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35 km from Shigatse in Central
Tibet, monastery complex and |
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Young monks studying in the school of Tashi Lhumpo Monastery, Shigatse
Lama Gangchen, in front of the longlife stupa dedicated to him and located at his birthplace |
The reconstruction work of the monastery complex in the village of Gangchen, in Central Tibet, continues at a steady pace: the main building is now complete, and the inside is already decorated with beautiful tangkhas (paintings on cloth) and murals covering the walls - work carried out by forty young artists from Tashi Lhumpo Monastery - statues, sacred books, tantric implements and precious relics. The work carried out, in less than two years, in this poverty stricken village 35 km from Shigatse seems almost miraculous. The astonishing speed with which the work proceeds can only be explained by the joy of the village inhabitants who have been employed for the reconstruction work: men and women working together, keeping a harmonious rhythm by singing and thus always maintaining a high level of energy. Contributing to the rebirth of «their» monastery, the heart of the village, seeing it grow day after day, is for them like realising a dream which they have cherished for more than forty years. Other than this, it is also a great occasion for them to work and receive a regular salary! Now, the main aim is to bring water to this village and the surrounding area: until this day the people still have to go to take water from the mountains and transport it home with great effort in goat skins bags tied to their backs. The construction of an ecological water system, which takes full advantage of the power of the sun, the wind, and the energy of the water itself, will also enable the provision of electricity to Gangchen. It is also planned in the near future to rebuild the large antique wall, situated on the left side of the mountain overlooking the monastery, which is used to hold the enormous sacred tangkhas displayed during particular religious festivals. It was also decided recently that the old and much smaller monastery, which was built on the ruins of the original monastery destroyed in ‘59, be transformed into the first school for the village children. Around the monastery, that is the main temple building or prayer hall, the houses for the monks are also nearing completion. Although there were only around 20 monks living in the monastery - compared to the 350 monks it once housed - Lama Gangchen wanted the construction to include 90 rooms, creating the condition for the monastery to obtain permission to increase the number of resident monks, thereby preserving more effectively the ancient spiritual, medical, artistic and self-healing traditions of the lineage of Zangpo Tashi, the founder of the monastery in 1500. In fact, during the visit of Lama Gangchen in August, twelve youngsters requested entrance into the monastery to study, and Lama Gangchen welcomed them to monastic life by the symbolic cutting of a lock of their hair. Confirmation has now also been received that Lama Tenzin from the monastic university of Tashi Lhumpo will transfer to the new Gangchen Monastery assuming the role of Abbot and the responsibilities of spiritual master. In record time, to the left of the monastery, the traditional retreat centre has also been rebuilt. Encircled by a wall, to safeguard its objective as a place of meditation, many trees have been planted around the area. According to tradition, to achieve the highest spiritual realisations the monks have to spend long periods of time, three years or more, in solitary meditative retreat, in caves or in special places within the monastery. The retreat centre was therefore built in one of the most sacred places in the area of Gangchen, the place in which gushes a font of powerful healing water, attributed to the miraculous powers of Panchen Zangpo Tashi. «My previous reincarnation, the second throne holder of Tashi Lhumpo, the seat of the Panchen Lama, had the task of building this monastery: and today I, after many years, find myself with the same responsibility...» commented Lama Gangchen. The first of the traditional eight stupas, in remembrance of particular moments in the life of Buddha, has already been built: the first, Namgyal Chorten, is dedicated to the longlife of the great masters. A longlife stupa for Lama Gangchen has also been constructed in Nye Drakshuk, the birth place of his present incarnation. The small clinic, built at the side of the monastery, is already functioning thanks to the constant presence of a Tibetan doctor; here medical aid is offered practically free to the village inhabitants who for 10 years have been completely denied the possibility to have even minimal medical assistance. The doctor uses traditional Tibetan medicine, remedies which are all composed of himalayan plants, flowers and minerals. The clinic now needs help to buy medicines, to pay the doctor, and to collect the funds necessary to allow patients in need of hospitalisation transport to the cities of Lhasa or Shigatse. Lama Gangchen does not however limit his humanitarian aid just to the village which gave him his name, for example in the Sakya District he is also contributing financially to the construction of six community halls to be used for meditation, religious ceremonies and gatherings of the village inhabitants; as well as supporting the school and the construction of a new and larger clinic in Tashi Lumpo Monastery, and various monasteries located near Lhasa. Enrica Mazzi |
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