Kalyanamitta

A Buddhist & Pali College eBulletin November 2010

Dear Kalyanamitta,

Sukhi hontu!

1. 17 students graduated from the 2009/2010 Diploma class. On

behalf of everyone at BPC, Congratulations! The names list is on
Page 2.

2. On Page 3, Brother Lau Kim Koon, a BPC lecturer, has

contributed an article on Buddhism in Bhutan.
This article gives an insight to the form of Buddhism in a relatively
“closed” kingdom. Do have a read.

3. We have some photos from our last month’s orientation for the
2010/2011 Diploma class on Page 9.

4. Sister Lay Khieng, another BPC lecturer, would like to share that
Venerable Heng Sure, an American, born in Ohio and ordained in
the USA, will be giving talks at the Tai Pei Buddhist Centre on the
19th and 20th of November at 7pm. Ven Heng Sure is best
remembered for the two and the half years he spent performing
the 3 steps 1 bow pilgrimage. To be inspired by the venerable,
please ring Tai Pei Buddhist Centre at tel : 6298 3343 for more
information.

With Metta,
Jasmine Tan
Editor/BPC eBulletin

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Kalyanamitta
A Buddhist & Pali College eBulletin November 2010

Heartiest Congratulations
to the following Diploma 2009/2010 graduates:-

1 Mdm Chua Puay Wah

2 Mr Chia Kay Hua
3 Mr Kuan George
4 Miss Khin Thanda Hlaing
5 Mr Heng Wei Kiat, Sonny
6 Mr Fong Kew Kong
7 Miss Lie Yuliana
8 Mr Tham Mun Chuen
9 Mdm Tiung Kum Yoke
10 Mdm Tay Sim Lian
11 Miss Tan Lee Kiow
12 Ms Sim Hwee Kheng
13 Ms Sim Hwee Ai
14 Ven Sek Tuan Teck
15 Mr Pradeep Kumar s/o Gobind
16 Mr Wee Zhen Yang
17 Mr Wahyu Perdana Yudistiawan

We look forward to your registration for the General Degree Course !

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Kalyanamitta
A Buddhist & Pali College eBulletin November 2010
Buddhism in Bhutan contributed by Bro Lau Kim Koon

Country’s Name
Bhutan is a landlocked mountainous country in the Himalayas. Its north borders
Tibet, China. The East, West and South border India. During ancient times, the
country was known by various names such as Lho Mon (Southern Land of
Darkness), Lho Tsendenjong (South Land of Cypresses),
Lhomen Khazhi (Southern Land of Four Approaches),
Lhojong Menjong (Southern Land of Medicinal Herbs) etc.
The country was known as Druk Yul or the Land of the
Dragon after the 17th century. There is a legend that a 12th
century saint, Tsang Gyare Yeshe Dorji of the Kargyupa sect,
heard thunder in the sky while consecrating a new monastery. As thunder is
associated with the voice of the dragon (druk), he changed the name of his sect
to Drukpa Kargyupa. This sect ultimately became the State Religion of Bhutan.
The country was known as Druk Yul.

Bon
The early Bhutanese practiced Bon before the advent of Buddhism. Bon was an
animistic tradition of worshipping the sun, moon, sky and other natural elements.
The doctrine was transmitted orally from generation to generation. Under Bon,
there were priests known as Bonpo who performed exorcisms, burial rites and
divinations to tame threatening demons and to understand the wishes of the
gods.

Sources of Buddhism
Buddhism entered Bhutan from two sources. In the seven century A.D., the
Tibetan King Srongtsen Gampo (627 – 649 A.D.) ordered two Buddhist temples
to be built in Bhutan. One temple, the Jambay Lhakhang, was built at Bumthang
in central Bhutan. The other, the Kyichu Lhakhang was built in Paro. With the
introduction of Buddhism, Bon and its believers were absorbed into the religion.
However, Buddhism did not replace or eliminate the Bon religious practices
completely. Buddhism progressed concurrently with Bon practices. As the country
developed, Buddhism matured and became the unifying religion. The Buddhist
literature and chronicles are the recorded history of Bhutan.

