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India: Buddha's Homeland, Our Inspiration
Gautama Buddha was a prince of the Shakya clan of the Himalayan foothills that are now part of India. 2,500 years later we continue to be inspired by his practice and teachings. In this issue we explore KF's connection to this amazing country, beginning with a colorful slideshow of Rinpoche's reasons to love India. Throughout 2013 we emphasized Khyentse Foundation's core purposes: to nurture the source of the Buddhadharma and to prepare for the future. In India we find the past and future not so clearly delineated. As Rinpoche told us, there is something about the Indian DNA that triggers an "appetite for nonduality."
In this issue:
Stories:
Other News:
Banner Images: Khyentse Foundation's logo, the Ashoka pillar; Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche under the Bodhi Tree, October, 2012 by Toto Iwantoro; the Mahabodhi Temple; the annual Tripitaka chanting in Bodhgaya by Richard Dixey; KF board member John Solomon with the coconut offerings at the charnel ground; Vaishali by But-sou Lai. Photo right: Rinpoche lending a hand by Pawo Choyning Dorji. Photo below: the Mahabodhi Temple by Pawo Choyning Dorji.
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YOUR OPINION, PLEASE
We would like to know your thoughts about Khyentse Foundation. Please participate in our online survey to help us make our communications more responsive to your needs. Some people have taken the survey and have even found it interesting.
Muchas gracias
ﺷﻜﺮﺍﹰ
谢谢
धन्यवाद
muito agradecido
The best way for you to support Khyentse Foundation is to become knowledgeable about our activities — to read the Communique, ask questions, make connections. And of course, become a monthly donor as a Friend of Manjushri. Every dollar you give is doubled by the group of matching fund donors known as the Patrons of Manjushri.
With great appreciation,
The KF Team
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THE GREAT PATRONS SERIES: BUDDHA'S FIRST PATRON
In 2002, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche began identifying some of the great patrons of Buddhism, including Shakyamuni’s own patron, Sudatta Anathapindika, and the warlord king Ashoka. Without these patrons, Buddhism would have had little chance to flourish. In every Khyentse Foundation Communiqué , Rinpoche shares the life story of one of these inspiring patrons.
Through the blessings and teachings of the Buddha, and his own good karma and merit, Sudatta reached the first bhumi and became known as Anathapindika. Never one to proselytize or seek attention, Sudatta nevertheless influenced all those around him. His commitment and life example inspired countless students to follow the Dharma. He died with Ananda and Sariputra at his side and went to Tushita Heaven. Read more about this inspiring patron of Buddha.
FREE DOWNLOAD: WHAT TO DO AT THE HOLY SITES OF INDIA
Request the PDF of What to Do at India's Buddhist Holy Sites
Rinpoche wrote a book in response to questions that students frequently ask about going on pilgrimage to Buddhist holy sites. What to Do at India’s Buddhist Holy Sites is not a guidebook for ordinary tourists, but for Buddhists who wish to purify their defilements and accumulate merit by going on pilgrimage. Focusing primarily on the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha and the great Indian masters of the past, Rinpoche offers pilgrims advice on every aspect of pilgrimage: where to go, what to do, the meaning of pilgrimage, and generating the right motivation before leaving home. He explains what Buddhists mean when they describe a person, place, or object as being “holy.” Included are suggestions for which prayers and practices one can do at the four main Buddhist holy sites in India and Nepal.
“The aim of all Buddhist practice is to catch a glimpse of the awakened state. Going on pilgrimage, soaking up the sacred atmosphere of holy places and mingling with other pilgrims are simply different ways of trying to achieve that glimpse.” — Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
NEW TRANSLATION STUDIES SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINES
Khyentse Foundation is pleased to announce a scholarship to support translator training in the field of Tibetan and Sanskrit canonical literature. The grant will support students of those languages who wish to follow a course of study designed to educate translators of Buddhist canonical materials into English. To apply, students should submit the application form, an essay, one recommendation letter of academic reference, a budget proposal, and academic transcripts. Submissions will be accepted between February 1 and March 1, 2014. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by July 1, 2014. Visit the web site for more information.
UPDATE ON VARA: THE BLESSING
Rinpoche's new feature film, Vara: The Blessing, has had a very successful festival season so far, from its world premiere as the opening film at the prestigious Busan International Film Festival, where it met with enthusiastic audiences and garnered great reviews, to its European premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, to its Taiwan premiere at the 50th Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival. Rinpoche, the main cast members, and several crew members attended the Indian premiere at the International Film Festival of India in Goa. In December, the film was screened to packed audiences at the International Film Festival of Kerala. Vara will continue on the festival circuit, with screenings in Bhutan's capital city Thimphu and in Kathmandu, then aiming to land soon in North America, as well as in more cities in Asia, Europe, and Australia. NOTE: Rinpoche's films are funded completely independently from KF. No KF funds go to support Rinpoche's creative endeavors.
