Ven. Sonam Namgyal

With former chant master, Geshe Tashi, becoming the chant master of the whole of Drepung University, the monastery has appointed Ven. Sonam Namgyal as the new chant master of Drepung Gomang Monastery. It is the seventh time in exile that a chant master has been appointed. There is no time frame for this position, and one can leave the post at his own will. Geshe Tashi left this position as he has become the Chant Master of the entire Drepung University.

During the Appointment Ceremony
at Drepung Gomang Prayer Hall

Ven. Jampa Dhonyod

Geshe Jampa Dhonyod from Ngari Khangtsen has been appointed as the Discipline Head of the monastery for one year term as Geshe Tenpa Sonam's term has ended.

Gegu, or the discipline head, is one who is responsible for all the discipline of the monastery. He will be assisted by two chapre (assistants) The term of the Gegu and the assistants is for one year. After one year, the Gego (discipline head) is elected by the monks, whereas the Chapre (the two assistants) are not elected members, but are appointed on a rotation basis from the khangtsens.

Ignorance is the root cause of suffering, and wisdom is the antidote to ignorance. Through learning, one eventually becomes established in wisdom. Just as a lamp illumines a house so that one can see colors and shapes, so learning and wisdom enable one to see the nature of phenomena. The practice of debate is the most important way to learn Buddhist Philosophy in the monasteries. The main purpose of monastic debates is to defeat misconceptions in order to establish a correct view and to clear away any objections to that view. An actual session of debate involves two parties, a defender who sits and give answers to the challengers who stands up and asks question.

In the month of July, the annual inter class monastic debate known as Thuk choera took place in the monastery. Monks from different classes within the monastery debated with other classes. The debates sometimes continue until past midnight.

Monks Debating

Andreas Kurz, the Founder & President of Friends of Drepung Gomang, and Gen Kalsang Monlam, Co-founder of FDG, visited the monastery in April to celebrate the 10th anniversary of FDG. Friends of Drepung Gomang is non-profit incorporated organization that supports the monastery in the USA. Ven. Geshe Kalsang Monlam is one of our senior monks who now lives in the States.

Friends of Drepung Gomang was founded April 24, 1998 to provide funds and assistance for rebuilding Drepung Gomang monastery in order to preserve its religion and the Tibetan culture and to provide traditional Buddhist education to the world.

Andreas Kurz with Senior Monks

In the picture above, Mr. Andreas Kurz is seated with Drepung Tripa (throne holder) Khensur Geshe Lobsang Tenpa, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Samten, Khensur Tenpa Gyaltsen and Geshe Kalsang Monlam.

Andreas Kurz with Senior Buxa Monks

In the picture above, Mr. Andreas Kurz is seated with Senior Buxa monks of the monastery. These senior monks are the ones who worked hard to relocate the monastery in 1969-1970 to present location. Of the first 60 monks who worked hard to re-established the monastery, only a few are now left.

The 2008 tour to Canada has been delayed due to denial of visas to the monks by the Canadian High Commission. Our friend and coordinator of the tour, Miss Laurel Antti, and Miss Jennifer Antti, President of Canadian Friends of Drepung Gomang, are working hard on completingthe necessary papers for the monks to visit Canada in the near future.

Canadian Tour Group and Supporters

The 44 monks of our monastery who took part in the freedom march to Tibet returned to the monastery as "March to Tibet" concluded. Many of them were arrested and jailed (later released) after walking for the past four months.

Tibetans living in exile in India have launched "March to Tibet" as part of the Tibetan People's Uprising Movement. This historic Movement aims to revive the spirit of the Tibetan national uprising of 1959, and by engaging in nonviolent direct action, to bring about an end to China's illegal occupation of Tibet.

We are pleased to acknowledge the generosity of those who donate to Drepung Gomang Monastery. We are particularly grateful for all of those persons who donated time, effort, and money to support our tour groups. You are constantly in the prayers of the monks of the monastery who will never forget your generosity.

If through an error on our part, your name has been omitted from our list of donors, please notify us immediately, and we will correct our mistake.