Newsletter November 2009

Content:
Our thanks to you

Inauguration of the New School

A biiig event in the monastic calendar - Rig Chung Debate

The Intermonastic Debate at Khachoe Ling Nunnery

Lama Zopa Rinpoche's Visit in June 2009

Web auction in favor of the Animal Liberation Sanctuary on November 7/8 - this weekend

Details of the items and how to bid can be found at: http://www.enlightenmentforanimals.org

Program for Winter/Spring 2009/2010

Kopan courses on Bodhi TV

Photo Gallery

A monsoon view from the dining room window in Kopan to the mountain range

Our Thanks to You

Yet another year has passed in Nepal, bringing along new political and social problems. The winter has been especially dry, causing food and water shortages, which brought a lot of suffering to all the people. At one stage electricity was restricted to 8 hours a day, making normal life nearly impossible. The beginning of the monsoon was therefore a great relief and the paddy fields were again turning the famous emerald green color that is so typical of this time of the year.

Our heart felt thanks go out to you for supporting us again during these difficult times. Due to your kindness, Kopan was again able to take care of all its sangha members, offering them food, accommodation, schooling, medical care. Every moment of our day is filled with joy at being able to follow the teachings of the Buddha in this conducive and caring environment. Every day of our life we celebrate the kindness of you, our sponsors and benefactors. We pray for your long and healthy life, for success in all your activities, and for your happiness.

Inauguration of the New School

After only two years of building, the new Kopan school was inaugurated by Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the 17th June. This the first time that Kopan has a proper school, with regular classrooms the teachers and students are equally excited! The new school features airy classrooms, an assembly hall, a library, a computer and a science lab as well as a playground. The school does not only look beautiful, but is also very well built in order to serve the students various needs. The assembly hall will hold the various academic contests, and drama performances.
Most of the monks are engaged both in the traditional monastic studies as well as attending regular school up to grade 10. They study a wide range of subjects such as Tibetan, English, Mathematics, Science, philosophy etc.

Every other Sunday, the monks have extracurricular activities, such as quiz contest, handwriting competitions, spelling contest, essay writing etc. including a Dharma drama class. These activities help them to improve their skills, boost their confidence, and teach them to be at ease when facing a crowd. Sometimes the monastery is participating in competitions involving different schools in Kathmandu, and our monastery has done well in the past, winning some trophies. The way to school became a lot longer with the move to the new school, New school bags were distributed to all the students. While the older ones do their best to appear unconcerned ands above it all, the younger ones have fun running all the way down the hill!

A biiig event in the monastic school calendar is the Rig-chung Debate

The sound of clapping hands comes from the main assembly hall, echoing through the empty courtyard. Two monk in their long coats slowly and stately move along the rows of seated monks, chanting the tune of the text to be debated.
This is Rig-chung debate. It has its roots in a vision of Lama Tsong Khapa and has become is a milestone in the philosophical training of the monks and a yearly event in the monastic calendar. One day Lama Tsong Khapa had the vision of Maitreya Buddha and the Bodhisattva Manjushri discussing Buddha Nature in all its aspects. Lama Tsong Khapa was very inspired by this and instructed two of his heart disciples (Khedrup Je and Gyaltsap Je) to also debate this text.

The Abisamayalankavara text is studied for six years, and after two years, several of the top students are selected for the public debate on a section of the text. The debate starts with a loud clap from the challenger, who is asking the question, while the monk providing the answers is allowed to answer only with yes or no.
The debate is very intense, keenly followed by all senior and junior monks, and continues for one hour. At the conclusion of the debate, everybody visits the participating monks in their rooms - offerings are made to them and lots of tea, soft drinks, candies and kabse, a Tibetan delicacy, is consumed

The Intermonastic Debate at the Khachoe Gakyil Ling Nunnery

The new assembly hall at the nunnery is making huge progress, as you can see from this photo. The outside of the building is nearly complete, while inside most of the rooms have been finished. The carving and painting work in the actual assembly hall will take another year. By then the statues for the main and side altars will also be ready. The first occupants of the new building are 160 nuns from India and Nepal that have come to the Kopan Nunnery for the annual inter-monastic debate this year. Every effort has been made to make their stay comfortable.

