December 2008 Newsletter

We interviewed Ven. Steve Carlier (Thubten Sherab), an ex-Nalanda monk born in Britain in 1956, who has an endearing line in self-deprecating humour.

It's so nice to be back in Nalanda after a long absence.When were you here Steve? I was here continuously between 1982 and 1993 after a visit I made, and several times since 1993. My last visit was around 2002 - 2004, I'm not sure.

What was Nalanda like before? During my last visit there seemed to be a good community of monks. The old building had been demolished to make place for the new one. The big building has gone up and isn't it beautiful! Jean-Francois has worked so hard to make it happen and it has paid off. Thanks to him!

How have things changed? The community has become more study-oriented. That is the impression I have, even though there was a strong study programme under Khensur Rinpoche Jampa Tegchok who taught extensively and deeply about all aspects of Buddhism while he was here. I was his translator from Tibetan into English from 1988 to 1993.Nowadays, there is a strong sense of warmth and harmony between the monks. Everyone has been very kind and helpful.

Why did you leave Nalanda to go to Sera? Simply because Khensur Rinpoche was appointed Abbot there. He told me that I had some aptitude for Madhyamika teachings. Life was sometimes hard in India but studying and practicing with the huge community of monks was extraordinary. I found formal debate a useful way to learn but I was a poor student. Most of the time I could not believe my good fortune. I had some amazing teachers, so generous and patient, and a good rapport with my classmates.

Your French is surprisingly good after such a long absence...  It was nice to see it gradually coming back again during the two months of this visit. Of course I shall forget it again!

Do you think learning Tibetan helped you to understand the Dharma? Yes. My Tibetan never really got good but the benefit was to have teachings direct from teachers without translators, learning from classmates through discussion and debate, and gradually reading Tibetan texts. Don't forget that it enabled me to serve as a translator!

You are leaving soon, where are you going and when can we hope for another visit? I am going back to the FPMT centre called 'Land of Medicine Buddha', in California, and trying to keep out of trouble! (In fact he is going to teach the FPMT basic programme!). I would like to come back to Nalanda once a year.

For ten days the monks of Nalanda recited the Sanghata Sutra 24 hours a day non-stop. It was a wonderful and harmonious event, which left a big impression on the community. The routine was as follows; one monk recited for an hour, and then, just as the hour was up, another monk would come and take over. The whole marathon was broadcast live via web-cam on Nalanda's website. You can still watch some of the recorded footage there now.

That was such a busy period! Just after the marathon many of us had to sit an exam on Shantideva's Guide to a Bodhisattva's Way of Life, as part of the FPMT Basic Program. Still, the monks showed great enthusiasm in getting up in the middle of the night and reciting the words once spoken by the Buddha. One of the monks, Losang Tsultrim said "It was like diving into the Dharma. For the 10 days that we recited, even when we weren't reading, it was still over us somehow. It was like we were marinated in the sutra." Visiting elder monk Steve Carlier, kindly participated in the reading.

Many lay people recited with the monks, not just at the monastery, but also in their own homes. People had the chance to leave a short message about their experiences of reading and listening on the website. One person wrote "My three children and I are copying this sutra as we hear it every night". Another wrote "We've been playing this at the relics exhibition in Asheville, North Carolina which people are really appreciating..."

In all we recited 156 complete readings of the sutra, and on the last day we all got together to dedicate the merit to the happiness and full enlightenment of all sentient beings.

For most of the time between 1992 and 1997 I was a monk at Nalanda, having ordained with Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche in Kopan in December 1991. I still clearly remember how, on arrival, I felt at home, when previously I had felt anxious about not fitting in. It turned out I enjoyed the company of the other monks, found Nalanda comfortable and harmonious and really liked the rambling old building with its delightful location in fields above the River Agout. The time spent here helped to stabilise my ordination. I found that I could balance daily meditation, study and work, such as cooking and gardening.

Recently I was interested to see how I would feel when returning to Nalanda, having been away for eleven years. I prepared myself by not expecting things to be as they were previously. There would be after all, a new generation of monks, and I was pretty certain there would be many other changes.Upon arrival this time I discovered things had changed but once again I have found Nalanda a friendly and harmonious monastery.

The most noticeable change physically of course was the new building with its beautiful gompa, dining room, kitchen and rooms for accommodation. It is a credit to Jean-Francois' devotion, many talents and sensitivity regarding the environment, and also to the hard work of others, especially Toine, the lay people and the sangha, who have been involved in the project. Clearly, many hours have been spent bringing the project almost to conclusion.

Another change is that there is more activity in and around Nalanda, with more lay people,  both resident and non-resident, helping in the everyday business of running the monastery, like for instance, food preparation, which was previously done by the monks themselves.

