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Print this page Send this page The Grand Inauguration of the New Assembly Hall of Drepung Loseling Monastery On 7th January 2008

Posted on February 10, 2023February 17, 2023 By admin No Comments on Print this page Send this page The Grand Inauguration of the New Assembly Hall of Drepung Loseling Monastery On 7th January 2008
News

Since the holy entrance of Buddhism into Tibet in the 7th century, Tibetan society has been predominantly centred around Buddhism and the Sangha, with daily life and even lay communities being influenced by Buddhism and the Sangha. As a result, spiritual values over material gains is firmly rooted in “typical” Tibetan families. Although Tibetans  were backward in terms of technology, their mental happiness was prioritised.

It is the genuine quest to facilitate this ‘mental happiness’ that Centers for Advanced Buddhist learnings like Drepung Loseling plays a vital role.

Ever since it’s inception in early 15th century, Drepung Loseling Monastic Institute had been an elite Center for Advanced Buddhist Studies and Practices. After its virtual destruction in Lhasa, Tibet by the Communists In 1959,  through the guidance and blessings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, it was re-established in South India and has regained its past glory.

The number of aspirants In the Monastery have been increasing – partly due to new arrivals and partly due to the recognition of Loseling Monastery as an outstanding place to study Buddhadharma and practice — well indicated by the monastery’s building of two Assembly Halls in quick succession only to be rendered over-congested in a very short time.

It was in mid-1990s, that the problem of over-congested Assembly hall came to the fore. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, seeing an urgent need, suggested that thought be given to address this acute problem. Showing tremendous concern for our monastery, His Holiness conducted many observations and consulted supreme deities and oracles on this matter.

In 2003, the New Assembly Hall Project was launched and gained instant and quick momentum, thanks to the inspiration from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the enthusiasm of the monks to proceed with the project.  A myriad number of programs, and fund-raising efforts were carried out worldwide to garner the funds needed to make the new hall possible. And now, it is ready for the formal inauguration by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 7th January 2008.

Wishing to make the Inauguration Ceremony a grand success being a matter of utmost priotiy, a 15-member Preparation and Reception Committee was constituted — one year in advance — by a unanimous General Body of Monks Meeting.  The committee has been putting all their hard efforts planning to provide the best hospitality (though very limited in resources) to those attending His Holiness the Dalai Lama’ 2 weeks’ teaching plus host a  high profile Science-Seminar, attended by many renowned Scientific figures from USA and else where.  In this regard, the committee  – criss-crossing India and beyond—-has approached many influential figures in politics and others to gather support for the event. His Excellency the Governors of Karnataka State (our home state) and two other neighboring states have graciously agreed to be among the confirmed Guests of Honour  on the auspicious occasion.

It Is our sincere desire to extend our humble helping hand to everyone coming for the teachings, hoping to relieve them of any unpleasant experiences during the stay.  It’s our honour and privilege to host as many of you and we humbly request you all to inform us of your schedule particulars, accommodation needs etc — as soon as possible, preferably through e-mail or telephone — in order to help us serve you better.

The Inauguration of the New Assembly Hall by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a great moment and grand occasion to rejoice with our friends and well-wishers and remember their perennial kind generous support all these years. Yes, it is also rare golden opportunity and privilege to play a small role to serve the Buddhadharma by hosting 2 weeks of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings benefiting one and all.

This Grand Prayer Hall is not just a matter of brick and mortar. It is the hope and aspiration of monks come to life; it is a house of prayer; a focal point to nurture humble yet profound spiritualism. It is a place where practitioners come together to help this planet and a world  which is troubled by many sorrows.

We,  the monks of Drepung Loseling Monastic Institute are eagerly looking forward to  your joining us on the Great Occasion.

SPECIAL GRATITUDE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ON INAUGURATION

We are profoundly grateful to our sublime His Holiness the Dalai Lama for gracing this occasion with His precious teachings and allocating time to officiate the Inauguration despite his busy schedule.

We are deeply grateful for the presence of our honoured guests and dignatories for your years of help, understanding and friendship.

