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Seventeen Tibetan Buddhist monks gathered together after the rains retreat at Nalanda Monastery; standing up from left to right are Vens. Sangpo, Lektsok, Thubten, Thubten Gendun, Thekshok, Wangchuk, Tsultrim, Rigshok, Gyaltsen, Tenzin, Gyatso, and Tenzin Namse; sitting down from left to right are Vens. Losang Thubten, Lobsang Tendar, Jesus Revert, Geshe Jamphel Gyaltsen, and Tenzin Gendun in Lavaur, France, October 2018. Photo by Nalanda Monastery.
Ven. Losang Tendar is the director of International Mahayana Institute, the FPMT community of monks and nuns. He shares about the annual rains retreat held at Nalanda Monastery, a FPMT center in Lavaur, France, from August 26-October 9, 2018.
A group of nineteen monks concluded Yarne—the six-week long yearly rains retreat—at Nalanda Monastery on October 9. This year’s retreat started on August 26, following several days of preparation and a thorough cleaning of the monastery.
Some of the monks who did the retreat are Nalanda residents. Others came to Nalanda as guests so they could join the retreat. The retreat was conducted under the guidance of one of Nalanda’s resident teachers, Geshe Jamphel Gyaltsen.
The monks who did the retreat were gelongs Geshe Gyaltsen (Tibet); Vens. Jesus Revert (Spain); Tenzin Gendun (UK); Tharchin (Germany); Losang Tendar (Netherlands); Tenzin Namse (Switzerland); Yonten (UK); Tsultrim (Italy); Thubten (Czech Republic); Thekshok (Israel); Gyaltsen (France); Gyatso (US); Thubten Gendun (New Zealand); and getsuls Wangchuk (Switzerland); Rigshok (Netherlands); Choedrak (France); Lektsok (UK); Tenzin (Sweden); and Jamyang (Croatia).
The Buddha encouraged the Sangha to come together at their monasteries during the summer months and to devote six weeks to joyfully and intensely engaging in practice and study. Sangha are encouraged to practice harmoniously and refrain from insults and conflicts.
Within the FPMT organization, Nalanda is the only monastery in the West that engages in the three activities that define a monastery. These activities are Sojong, the bi-monthly confession ceremony; Yarne, the beginning of the rains retreat; and Gaye, the end of the rains retreat ceremony. In our Western countries, where do you find this completely and regularly done? Maybe in a few places, but it certainly happens at Nalanda, and that makes Nalanda a very special place.
Five Tibetan Buddhist monks walking along a road nearby to Nalanda Monastery, breaking the boundaries after the rains retreat, Lavaur, France, October 2018. Photo by Nalanda Monastery.
During this year’s rains retreat our retreat leader, Geshe Jamphel Gyaltsen, taught Vinaya classes using a text by Jetsun Chokyi Gyaltsen. FPMT registered teacher Geshe Losel (Graham Woodhouse) served as an excellent translator for two weeks.
In September, FPMT’s residential study programs—the Basic Program and the Masters Program—both of which are offered at Nalanda, resumed. Most of the monks are participating in one or the other, so they began classes again.
Also during the rains retreat, Ven. Jesus Revert, resident teacher at FPMT center Nagarjuna C.E.T. Granada in Spain, offered a five-day community lamrim retreat and gave a few inspirational talks to the whole Nalanda community. The monastery also organized an Open Day during the rains retreat, welcoming about 250 visitors to the monastery.
Ven. Jesus Revert said, “It was very joyous, to stay for these months together as monks—to study together and have exchanges—but to also have time to read my own books and engage in meditation sessions. I enjoyed the excellent conditions and the feeling of community.”
We thank all of our kind and generous supporters who enable us to engage in these activities.
To learn more about Nalanda Monastery, visit their website:
https://nalanda-monastery.eu/index.php/en/
To learn more about the International Mahayana Institute, visit their website:
http://imisangha.org/
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