Support from Ranidanga SSB Camp

Greetings, We are happy to share this great news with all of you. As desired by the Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal ( SSB) in New Delhi, every Frontier Headquarter is requested to adopt a location of religious or touristique importance under the "Swacch Bharat Abhiyan" program to engage in regular cleanliness campaign. In Siliguri, the Inspector General of the Frontier Headquarter has selected the Khordong Byangter Monastery. As a result a team of the SSB Camp personnel in Ranidanga will come every Thursday afternoon to engage in cleanliness and maintenance actions and it already started last week.

We are very grateful to the SSB authority for sending their team to cooperate with our monks in keeping the monastery and its surrounding land in the best conditions possible. It also marks a further integration of the monastery into the local network. We rejoice for the care and interest shown. Wonderful!!!

25th Butterlamp Retreat - Dec 16th to 31st

Hello everyone,

This post is to announce the celebration of the 25th Butterlamp retreat held in India.
Some of you keep very found memories of the very first Butterlamp retreat Rinpoche held in Sarnath with a small group of a few disciples and surrounded by his family in the premises of the Mahabodhi society.

Since then for the next 24 years and without any discontinuity the 111,111 butterlamps offering for World peace happened every winter in India. First at the Mahabodhi Society in Sarnath then at the gompa once the land was bought.

Many of you had organised their time in the year to make sure they could reach India for this retreat with Rinpoche. Like migrating birds flying off to a far away country, it became a way of life for some of you sharing their lives between India and Europe, trying to stay close to Rinpoche as much as time and circumstances allowed.

In this way every year the sangha was meeting in India to practice together and offer these symbolic lights to the world in presence of Rinpoche. It always was a memorable time for whoever participated, a feeling of adventure and of being part of an extra-ordinary activity.

After Rinpoche passed away, the sangha kept on meeting regularly in India in the occasion of the Butterlamp retreat then slowly less and less disciples made the journey. Nevertheless every year a few of you still make the time to attend.

Thanks to Tulku Ugen and his wife Shashi's dedication together with your continuous support we always found enough funds to buy the necessary Palm Oil, the offerings for the tsog and the food to feed the few participants and the now 15 resident monks.

So it is with a feeling of great joy and accomplishment that we wish to celebrate together with all of you this 25th Butterlamp retreat at Khordong Byangter Gompa from Dec 16th till 1st Half of 31st December 2015.

Please set the dates in your calendars and if you can please come to join us and rejoice.

Of course donations are welcome to make sure once again we cover the cost of this retreat. If you wish to participate in the retreat or make donations please contact us at chhimedrigdzinsociety@gmail.com

Before the retreat starts Tulku Ugen very much wish that we replaster Rinpoche's Stupa and paint it fresh so that he can shine throughout the retreat and the next years to come. At the moment the plaster and the paint have suffered several monsoon. If you wish to participate please contact us.

Sarwa Mangalam,

From China with Love

Hello everyone,

 Just a quick update to share with you that Tulku Ugen and his wife Shashi are together traveling in China to visit familly and friends of Khordong and Suckchung gompas.

It was a long awaited occasion which brings much happiness and a nice feeling of togetherness.

We also need to inform you that due to circumstances Tulku Ugen had to cancel his visit to Europe for this year.

All planned programms and events for this year should hopefully be able to be held next year.

From China with Love,

Chokhor Duchen at Gompa

Greetings,

While most of you were celebrating the first turn of the wheel of Dharma by Lord Buddha this Monday from wherever you are, here at Gompa we also did pujah to celebrate and a beautiful rainbow came to cross the sky just above Rinpoche's stupa. A wonderful vision we wish to share with you.

Chokhor Duchen - 20.07.2015

Meanwhile in Mumbai Tulku Ugen and his familly were rejoicing with the recovery of Lhammu from her operation. She is doing well but will need to be under observation for some more time.

Both events giving us great reasons to rejoice and celebrate this precious human life.

Sarwa Mangalam,

Tulku Ugen's visit to Europe is delayed till Aug 15th, 2015

Here are the words of Tulku Ugen:

Dear Sangha,

As you may probably know by now my daughter Lhammu needs to go for surgery to remove a benign tumor which has grown on her pituitary gland which is near the brain. It is a very serious operation.

The operation will happen in Mumbai on July 15th. After visiting several doctors and hospital this is the best we could find.

She will be hospitalised at Hinduja Mahim on July 14th and shall remain there till July 20th if no complication arises. She will then need to remain in Mumbai for another 3 weeks in observation.

Under such circumstances I am sad to announce that i cannot come to Europe before August 15th.

Even then in order to make it for August 15th I would need an official invitation from the different organisers on their respective letter head with their respective itinerary. If the entire Tour can be rescheduled I shall be happy to come and fullfill my engagements.

Please bear in mind that upon reception of the invitation letters the visa application will take 3 weeks to process minimum after having duly filled all documents and applied for Shengen visa.

I am extremely sorry for this changed situation which I could not foresee nor avoid.

Yours Sincerely in the Dharma,

Tulku Ugen Chencho,

H.H C.R Lama Paranirvana Anniversary

Hello everyone,

This is just a short note to confirm that on the 4th day of the 5th tibetan month which falls this year on June 20th, 2015 we will be remembering and celebrating Rinpoche's Paranirvana anniversary.

On this occasion we shall raise prayer flags and perform the Big Rigdzin together with the monks and the community at Khordong Byangter Monastery.

Join us in your prayers and aspirations from wherever you are,

Sarwa Mangalam,

Happy Saga Dawa - 2nd June 2015

On this wonderful day of Saga Dawa the members of the Khordong Byangter Gompa have released fishes in the name of the people who participated and made the Kangyur recitation possible.

We wish to thank all the sponsors and supporters who had very kindly supported the Three Day Long Kangyur Recitation, begining with the Buddha Purnima during 3rd till 5th of May for The Benefit of all the victims who lost their lives in Nepal and India during the last 25th April 2015 earthquake with generous donation and genuine wish for the same.

I would also like to express  my happiness to announce the first time recitation of the Kangyur at the Gompa which was a long time aspiration to do so. And this also could happen  for a very good cause.
May all sponsors and well wishers who took keen interest be benefited by dedicating the merit of the same.

I have received details from Mr. Alexis Lefort and Mrs Nathalie Koralnik of all the kind people who have encouraged us in such noble activity through their generous Big or Small  donations. I personally thank you all for your continued support and hope to receive your active support in coming future as well. I thank our friends from Malaysia and Australia who were at the origin of the project and who collected the seed money to see it started, I also thank the Amalha Association from Belgium who supported through their organisation.
I cannot end this note without saying  Big Thanks to Mr.Alexis Lefort and Mrs Nathalie Koralnik for their logistic support without which it would have been impossible to take place .

PHAN PAR SAM PA TSAM GYI KYANG
SANG GYAE CHOD LAE KHYAD PHAG NA
SEM CHEN MA LUE THAM CHAD KYI
DE DON TSON PA MOE CHI GOE

Sarva Mangalam.  Tulku Ugen