from H.H.Gyalwang Drukpa and after listening we were againon the road. Then we would stop for cooking our foodfor the night. Again we did our puja. We were hardlyconscious of our passing time. The most amazing partof our Pad Yatra was ascending 12,000 steps to reachthe top of a holy place called Adam’s Peak. We alsowent in a boat to see Nagarjuna’s place. It was verynice and well maintained.H.H. the Gyalwang Drukpa presented a relic of theBuddha to the Sri Lankan Government on the last dayof our stay.It was first trip of going on a Pilgrimage with sucha High Lama and big group of nuns, monks and otherlay people. We were all together about four hundredfrom around the world. I enjoyed the whole Yatra. SriLankan people are very nice. They all are maximumBuddhists. They offered us water and biscuits, sweetsand flowers on the way. They were very devoted to us.It was very kind of Jetsunma to us. If she is nothere we never get a chance like that in our life. We arevery thankful for all the people who helped to us forthat Pilgrimage.MAY 2013 www.tenzinpalmo.comGATSAL 9

Getsul OrdinationDue to the kindness of H.E. DorzongRinpoche along with 9 senior monks from theKhampagar monastery during the month ofMarch nineteen of our nuns received Getsulma[novice] ordination here. There was a veryjoyful atmosphere amongst the nuns as theyprepared for their respective ceremonies totake these vows.How to Support the Nuns at DGLJetsunma Tenzin Palmo and the nuns at Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery thank our supporters in a mostheartfelt manner. Your kindness helps our Nunnery to flourish and keep the Dharma alive.Sponsorship of a nun here costs $365 per year.Credit card and electronic bank transfers can be made online by visiting our website www.tenzinpalmo.comCheques can be made payable to Dongyu Gatsal Ling Trust and posted to:Dongyu Gatsal Ling NunneryVillage Lower MuttPO Padhiarkhar, Via TaragarhDistt. Kangra HP 176081 IndiaUS Donors can make their donations tax deductible by making them via Dongyu Gatsal Ling Initiatives,a U.S. not-for-profit organisation.Kindly go to www.dglinitiatives.org or email info@dglinitiatives.org for further information.Dongyu Gatsal Ling Trust is registered in India as a Charitable organisation designated for the support ofDongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery and its activities.10 GATSAL www.tenzinpalmo.comISSUE 29

ABOUT OURSELVESMy name is Kunsang Lhamo and my sister namecalled Kalden Chotso. I am eighteen years old andKalden is sixteen. We are come from Nepal. Wehave three brothers and two sisters. Two are elderand one is younger. Our elder brother is a monkin Kathmandu monastery. Our elder sister wasmarried. And we both are in D. G. L. Nunnery.Our father passed away at the age of 60. OurMother is 50 years old. She is a good housewife.She is very kind. She always helps others howevershe can do. Our mother loves us very much. Shebelieves in Buddhism therefore she sent us here topractice Dharma. We always think that we studiedvery well and tell our mother what is meaning ofBuddhism. She really loves them who teachingabout Buddhism. We both are very happy herein D.G. L. nunnery. We both are very thankfullyJetsunma who take care us like our mother.Above: Kalden Chotso and Kunsang Lhamo (left to right)Back cover: Stained Glass Window in DGL Temple by Ani Thubten Jamyang, Yulokod StudioMAY 2013 GATSAL 11

BY AIRMAILTo:From:Dongyu Gatsal Ling NunneryVILLAGE LOWER MUTTP.O. PADHIARKHAR, VIA TARAGARHDISTRICT KANGRA (HP) 176081 - INDIAdgloffice@gatsal.org