11th VON Gyalsey Rinpoche Tenzin Dhonmin recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 10th VON Gyalsey Jetsun Ngawang Lobsang Lekshe Donmey. The enthronement ceremony took place on 18th March 2024 formally at Drepung Tsokchen (Drepung Main Assembly/prayer hall) and the Prayer Hall temple of Drepung Gomang Monastery.
His Eminence Abbots/former Abbots, Representative of the Settlement office and various organizations, Tulkus/lamas, Geshes, official monks, and laity took part in an auspicious enthronement ceremony with Mendel Tensum, auspicious offering, rituals and chants by monks with traditional Tibetan scarf offering ceremony to 11th Von Gyalsey Rinpoche.
The death anniversary of Kunkhen Jamyang Shepa was observed on 14th March, the 5th day of the second month of the Tibetan calendar with a prayer ceremony at the Prayer Hall temple of Drepung Gomang Monastery. His Eminence Khen Rinpoche, tulkus/lamas, Geshes, and all monks attended this prayer ceremony at the prayer hall temple. An acclaimed great scholar, first Kunkhen Jamyang Sheypa Ngawang Tsondu (1648-1721), at the age of 53 was enthroned to the seat of Abbot Drepung Gomang Monastery by the Sixth Dalai Lama, founded Labrang Tashi Kyel monastery in 1709s, wrote many compositions and commentaries. He composed most of the texts of the monastic curriculum of Drepung Gomang Monastery and widely used as reference study materials by other Gelug Monastic Colleges.
As part of their Study tour, a group of international students and teachers from Mahindra United World College India, located in Pune visited Drepung Gomang Monastery from 10th to 15th March to explore Tibetan Buddhism and culture. With support from the Sagar Science Center and the Drepung Gomang Science Center, students from our Science Sustainability Program helped them become more aware of Tibetan Buddhism and its culture with visits to science class, school, debate sessions, community kitchen, and day to day functioning of this traditional monastic institution. This successful program has led to the initiation of a cultural and study exchange program between the two in the future.
The new session of the 2024 Science and Language class of Drepung Gomang Monastery commenced on 12th March 2024. His Eminence Khen Rinpoche, the abbot of the monastery and the discipline Head Gegu la graced the opening session with words for advice and encouragement for the monk students, teachers, and staff to put effort towards achieving the objective of establishment of this curriculum into monastic main stream monastic studies as per the vision and wishes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Drepung Gomang Science Center founded in 2012 is another major landmark in the monastery's academic educational field. The well-equipped science classrooms and laboratory with qualified science teachers provide the best available resources to the monk students.
A grand prayer ceremony was held at the prayer hall temple on the eve of Losar or before the start of the Tibetan Wood Dragon Year 2151. The prayer ceremony was attended by His Eminence Khen Rinpoche and all the monks of the monastery. Losar Khabtse was distributed to all the monks as arranged by the administration. The Losar holiday was announced by the discipline Head till the commencement of the Annual Monlam Chenmo Ceremony at Gaden monastery this year.
An overnight Namdrel mass debate session was held on 4th Feb at the debate courtyard of Drepung Gomang Monastery. His Eminence Khen Rinpoche attended this special event with learned scripture/text teachers/geshes of the monastery and monk students in general. In this event, new Geshes of the monastery showcase their dialectical skills in front of the congregation with intensive participation from the learned Senior Geshes testing the new Geshes with a series of tough deliberation and cross examinations.