Our Garuda group went to find local herbal plants in Bangtso area as part of our herbal bath lesson. We found four plants and learned their scientific names: Embelia tsjeriam-cottam (locally known as men zemu, two sizes), Chromolaena adorate, and Sambucus Chinensis.
While identifying these plants, we fondly remembered our local resource, the late Meme Karchung, who taught us that there are more than ten different herbal plants in our local area. Thank you meme. May you be reborn in Dewachen.
Lhomon Education, along with its partner organizations, is participating in the 2023 Siddhartha’s festival under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, India. We have set up information and display stalls and an activity area for visitors. We are happy to see many people visiting our stalls. Thank you for your support!
For the first time, Lhomon Education successfully organized a three-day Wakefulness Program in Thimphu, West Bhutan. The program provided a unique opportunity for participants to engage in discussions, self-reflection, and contemplation concerning the nature of the mind and its practice, drawing upon Bhutan's rich wisdom tradition and teachings from Venerable Khenpo Sonam Phuntsho.
A diverse group of attendees, including educators, youth, community leaders, parents, elders, and individuals actively participated in the program. Throughout the program, there was a strong emphasis on the importance of contemplation and the cultivation of awareness as fundamental aspects of our minds. Every session began with the establishment of a positive intention and selfless motivation, guided by the practice of taking refuge and cultivating bodhichitta. This framework draws deeply from Bhutan's Buddhist heritage and plays a pivotal role in the cultivation of selflessness. This set the stage for various meditation practices, including sitting, gazing, walking, and working meditation, all rooted in the foundations of the dependent arising view.
We have also discussed that in contrast to the significant time and energy we dedicate to caring for our bodies, we often fail to recognize the most powerful asset we have, called the Mind. The program challenged participants to recognize the immense power of the mind and how paying attention to it could potentially contribute to making the world a better place.
In conclusion, the Wakefulness Program in Thimphu served as a transformative experience for its participants, fostering a deeper understanding of the mind's nature, its importance and practices, and most importantly, the unique and profound view it offers on meditation as compared to many contemporary mindfulness programs, which are often worldly and for mundane purposes.
“Where’s your mind?” We asked this question to the students of Chokyi Gyatso Institute - Dewathang and got some creative answers. What would yours be? Comment below and let us know!
We use readily available natural herbs (Mugwort...) to prepare bathwater for our students to soak in on a weekly basis. Immersing oneself in warm water infused with this herbal plant can perhaps provide numerous advantages for the body, including skin benefits, relaxation of muscles, and an overall improvement in well-being.
Here's an opportunity to discuss, reflect, and contemplate the nature of our mind with Venerable Khenpo Sonam Phuntsho. Join us for a three-day wakefulness program from September 8th to 10th, 2023, in Thimphu.
We invite educators, youth, community leaders, parents, and genuinely interested individuals to register for the program.
Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Please follow this link for registration: https://forms.gle/XWAMjfm1PBnctTbF9
Contact: 17480729 or 17809331 or lhomoneducation@gmail.com for more information.
Please Note: We will notify you of the venue via email or phone call.
Designation: Teacher (1 slot) and Accounts & Administration Officer (1 slot)
Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree with preference to B.Ed. and teaching experience; and min. BBA or BCom graduate for Acc and admin officer, respectively.
Application Deadline:
Submit your application documents to the LME Office, Dewathang, or email them to lhomoneducation@gmail.com by August 19th, 2023 (before 1:00 pm). Don't miss the opportunity!
Use this link to access the application form: https://drive.google.com/.../1Br1jttlKvmzfzXm... and ensure that you complete it accurately.
Shortlisting will be conducted on August 20th, 2023. Subsequently, the selection interview date will be announced.
For additional information, kindly reach out to 17480729 or 17847377.
Note: Kindly note that only candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted for an interview.
With the support of Chokyi Gyatso Institute - Dewathang, we organized a day-long exchange program for the students of Musalpur Goenpa (Assam) and Lhomon Education. The program aimed to foster interaction, establish collaboration, and promote mutual learning opportunities for our students. It also provided an opportunity to celebrate Buddha and Saga Dawa Duchen in a simple and humble way.
We sincerely express our gratitude to Dasho Thrompon, the Executive Secretary of Samdrup Jongkhar Thromde and the President of Jigme Namgyel Engineering College for your support.
Our youngest student, Tshering Darjay, shares profound teachings from Buddha about the Four Noble Truths. These truths guide us on the path to inner peace. Special thanks to Alicja Zmigrodzka for the animation and script. Let's embrace these teachings and cultivate kindness and compassion.
Our students recently embarked on an adventure to the Local River. Sadly, they discovered plastic and bottles scattered along the riverbanks. But fear not, they took matters into their own hands and diligently collected most of the waste they encountered. Kudos to their dedication!
For those who wish to visit the serene site during downtime, here are some heartfelt messages from our amazing students:
Ugyen Lhendup, 11 years old, shared his words: "Let's remember not to litter. It harms the environment, causes animal deaths, and can even upset the local guardians, protectors, and nature deities."
Jigme Tshering, 16 years old, reminded us of our Buddhist values: "Littering at the Deuri River goes against our beliefs, as it harms animals and the environment. Let's keep our sacred principles intact."
Adding to that, Sangay Thinlay, an 11-year-old student, requested, "Some people use traps to catch fish. I kindly ask them to refrain from making these traps and harming our fishy friends."
Let's come together to protect our precious nature! Share this message and spread the word!
We had a fun time with our adorable puppies! We let them express how their minds look through a free painting activity. It was a reflective and creative experience, where they could interpret and showcase this abstract yet influential thing called the "mind". Take a look at their artwork!
Buddha used a metaphor called the "blind turtle and floating log" to emphasize the rarity and preciousness of our lives. As Shantideva puts it, "Just like a turtle putting its neck through the hole of a yoke floating on a vast ocean, a human life is extremely hard to find."
Today, as part of an interdisciplinary subject, our deer class was given a craft lesson where they created paper turtles, showcasing their creativity and artistic skills. Check out these coloured paper turtles crafted by the students!
Today was an enriching day for us as we had the privilege of engaging in a discussion with a group of scout leaders and school captains from Nganglam Central School on topics related to the mind, meditation, leadership, and karma yoga practice.
During the conversation, we emphasized the importance of recognizing the existence of the mind and its potential, rooted in its fundamental qualities of kindness and compassion. We also explored the significance of leadership, and how it should be founded on the basic nature of our own mind, in order to assume selfless responsibility.
In addition, we delved into the concept of karma yoga, which stresses the importance of selfless service guided by good intentions. We firmly believe that these principles are critical to cultivating a positive and meaningful life. We're thankful for the opportunity to share our insights and learn from the participants.
It was an insightful experience to hear from a local about his personal perspective on the changes in the community. We are grateful for his time, stories, and observations.
