Hi there,
Wow! The weather has been extremely good now for the last one month the glacier water have now soaked our ancient channels and our agriculture fields. Its almost harvest time in the lower Ladakh while early irrigation period in the upper Ladakh.
So its getting greener and agriculture fields have received few times of irrigation splashes! With the final descent of much awaited glacier water. The sun too have been very hot during past days with occasional cloudy days which would curtail the quick outflow of these glacier water natural control system.
Todays Leh
There had also been occasional rain which would bring out the shy bio-diversity of the region once again and the higher lands would be very pleasant to visit in the coming days. Though at first glance it appears nothing seems to grow in wild here?
People young and old all are planning pick nick in the remote villages where new pick nick spots have come about in last few years. The educational institutions, departments, businesses, families even monastic bratherns take a must pick nick during the summer, it’s become sort of a tradition here.
Pick Nick with study
On 6th of July we celebrated the 88th Birth Anniversery of HH the 14th Dalai Lama with much enthusiasm and gaity! He is arriving on the 11th of July for a month or more stay in Ladakh and would give teachings to local residents; people are eagerly waiting for his annual visit to Ladakh also to hear his sermon!
Late Tagloong Tsetrul Rinpoche
with Dalai Lama
The annual Hemis monastery of the famous Guru Padma Sambhava festival also got over with much pomp andagity with the arrival of enthusiast foreign guests. The Tibetans refer to him as the second Buddha and was instrumental in the establishment of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism firmly in 8th century C.E in Tibet although he was born in the land of Udiyana north western ancient India.
Earlier, in the month of June we also had the ‘Yuru Kabgyat’ or the two day annual festival of Lamayuru monastery to celebrate the coming of the great Drigung tradition master ‘Skyoba Jigten Gonbo’ who is consider to be the incarnation of the great Nalanda master ‘Nagarjungna’. There also take place a week’s ritual consecration prior to the festival.
Then we saw the Parinirvana of our own Drigung Rinpoche Kyabje Togdan Rinpoche who was born in Tangtse region of north east Changthang. His last funeral rites indicated several mariculous signs such as appearing of rainbow in the sky, flamed funeral pyre adorned with animation of vajrapani of which he was a manifestation and a true Vajrayana master!
Lastly, we were very fortunate to receive the incarnation of the great Zogchen master Late Tagloong Tsetrul Rinpoche his holiness the Tagloong Tsetrul Yangsri Rinpoche was born in a humble family of Spiti region of Himachal. He is 6 years old and was accorded a great reception by the people of Ladakh.
The previous Tagloong Tsetrul Rinpoche made Chota Shimla his main headquarter after his exit from Tibet where he established the Dorjetag tradition of Tibetan Buddhism of the Changter tradition of immaculate Rigzin Goldem.
Later, he was invited to head the Tagthog Gompa in Sakti Ladakh where he spent about five decades and went on to become the head of the Nyingma tradition under the aegis of HH 14th Dalai Lama’s patronage. Bye for now.