January-February 2000

Comings and Goings

I went to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings at Gyume Tantric College. I enjoyed it very much, but it rained almost everyday which made it very difficult for the many monks sitting outside the gompa. Subedi has gone back to Nepal to get married. He will be back soon. Geshe Lhakpa (Thubten Chonyi) and Geshe Jamyang came here for His Holiness’s teachings and to finish their Tantric College examinations. Now Geshe Lhakpa has gone to be the resident geshe at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore, and Geshe Jamyang has gone back to Nepal.

Sera Je Puja

There will be a special day of Hayagriva puja retreat. Everybody will have to recite 10,000 Hayagriva mantras. There will be a longer retreat in January.

Animal Tales

Mahakala looked like a puppy before we went to Gyume but when we got back, after only three weeks, he had grown into a big dog. Tsering’s horns are growing again at last. He lost his last ones while they were still developing, so he has been without horns for a long time.

Building News

Osel Labrang’s new upper floor is progressing well. There is a new roof, which they have just finished tiling.