eBulletin10-November2010

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KalyanamittaNovember 2010A Buddhist & Pali College eBulletin

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Dear Kalyanamitta,

Sukhi hontu!

1. 17 students graduated from the 2009/2010 Diploma class. On

behalf of everyone at BPC, Congratulations! The names list is onPage 2.

2. On Page 3, Brother Lau Kim Koon, a BPC lecturer, has

contributed an article on Buddhism in Bhutan.

This article gives an insight to the form of Buddhism in a relatively

closed kingdom. Do have a read.

3. We have some photos from our last months orientation for the2010/2011 Diploma class on Page 9.

4. Sister Lay Khieng, another BPC lecturer, would like to share that

Venerable Heng Sure, an American, born in Ohio and ordained in

the USA, will be giving talks at the Tai Pei Buddhist Centre on the

19th and 20th of November at 7pm. Ven Heng Sure is best

remembered for the two and the half years he spent performing

the 3 steps 1 bow pilgrimage. To be inspired by the venerable,please ring Tai Pei Buddhist Centre at tel : 6298 3343 for more

information.

With Metta,

Jasmine Tan

Editor/BPC eBulletin


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2004, I had the good fortune of acquainting a group of brothers and sisters from Firefly Mission, a huma2004, I had the good fortune of acquainting a group of brothers and sisters from Firefly Mission, a huma that same year, I joined them to Myanmar for my first humanitarian trip. It was a memorable journey. T

Heartiest Congratulationsto the following Diploma 2009/2010 graduates:-

1 Mdm Chua Puay Wah

2 Mr Chia Kay Hua

3 Mr Kuan George4 Miss Khin Thanda Hlaing

5 Mr Heng Wei Kiat, Sonny

6 Mr Fong Kew Kong

7 Miss Lie Yuliana

8 Mr Tham Mun Chuen

9 Mdm Tiung Kum Yoke

10 Mdm Tay Sim Lian

11 Miss Tan Lee Kiow12 Ms Sim Hwee Kheng

13 Ms Sim Hwee Ai

14 Ven Sek Tuan Teck

15 Mr Pradeep Kumar s/o Gobind

16 Mr Wee Zhen Yang

17 Mr Wahyu Perdana Yudistiawan

We look forward to your registration for the General Degree Course !


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Buddhism in Bhutan contributed by Bro Lau Kim Koon

Countrys Name

Bhutan is a landlocked mountainous country in the Himalayas. Its north borders

Tibet, China. The East, West and South border India. During ancient times, the

country was known by various names such as Lho Mon (Southern Land of

Darkness), Lho Tsendenjong (South Land of Cypresses),

Lhomen Khazhi (Southern Land of Four Approaches),

Lhojong Menjong (Southern Land of Medicinal Herbs) etc.The country was known as Druk Yul or the Land of the

Dragon after the 17th century. There is a legend that a 12th

century saint, Tsang Gyare Yeshe Dorji of the Kargyupa sect,

heard thunder in the sky while consecrating a new monastery. As thunder is

associated with the voice of the dragon (druk), he changed the name of his sect

to Drukpa Kargyupa. This sect ultimately became the State Religion of Bhutan.

The country was known as Druk Yul.

Bon

The early Bhutanese practiced Bon before the advent of Buddhism. Bon was an

animistic tradition of worshipping the sun, moon, sky and other natural elements.

The doctrine was transmitted orally from generation to generation. Under Bon,

there were priests known as Bonpo who performed exorcisms, burial rites and

divinations to tame threatening demons and to understand the wishes of the

gods.

Sources of Buddhism

Buddhism entered Bhutan from two sources. In the seven century A.D., theTibetan King Srongtsen Gampo (627 649 A.D.) ordered two Buddhist temples

to be built in Bhutan. One temple, the Jambay Lhakhang, was built at Bumthang

in central Bhutan. The other, the Kyichu Lhakhang was built in Paro. With the

introduction of Buddhism, Bon and its believers were absorbed into the religion.

However, Buddhism did not replace or eliminate the Bon religious practices

completely. Buddhism progressed concurrently with Bon practices. As the country

developed, Buddhism matured and became the unifying religion. The Buddhist

literature and chronicles are the recorded history of Bhutan.


