SMD Branch School for Young Monks at
Namo Buddha
 A Request from Thrangu Rinpoche
Rinpoche strongly requests
support for his school-going monks, in particular for
the monks at SMD Branch School. He points out that the
more monks who get a secular as well as the traditional
monastic education, the more they will be able to benefit
Dharma activities and all sentient beings.
Each monk needs a minimum
of $575
In 2000, Rinpoche opened SMD Branch School for young
monks at Namo Buddha (about 2 hours away from the main
school). There are about 100+ monks at SMDBS, under the
capable guidance of Vice Principal Tashi Wangchuk. Khenpo
Chonyi Rangdrol, Principal at SMD also serves a Principal
at SMD Branch School.
SMDBS was established to relieve overcrowding in the
main school, and to give the young monks a wholesome
atmosphere in which to live. The Branch School runs
from Class 5 up to Class 8. The little monks come to the main school until they finish Class 4, then they go up to the Branch School, then they come back down to the main school to finish Classes 9 and 10.
All the children who are put into Thrangu Rinpoche's
care are given a secular education whether they are
nuns, monks or  lay children. When the monks and nuns
reach the age of consent, the can then take full ordination
if it is their wish. If not, they can leave the monastery
or nunnery. With a secular education they are able to
make their ways in life and the choice of full ordination
thus remains a fairly pure choice.
The monks at the Branch School follow the same curriculum
as we do in the main school because they too must sit
the national board exams for Classes 8 and 10. However,
their days are a little more rigorous than kids' at
the main school; the Branch School monks have classes
6 days a week. Class times are from 9 AM until 3 PM,
but they also study in the morning before classes start
and they study Dharma texts in the late afternoons.
They do a cycle of pujas, one a day. (Chenrezig, Green
Tara, Mahakala, Guru Rinpoche, Medicine Buddha, White
Tara). They dedicate the merit to all sentient beings,
especially to their sponsors.
Thrangu Rinpoche has asked me to point out that the monastics' lives are not as settled as the lay childrens'. Monastics are moved around more. After they finish Class 6, Rinpoche moves them to the nunnery or monastery to study texts and learn rituals. Generally they are in their early teens by the time they get to Class 6. It is a delicate time, when worldly temptations (fashion! technology! etc.) are particularly attractive to youngsters. Rinpoche has found that it is better to move them into a monastic setting and give them some training along those lines. They don’t drift away so easily.
After a year of refreshing their motivation, Rinpoche may send them back into school, or if they show not interest or ability in their studies, Rinpoche may give them some job to do, like working in one of the offices, working on a construction or publishing project, or driving. After they've finished that work for some years, they will be moved on to another job or another learning situation.
Those who have shown exceptional ability may go into “shedra”, a monastic college of higher Buddhist study where they study the sutras, commentaries, logic, rhetoric and where they take part in lively debates. Upon successful graduation from shedra, and at Rinpoche’s discretion and wisdom, a shedra graduate may win the title “khenpo”, which is akin to a Master’s degree in advanced philosophy. Rinpoche’s nuns have the same education opportunities as the monks.
After many years of service, a nun or monk may go into the traditional 3-year, 3-month, 3-week retreat. This is seen as a great reward. One who has successfully completed the 3 year retreat may (again at Rinpoche’s discretion) be awarded the title “lama”.
As you can understand, this training is also a form of education, and it is very important for the future of Rinpoche's activities. The more monks and nuns who are trained in western education and in life skills, the more benefit will come to all beings.
SPONSOR A YOUNG MONK'S EDUCATION
M518 Nyima Sangpo, 11 years, Class: 1
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M525 Karma Topten 15 years
Class: Five at SMDBS
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M529 Sangay Kyab 14 years
Class: Four at SMDBS
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M533 Mipham Wangdak, 10 years, Class: 1
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M534 Karma Tsering, 12 years, Class 1
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M536 Sherab, 9 years, Class: 1
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M537 Kunchok , 10 years, Class: 1
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M539 Thinley Phuntsok, 9 years, Class: 1
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M541 Nyisha Dorje 14 years
Class: Two at SMD Branch School
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Thinley Singay
M289 |
Thinley Singay is 18 years old. He is from a village called Ropa, in a mountainous region of the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. His village is a peaceful place, but poor- there is neither a school nor a hospital in the village. Thinley is the youngest of three brothers. Living conditions for his family are difficult: his father looks after domestic animals and his mother works in the house and in the fields. When he was 8 years old, he left his family and moved to Kathmandu to live with his aunt and, two years later, he became a monk in Thrangu Tashi Choling monastery.
