Gonpo Bumtsok : The Six-Armed Mahakala-Gonpo Chagdug, the official Protector-deity of Drepung Gomang Monastery. Monks of the monastery gathered at Prayer Hall Temple to offer special Guru Puja (bhumtsok) dedicating it to all the Buddhas, invoking their blessings to usher - peace and harmony in the world. This two-day prayer was dedicated to the well-being of all benefactors, for the success of all dharma projects of the monastery, and for the long healthy life of His Holiness the Great XIVth Dalai Lama and all learned scholars, masters of the Buddha dharma.
As monk students from Mongolia, Kalmykia, Buryatia, and Taiwan are yet to return to the monastery to attend regular monastic classes due to Covid-19 Pandemic. Under the supervision of H.E. Khen Rinpoche and the examination committee of the monastery, with collaboration with the monasteries in their monastic heads and our senior monks, the annual monastic examination of Year 2021 was successfully conducted in respective countries. Our gratitude and thank you to all those who made this possible.
Due to Covid Pandemic, the monastery's academic curriculum was disrupted, monastic classes were not conducted as usual despite that the monk students have been self-studying in their quarters and had prepared well to appear and attend their annual monastic examination which was concluded here on 6th November 2021. The Examinations of oral (Memorization), written test, and debating skill test of the academic Year 2021 were successfully conducted under the supervision of His Eminence Khen Rinpoche and the exam committee of the monastery.
Geshe Damcha ceremony for the new Tsokram, kyabchu and Dhoram for the year 2021 was held at the prayer hall temple of the monastery presided by His Eminence Khen Rinpoche. This year, on September 21st, 13 monk staff who have been serving the monastery in various capacities with great dedication, for so many years were honored with Geshe titles by His Eminence Khen Rinpoche. A senior monk and long-time serving member of the Himalayan Buddhist Association, Venerable Gen Chosphel Sopa was honored with Geshe Kyabchu title by His Eminence Khen Rinpoche for his dedication, hard work towards the preservation of Buddhist culture, religion, and language in the Himalayan region of India, and many years of association with the monastery. Also on this auspicious day, the first Indian to be honored with Geshe title at Drepung Gomang Monastery in exile, Ven Tenzin Lhabsum, an Indian monk from IBD, Dharamsala was honored with Geshe title by His Eminence Khen Rinpoche.
Drepung Gomang monastery extends its heartfelt congratulations to all new Geshes of 2021 and extends gratitude to all for many years of dedicated service.
The abbot's tenure is usually is of six years, on 19th September, monks above age of 18 took part in the voting of next Khen Rinpoche of Drepung Gomang Monastery on 19th September 2021. The current H.E. Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Gyaltsen is the 80th Abbot/Khen Rinpoche of Drepung Gomang Monastery. The final appointment will be done by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
On 16th and 17th September, 2nd dose of Covid vaccine was freely administered, about 1300 people (+18 years) were inoculated at Drepung Gomang Monastery, comprising of our monks and lay people from settlement. Drepung Gomang Monastery sincerely conveys deepest gratitude to all kind and grateful donors for this kind compassionate support.