On November 13, 2008 during the annual Winter Teachings Kagyu College had their graduation ceremony at the Jangchubling temple in the presence of His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche, Mr. Gyaltsen, a Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, H.E. Tritsab Rinpoche and various Tulkus, Khenpos, senior Lamas and staff. Three monks sang an offering song called Phuntsok Chugye to His Holiness to commence the ceremony. Khenpo Urgyen was the Master of Ceremonies and the opening speech was given by Khenpo Rangdol, the principal of Kagyu College.

The certificates were then handed out to the 24 graduates and His Holiness gave a speech to the graduates saying that simply holding a certificate is not so important, but according to the Dharma the most important thing is to take responsibility for one’s own mind and work for the benefit of others. One should not have the pride of being a scholar, but work to authentically put the teachings into practice. Furthermore the monks should have tolerance and patience, and whenever problems arise they should try to solve them in a practical way by analyzing oneself, and not thinking only of the faults of others. Finally the monks should consider their interdependent role in the environment by thinking about the conservation of water and electricity.

Khenpo Nyima Gyaltsen gave a thankyou speech at the end, and the ceremony concluded with the long life prayer of both Holiness’ and a prayer to increase the spread of the Dharma. The group then took their photo with His Holiness as a momentum of their achievements.


Kagyu College News

Next month Professor Wangchuk Dorje from the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath, Varanasi will come to Kagyu College in Dehra Dun. He will teach on The General Meaning of Tantra (Ngagi Chiton, sngags kyi spyi don) by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal (dvags po bkra shis rnam rgyal, 1511-1587), which is one of the three texts of the Ozer Khorsum. The Teachings will last for one month and are specifically for the advanced students of Kagyu College.

Eleven monks of the Pramana Class (Logic) from Kagyu College are going to South India for the annual Debate Gathering called Jamgunchö to practice debate at Ganden Monastery in Mundgod with monks from all the great schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Each year this class is sent there as part of their curriculum.