These little monks from the Diwakar Buddhist Institute in Takdah are more than a shining example of what it really means to be a monk, and to devote your life to the Dharma.
They are so young, and yet they are incredibly well trained and devoted already, their young faces shine with years of practice and compassion, their small hands clutching their malas in prayer in a way that almost defies my ideals of age and maturity. These little Dharma warriors have left me speechless, finding the right words to describe them almost impossible, as they have inspired me deeply, changing the way I look at youth. As a guest to their evening Mahakala puja I was amazed to see them all, no matter the age, reciting the entire practice by heart, with their faces deep in concentration. In the little Gompa here the chorus of chanting powerful and serene, deeply moving as each little voice full of devotion carries on steadily, the traditional instruments performed perfectly despite their young users. I am not the only one who is amazed by their performance either - the Khenpos from Kalimpong are with me here as well, and we are all deeply impressed by everything we are seeing here - more than impressed. Hidden way up in the green hills and forests of Darjeeling, completely and seemingly eternally engulfed in fog and mist, tranquil and serene, mysterious even, lies a very special place - and one that was very dear to Shamar Rinpoche’s heart.
This Institute is the first step in Shamar Rinpoche’s schooling program, from here they will graduate on to the Shedra in Kalimpong, and if they choose to continue on this path, onwards to higher studies at Shar Minub and eventually to become Khenpos. They have hours of classes each day - studying English, Nepali and Tibetan, as well as puja and Dharma studies, traditional instruments and a vast array of memorization. Aside from that, at this moment there is a large construction project on the land for their new Gompa, and the more elder monks are doing all the labor. Covered in mud and concrete they are passing their day working extremely hard - in the rain, all with huge smiles on their faces regardless of the work, wet and cold. I find myself bewildered as to how they are able to have this kind of dedication and sheer will power at this age - for most of us this time of our lives is for fun and friends, and yet they are so deeply and honestly concentrated in their studies, working so hard, in and out of the classroom. It’s not just on the surface either - one look on their faces and it is clear that these are special young men, children, some of them infants almost, and yet they have already spent their lives steeped in Dharma practice, more so than many of us will attain in our entire lifetimes. They are all so curious and joyful - as well as being extremely excited to be seeing a crazy foreigner such as myself in their home, crowding around me to carefully inspect all my tattoos, excitedly shouting and laughing as they try and rub them off. Such innocent smiles on their faces - nothing held back, honest and open, as they are still children at heart. However, in the puja if I close my eyes it’s hard to believe that they are indeed children. Their chanting and mantras carry the sound of elder voices, powerful and resonant, deeply confident, the sound of these little warriors cries fills the halls here in Takdah.
From what I have seen and experienced in Kalimpong, and now in Takdah, the kind of monks here, these amazing human beings are as exceptional as they are kind. They encompass all and more than that which I have come to understand and expect from monks - with the deep dedication to the Dharma and practice, to study and monastic life - but they are also so genuinely kind and compassionate. They carry the robe in the same way their elder brothers do - with respect and maturity - with grace and calm, well more than one would expect for such young ones. It’s not just Dharma being studied here, it’s basic compassion, and it lives in each and every one of these young ones. Even now, as I write this, the room next to me is full of little ones that are spending their last few minutes before bed reciting and memorizing - through the walls I can clearly hear them as they work, reciting all together. These children have such heart - such dedication - one was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up and the answer was a Khenpo. Their dreams are big, from such small and meager surroundings they have aspired for greatness. These little ones are the future of Dharma, they will grow to be the teachers for us and our children, and this fills me with confidence. When Rinpoche visited here I have been told he was deeply impressed with them, so happy to see that they were on their way to becoming great and devoted monks, learned and educated young men, caring and compassionate people, and the future dharma warriors of our generation.
They are so young, and yet they are incredibly well trained and devoted already, their young faces shine with years of practice and compassion, their small hands clutching their malas in prayer in a way that almost defies my ideals of age and maturity. These little Dharma warriors have left me speechless, finding the right words to describe them almost impossible, as they have inspired me deeply, changing the way I look at youth. As a guest to their evening Mahakala puja I was amazed to see them all, no matter the age, reciting the entire practice by heart, with their faces deep in concentration. In the little Gompa here the chorus of chanting powerful and serene, deeply moving as each little voice full of devotion carries on steadily, the traditional instruments performed perfectly despite their young users. I am not the only one who is amazed by their performance either - the Khenpos from Kalimpong are with me here as well, and we are all deeply impressed by everything we are seeing here - more than impressed. Hidden way up in the green hills and forests of Darjeeling, completely and seemingly eternally engulfed in fog and mist, tranquil and serene, mysterious even, lies a very special place - and one that was very dear to Shamar Rinpoche’s heart.
This Institute is the first step in Shamar Rinpoche’s schooling program, from here they will graduate on to the Shedra in Kalimpong, and if they choose to continue on this path, onwards to higher studies at Shar Minub and eventually to become Khenpos. They have hours of classes each day - studying English, Nepali and Tibetan, as well as puja and Dharma studies, traditional instruments and a vast array of memorization. Aside from that, at this moment there is a large construction project on the land for their new Gompa, and the more elder monks are doing all the labor. Covered in mud and concrete they are passing their day working extremely hard - in the rain, all with huge smiles on their faces regardless of the work, wet and cold. I find myself bewildered as to how they are able to have this kind of dedication and sheer will power at this age - for most of us this time of our lives is for fun and friends, and yet they are so deeply and honestly concentrated in their studies, working so hard, in and out of the classroom. It’s not just on the surface either - one look on their faces and it is clear that these are special young men, children, some of them infants almost, and yet they have already spent their lives steeped in Dharma practice, more so than many of us will attain in our entire lifetimes. They are all so curious and joyful - as well as being extremely excited to be seeing a crazy foreigner such as myself in their home, crowding around me to carefully inspect all my tattoos, excitedly shouting and laughing as they try and rub them off. Such innocent smiles on their faces - nothing held back, honest and open, as they are still children at heart. However, in the puja if I close my eyes it’s hard to believe that they are indeed children. Their chanting and mantras carry the sound of elder voices, powerful and resonant, deeply confident, the sound of these little warriors cries fills the halls here in Takdah.
From what I have seen and experienced in Kalimpong, and now in Takdah, the kind of monks here, these amazing human beings are as exceptional as they are kind. They encompass all and more than that which I have come to understand and expect from monks - with the deep dedication to the Dharma and practice, to study and monastic life - but they are also so genuinely kind and compassionate. They carry the robe in the same way their elder brothers do - with respect and maturity - with grace and calm, well more than one would expect for such young ones. It’s not just Dharma being studied here, it’s basic compassion, and it lives in each and every one of these young ones. Even now, as I write this, the room next to me is full of little ones that are spending their last few minutes before bed reciting and memorizing - through the walls I can clearly hear them as they work, reciting all together. These children have such heart - such dedication - one was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up and the answer was a Khenpo. Their dreams are big, from such small and meager surroundings they have aspired for greatness. These little ones are the future of Dharma, they will grow to be the teachers for us and our children, and this fills me with confidence. When Rinpoche visited here I have been told he was deeply impressed with them, so happy to see that they were on their way to becoming great and devoted monks, learned and educated young men, caring and compassionate people, and the future dharma warriors of our generation.