We greatly appreciate our friends and well-wishers here and around the world facilitating the successful completion of this grand New Assembly Hall —currently the largest Buddhist Congregational Prayer Hall in the world. It would have been remained just a plan-on-paper without your generous support.

WITH PRAYERS FOR YOUR GOOD HEALTH AND FULFILLED NOBLE WISHES

Songs of the Spirit: music to live by

Posted on February 5, 2023February 17, 2023 By admin No Comments on Songs of the Spirit: music to live by
Events, News

By MICHAEL LISI, Special to the Times Union
First published: Sunday, November 18, 2007

TROY — Remember “We Are The World,” the 1980s hit performed by a plethora of ’80s hitmakers that called themselves USA For Africa?

Or WOMAD, the ongoing world music tour inspired by Peter Gabriel?

That’s sort of what Songs of the Spirit concert series is like — without so many stars or any big hair. Sort of.

A celebration of unity through music, Songs of the Spirit is a spiritual melding of musical styles that seem to clash at first blush. I mean, who would ever think to mix spacey jazz with the chanting of Tibetan monks?

It certainly worked at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on Saturday night. The three-hour performance — featuring Odetta, Hugh Masekela, Klezmatics trumpeter Frank London and Persian/Suri trance rocker Haale among others — was eclectic, spiritual, surprising and pleasing all at the same time.

From trombonist Craig Harris and his band playing psychedelic jazz behind the monotone chanting of the Tibetan Monks of Drepung Loseling Monastery to the sheer joy of the traditional Yiddish folk performed by London accordionist/singer Lorin Sklamberg, Haale and others, Songs of the Sprit soared.

And that was just the first half of the show.

The second half featured the spirited cornet playing of South African horn great Hugh Masekela, who was upstaged — much to his delight — by folk icon Odetta, who sang with passion after being guided on stage in a wheelchair.

The show, broken into two 90-minute sets with a 20-minute intermission, was interesting and quite accessible; the focus was on the musical genres, not the music or even the performers. Folk, jazz, blues, rock, klezmer, gospel, chanting, trance, and pounding African rhythms were all incorporated into the performance, which was intriguing and entertaining from start to end.

It helped that the performances were as visual as they were musical; the Tibetan monks took the stage in traditional garb, while the Shangilia Youth Choir of Kenya were dressed in colorful African-style clothing. Musicians joined each other on songs throughout the night; it was always a pleasant surprise to see the likes of London and Haale or Masekela and Odetta playing together.

Odetta took the stage last, coming on just before 11 p.m. The wait was worth it; this woman still possesses the fire and soul that made her one of the folk/blues greats of the 20th century. She may be in a wheelchair, but Odetta wasn’t feeble by any means. She got herself comfortable and belted out about 15 minutes of solid blues, including the lovely “Something Inside So Strong” and the saucy “Alabama Bound.”

Masekela was amazing, his dulcet horn tones simply lovely in a South African love song he said was called “The Love Bird.” He danced and chanted, sharing the stage with the Shangilia Youth Choir of Kenya, which opened the second set with 10 minutes of stomping and dancing, all to thumping drum beat.

Songs of The Spirit lifted the spirit and made for a memorable night at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on Saturday night.

Michael Lisi is a freelance music writer from Rotterdam and a frequent contributor to the Times Union.

SONGS OF THE SPIRIT with Hugh Masekela, Odetta, Craig Harris & Friends, Frank London & Lorin Sklamberg, Haale, Tracy Grammer, The Shangilia Youth Choir of Kenya, and The Tibetan Monks of Drepung Loseling Monastery.

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, 30 Second St., Troy

Length: Two 90-minute sets, with a 20-minute intermission.

The Crowd: A diverse, nicely dressed, enthusiastic crowd of about 500, which enjoyed the sampling of world music served up in Songs of the Spirit on Saturday night.

