By Lama Tenzin Ösel

Teachings and Retreats

We are looking forward to seeing His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Gyume Tantric College in September. I completed my eight-day White Tara Retreat with Gen-la. I enjoyed it very much. It looks as if there will be no Hayagriva retreat this year.

Animal Tales

We saw a cobra in the garden. Kunkyen saw it first and then everybody came to look. It got scared and lunged toward us. We all ran away, so it escaped and went back to its hole. Mahakala is growing quickly. I do not think he will be a very fierce guard dog: he wags his tail at everyone who comes to Osel Labrang.

Changes to Osel Labrang

We have made the new roof for the second floor. It took 90 people about nine hours to make the cement, carry the cement up and lay it on the roof. The only machines they used were two cement mixers.

Comings and Goings

Jesus has gone to Bodhgaya with some friends for a couple of weeks. We have a new resident at Osel Labrang – his name is Lobsang. He is from Kopan Monastery and he has come to Sera to do the study program.

School Report

I passed all my Western exams. I did much better than last year, especially in English grammar. I have finished reading Goodnight Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian, Space Demons by Gillian Rubenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Suicide Club by Robert Louis Stevenson and Tom Clancy’s Net Force Explorers. Currently, I am reading Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne.