HIS HOLINESS TEACHINGS AT BODH GAYA.

More than 50,000 people from Tibet, China, Bhutan, Nepal and other Himalayan region of India and also non-Buddhist countries like Australia, Italy, the Czech Republic, Spain, England, Brazil and several African and Asian countries gathered at Bodh Gaya, the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage site to attend the teaching of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His Holiness gives five-day teachings on Nagarjuna's In Praise of the Transcendental (jigten ley depar toepa), Atisha's Lamp of the Path to Enlightenment (jangchup lamdron), Longchen Rinpoche's Mind In Comfort and Ease (semnyid nyelso) & Tsongkhapa's Short Version of the Stages of the Path To Enlightenment (lamrim dhuedhon) from January 5th to 8th, 2010 as part of the seven-day Gelug Monlam, the biggest religious festival of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism. More than 700 monks from our monastery attended the teachings at Bodh Gaya.

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LOSAR

Tibetans have decided against celebrating the Lunar New Year for a second year in remembrance of the suffering of people inside Tibet. Here in the settlement, Tibetans only observed religious ceremonies. In Tibet, the New Year celebration was marked with protest in several areas to mourn the killing of hundreds of Tibetans in 2008 March protest.

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MONLAM CEREMONY

In Tibet before Chinese invasion, the biggest annual religious festival, Monlam Chenmo used to draw thousands of pilgrimage, the pilgrimage from Amdo and Kham region walk days and nights to get blessing from this ceremony where H. H. the Dalai Lama and also the other important Tulkus and officials will grace the occasion.

The main purpose of this ceremony is to pray for the long life of all the holy gurus of all traditions, for the survival and spreading of the Dharma in the minds of all sentient beings, and for world peace.  On the sixteenth of first month of the Lunar Calendar, the sacred statue of Maitreya Buddha is carried in procession around Gaden or Drepung, as done in Tibet.  Preceding the statue as it leaves the main entrance of the Prayer Hall are monks of both monasteries bearing victory banners, and blowing conch shells, followed by Gaden Tripa (the throne holder) and Abbots of various monastic colleges, and common monks reciting their prayers. People from all walks of life throw white scarves towards the tractor/chariot carrying the sacred statue, some pushing and pulling, trying to get a closer look and a blessing from the sacred statue, looking forward to being reborn in the age of Maitreya. On the seventeenth day, the cake burning ritual will be performed. The monks prayed for the removal of all the obstacles and evil spirits, and for the well being of all sentient beings.  

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10TH MARCH NATIONAL UPRISING DAY

For the Tibetan exiled community, National Uprising Day is one of the most important events of the year. The day marks the anniversary of March 10th, 1959, when Tibetans in the capital city of Lhasa rose up against nearly 9 years of Chinese occupation. More than a million Tibetans have died, according to the Tibetan exile government statistics, under the Chinese occupation. Exiled Tibetan communities and supporters worldwide use the day as a platform to promote justice for Tibet and to remember those who have laid down their lives for Tibet. So this day was observed here on 10^th March, where monks, laypeople, school going students prayed and took a silent march.

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COMPLETION OF 2009 TOUR.

The monastery official tour to United States was concluded in December 2009, except one all three monks of the tour return back to monastery and handed over the report to the monastery. A special prayer was organized at prayer hall to thank all the kind supporters, National Coordinator (sue), inviting organization (DGI and its kind members), all local coordinators, volunteers, hosts,  friends, schools, Health Care centers, libraries, museums, advisor (Mary), Tsondue la, Gen. Lobsang Samdup, Ven. Ngawang Tashi and many others for making this tour a success.  Many will be truly benefited from this kind altruistic assistance from you all.

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DELAY OF 2010 TOUR.

The monastery tour to United States has commenced from October, 2010. Mrs. Anne Walter, President of our sister organization, Drepung Gomang Institute, Louisville visited Delhi to help the monks in visas. Thanks to her and everyoneour due to visa process, we sincerely extend our apologies for the delay and request all local coordinators, volunteers, hosts, friends to keep checking with our inviting organization Drepung Gomang Institute and our national coordinator Mrs. Sue Simone.

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'THANK YOU' 
KIND DONORS AND SPONSORS 
FOR THE CONTINUOUS SUPPORT.

We really thank kind donors, sponsors, well wishers for their continuous support which has made this monastery to survive here in exile. This monastery solely survives on the donations, contribution and prayer offering and every single fund helps us a lot.

We sincerely appeal everyone to continue kind support towards this monastery and will understand if you are unable to do so. We thank you all once again and will include you all in our daily prayers.

Please kindly ask receipts for every single donation or contributions.

Gomang News is published 3 times a year by Drepung Gomang Administrative Office gomangoffice@yahoo.com

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HOMEPAGE