Then, very importantly, the  Basic Study Programme  introduced in Nalanda last February, is flourishing. It was the main reason for my return. It is great the programme has been introduced and  inspiring to see the great care that has gone into setting up and maintaining the programme. Credit goes to Geshe Jamphel and Nalanda director, Ven. Tendar for introducing the programme, Ven Tharchin for his clear translation and Ven. Yonten and others for doing the administration. I am in awe of Geshe Jamphel's knowledge and his ability and flexibility in answering questions and encouraging discussion and the benefit to the program from Ven. Fedor's years spent examining the Buddha's teachings.

At the end  of  December  I am returning to Australia, where I was born and where I have mostly lived. However I plan to return to attend the teaching programme again next year.

 

Dear Friends,
Just a very quick update on our programme. We now have the wonderful opportunity to study a text on the four Tenet schools, which is considered by many teachers as one of the most essential texts to study in our tradition. It provides an overview of mind, awareness, and the nature of phenomena in accessible stages, leading the student towards an understanding of the highest school of the Madhyamika.

Geshe Jamphel has guided students who have never received these types of teaching before, and those with some knowledge of them, through the text demonstrating his great familiarity with it. This shows us all how incredibly fortunate we are to have Geshe Jamphel, as our Abbot and teacher.

Our second teacher, Ven. Fedor has introduced us to the traditional Tibetan form of debate, as it is practiced in all the great monasteries. This is proving to be especially useful. In the great monasteries, it is said that 25% of the students' learning comes from class, 25% from self-study and 50% from the debating ground. We are certainly now in an excellent position to take advantage of that.

In September, 40 students completed the first stage our programme module on Shantideva's text 'Engaging in the Bodhisattva's Deeds', and completed the exam with an average that has surpassed all hopes. Another proof of Geshe Jamphel's erudition is that new and experienced students were able to demonstrate their learning in the exams.

We are now accepting applications for the module on Awareness and Knowers which begins on 16th February. Please do not delay if you want to submit an application, because vacant beds are becoming a rare and precious item here!

We have had some technical difficulties with our website (www.buddhist-teachings.com) for the distribution of our teaching transcripts, and until that is solved, please feel free to contact me and I will be happy to send them to you in pdf format.

Thank you for all your support and kindness. Have a wonderful Christmas. May all our actions bring peace and happiness to all sentient beings.

We thought you might like to see these few pictures. The first is of Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin having lunch with Geshe Tengye, Geshe Loden and Geshe Jamphel. The second is of Choden Rinpoche who visited Nalanda for one day and gave a short teaching. Dagri Rinpoche (last three pictures) visited the monastery for a week, giving teachings and the oral transmission of prayers and the Lamrim Chenmo. More news on this visit in the next newsletter.

 

                    

 

                        

We would like to thank everyone who contributes to the monastery in whatever way. Of course we have great teachers, and we have a staff with many excellent qualities, monks who keep the vows well and study well, lay students who contribute greatly financially and study wisely. From outside we get support in the organization of the Basic Program from the FPMT. Especially Olga Planken does a lot of work, but we would also like to thank Merry Colony. We profit from so many years of work, collecting and producing texts and prayers, and we are happy that they share their experience.

We are also happy with the volunteers of the past months: Danny, Patricia, Erick, Loes, John and Peter cooked fantastic meals under the guidance of the new kitchen volunteer-coordinator Mikkel. The volunteers of the garden and workshop, Frank and Philippe, have also done a wonderful job and their contribution was very worthwhile! Also, John prevented a big fire, for which he became volunteer of the year! Fabienne and Sonam are still working in the workshop making lots of wonderful decoration on lots of statues and stupas, and we will never forget Toine's many repairs and great contribution in the extension of Nalanda. As monks and students of the Program we would not have such great results without you, and we could not welcome so many people nicely without you!

All those who made small or bigger donations: thank you! Even without the New Building Project and replacing the roof, we have quite some regular bills to pay. Without your contribution this could not happen. We pray that all your contributions will help to you reach enlightenment soon and benefit countless others.

 

How to Help:
We have a lot of smaller and bigger projects, so if you would like to contribute financially the coming months, I will mention some projects:

the finishing touch of the new office (about 800 Euros for the new furniture), rebuild the old office into a bed room (including furniture for the future Tibetan attendant of Geshe-la; about 1500 Euros), ecological reed bed (about 15000 Euros), glass panels (2000 Euros), more art work (estimated 30.000 Euros) or solar panels (we can give you soon more detailed information, as this will also be to generate income).

We can't work on the future of Nalanda without your help. As Lama Zopa Rinpoche might come to Nalanda monastery and Institute Vajra Yogini in April 2009, we hope to have as much projects as possible finished. Thanks everyone for the help and dedications.