New Year And Puja
Just before a New Year, sixteen older monk went to Riwoche for a 5 day Drubchok with lots of excitement. Intermedite classes were off for a week. Little monks were saying-“ Oh! we are having a very good foods without older monks” Fewer monks and less food but more tasty!
Namgyal and Gyatso made tormas for the Tara puja on New Year’s Eve while Nicky and I were helping Gyude Gyatso, who had just burned his legs while lighting a fire. That night was quite memorable because when Gyatos had settled down and the pain had stopped, we all watched Jackie Chans old Kungfu movie and another until early in the morning, in the clinic sitting with one of the cats sharing our bed!
I woke up a bit late in the morning - so that I even missed the morning prayer. Pema Dondrup who a manager of this monastery was doing the Kyilkhor decoration making chodpa when I entered the Prayer hall. He asked me for the keys of Kyilkhor . I looked my pocket but the keys were not there. I had lost the keys and I had no idea where. I searched the clinic and my room ‘til 8 o’clock in the morning. Luckily I found them in Pemas room and puja could begin.
I put the vajras and bells on the monks tables for the Puja. Everyone gathered in the assembly hall after a gong and the Unje (chant master ) Namgyal Longyang began to do the Green Tara Puja with other monks. Little monks also participated the puja. It was first time that we have done the prayer for all the sponsors with a list of names. Prayers were not only for sponsors but for Rinpoches’ students, monks and for all mother beings, wishing for their successful life and free from suffering, wishing them to be free from Samsara, wishing them to be happy and joyful. We finished the prayer almost at 11:30 am in the morning.
We did Narak Kansyak Puja and some monlam on the 2nd January From 8 to 11:30 o’clock in the morning. After that Gyatso, Namgyal and I began to make Tormas for Thinle Dringpo the last puja on Guru Rinpoche day. Fewer monk in the puja without other 16 monks meant there were not enough to play horns and trumpets!
In spite of this the pujas went really well. All the monks were really pleased! Our missing companions returned two days later – they had had a very different experience – read about the Riwoche puja in the next blog post. Classes start tomorrow, with exams coming nearer and nearer…today however there is still time for football!