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Kalyanamitta
A Buddhist & Pali College eBulletin November 2010
Continuation Buddhism in Bhutan Page 2/6

The second source came from Guru Padmasambhava (or known as Guru
Rimpoche in Bhutan) when he visited Bhutan in 747 A.D. He was the great
historical and religious patron who introduced Tantras to Bhutan from India. He
laid the foundation for the community of lamas (Buddhist teacher) in Bhutan and
firmly established the Vajrayana, a form of Buddhism with Trantric practices. He
over-saw the construction of a number of temples in the Paro Valley and the
headquarter temple at Bumthang. Guru Rimpoche founded the Nyingmapa sect
which is also known as the “old sect” or the “Red Hat” sect. This sect belongs to
the Mahayanist tradition. Indian influence played a temporary role until increasing
Tibetan migration brought new cultural and religious contributions into Bhutan.

During this period, there was no central government. By the ninth century small
independent monarchies began to develop in the country. These kingdoms were
ruled by Deb or kings, some of whom claimed to be of divine origins. The most
prominent state was the kingdom of Bumthang.

During the eleven century, Buddhism was in the decline in Tibet. Many minor sects
emerged. This was followed by the period of the Mongol empire. The Mongol
overlords in Tibet patronized many of these sects until the decline of their empire.
By this time, the Gelugpa or “Yellow Hat” sect became a powerful force after a
period of anarchy in Tibet. This led to the flight of numerous monks from the
opposing minor sects to Bhutan. One of these monks was the founder of the
Lhapa sub-sect of the Kargyupa School who introduced the strategically built
fortified monasteries known as dzong. The Lhapa sect was successfully
challenged by the Drukpa, also a sub-sect of Kargyup School, led by Phajo Drigp
Shigpo in the twelve century. However, both sects coexisted until the seventeen
century although the Drukpa was the dominant form of religious practice. This is
due to Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (1594 – 1651 A.D.), the leader of the
Drukpa Karyupa School.

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Kalyanamitta
A Buddhist & Pali College eBulletin November 2010
Continuation Buddhism in Bhutan Page 3/6
Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel

Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel was born into a family of prince-

abbots at Gor-gong in Tibet. At the age of 12, he was installed
as the 18th prince abbot of the Drukpa monastery at Ralung in
1606.Due to theological and succession disputes he was forced
into exile in Bhutan at the age of 23. Upon arrival in Bhutan, he
taught Buddhism which eventually increased his political strength.
However, his rule was opposed by leaders of Buddhist lineages
within Bhutan. He was also known as Zhabdrung Rinpoche which
means “the precious jewel at whose feet one submits” He was not only a great
spiritual personality but also a statesman and leader of exceptional ability. He
successfully crushed several foreign invasions and also unified the various states
under one nation. As a great architect and builder, he built a chain of fortress
monasteries call Dzongs. These dzongs became the centers of religious and civil
authority.

He brought peace, security and stability to the country by establishing a strong

and dynamic administrative system. He laid down a set of strict but fair and just
laws based on Buddhist traditional values which form the framework for the
present judicial system of Bhutan. He established the Sangha community to
spread the Dhamma and to perpetuate the Buddhist Order in 1620 A.D with only
30 monks. The monastic center was at Charidorjidan about 14 km. north of
Thimphu. The first chief abbot was Khenchen Pekar Jungne. In 1637, the
Punakha Dzong was completed. The Sangha community with 600 monks moved
to this monastery. This became the winter residence of the Central Monastic
Body. The center at Thimphu became the summer residence. When other dzongs
were subsequently completed in many parts of the country, the number of monks
increased.

The Sangha Organisation

The Je Khenpo or Sangharaja in the Central Monastic Body is the highest

hierarchy of the Sangha organization. He is responsible for the country’s religious
affairs and enjoys a prominent place in the social and cultural life of the people.
His status is equaled to that of the King. He is elected for a period of 3 to 5 years
from among the high ranking monks. He could be re-elected after the term of
office.
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Kalyanamitta
A Buddhist & Pali College eBulletin November 2010
As a Sanghraja, he is thoroughly well versed in all branches of religious
knowledge and practice, and must have undergone prolonged meditational
experience. The Sangharaja is assisted by four deputies known as Lopon-zhib or
the Four Masters. The Dorji Lopon heads the vajracarya division and functions as
the deputy Je Khenpo. He is at the same time the chief of the Four Masters. The
Yangbi Lopon heads the liturgical division. The Drabi Lopon heads the
lexicographical division that includes literature, grammar, lexicon, metrics, which
includes the Sacred Dances, Ritual Arts and Metrical Rhymes. prosody and
mantras. Finally the Tshenyi Lopon heads the metaphysics and logic division.
These Four Masters are equal in rank to that of the ministers in the Government.

