Rizong Monk Picture Gallery
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Meet our Guests
The monks' first public appearance will be at the Buddha Day Celebrations, which will be held on SATURDAY 01 MAY from 14:00 - 17:00 at the Greenwood Park Shree Ranganathar Temple Hall (Greenwood Park). The day is free and open to all and includes a vegetarian meal at the end of the proceedings. As part of the programme the monks will be chanting special prayers. For further details please contact: Jerald Vedan: 031.4091398/7 (office hours)
We look forward to seeing you at these special events.....
We should feel particularly privileged that the following six monks from Rizong Monastery in Ladakh have taken time off their busy schedule at their monastery to Bless our country. His Eminence Sras Rizong Rinpoche (pictured above) , who has recently been conferred the Ganden Tripa of all the Gelugpa Monastic Universities, has given his Blessing that these monks should visit South Africa in order to highlight the importance of Peace & Harmony during these troubled times.
We sincerely hope that everyone experiencing the construction of these Blessed sand mandalas will in turn take with them a sense of how important the Tibetan Culture is and perhaps will endear you to pursue an interest in Tibet, as well as take with you the essence of the Peace & Compassion sand mandalas, which undoubtedly you will experience whilst the monks constuct this beautiful work of spiritual artistry.
Monks details:
Venerble Tsultim Stanba (age 70) is the Abbot of Rizong Galden Phelgyasling Monastery in Ladakh. When His Eminence Rizong Rinpoche is not in residence at the monastery, Venerable Tsultim Stanba takes responsibility. He is a Master in the art of constructing sand Mandalas and teaches the young monks at Rizong Monastery.
Venerable Thupsten Wangchok (age 43) became a monk at the age of 13. He received his novice ordination from His Eminence Sras Ripoche and later his Bhikshu ordination from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1990. He was conferred the Geshe Ngarampa Degree in the Gelukpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in 1996. Since June 2009 he has been serving His Eminence Sras Rinpoche of Ladakh as one of his personal attendants and accompanies Rinpoche.
Ven Thupstan Chhotak, (age 52) received the Shastri Degree from the Centre Institute of Tibetan Higher Studies in Varanasi, India. He achieved BEd degree from the same Institute. He takes special interest in Tibetan Literature and has written/compiled 3 books in Tibetan. Last year he compiled a daily Prayer book for the Rizong Monastery, which is now being printed.
Venerable Lobzang Phuntsog (age 43); Venerable Lobzang Zodpa
(age 40) and Venerable Thupten Dakpa (age 42) are all from Gyudmed School in Leh. They all have gNagrampa degrees from Gyumed Tantric College in Hunsur Karnataka and they are specialists in making mandalas of Avaloketeshvara and other Tantric deities. They are also Masters in chanting and performing tantric ritual and making torma (offering cakes).
Sand- mandala to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 75th birthday
May 2010
The TSSA is working on co-ordinating a visit by six monks from Rizong Monastery in Ladakh. The purpose of the visit will be to construct a sand- mandala to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 75th birthday during 2010 and the symbology of the mandala will represent World Peace. We are hoping that the monks will travel to Cape Town & Johannesburg where the mandala can be constructed and whose energy will be disseminated throughout the country.
Above are pictures of a sand mandala being constructed in Durban a few years' ago; it was a particularly moving event and many people visited the venue to absorb the wonderful energy which was generated by the monks who remained focused on producing this wonderful spiritual work of art.
Venues/Dates:
(subject to change)
Johannesburg:
14-22 May - Lam Rim Buddhist Centre,
Date changes to note
Please click here to view the programme of events
Auckland Park area.
Tel: 083 255 6089 / 082.467.5735
Email: contact@lamrim.co.za
Cape Town:
24-29 May 2010 - Sophea Gallery & Tibetan Teahouse
2 Harrington Rd
Seaforth - Simon's Town
Tel: 021 786 1544
or 082 896 6426
Website: www.sopheagallery.com
email: sophea@sopheagallery.com
Contact person: Maryna Kruger
Their Durban visit has been a wonderful experience and a great success for everyone involved. The Gallery, where the event was held, experienced a wonderful turn-out
With Thanks ...
An incredible and tangible energy manifested itself as the mandala was created, which touched people in so many ways.....hopefully the presence of the monks has triggered some inner reflection & it is only through the generosity and wisdom of their Teacher, His Eminence Rizong Rinpoche, that this event came into being, and most importantly the energy of his wisdom & compassion has been ignited before our very eyes. Hopefully, our involvement with the event has given us the opportunity to work on an inner transformation, if only to become aware of one's own short-comings. When this energy is tangible our delusions manifest clearly, thereby giving us a choice whether to work on them .... this is when the true meaning of visits such as these start to begin; one of many journeys.......a journey which is of benefit to yourself and ultimately others too.
Our special dedications should also go to Geshe Damcho Yonten-la, because it is through him that connections to Great Masters has come about.
Special Thanks - TSSA would like to make a special mention of the following who have contributed towards this wonderful event:
KZNSA Art Gallery - especially Brenton
Troy Inman for his photographic excellence!
Magic Moments - for their kindness
Exploring Consciousness (Cape Town) - thanks to Erika
Sophea Art Gallery (Cape Town) - for hosting the monks' with such enthusiasm
Lam Rim Buddhist Centre in Johannesburg - for their dedication