Thoughts from retreat participants

Here are some thoughts shared by participants after the retreat.

Digital Images

Here are some digital images created using mobile devices by our young friends.

Community Wakefulness Retreat - Four

The foundation of human development must begin with empowering one's own mind, if we turn within, and deeply come to know our own mind, we will discover a fully awakened state that is inherently in us.

A three-day wakefulness course based on the wisdom tradition of Buddhism started today for the local community people at Chokyi Gyatso Institute - Dewathang

Contemplation!

Contemplation always has been a part of our program, here the youth are engaged in discussing the mind and its importance to them. A simple meditation technique and its practices were integrated into the ongoing youth program to help them understand and appreciate the importance of their mind.

May our parents, government, youth, individuals and important stakeholders pay attention to MIND!

Basic photography and digital illustration course

We are engaging a group of youth in basic photography and digital illustration course. Such a course is intended to provide an opportunity for local youth to engage productively during their vacation.

Art using ibisPaint app

Digital Portrait of Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche done by Sangay Wangchuk, one of our senior students. He uses the ibisPaint app to do such art, it's a social drawing app and a great tool for aspiring artists.

Art!

 A free-hand art by Jangchub Dorji, one of our senior students. He loves art.

Tiger, Tiger, Tiger... Save the Tiger!

 

Wakefulness Participant Engaging Students in Meditation Practice

Lopon Ugyen Wangdi and his students of the Zinchella Primary School under Dagana Dzongkhag are engaging in meditation practice.

They've formed a club in the school to encourage contemplation practices for young children.

We rejoice Lopon Ugyen's effort.

Happy Global Tiger Day!

The Tiger represents human awareness, modesty, kindness and confidence.

Let's save this iconic animal, for it saves our inherent dignity and ecology!

Weekend Photography

Weekend photography for our students and local youth!

Be Kind

Firstly, the most important thing in your life is playing. The next important is to be kind. You should be kind to yourself, your friends, unknowns, insects, birds and all others.

DJK Rinpoche's advice to students of Dewathang Primary School

Think-Pair-Act!

A simple act in the class is fun and engaging. It brings smiles, laughter, retention as well as learning to students.

Here, these kids are acting as Mamaki (Water) Dakini, who teaches about water and its importance.

Youth sharing about meditation

In this video, a couple of students from the Gedu College of Business Studies share their thoughts about their participation in the meditation (wakefulness) program organized at Chokyi Gyatso Institute - Dewathang and Bartsham Chador Lhakhang, recently.

Urine as fertilizer!

We have been practising this organic fertilization in our garden to grow our vegetables. This method, in specific is to harness our own resources and lessen environmental impacts (even if it's an insignificant impact).

Here are some photos taken by Ngawang Namgyel (student, 15 yo) from today's fertilization and weeding work.

Meditation at Bartsam

Every day, after the empowerment program at Chador Lhakhang, we gather to practice meditation. If you are in and around Bartsham and interested in taking part in it, please visit Dorsem Lhakhang (3rd floor) at 5:15 pm.

Youth Volunteers

Mr. Tashi Dhendup (Ex-student of Ranjung school), Mr Sonam Wangchuk (Ex-std of Mongar High School) and Mr Pema Rinzin (CST student) have been volunteering for the last few weeks with us. We are happy to have these active and energetic youth, who worked hard during their volunteerism, and in particular they have been very helpful in the recent empowerment program presided by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche at Chokyi Gyatso Institute, Dewathang.

As they go back to continue their further studies, we wish them luck, success, happiness and kindness. May they grow to be decent individuals, who will dare to care their community and put forth the welfare of others first.

We thank them all!

Gedu College Students

Discussing mind and meditation with a group of students from Gedu College. The group is en route to provide volunteer services to the Chokyi Gyatso Institute and Bartsam Chador Lhakhang during Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche's empowerment program.

Banana leaves!

