The Monks in the Hall

So many stories and pictures to share from Dakini Valley after I sort through and polish them all. A spectacular retreat culminated in an astonishingly profound ceremony and teaching with Jetsunma yesterday, after which I left for Sedona. This is not exactly a hardship. Here's the view of Thunder Mountain I just took from the porch where I'm staying:

While I process the Dakini Valley experience, I wanted to share some photos I recently received from the secretary of Namdroling Monastery in India. Eleven young Mongolian men from Khamar Monastery are studying there with MBRP sponsorship. The secretary, Lopen Tshultrim Tentar, writes, "All the Mongolian monks are doing fine and presently conducting exams. The exam is about to finish. We are very happy to inform you that all these monks are well behaved and good monks studying well. You can just see how nicely and easily they are taking the exam."

Just to give you the barest idea of the scope of HH Penor Rinpoche's activity at Namdroling, here's a picture of as many monks as the camera could take in at the examination hall:

Then we have individual shots of the Mongolians showing what they know (I'm embarrassed to say I don't know the names to attach to the faces but have asked that those be sent). Of course, I loved the last one of the littlest monk best of all:

And finally here is the whole crew in a lighthearted mood. Oh, I just felt like such the proud papa when I saw this, and so grateful to the sponsors who made this happen. I can't wait to get similar pictures of the nuns after they settle in. You're looking at the bright future of Khamar Monastery and the Nyingma tradition in Mongolia:

One of this group, Tomor Ochir, has been having persistent gastric problems that neither the Indian nor Tibetan doctors have been able to address. He will go home to Mongolia for a time, and Jetsunma asked me to convey the offer to have him treated here in America. I'll be sure to let you all know how this develops so we can quickly bring him back to health and return him to his studies.

To learn more about the MBRP's cooperation with Khamar Monastery to provide world-class Buddhist education to their young practitioners, please click here.

Comments

[yeshe lhamo]

Konchog..how terrific to see this wonderful picture of the monks and to know what it means for the future of Khamar monastery and the future of the teachings in Mongolia.

[dara]

And to see you and hear that wonderful laugh. Safe travels back to Mongolia.