YOUTH BUDDHIST SOCIETY: BUDDHIST REVIVAL AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL
 The Youth Buddhist Society (YBS) is a volunteer, nongovernmental, nonsectarian, nonprofit, and nonpolitical people's development movement based on engaged Buddhism. YBS was established in 1986 in Sankisa, Uttar Pradesh, India. Since then it has worked in Sankisa, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Orissa. YBS has brought about grassroots initiatives, involvement, and development of mind among thousands of villagers in India.
“We organize the Dhamma talks every month for 2 or 3 days in different villages or towns. Dhamma is the necessity of every human being. It’s no matter whether someone is following Buddhism or not. Everyone wants happiness and no one wants suffering and this virtue [we] only can get by practicing Dhamma. There have been many high scholars teaching Buddhism for the last many years, like Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, Prof. Ramesh Chandra Negi, Mahendra Singh, and many more.”
KF INDIA TEAM
S. Badrinarayanan, Board Member
Rajiv Sharma, Board Member
Suresh Jindal, Advisor
Raji Ramanan, Advisor
Prashant Varma, Advisor
Isabel Pedrosa, KF Liaison
Amelia Chow, KF Liaison
Nisheeta Jagtiani, Administration Manager
Pema Wangchuk, India Liaison
INDIA PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Richard Dixey, Chair
S. Badrinarayanan
Asha Pillai-Balsara
Zubin Balsara
Pravin Bauddha
Amelia Chow
Khenpo Choying Dorjee
Nisheeta Jagtiani, Secretary to the Committee
See a complete KF team list on the website.
OBJECTIVES OF KF
ACTIVITIES IN INDIA
These objectives are aimed at supporting projects that offer synergy as a central element of KF’s strategy in India:
- To support Buddhist study and practice and promote effective grassroots organizations
- To strengthen and develop Buddhist studies at the university level
- To encourage the translation of key Buddhist texts into mainstream Indian languages such as Hindi and Marathi
- To encourage other initiatives, such as the promotion of Buddhist history in mainstream Indian education and the creation of databases of Indian Buddhist organizations
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Visit www.khyentse.org for descriptions of the primary organizations founded by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.
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Siddhartha's Intent
Siddhartha's Intent supports Rinpoche’s Buddhadharma activities worldwide, through organizing teachings and retreats, transcribing, distributing and archiving recorded teachings, translating manuscripts and practice texts, and establishing a community committed to continual study and practice.
Teaching Schedule for Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Public Teaching
International Buddhist Academy
Kathmandu, Nepal
8-9 February 2014
Bodhicharyavatara, Year 1
Pune, India
21-23 February 2014
Manjushri Initiation and Teachings
Hong Kong
15-16 March 2014
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AND THEN...
 The next major publication from Khyentse Foundation will be the 2013 KF Yearbook, including the Annual Report, coming in April. Until then, we will send brief updates on individual projects. In the meantime, check the KF website and join our Facebook group for news and updates on activities.
MAILING LIST
If you are not receiving the Communiqué directly from Khyentse Foundation, please sign up on the
Khyentse Mandala Mailing List. If you have moved or changed your address, or if any other contact details have changed, be sure to update your information.
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OUR LOGO
 Khyentse Foundation’s logo is Ashoka’s lion. King Ashoka reigned during the Mauryan Empire (3rd century B.C.), one of Buddhism’s golden eras. His trademark was the pillars inscribed with Buddhist teachings that he erected throughout his kingdom. Below is a portrait of King Ashoka by Brigitte Reisz, which she painted for Khyentse Foundation as part of the art auction. There were many wonderful submissions, and Rinpoche also donated two portraits on canvas board, which were auctioned off in Vancouver and Los Angeles in 2013. Six of the original 12 pieces are still available for sale. We plan to feature them on our web site.
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An Illustrated List: 15 Reasons Rinpoche Loves India
Slideshow by Rinpoche about this most colorful country
We asked Rinpoche to tell us why he loves India and where we should go as pilgrims. Here are his responses and a collection of brilliant images of this most holy land.
A Landmark Collaboration in Pune
Strengthening Ancient Indian Buddhist Roots at Pune University
(Pune, India) -- Khyentse Foundation is supporting Buddhist studies in India by establishing a new KF Visiting Professorship at Pune University’s Department of Pali. Professor Deokar, blind since childhood, leads his department with dedication to scholarship and social change. Read Charmaine Oakley's article about the history of this remarkable program.
