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 First  Issue 2009
 Year of the OX 2136
500 monks of Drepung Gomang Monastery attended His Holiness teaching at Sarnath, Varanasi.   Gomang tour group travels throughout USA Parchen class celebration on 
Lhabab duchen Nov 19, 2008.  		 Offering of Robes to monks 
for Gelong Vows (Bhikshu ordination:Full ordination)
Torkya   (Burning of ritual cake by 
Drepung Gomang Monastery)  		 No Losar celebration.   New Year message of H.H.the Dalai Lama  RECENT DONOR LIST


His Holiness at Sarnath, Varanasi.

500 monks of Drepung Gomang Monastery attended
 His Holiness teaching at Sarnath, Varanasi.

After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya the Buddha went to Sarnath and it was at Sarnath that he preached his first discourse in the deer park to set in motion the 'Wheel of the Dharma'. It is one of the most holy sites as in this place the stream of the Buddha's teaching first flowed. From 8-14 January 2009, His Holiness gave seven-day teachings on Kamalashila's The Middling Stages of Meditation (gomrim barpa) & Shantideva's A Guide To the Bodhisattva's Way of Life (chodjug).  500 monks of our monastery took three days and night journey by train and buses to reach Sarnath to attend the teaching.  

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Gomang Tour Group Travels Throughout USA

Gomang Tour Group
Sitting: Soepa, Geshe Lobzang Samdup, Ngawang Tashi, Sangyal
Standing: Jigdal, Tsondu (translator), Phuntsok

The Drepung Gomang Tour Group, sponsored by Drepung Gomang Institute in Louisville, Kentucky, is currently touring the United States. The monks are presenting programs to the public featuring the creation of the Peace Mandala, as well as more traditional mandalas and art workshops. Geshe Lobzang Sandup, tour leader, has been active in giving teachings on Buddhist philosophy--particularly topics relating to wisdom and compassion.

The tour group was part of Tibet House's Annual Losar Celebration and performed at Carnegie Hall on February 3. They have traveled through many states, including Kentucky, Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvia, and Conneticut. Before they return to India, the monks will have also visited Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina.

 

Monks Working on Peace Mandala - Florida Keys Completed Peace Mandala--Florida Keys

For a look at their intinerary and to view pictures on their scrapbook, please visit their website at www.gomang/org/08dgi_tour.html.

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  Parchen class celebration on 
Lhabab duchen Nov 19, 2008.

As per the tradition, the monks of Parchen class this year celebrated their “Parchen;Paramita class day’celebration with offering of feast (dacha), text books, Tibetan scarves (khataks) to each and every monks at the congregation. It was done on very auspicious day, Lhabab duchen Nov 19, 2008 (Buddha descent from heaven)


offering khataks and
 books to all the monks.


The parchen class students 
during the congregation.(right)


A group picture of Parchen class students.

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Offering of Robes to monks 
for Gelong Vows (Bhikshu ordination:Full ordination)

During His Holiness the Dalai Lama visit to Sera monastery, about 180 monks of our monks undertook full ordination vows (Bhikshu :Gelong vows) from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The monastery with kind donations from donors were able to provide clothes for monks robes. We sincerely thank the donors for their kind donation on this.


Monks cutting the cloth piece for distribution


Monks who are going to take Gelong vows are provided monks robes.

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Torkya  
(Burning of ritual cake by 
Drepung Gomang Monastery)

On 14th Jan, 2009, cake burning ritual was conducted here at Drepung Gomang Monastery. After several days of prayers, ritual cake was bought out in open space and a huge fire was lit to throw the ritual cake The monks prayed for the removal of all the obstacles and evil spirits, and for the well being of all sentient beings.


prayers being performed


Chanting before the Torkya torma (cake) in front of Drepung Gomang Monastery’s prayer hall.

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No Losar celebration.

The Losar 2136, the ox year was not celebrated with festivity as mark of respect to all those brave Tibetans killed and missing since last March, it was also done to commemorate the 50 years of Tibet in exile. Only the religious activities related with the New Year were conducted this year, torkya (cake buring ritual on 16th day) and Maitreya procession on 17th morning was carried on sans the cycles race and stone lifting competition.


Torkya (cake burning ritual on 16th day of Losar)


Maitreya Procession on 17th day of Losar

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New Year Message of H.H. the Dalai Lama to the Tibetan People
On the Occasion of the Earth-Ox Tibetan New Year
Published: Tuesday, 24 February, 2009
(Translated from the Tibetan original)

 


His Holiness the Dalai Lama

On the occasion of the Earth-Ox New Year of the 17th Rabjung cycle in the Tibetan Royal Year 2136, I would like to greet all Tibetans, both inside and outside of Tibet. I pray that there be peace and prosperity, and that our just cause may see gradual resolution.

Although there is no old or new phase in the continuous cycle of planetary movements, which results in the days, nights, months and years, there is a tradition throughout the world to observe the beginning of a new year upon the completion of the previous one. Likewise, in the snow land of Tibet, we have the tradition to observe the New Year in the first lunar month with elaborate celebrations incorporating both spiritual and temporal elements. However, last year in Tibet we witnessed hundreds of Tibetans losing their lives, and several thousands facing detention and torture, in response to the widespread display by Tibetans all over Tibet of their discontentment with the Chinese authorities' policies.

