The Gyalwang Drukpa

Preparation for New Year

Kilaya Drubpa has started today, just a few hours ago, which is going to be continuing until the Lunar New Year. It is meant to be cleansing all the negavities of the past year so that all of us, the limitless sentient beings, will be starting the new Lunar year with great success, peace and benefits, which is the purpose of our life.

Whether we like it or not, we are always having external, inner and secret problems and obstacles. Therefore we cannot practise LOVE and COMPASSION smoothly and successfully. Whenever we want to do something positive and beneficial for ourselves and others, obstacles will come in the way and nothing can be done without struggles. So this kind of practice is done before the beginning of a Lunar year, so that each year is better than last.

800 Nuns at Drubpa & 2nd ADC

There is a great news for all of us. We have all collectively decided to add more weight to the Avalokiteshvara Drubpa that will happen right before the 2nd ADC. In total, 800 nuns from our lineage, including 70 nuns from our beloved Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo's nunnery and Kyabje Sengdrak Rinpoche's nunnery will join together. Instead of just 4 days, I think we should maximise this connection and start the Drubpa from 31st March until the morning of the 2nd ADC. For me, this is really going to be one of the highlights of my life to see all our female practitioners coming together to practise for the sake of all beings. From the depth of my heart, I want to thank Jetsunma and also Kyabje Sengdrak Rinpoche's committee members as well as our nuns at Druk Gawa Khilwa for fulfilling my wish. Thank you!

My First Visit to Hamburg

There are more than 100 photos given by my friend Peter Vogel, a very famous professional photographer, but unfortunately I don't have the time to put everything here. I just thought it is nice to show you what I have been doing, that's all. As you know, there are many things happening everywhere I go. I don't feel it's wise to put all the things here, provoking all of your expectation. It's not good for me and for you.

Last Day of 2009

I am here with all my old and new friends from different corners of this world. However, strangely I am missing where I came from. I guess it is my home. I do not normally have that much of so-called HOMESICKNESS and I do not actually know where is my home. I usually have a great deal of difficulties to answer those questions like "Where is your home?" "Where are you from?"

Another News from Home

All the lights in the temple for the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are now lit up. You can imagine how great a merit Rigzin Namgyal, who sponsored all the LED lamps, has accumulated. Also, Nicolas Jigme Namgyel who has installed the lamps has also achieved great merit. I am really very appreciative of their effort because both of them have very good motivation for doing this. So out of my sincere appreciation, I did a lamp offering prayer just a few hours ago. Initially I thought I was going to be the only one in the prayer, without asking others to come. But surprisingly, almost all the nuns and the monks in Druk Amitabha retreat place joined together with me in the prayer. We ended up with 300 of us doing long prayers together. I really feel that it was a good omen.

News from Home

I was very happy the other day, it doesn't mean I am not on other days. I'm happy about some development in the nuns' education. Our Khenpo of Druk Amitabha Mountain chose today as award presentation day for nuns who have completed certain stage of education and passed their exams. Some of them completed 8th degree, some of them 4th, some of them are 1st degree, there is a variety of stages. There were around 32 nuns who did quite well.

News from Abroad

It's very nice that I can receive news from everywhere thanks to the technology and also the great connection we have over here in Druk Amitabha Mountain. Although sometimes telephone lines can be difficult, the internet for some funny reasons or karma has always been very easy. That's why I am able to keep in touch with the rest of the world even though I am here in the mountain, very busy as usual. I have been receiving news from our beloved Kyabje Lhachok Rinpoche who is now in Malaysia and Kyabje Khamtrul Rinpoche who was in Malaysia, as well as Jampal, our chairman for Drukpa Malaysia and Drukpa Asia, whom I always want to thank for supporting our activities and fulfilling my wishes all the time, and I am never thanking him enough. He is working so nicely with Dato' Goh of Drukpa Butterworth and also members of Drukpa Kuala Lumpur. Read more...

What Is Enlightenment

Somehow whenever we talk about "enlightenment", it's very easy and convenient for us to think that it means "retirement". In fact, I am sorry to say that it's not. Enlightenment means "strength", which means that you have developed perfect strength so that you are able to benefit others. Most people feel that being enlightened means that they will become almost like a statue, sitting there, doing nothing and spacing out. I used to call this "potato" or "vegetable". Well, if you think that way, then you are not talking about being enlightened, you are talking about something similar to mundane retirement, which is very boring and very tiring to even think about.

Happiness Makes You A Good Human

It is indeed a very fruitful trip for me this time in Hong Kong. I am proud to say that we have completed quite a few important jobs, especially there are 2 very significant projects that are very dear to my heart and thanks to so many volunteers, helpers and sponsors, we are all making headways. Firstly, I want to take this opportunity to announce that I have decided to offer the Buddha Amitabha statue built for me by my godfather, Felix, to the late Kyabje Adeu Rinpoche. Secondly, the headquarter of Live to Love Charitable Foundation is finally set up in Hong Kong. I will tell you one by one what has been happening. I am sure my beloved friends and students in other places will rejoice in all the positive efforts of our Drukpa heroes and supporters here in Hong Kong.

Project Sunshine for Live to Love

The LIVE TO LOVE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION in Hong Kong is finally registered and ready to do more in the 5 directions. I am very happy that the first program organised by this foundation will happen on 11th November, with the help of my old friend Vanessa. They call it "Project Sunshine, Live to Love, the power of children", and I will be sharing my ideas with representatives of other religions. The organising team will also set up a live webcast, so all my friends and students can be joining together, even though they are not physically there. I am sure that the Drukpa Hong Kong website will soon make the details available to all.