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Continuation Buddhism in Bhutan Page 2/6

The second source came from Guru Padmasambhava (or known as Guru

Rimpoche in Bhutan) when he visited Bhutan in 747 A.D. He was the great

historical and religious patron who introduced Tantras to Bhutan from India. He

laid the foundation for the community of lamas (Buddhist teacher) in Bhutan and

firmly established the Vajrayana, a form of Buddhism with Trantric practices. He

over-saw the construction of a number of temples in the Paro Valley and the

headquarter temple at Bumthang. Guru Rimpoche founded the Nyingmapa sect

which is also known as the old sect or the Red Hat sect. This sect belongs tothe Mahayanist tradition. Indian influence played a temporary role until increasing

Tibetan migration brought new cultural and religious contributions into Bhutan.

During this period, there was no central government. By the ninth century small

independent monarchies began to develop in the country. These kingdoms were

ruled by Deb or kings, some of whom claimed to be of divine origins. The most

prominent state was the kingdom of Bumthang.

During the eleven century, Buddhism was in the decline in Tibet. Many minor sects

emerged. This was followed by the period of the Mongol empire. The Mongol

overlords in Tibet patronized many of these sects until the decline of their empire.

By this time, the Gelugpa or Yellow Hat sect became a powerful force after a

period of anarchy in Tibet. This led to the flight of numerous monks from the

opposing minor sects to Bhutan. One of these monks was the founder of the

Lhapa sub-sect of the Kargyupa School who introduced the strategically built

fortified monasteries known as dzong. The Lhapa sect was successfully

challenged by the Drukpa, also a sub-sect of Kargyup School, led by Phajo Drigp

Shigpo in the twelve century. However, both sects coexisted until the seventeen

century although the Drukpa was the dominant form of religious practice. This is

due to Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (1594 1651 A.D.), the leader of the

Drukpa Karyupa School.


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Continuation Buddhism in Bhutan Page 3/6Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel

Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel was born into a family of prince-

abbots at Gor-gong in Tibet. At the age of 12, he was installed

as the 18th prince abbot of the Drukpa monastery at Ralung in

1606.Due to theological and succession disputes he was forced

into exile in Bhutan at the age of 23. Upon arrival in Bhutan, he

taught Buddhism which eventually increased his political strength.

However, his rule was opposed by leaders of Buddhist lineages

within Bhutan. He was also known as Zhabdrung Rinpoche whichmeans the precious jewel at whose feet one submits He was not only a great

spiritual personality but also a statesman and leader of exceptional ability. He

successfully crushed several foreign invasions and also unified the various states

under one nation. As a great architect and builder, he built a chain of fortress

monasteries call Dzongs. These dzongs became the centers of religious and civil

authority.

He brought peace, security and stability to the country by establishing a strong

and dynamic administrative system. He laid down a set of strict but fair and justlaws based on Buddhist traditional values which form the framework for the

present judicial system of Bhutan. He established the Sangha community to

spread the Dhamma and to perpetuate the Buddhist Order in 1620 A.D with only

30 monks. The monastic center was at Charidorjidan about 14 km. north of

Thimphu. The first chief abbot was Khenchen Pekar Jungne. In 1637, the

Punakha Dzong was completed. The Sangha community with 600 monks moved

to this monastery. This became the winter residence of the Central Monastic

Body. The center at Thimphu became the summer residence. When other dzongs

were subsequently completed in many parts of the country, the number of monks

increased.

The Sangha Organisation

The Je Khenpo or Sangharaja in the Central Monastic Body is the highest

hierarchy of the Sangha organization. He is responsible for the countrys religious

affairs and enjoys a prominent place in the social and cultural life of the people.

His status is equaled to that of the King. He is elected for a period of 3 to 5 years

from among the high ranking monks. He could be re-elected after the term of

office.


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As a Sanghraja, he is thoroughly well versed in all branches of religiousknowledge and practice, and must have undergone prolonged meditational

experience. The Sangharaja is assisted by four deputies known as Lopon-zhib or

the Four Masters. The Dorji Lopon heads the vajracarya division and functions as

the deputy Je Khenpo. He is at the same time the chief of the Four Masters. The

Yangbi Lopon heads the liturgical division. The Drabi Lopon heads the

lexicographical division that includes literature, grammar, lexicon, metrics, which

includes the Sacred Dances, Ritual Arts and Metrical Rhymes. prosody and

mantras. Finally the Tshenyi Lopon heads the metaphysics and logic division.

