phuntsokrinpoche.com Blog

On the 13th March 2007, a day I will never forget. That was the day I went to the Sera Je Monastery in Bylapuppe, seven hours by car from Bangalore. I arrived at Bangalore and met some of my Singapore friends from Amitabha Buddhist Center Singapore. It was a joy to see them as I was quite worried whether I would be traveling alone in the middle of the night to Sera Je Monastery.

When we got out of the Immigration we had quite a surprise as Venerable Lundrup and a few Sanghas waited for us with two cars from the Monastery and gave us a very warm welcome. We left the airport in two cars and we arrived in Sera Je Monastery at about 4 am in the early hours of the day.

My first impression of Sera Je Monastery was immensely big. I love the place and its peaceful environment. I was very happy that I have finally made this trip to this holy place, free from worldly materialistic wants. I have only known Tibetan Buddhism for just over a year and here I am so bless to be able to make this trip. I always feel deep in my heart, I have this connection with the Sanghas community since I was introduced to these wonderful teachings of the Tibetan Buddhism.

Coming back to Sera Je Monastery, our group was divided into three places for our stay there. I stayed at Samlo Geshe Kelsang’s house which is just close to Geshe Tenzin Zopa’s house. Geshe Tenzin Zopa has been very very hospitable and took care of five of us and later two more from Amitabha Buddhist Center Singapore, joined us. We had all our meals there and practically stayed there from morning to night. On our second and third day, we had a walkaround the whole of the Monastery which is so big. It is very well organized especially when there are 4,000 to 5,000 Sanghas staying together so peacefully in their own Kamtsen. Kamtsen is a Tibetan name for living quarters with a Gompa (Temple of Worship) in each one.Phuntsok Rinpoche’s Enthronement was on the 16th March 2007. It was indeed a very successful and well organized event. We did pujas and offerings to more than 4,000 Sanghas and it was the most beautiful sight I ever seen in my whole entire life. It was a very serious event and Phuntsok Rinpoche is truly a reincarnation of Geshe Lama Konchog. With such serious chanting during the many pujas we did, he was very quite and attentive to all that was going on. He sat through all the pujas and ceremonies. I was amazed that a child of 4 years old can take all these while I am so much older still feel at times distracted by what us going on. I really respect him for he is truly a reincarnated lama.

A few days later on the 20th March 2007 I attended the graduation of Tenzin Zopa who is the uncle of Phuntsok Rinpoche. He graduated as a teacher. Geshe Tenzin Zopa’s graduation was a serious event. He had to undergo a serious test. The audience of about a few hundreds Sangha were given the freedom to test him on any subjects relating to his studies. About twenty difficult questions were asked by the student Sanghas. Geshe Tenzin Zopa answered then with confidence and he passed all the tests with flying colours. The whole event took two to three hours.

After his graduation, Geshe Tenzin Zopa had to visit his teacher and offered his gratitude and respect with gifts for all the 16 years he studies under him. To be a Geshe (teacher of Dharma/Philosophy Buddhist Scriptures) one has to study for 16 years under a teacher. He not only studied under him but he also has to serve him in many ways. This is like a Guru-Chela relationship.

All the days I was in Sera Je Monastery, I never thought about home or my friends in Singapore. The 10 days there passed very quickly and soon it was time to leave. I felt very sad to leave this sanctuary as I know it is not easy to come here as this place is a protected place. To be able to visit this place you have to have very good karmic links from your past life. Once again my heartfelt thanks to Geshe Tenzin Zopa and his Sangha family who made this possible for me.

I dedicate this article to all my Dharma brothers and sisters, my family and not forgetting Samlo Geshe Kelsang and his disciples who graciously accept me to stay in his house. Thank you all once again.

Your Dharma Friend
Margaret Stafford (Singapore)
10th April 07