Manipa-Buchen: Reviving an Ancient Tradition in Northern India
Atsuki Nakagami's encounter with an ancient Ladhaki family results in a new KF opportunity.
Many ancient wisdom traditions and lineages are at risk of becoming broken or lost. A little support can go a long way in keeping these traditions alive and intact. KF is encouraging the study and practice of the Manipa-Buchen tradition in Spiti to help in its revival in Ladakh through a grant to Tsewang Dorjey, whose grandfather was one of the great masters of this spiritual and cultural lineage. Photo above, Manipa-Buchen in action, by Atsuki Nakagami.
By Atsuki Nakagami
(Ladakh, India) — In the land of snow leopards and Siberian ibex, the Manipa-Buchen of Ladakh were the key disciples of the 14th-century saint Thangtong Gyalpo. For centuries, an unbroken lineage of yogis performed the rituals and dramas of the great saint. Now, the cold desert region of the Pin Valley in Spiti is the only place this tradition is still alive.
Tsewang Dorjey was born into a family who held this lineage in a small village in Ladakh. His grandfather, Stanzin Angchuk, was the last in a long line of Manipa-Buchen, and the lineage suffered greatly after he passed away in 1984. Tsewang was only 8 years old, so he was not able to study with his grandfather. In the spring of 2012, I met Tsewang in his village in Ladakh while I was conducting research on the legacy of Thangtong Gyalpo. After a long interview with Tsewang’s mother, who was the only daughter of Stanzin Angchuk, she enthusiastically insisted that I wait until her son came home from work as a school teacher. When he came home, he told me his great wish...
Modernizing a Traditional Shedra:
The DKCLI Story
Progressive education meets monastic training to bring monasteries into the 21st century.
Rinpoche sharing a moment with the late Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk, who built DKCLI out of his inspiration and devotion to the Rime tradition of the Khyentse lineage. Photo by But-sou Lai.
Slideshow highlighting key moments of the Monastery's history
( Chauntra, India) — The first Dzongsar Khamje College was established in Tibet in 1871 by the great scholar and mystic Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö Institute (DKCLI) was founded in Bir in 1987, but over the decades the institute outgrew the cozy walls of this beloved structure (now the home of Deer Park Institute). In 2004, the institute opened in its new home in Chauntra, Himachal Pradesh, India. Rinpoche has taken great care to update the management systems and to introduce education innovations so that his graduates are prepared to teach in the 21st century. Khyentse Foundation continues to fully support the basic food and living expenses of close to 600 students, khenpos, teachers, and staff at DKCLI. KF also funds administration expenses, including salaries for teachers and general staff, library acquisitions and office supplies, a medical clinic, and an English program.
KF Milestones in India
KF has been active in India for over a decade. Here's a brief look back at some of the highlights over the years.
Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche with Sakya Avikrita Vajra Sakya Rinpoche under the bodhi tree, October, 2012. Photo by Toto Iwantoro.
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First Person:
A Gift That Benefits the Giver
by Anonymous
We love to hear from our friends about what inspires them about KF. Here an anonymous donor tells us what motivates her partnership with KF. We thank her!
I have been a follower of Buddhadharma and Rinpoche's teachings for over 5 years now, but only in the last 2 years did I become a regular donor to KF. The reason is that I got so inspired by Rinpoche's vision and KF's track record in implementing amazing projects that support institutions and individuals who wish to study or practice the Dharma. Although building a grand monastery or a giant gold Buddha statue may inspire others to practice Dharma and liberate themselves, to me nothing is more important than ensuring Buddha's words and teachings to be preserved in a general accessible way, next-generation sangha leaders being trained properly to uphold and pass the precious teachings into the future, and real practitioners getting support in their practices. And these are exactly what KF does.
As a former management consultant, I believe in investing every single dollar where it can generate maximum impact. Although I am not rich, I pledge to contribute whatever I can to KF works, whether financial support or skills such as translating Rinpoche's teachings into Chinese so that more people can receive his teachings and get a chance to make some change to themselves and to this world.
I haven't been working for a few years now, but I set up a small amount monthly donation. I can surely skip that sinful chocolate cake and coffee at least once a month, and offer the money for something more valuable. For the Chinese New Year, I donate to KF part of the Red Envelope money that I receive from family, so that they can also get connected to Dharma in a meaningful way. For my birthday, instead of buying myself a gift, which usually means piling up more unnecessary things in my already cramped apartment, I make some donation to KF to expel that shopping urge. I have to say this kind of "shopping" tends to make me happy for a longer time than physical goods.
In 2013, I also asked my family and friends not to buy me any Christmas gifts for the sake of not creating more garbage in this world. However, if they really feel like giving me something for the season's sake, then they can make some donation to KF, or 84000, or Lotus Outreach, or any disaster relief funds for non-Buddhist friends. That will be a gift good for the giver, good for the environment, and good for all beings.