Therefore, since they faced immense difficulties and sufferings, the occasion of this New Year is certainly not a period when we can have the usual celebrations and gaiety. I admire the determined move by Tibetans, inside and outside of Tibet, not to indulge in celebratory activities during this New Year. Instead, everyone should utilize this period in abandoning non-virtuous acts and engaging in positive actions, thereby cultivating virtuous merits so that all those who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet, including those who lost their lives in the tragic events of the past year, may have quick realization of Buddhahood through successive rebirth in higher realms. The dedication should also go to those currently undergoing suffering so that they may immediately be able to enjoy the happiness of freedom. Through such an accumulation of collective merits we should all strive for an early solution to the just cause of Tibet.

Just as we had suspected, the strike-hard campaign has been re-launched in Tibet and there is a heavy presence of armed security and military forces in most of the cities all over Tibet. In all the places those who dare to come out even with a slight hint of their aspirations have to face torture and detention. In particular, special restrictions have been imposed in the monasteries, patriotic re-education has been launched, and restrictions have been imposed on the visit of foreign tourists. Provocative orders have been passed for special celebrations of the Tibetan New Year. Looking at all these developments it becomes clear that the intention and aim behind them are to subject the Tibetan people to such a level of cruelty and harassment that they will not be able to tolerate and thus be forced to remonstrate. When this happens the authorities can then indulge in unprecedented and unimaginable forceful clampdown. Therefore, I would like to make a strong appeal to the Tibetan people to exercise patience and not to give in to these provocations so that the precious lives of many Tibetans are not wasted, and they do not have to undergo torture and suffering.

It goes without saying how much admiration I have for the enthusiasm, determination, and sacrifice of the Tibetans in Tibet. However, it is difficult to achieve a meaningful outcome by sacrificing lives. Above all, the path of non-violence is our irrevocable commitment and it is important that there be no departure at all from this path.

Once again, I pray that the Tibetan people are freed from oppression and torture, and enjoy the happiness of freedom. May all sentient beings enjoy happiness at all times.

 

The Dalai Lama
February 25, 2009
(corresponding to the first day of the first month in the Earth Ox Tibetan Year)

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RECENT DONOR LIST (please note : 2nd Oct 08 to 17th March 09)  
 "Thank you donors and sponsors for this valuable donation. 
Every single contribution is precious."

Thru Mary J. Pattison,
 Milton Greek, Ray Clement, Charles and Pam Bowen, Janet Cohen, Anand Premal, Gaden Jangtse tour group, Jason Holland, Woven Legends, Mike Betson, William Coutler. Mary J. Pattison, T. Vanderhayden, Sarantsetseg Myagmar, George Jevermovic

Canada
Patti MacDonell and friends (Canada) Minh Huynh (Canada) Mrs. Kathleen D. Patton (Canada), Edward Norton and Sonya Janssen (Canada), Gerard Morlais (Canada) Colin G. Ferrell,  

Thru Mr. Colin G. Ferrell (Canada) De Edmondson, Tim Ford, Heather Moore, Julie Francoeur, Mr. Colin G. Ferrell  

 

 Thru Tibet Fund, USA: Rosemary Stoba, Richard and Lynne H. Einig, Patricia Lara Magana, Patricia Chapoy de Davila, Maurice Grutter, Maria Teresa Tostado Guiterres, Terese Bastien, Benjamin Lopez Robles, Susan Marcela R. Ramirez, Simon Hui,  

Other countries
Panchen Otrul Rinpche (Ireland) Norbert Teupert (Germany), Claudio Scalco and family (italy) Dr. Azita Sayan, Lee Kuo Li and Lee Huang Kwei Mei, Lee Fan Chang and family,  Lee, Ying Hui,  Lee Yishiung and Lee Gingsen, (Taiwan),  Bliss and wisdom monastery (Taiwan), Dr. Rohit S. Chari (India), Thong Yue Leong (Malaysia), Enrico Del Vico (Italy) Roger Jordan and Jill (UK),   		USA
Angela T. Altieri, chuck Archambault, Pamela X. Roesch, Lorraine H. Lawrence, Chela Kunasz, John Jordan, Monica S. Haynes, Bruce Groner (Wilson Product), Michelle Rosenaur, Daniel Chazin, Henry C. Haase, Katherine Fox, Geradine Hallgrimson, Francine A. Ricks, Anthony, Aaron and Janice Gasparetto, Asia Donskaya, Itm, Jitendra and Nirupa Jitendra, Linh K. Nguyen, Lee V. Smith, Norman D Bird, , Jon McCook, Carmen Dominguez, Victoria A. Miller, Candace Keller, Larry S. Herman, Nadja Cross, Walter Robinson, Burkhard Von Harder, Mrs. Badmaka Grum, Erica Burns, Eric Downer and Dawn Jelly, Barbara D. Siomos, Susan Wheeler, Mai Nguyen, Chad A. Pham, Sue Ellen Bohning, Nancy Beres,  

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