Monastic Education
Bhutanese monks study the main Buddhist texts comprising the Sherchin
(Prajnaparamita), the Dulwa (Vinaya), the Abhidhamma (Ngonpa) and the Togjoe
(the biographies of saints and sages of the tradition).

There are Thirteen Great Texts (Zhungchen Cusum) prescribed for study in the
Buddhist College. These Texts are:

(1) Pratimokshasutra by Sakyamuni Buddha

(2) Vinayasutra by Gunaprabha
(3) Abdhdharmasamuccaya by Asanga
(4) Abhidharmakosa by Vasubandhu
(5) Prajnanama mula madhyamaka by Nagarjuna
(6) Madhyamakavatara by Candrakirti
(7) Catuhasatakasastra by Aryadeva
(8) Bodhisattvacaryavatara by Santideva
(9) Abhisamayalkamkara nama Prajnaparamita by Asanga
(10) Mahayanasutralamkara by Asanga
(11) Madhyantavibhanga by Asanga
(12) Dharmadharmatavibhanga by Asanga
(13) Mahayanottaratantra by Asanga

Besides the above, the following Buddhist works in logic are being studied:

(1) Pramanasamuccaya by Dignaga

(2) Pramanavaritika Karika by Dharmakiriti.
(3) Parmana commentaries by great Tibetan
and Bhutanese scholars. 6
Kalyanamitta
A Buddhist & Pali College eBulletin November 2010
Continuation Buddhism in Bhutan Page 5/6

In addition to the Buddhist studies, the monks also undergo a minimum of three
years meditation practice known as the Losum Chogsum. The main meditational
courses are the Naro Choedrug (Six Yogas of Naropa) and the Chagchen
(Mahamudra teaching of Texts Maitripa).

Royal support
Buddhism being the state religion has long been financially supported by the
government through annual subsidies to monasteries, shrines and monks. During
the reign of His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1952 – 1972), 10,000 gilded
bronze images of the Buddha were manufactured, the elegant calligraphy edition
of the 108 volume Kanjur (Collections of the Words of the Buddha) and the 225
volume Tenjur (Collection of Commentaries) were published, and numerous
chorten (stupas) were constructed throughout the country.

Practices Today
The Drukpa Kagyu and the Nyingma of the Vajrayana Buddhism are widely
followed in Bhutan today. The influence of Buddhism permeates every aspect of
life in Bhutan. The people worship the Buddha, Guru Rimpoche and numerous
tantric deities.

Many Bhutanese have a choesham, a quiet corner where several manifestations

of the Buddha and his Dhamma teachings are maintained. Every morning, they
offer bowls of fresh water and incense while butter lamps are usually offered at
night. Butter lamps are also offered in the monasteries. Such offering contributes
to a person’s growth towards liberation. Butter lamps are also offered to the
deceased to diminish his sufferings in the new existence.

The prayer wheel is a common sight throughout Bhutan.

Spinning a prayer wheel would have the same effect as
orally chanting the prayers. There are three main types of
prayer wheels: hold and spin by hand (mani lhakhor), spin
by water (chukhor mani), and stationary for turning by hand
(mani dungkhor).

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Kalyanamitta
A Buddhist & Pali College eBulletin November 2010
Continuation Buddhism in Bhutan Page 6/6

Bhutanese landscapes are dotted with prayer flags. They are found fluttering on
the mountain passes, ridges, peaks, bridges and rooftops. The flags are either
hung horizontally on a string or as a single long cloth mounted on a tall pole
which ends with the carving of a traditional wooden knife (raldi) and wheel
(khorlo).

The prayers and images are carved on the wooden block and printed on the
flags. They believe that the prayers on the flags will be blown by the wind to
spread the goodwill and compassion into the open space for the benefit of all.

Bhutanese visit lamas and make offerings to monasteries. They help in repairing
and maintaining religious monuments, and participate in Wang (initiation) or Lung
(a verbal transmission by a great master). They also go on pilgrimages and take
part in religious festivals. Such activities are believed to add merit to one’s life.

----- End -----

This article is contributed by Brother Lau Kim Koon

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Kalyanamitta
A Buddhist & Pali College eBulletin November 2010
Diploma Class 2010/2011 – Orientation Day on 3 Oct 2010

Mr Lim Ah Swan briefing at New students getting to know

the orientation day. one another.

Tour of the Mangala Vihara Temple Buying of text books

Food Glorious Food!