Happy Losar

I have just arrived in Darjeeling after visiting Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche’s monastery in Mirik. As you all must be knowing by now, I love to drop by my friends’ places for surprise visits. Originally, I had wanted to visit Khenpo Rinpoche, who unfortunately had gone to South India. Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche was also away in France. Anyway, I managed to visit the monastery and I was very moved by the late Kyabje Bokar Rinpoche’s Bodhicitta motivation which has been working so nicely with the help of Khenpo Rinpoche.

The monastery is extremely well organised and developed. I think many of us should visit this monastery and take it as a good example for the benefit of all beings. I was hoping to meet both Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche and Khenpo Rinpoche together this time, but they were not there physically. I could feel the presence of these 2 holy masters. I left shortly after the brief visit for my own monastery in Darjeeling, leading our own functions for New Year’s Eve and New Year tomorrow. Before I forget, I want to wish all of you a very happy Rabbit year. I have taken this card from DPPL website and I am happy that they have put up many cute rabbits in the greeting cards so that all of you can enjoy sending them to your friends.

I will be meeting all my old friends and fulfilling the wishes of my monks, especially the young ones who have been working so hard. I am encouraged to take some of them to Kathmandu, to join all of us in the forthcoming Zangchod Boom ceremony between 18th and 21st March. I think this kind of great practice for accumulation of immeasurable merit and wisdom should be performed by both nuns and monks, especially those who are pure in their motivation, devoted in their guru-disciple relationship and diligent in their Bodhisattva practices. Personally the only difference I feel between the monastery here in Darjeeling and the nunnery in Druk Amitabha Mountain is the physical distance or location, if the motivation is pure and specifically dedicated for benefiting all beings, then there is not much difference. Motivation is the only one that makes sense. I intend to bring some of these monks in Darjeeling, together with my nuns in Druk Amitabha Mountain to the holy Swayambhunath Stupa, along with those fortunate friends and students of mine, we will practise together during the Zangchod Boom, accumulate merit and wisdom for our enlightenment in the benefit of all others. Please dedicate your good wishes for this meaningful project.

This Zangchod Boom is especially dedicated for the longevity of all the genuinely great masters who are still living among us. I am dedicating this particularly to my own great living masters, such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the holy master Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, Kyabje Moktsa Rinpoche, Kyabje Dodrupchen Rinpoche and last but not least, my very own father, Kyabje Zhichen Bairo Rinpoche, as well as all those masters who are not my own masters, but who are living here for all the sentient beings. In folded palms, I sincerely pray that they will all live long.

By the way, my 2 own beloved ones, Khamtrul Rinpoche and Thuksey Rinpoche, voluntarily went to Ladakh to start preparations and discussions for the forthcoming 3rd Annual Drukpa Council and to sort out all the different things. Before they left, when we met, I had requested them to stay for a few more days, but they thought 2 days were good enough and they left on 1st March. They had wanted to join me in Darjeeling for New Year. Now it’s not possible because the weather suddenly turned very bad and the heavy snow and wind stopped all the flights. They couldn’t fly out of Ladakh yesterday and not even today. After all, they are still in Ladakh. Over the phone, I jokingly told them that I had asked the spirits to stop them from leaving Ladakh with bad weather, so that they could stay back, have more time to relax and the people of Ladakh would have more chance to get blessing from them. The downfall of this is that they won’t be joining me for New Year, the fun part of this is that they can enjoy a white New Year in my beloved Ladakh with my beloved friends and students there.

I will try to share some photos whenever they are ready. From the depth of my heart, I wish all of you a great and happy year ahead. To those of my friends and students who are joining in the Eye Camp, Birthday and Zangchod Boom, see you soon next week in Kathmandu!