Looks like coming back to Namdroling after a 10 month absence is what it takes to get me writing again! Being here, now, feels very special. It is clear to me that this is a blessed place, where practice and Dharma life arise naturally. I feel lucky to be here, and determined to spend my… Continue reading Back at the Mother Monastery!
It was ten years ago today that I took robes and shaved my head. My relationship with ordination has changed and developed over the years. Back then, I was 21 and just wanted to be ordained and learn Tibetan. I thought I would stay at Namdroling for 2 or 3 years, then head back to… Continue reading Ten years in robes
Last Monday, my friend N.D. showed me a juvenile crow who had been injured by a dog. I offered to keep it in my room. N.D. said, “You can try keeping it for a day – and then give it back if you don’t want it.” I agreed and picked up the bird that evening.… Continue reading My adventures in birdy-sitting
“She looks like that character in the Harry Potter movie… what was his name? Oh yeah, Smeagol!”
A little while ago, Venerable R. D. asked me: A bit of curiosity as to what shedra classes “look like.” Do you memorize the texts, study them, them go to class for commentary and teachings? Make notes in the text? Or is it anything like in the West with students trying to write down most… Continue reading Inside the classroom
Ani TZ: “Ani-la, come debate with me over here!” Ani DT: “I can’t, I am stuck here with chewing gum.”
A certain tulku: “These momos have deceived us, they are filled with potatoes.”
“Don’t ask questions to the exam supervisors. You’ve had a whole year to learn these things. And besides, it has been so many years since we’ve studied these things – we’ve forgotten everything.” –a Lopon speaking at the shedra meeting on ‘How to write final exams’
When we complete the study of a text we make offerings to the three jewels and to our teacher. Yesterday we lit 108 butter lamps in our classroom. These lamps were special because half of them were filled not from the semi-solid butter substitute we usually use, but with regular cooking oil. From the moment… Continue reading Why my class shouldn’t be trusted with butter lamps
We are nearing the end of another year of studies here at Namdroling. My last class will be next Monday morning, which is the Buddhist holy day Lhabab Duchen and thus a very auspicious day to complete our endeavors. There will then be eleven days of break and perhaps pujas for His Holiness’ swift rebirth.… Continue reading End of another year
What was once: Is now: And now we see: Which is hopefully laying the ground for:Instead of:Although… Hmmm…. The last two images are courtesy of the Library of Congress Archives.
Nuns on their way to puja in the nunnery temple. On the second floor there is a library and two classrooms. The dratsang building to the right of the temple. This building houses nuns studying in the primary school and nuns who carry out pujas and study the ritual arts (dratsang). The shedra building to… Continue reading What does the nunnery look like?
damchoe's nun sense 