PROGRAMS DURING THE VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS TO MUNDGOD 2nd to 16th January 2008

Posted on January 17, 2023February 17, 2023 By admin No Comments on PROGRAMS DURING THE VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS TO MUNDGOD 2nd to 16th January 2008
News
  1. Wednesday, the 2nd January
    His Holiness will leave Bangalore at 8:30 am. He will reach Hubli at 9:50 am. His Holiness will leave from and reach Mundgod at 11:00 am. He will be invited to His Holiness’ chamber at the Drepung Monastic University and will serve the lunch there at 12:00 pm.
  2. Thursday, the 3rd January 2008
    From 8:30 am to 11:30 am, His Holiness will give teachings on from the text Manjushri-nama-samgiti (Uttering the Names of Manjushri) Lunch will be served at 11:30 am.
  3. Friday, the 4th January 2008
    From 8:30 am to 11:30 am, His Holiness will give teachings on from the text Manjushri-nama-samgiti (Uttering the Names of Manjushri) Lunch will be served at 11:30 am.
  4. Saturday, the 5th January 2008
    From 8:30 am to 11:30 am, His Holiness will bestow the subsequent permission of Shridevi (Palden Lhamo), followed by a long life puja to His Holiness jointly by the Governing Council of the Drepung Monastic University and Kunde Ling Rinpoche. Lunch will be served at 11:30 am.
  5. Sunday, the 6th January 2008
    His Holiness will visit the Gaden Monastic University at 8:30 am. At 10:00 am, His Holiness will visit the Jangchub Choeling Nunnery and consecrate the prayer hall of the nunnery at 10:15 am. At 11:00 am, His Holiness will visit back to the Drepung Monastery. Lunch will be served at 12:30 pm.

    At 2 pm, His Holiness will reach at the main gate of the new prayer hall of the Loseling College and a brief opening ceremony of the stone-pillar. He will be invited to His chamber at top of the prayer hall

  6. Monday, the 7th January 2008
    Opening ceremony of the new prayer hall of the Loseling College [See the detailed program of the day]
  7. Tuesday, the 8th January 2008
    From 8:30 am to 11:30 am, His Holiness will perform the preparatory empowerment of the thirteen-deity Yamantaka empowerment. Lunch will be served at 11:30 am.

    From 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, introduction of the new science project and discussions on science and Buddhism.

  8. Wednesday, the 9th January 2008
    From 8:30 am to 11:30 am, His Holiness will bestow the thirteen-deity Yamantaka empowerment. Lunch will be served at 11:30 am.
  9. Thursday, the 10th January 2008
    From 8:30 am to 11:30 am, His Holiness will give teachings. Lunch will be served at 11:30 am.
  10. Friday, the 11th January 2008
    From 8:30 am to 11:30 am, His Holiness will give teachings. Lunch will be served at 11:30 am.
  11. Saturday, the 12th January 2008
    From 8:30 am to 11:30 am, His Holiness will give teachings. Lunch will be served at 11:30 am.
  12. Sunday, the 13th January 2008
    From 8:30 am to 11:30 am, His Holiness will give teachings. Lunch will be served at 11:30 am.
  13. Monday, the 14th January 2008
    In the morning, His Holiness will bestow a longevity empowerment followed by a long life puja to His Holiness by the Loseling College and common Tibetan mass of the Mundgod Tibetan Settlement, followed by an annual report reading by the Tibetan regional welfare officer. Then His Holiness will give a general teaching to the public. Lunch will be served at 12 pm.
  14. Tuesday, the 15th January 2008
    His Holiness will visit the Deyang Monastery. Lunch will be served at 12 pm.
  15. Thursday, the 16th January 2008
    His Holiness will leave for Hubli at 8:30 am. At 10:20 am he will depart to Bangalore from Hubli. From Bangalore he will take a flight to Bombay at 12:05 pm and return to Dharamsala.

Recent Posts

  • HOW CAN I VISIT DREPUNG LOSELING MONASTERY
  • Print this page Send this page The Grand Inauguration of the New Assembly Hall of Drepung Loseling Monastery On 7th January 2008
  • Songs of the Spirit: music to live by
  • PROGRAMS DURING THE VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS TO MUNDGOD 2nd to 16th January 2008
  • A BRIEF HISTORY: DREPUNG LOSELING COLLEGE

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