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Technology for Nuns
KF Supports Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo's Dongyu Gatsal Ling
(Kangra, H.P. India) -- At Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo's nunnery, Dongyu Gatsal Ling , young nuns are training in the computer skills they need to move into the 21st century as the next generation of Buddhist masters. Through a KF grant, the nunnery purchased six computers, printers, scanners, photocopiers, and supplies, and hired knowledgeable trainers.
Supporting Local Villagers at DKCLI's Medical Camp
Rinpoche has long said that the walls between community and monastery should be dissolved.
(Chauntra, India) — From November 11 to 17, 2013, Khyentse Foundation India organized a free medical camp at the DKCLI for the second consecutive year. Free consultation and medicines were provided to a total of 488 patients suffering from ailments such as influenza, colds, diarrhea, and asthma. “Based on the success of Khyentse Foundation’s medical week held last year, many villagers returned this year," said Dr. Abhishek Sharma, the doctor in charge. "This year we saw more children, women, and senior citizen patients.” As the word spread, groups of elderly Tibetans from the neighboring villages made the effort to travel for high-quality health care.
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Meet Board Member Raji Ramanan
Acclaimed Translator of the Dharma
In each issue of the Communiqué, we introduce a member of our volunteer team—country representatives, project coordinators, advisors, board and committee members, and members of the executive office.
KF board member Raji Ramanan is a highly respected and sought-after translator based in New Delhi who has been honored by the Indian Parliament for her contributions in the field of translation. Raji has translated books by many of the great living Buddhist masters, as well as the first three chapters of Shantideva’s Bodhicharyavatara, from Sanskrit into simple Hindi for the Indian sangha. She also serves on the board of directors of Siddhartha’s Intent India and is a member of the classical languages faculty at Deer Park Institute.
As an advisor to KF-India, Raji is initiating KF's effort to translate Dharma teachings and texts into Hindi and possibly other vernacular languages, such as Marathi, for the general Indian public. She also produced Dhih , an inspiring two-DVD set of Buddhist chants, sung by Vidya Rao. A favorite in the Khyentse sangha, the CD set contains a booklet of the mantras in Roman and Devanagari script, with their meanings and pronunciation, translated by Raji. (Listen to Vidya Rao chanting “ In Praise of the Three Jewels” (Triratnavandana.)
"Meeting Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche was a blessing for me," says Raji. "In him I found not just a kind, compassionate teacher who is there to help out with any doubts one encounters in spiritual practice, but who also challenges one to look at other possibilities of understanding different concepts. His questions about the meaning of Sanskrit words have helped me in my own understanding of the language." On being a KF board member, Raji says, "It not only made it possible for me to connect to people who are engaged in extraordinary work in Buddhist studies—be it research or the work of translation — it has given me an opportunity to meet amazing teachers of Buddhadharma. Rinpoche has always inspired me to explore the great Nalanda tradition and recognise the hidden jewels there."
KF board and team members with Rinpoche and Drubgyud Tenzin Rinpoche in Bodhgaya, 2013. Photo by Pawo Choyning Dorji.
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I lived on the shady side of the road and watched my neighbors' gardens across the way, reveling in the sunshine.
I felt I was poor, and from door to door went with my hunger.
The more they gave me from their careless abundance, the more I became aware of my beggar's bowl.
Till one morning I awoke from my sleep at the sudden opening of my door, and you came and asked for alms.
In despair I broke the lid of my chest open and was startled into finding my own wealth.
—Rabindranath Tagore
Panoramic view of the Mahakala puja Rinpoche performed for KF
at the charnel grounds near Bodhgaya in 2012. Photo by John Solomon.
"If you look at Buddhist history, at the social heyday of the Buddhadharma, the golden age did not come about just because of a few renunciant Mahasiddhas roaming around. It was because of the great patrons like Ashoka, Genghis Khan, the kings. When there’s sound, healthy, and strong patronage, we can see in history, these produce an amazing world of Buddhists and Buddhadharma. It is in these footsteps that Khyentse Foundation is aiming to follow."
—Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse
"Ashoka" Brigitte Reisz (2012) Egg tempera on canvas (16.5 x 23 inches)
About the artwork: King Ashoka was born in what is now Patna in Bihar, India. Reisz visited a friend in Patna whose parents were a Bihari and a Bengali. "I thought he might as well have the looks of Ashoka. I felt there was something royal in his appearance. I took a last-minute photo before we parted. I wrapped some fabric around his head and here he is: as Ashoka. I wasn't sure what a king with such a past would really look like. This is what appeared." To purchase this painting to benefit KF, send a message to info@khyentsefoundation.org.
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