When asked how being a monk has changed him Thinley said, “I have got good facilities in the monastery. I made new and good friends who love me very much and I know more about Dharma. I got lots of knowledge from Shree Mangal Dvip High School.”
His favourite subject at school is Tibetan, “…because it is related to Dharma and also the teaching of Buddha”, and his hobbies include, “…practicing Dharma books, singing and helping others.”
Since May 2006, Thinley has been studying at Shree Mangal Dvip Branch School for Young Monks at Namo Buddha. |
BRANCH SCHOOL WISH LIST
A digital camera (for sponsorship work)
Multivitamins
Fruit: sponsor a serving of fruit for everyone for 50 USD
Donate money so the Branch School can buy sports equipment
A soccer outfit (including boots) costs approx. 40 USD
WANT TO HELP OUT? WR ITE SHIRLEY: himalayanchildren@yahoo.co.uk
Don't send anything of value through the mail
A Word About Sponsoring Monks' Education
Again, I'd like to remind you that the monks' education path is a little bumpier than the lay kids'. Rinpoche asked that this be made clear to anyone wanting to sponsor a monastic. Another point: when a monk leaves school and goes into the monastery, he still needs sponsorship. The monastery handles sponsorship differently than the schools do: all the money goes into a general fund so that all the monks benefit...they are fed, housed, clothed and cared for equally.
Sponsor a Monk's Education...Help to Create Benefit for Many Beings |
Jamyang Gyaltsen
M506
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Tashi Tsering
M265 |
Jamyang is 8 years old and comes from Nubri, which is near the Nepalese border with Tibet. He has one brother and one sister. He doesn't know what his parents do for a living and says that he became a monk, "...because my father told me to." To get from his village to the monastery Jamyang had to walk for seven days with his fahter, sleeping in tea-houses at night.
He is enjoying life in the monastery and likes English and Tibetan.
Since May 2006 Jamyang has been studying at Shree Mangal Dvip Tibetan School for Young Monks.
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Tashi is 20 years old and is from Nubri which is close to the Tibetan border, in the Gorkha district of Nepal. To get to his village from Kathmandu means two days on buses and then a six-day walk. There are neither vehicles nor roads in these remote regions.
Tashi’s family are poor - his father works as a carpenter and he also labours in the fields; his mother is a housewife and she also helps in the fields. There are seven in his family: Tashi, his parents, four sisters and one younger brother.
It was his mother’s wish that he become a monk, which he did when he was 12 years old. Now that he is a monk he says, “Being a monk has changed my character. I learn how to help and respect others, how to meditate and pray and be kind…”
His favourite subjects in school are Tibetan and English, “…because my aim is to become a translator - I want to translate Tibetan Dharma into English for western people.” His hobbies are reading Dharma books and story books.
Since May 2006, Tashi Tsering has been studying at Shree Mangal Dvip Branch School at Namo Buddha.
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The biographies of these two monks, little Jamyang, and twenty year-old Tashi Tsering underline the benefit of the education Thrangu Rinpoche gives his monks. They all receive a secular education as well as the traditional spiritual training. Rinpoche points out that a well-educated monastic can help more beings more than someone who only has a materialistic education. A doctor, for example can help the sick, but a well-educated monastic can help beings in countless ways.
By the time these young monks are in their teens, they are beginning to think about the Dharma, their individual responsibility and how to benefit beings. With a Western education, they understand the 21st century. At the same time, they are well versed in the Buddha's teachings. They have the potential to help beings in so many ways. Twenty year old Tashi Tsering is turning his thoughts how best to serve Thrangu Rinpoche: imagine how many beings he could benefit if he became a translator. Imagine how much benefit you would create by sponsoring a monks' education.
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