Tashi Gyeltshen, 12 year old student took this photo today. This is what he has to say about it, "we sometimes use this leaf as a plate for eating, which is free of cost. This also reduces plastics usage in our institution."

We have mind!

A short meditation session at Jigme Namgyel Engineering College with H.E. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.

Rinpoche said, we are not like table, it does not feel left out when we don't use it. On the other hand, humans feel alienated and left out, this is because we have minds. Rinpoche also said the mind is one of the most important things we have.

"Engineering yourself"

This morning Rinpoche visited Jigme Namgyel Engineering College to talk to faculties, principals, teachers and students of the college, Dungsam Academy and Garpawoong Middle Secondary School. Rinpoche talked about the mind, techniques to take care of the mind and the importance of engineering our own minds.

Short Term Retreat

Jimmy Dorji, a retired civil servant and Tshewang Dorji, currently a BPC staff at Dewathang completed their three days retreats coinciding with the auspicious Saga Dawa Duchen, today. Rejoice, rejoice, and rejoice!

The short-term retreat is an opportunity we provide for all interested lay individuals who wish to do contemplation practices.

Selfie to celebrate the Buddha!

Did you know that Saga Dawa is the most important month of the lunar year? It is associated with the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of our great teacher, Buddha.

To honour Buddha on this auspicious month, we request you to take a selfie with the Buddha's image or statue.

Do post the photo on your Facebook page/day. Don't forget to tag Lhomon Education Or send us the photos!

If you've other creative ways to celebrate the Buddha, we welcome your ideas.

Here is Phelden Yoezer from Paro

Auspicious Saga Dawa!

May Buddha bless you!

Om muni muni mahamuni shakyamuniye svaha

Reflection

Let's reflect on Rinpoche's message as we conclude a three-day wakefulness Program.

"Wakefulness is actually not that difficult and not that hard to learn and master. However, putting it into practice is a bit difficult. Because getting habituated and accustomed to wakefulness is difficult. While it is said that getting accustomed and used to wakefulness can be difficult, there are no such things as carrying heavy loads. And there will be no costs involved. Wakefulness is just a method to calm and rest your mind. Even if you are able to maintain your mind continuously and consistently for a short while, the benefits will be beyond the sky and the earth. It will help you in your direction. Your ways of teaching your students, wakefulness will be of great help and benefit." — Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

Community Wakefulness Retreat - Three

Coinciding with Saga Dawa Düchen (the Vaishakha month), Lhomon Education in collaboration with Chokyi Gyatso Institute - Dewathang has started a three-day wakefulness program for 53 parents of Dewathang community. The program is intended to educate our participants (one of the most important stakeholders) about the importance of mind and mind training.

Tree Plantation

Today, we have planted more the 60 local saplings to celebrate the outset of Saga Dawa Duchen and to mark the Social Forestry Day in Bhutan (June 2nd).

Planting a tree is an act of kindness and generosity. If we grow it properly, the tree purifies the air and supplies oxygen for living beings to breathe. It brings rain at the right time. Its shade provides a refreshing place to rest. It nourishes crops and animals and balances the temperature. It contributes to an attractive landscape and continually replenishes its surroundings.

We dedicate this event to the benefit of humanity, animals, and all sentient beings.

Thank You, Khenchen Sonam Tashi Chokyi Gyatso Institute - Dewathang , Lamas, lopons, teachers, local farmers and students for your services!

Health Screening!

In collaboration with Chokyi Gyatso Institute - Dewathang, Lhomon Education (LME) organized a health screening and awareness camp for the students, khenpos, lamas, lopons and monks of the Institute with support from professionals of Deothang Hospital.

The program is intended to provide timely health check-ups in the institute to help monitor the state of individual health and to encourage a community of healthy and fit individuals.

Thank you, Deothang Hospital for your services as always, we look forward to similar services in the future!

Happy Vesak!

May the blessing of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha be with you now and always.