Including the delegation from the Kopan Nunnery, around 200 nuns were engaged in debate for one month at Kopan Nunnery (Khachoe Gyakyil Ling) to sharpen their knowledge of the Buddhist philosophy. Lively debates are seen every day, watched over by the teachers and Geshes from the nunneries participating. The debate was a great success, with some wild and intensive debates being showcased in the courtyard of the nunnery. These debates are a great source of inspiration for everyone - exchange of philosophical point of view, but also of ways of life, experiences is part of the daily routine. Most of the nuns come from India. They received a stipend of India Rs 20 per day for their trip. The nunnery's abbot, Khenrinpoche Lama Lhundup, was offering special food for all the nuns during this period. At the end of the month, the nuns had the opportunity to go on pilgrimage to some of the numerous holy places in the Kathmandu valley.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche's Visit in June 2009

Rinpoche stayed in Kopan for ten days. After his arrival Rinpoche joined the first day of special prayers at the small gompa facing the famous Baudhanath Stupa. These 5 1/2 days of prayers have become an annual occurrence, now in its third year, dedicated to sustaining and spreading the Dharma in our world, to Tibet, etc., in accordance with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s advice. On June 17th, after concluding the prayers, Rinpoche performed the opening of the new school building at Kopan. He gave an inspiring teaching and concluded with thanks offerings addressed as well to the sponsors as to the workers. Dagri Rinpoche and Khandro-ma were also here in \Nepal to attend the special puja. They offered a special long-life puja to Lama Zopaas well as to Khenrinpoche in Kopan's Lama Gyupa gompa. Kopan geshes, senior monks and nuns, and guests attended both pujas. As usual, Rinpoche's time was packed with appointments, interviews, dinner parties and the like. Even after his departure, he called from the airport instructing to buy all the birds sold outside Kopan’s gate, which he had seen upon leaving, and to free them after several circumambulations of the Kopan’s stupas.

Some News from the Animal Liberation Sanctuary

The animals are thriving in our sanctuary - too much so, as we have now three toddlers on board, three baby goats. Our sterilization program is being implemented steadily, as we want to be able to shelter more animals in need rather than produce a new generation of our own! Three sheep were recently rescued from being slaughtered and joined the residents of the animal Liberation Sanctuary.
Please note the web auction in favor of the Animal Liberation Sanctuary on November 7/8. Details of the items and how to bid can be found at: http://www.enlightenmentforanimals.org

Program for Winter Spring 2009/2010

One Month Lam Rim Course 2009 with Ven. Dondrub

Between Nov. 18 - Dec 18 Ven Dondrub will be teaching at the November course. Record numbers of people have again registered - so many that the course will be held in the main gompa. It is always amazing to see and experience this harmonious getting together of all different nationalities under the banner of Dharma. Lama Zopa Rinpoche will be teaching during the second half of the course. Expected teaching dates are from Dec. 2 - 18 with a Long Life puja offered to Rinpoche on the 18th December, requesting Rinpoche to stay and teach till all sentient beings have been liberated.

Vipassana Course in January 2010 with Ven. Antonio Satta

As in the past several years, Venerable Antonio will again introduce students to Mahayana Vipassana tradition. His long experience in both practicing and teaching meditation makes the course profound and easy to follow. He concludes every day with a teaching linking meditation and practice. Ven. Antonio will start with a weekend course open to all, based on the Eight Verses of Mind training composed by the 8th century saint Langri Tangpa. this will be followed by the 10 day Vipassana course from Janaury 30- February 10th.

Check our program directly from our web site:www.kopanmonastery.com/program

Monlam Teachings 2010

Khensur Losang Tenzin, ex-abbot of Gyumed Tantric College, well know for his sublime teachings, has been presiding the Monlam Festival and following teachings at Kopan for several years and will honor us again in 2010 with His Presence.
The teachings are planned to start March 4, and go for approximately three weeks. . Khnesur Rinpoche has agreed to the following teachings with Ven Sean Price translating this precious series of teachings The Swift Path – Lama Tsong Khapa's teachings on the Lam Rim Heruka Initiation Experiential Vajrayogini Commentary (for initiates only) Please check our web site in December for more details on these teachings.

Kopan courses on Bodhi TV

A private Nepal TV station called Bodhi TV has shown great interest in making Dharma teachings from various traditions available on their web site as well as on their TV station to make the teachings accessible to each and everyone. One of the first teachings offered is the Discovering Buddhism course taught by Venerable Namgyel in July this year at Kopan. You can download it from this website: www.bodhitv.com.np

Request for help

1. We are looking for someone who can give advice about how to
· remove iron from water supply
· how to harvest rainwater
2. Books offered and needed:
Kopan Monastery and Lawudo gompa received a generous gift of French Dharma books from Edition Vajra Yogini, as well as German Dharma books from Diamant Verlag. Many thanks to both of these organizations for their support.
Lawudo gompa is looking to improve its library. If you are planning to come to Nepal, consider bringing a gift of a Dharma book for Lawudo gompa. Preferred languages are Italian, Chinese and Japanese. You can leave the books at the Kopan reception.

Photo gallery
Khenrinpoche Lama Lhundrup with a young visitor	The serious business of going to school

Su Fen Toh from Singapore and Ani Gyalmo - thank you Su Foh for your great help with accounts	Volunteer Drama Teacher Patrick: Thank you very much for your great service and the Peter Pan play.

New Monks that entered the monastery in 2009 Great talent and great hope.	And the new nuns, year 2009 look pretty talented too - future debate partners of the monks?