These Four Masters are equal in rank to that of the ministers in the Government.

Monastic Education

Bhutanese monks study the main Buddhist texts comprising the Sherchin

(Prajnaparamita), the Dulwa (Vinaya), the Abhidhamma (Ngonpa) and the Togjoe

(the biographies of saints and sages of the tradition).

There are Thirteen Great Texts (Zhungchen Cusum) prescribed for study in the

Buddhist College. These Texts are:

(1) Pratimokshasutra by Sakyamuni Buddha

(2) Vinayasutra by Gunaprabha

(3) Abdhdharmasamuccaya by Asanga

(4) Abhidharmakosa by Vasubandhu

(5) Prajnanama mula madhyamaka by Nagarjuna

(6) Madhyamakavatara by Candrakirti

(7) Catuhasatakasastra by Aryadeva

(8) Bodhisattvacaryavatara by Santideva

(9) Abhisamayalkamkara nama Prajnaparamita by Asanga(10) Mahayanasutralamkara by Asanga

(11) Madhyantavibhanga by Asanga

(12) Dharmadharmatavibhanga by Asanga

(13) Mahayanottaratantra by Asanga

Besides the above, the following Buddhist works in logic are being studied:

(1) Pramanasamuccaya by Dignaga

(2) Pramanavaritika Karika by Dharmakiriti.

(3) Parmana commentaries by great Tibetan

and Bhutanese scholars.


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In addition to the Buddhist studies, the monks also undergo a minimum of three

years meditation practice known as the Losum Chogsum. The main meditational

courses are the Naro Choedrug (Six Yogas of Naropa) and the Chagchen

(Mahamudra teaching of Texts Maitripa).

Royal support

Buddhism being the state religion has long been financially supported by the

government through annual subsidies to monasteries, shrines and monks. Duringthe reign of His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1952 1972), 10,000 gilded

bronze images of the Buddha were manufactured, the elegant calligraphy edition

of the 108 volume Kanjur (Collections of the Words of the Buddha) and the 225

volume Tenjur (Collection of Commentaries) were published, and numerous

chorten (stupas) were constructed throughout the country.

Practices Today

The Drukpa Kagyu and the Nyingma of the Vajrayana Buddhism are widelyfollowed in Bhutan today. The influence of Buddhism permeates every aspect of

life in Bhutan. The people worship the Buddha, Guru Rimpoche and numerous

tantric deities.

Many Bhutanese have a choesham, a quiet corner where several manifestations

of the Buddha and his Dhamma teachings are maintained. Every morning, they

offer bowls of fresh water and incense while butter lamps are usually offered at

night. Butter lamps are also offered in the monasteries. Such offering contributes

to a persons growth towards liberation. Butter lamps are also offered to the

deceased to diminish his sufferings in the new existence.

The prayer wheel is a common sight throughout Bhutan.

Spinning a prayer wheel would have the same effect as

orally chanting the prayers. There are three main types of

prayer wheels: hold and spin by hand (mani lhakhor), spin

by water (chukhor mani), and stationary for turning by hand

(mani dungkhor).


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Bhutanese landscapes are dotted with prayer flags. They are found fluttering on

the mountain passes, ridges, peaks, bridges and rooftops. The flags are either

hung horizontally on a string or as a single long cloth mounted on a tall pole

which ends with the carving of a traditional wooden knife (raldi) and wheel

(khorlo).

The prayers and images are carved on the wooden block and printed on theflags. They believe that the prayers on the flags will be blown by the wind to

spread the goodwill and compassion into the open space for the benefit of all.

Bhutanese visit lamas and make offerings to monasteries. They help in repairing

and maintaining religious monuments, and participate in Wang (initiation) or Lung

(a verbal transmission by a great master). They also go on pilgrimages and take

part in religious festivals. Such activities are believed to add merit to ones life.

----- End -----

This article is contributed by Brother Lau Kim Koon


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Mr Lim Ah Swan briefing at

the orientation day.

New students getting to know

one another.

Tour of the Mangala Vihara Temple Buying of text books

Diploma Class 2010/2011 Orientation Day on 3 Oct 2010

Food Glorious Food!

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