Om Muni Muni Maha Munye Soha

Weekend Trip

Weekend Trip with students in nature was all about touching the earth, planting the trees, listening to the bird songs, watching the river flow, breathing in the fresh air, and playing in the river. Through these activities, we intended to experience interdependent reality and create a connection between our inner world and the external world.

Retreat!

Nima Tenzin, a class XII graduate from Karmaling Higher Secondary School, underwent ten days of solitary retreat at Chokyi Gyatso Institute - Dewathang.

At the end of the retreat, Tenzin shared, “I am really happy that I'm able to complete my ten days retreat. It gave me different experiences and satisfaction.” He added, “If we spend more time in retreat, it would help develop renunciation mind, as well as increase our devotion to practice Dharma.”

Lhomon Education was inspired to help and support Tenzin, who aspires to genuinely learn and practice Dharma. We wish to see him transform and grow to be a decent human being, who will constantly seek to awaken his innate potential and be a contributing member of our society.

Tenzin also took part in our 6th annual wakefulness program in December 2019. He is originally from Kalingkhar village, Martshala under Samdrup Jongkhar district in Eastern Bhutan.

Teacher's Day

 Homage to the Buddha, the great teacher, who taught us KINDNESS!

"The most important quality of a teacher is kindness. Teaching should not be treated as a job. It is a big responsibility; you are actually responsible for somebody’s life." - Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY to all the teachers in Bhutan and around the world.

"Let's Eat"!

When the rolled dough is wrapped around the boiled potatoes (mixed with chilli, salt, and other spicies) and cooked in oil, it is called SAMOSA. It is a human-created phenomenon, that needs many causes and conditions including naming it.

Education should point to these details and make students experience the interdependent reality of such things. In this way, we may be able to make our students appreciate the reality of simple things as they exist.

Today's cooking session with students.

R.I.P (Rest in Peace) has no meaning in a Buddhist context

"R.I.P (Rest in Peace) has no meaning in a Buddhist context", Venerable Lama Zhenphen shares about it in Kuensel's Diversion.

Meditation and Embroidery

While creating external art, we had time to work on our internal art, the art of understanding our own minds.

We've asked youth participants if they've something called the MIND. Besides, we managed to sit and do meditation practice together.

Celebrating Bees!

Everything is interconnected. What if there are no bees on the planet? Most probably, many of the foods and fruits we consume right now may not even exist. To put it simply, you and I may not get to taste apples. Undeniably, the roles of the bees are very important in food production as well as the overall health of our ecosystems. Everything affects everything else.

Play

We are engaging our young students in the play. Play is an important part of each child's overall development - the physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development. The play also helps inculcate kindness in students.

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche in one of the videos to a group of children, said, “the most important thing in your life is to play." Next important, Rinpoche continues, “is to be kind.”

Wall Painting

For the last few days, Sangay Wangchuk, a senior student has been creating texts on a class wall using his calligraphic skills.

Two New students

Two newly arrived students, Jigme Kelden Wangchuk and Kuenzang Yeshi Dawa, after learning embroidery for a day created these beautiful flowers.

Presentation to ThimDzong Sherig Mentorship

We are delighted to present some of our works to a group of educators in Thimphu Dzongkhag (ThimDzong Sherig Mentorship Focal Persons), today.

Thank you to Madam Lham Tshering, Principal Education Specialist of Thimphu Dzongkhag and Dr Sonam Chuki, Program Analyst, NCWC for making the session possible.

ibisPaint X

Beautiful digital portraits of H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and H.H. Dalai lama, created by Mr. Tenzin Jamtsho, one of our senior students using a free and versatile app "ibis Paint X", on his mobile phone.

It is heartening to see how students make use of digital platforms to express their creativity.

This is clearly a process of learning to learn!

Harvest

If it is not for the reality of impermanence, we may not be able to harvest these potatoes. Thanks to mother earth, water, sunlight, manure, labour, earthworms and all the causes and conditions involved in this complex process.