First of all, on behalf of the members of Kagyu College, I would like to extend warm greetings and Tashi Delek to everyone. At the same time, I would like to share with you some news from Kagyu College.

This year, seven students graduated from Kagyu College. Among these seven, two monks, Konchok Lhundrup and Konchok Thilas, were appointed by His Holiness Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang as resident Lamas at Gwaldam, Uttarakhand, where many people follow the Drikung Kagyu lineage. Gwaldam is a beautiful hill station, situated between the Garhwal and Kumau Commissionary at 6000 feet above sea level surrounded by untouched natural beauty. Since their appointment, they have been staying in that area and doing their best activities, such as giving teachings to the public on auspicious days and performing various necessary pujas for the families.

As per request of the Drikung Kagyu Instititue Jangchubling Monastery, a graduate student, Konchok Chosku, was appointed as a teacher of their medium school. The other four graduates were Konchok Rangdol (A), Konchok Rangdol (B), Konchok Zangpo and Tenzon Norbu, all of whom are continuously working at Kagyu College through providing extensive teachings and editing.

We started our new session of College activities with a marvelous three-day puja for the great Dharma protector Achi Chökyi Dolma and other required pujas. The aims of these pujas were also for the general benefit of all sentient beings, and in particular for our supporters. Thereafter, we completed the summer retreat for 45 days, as per Vinaya rules, which everybody very much enjoyed. During the summer retreat, the monks were not allowed to go out of the monastery campus, prohibited from eating dinner, onions, black foods and hat to observe other restrictions. During this time of retreat the monks performed many pujas for the flood disaster victims in Tibet, Ladakh and others areas.

Just two days before the summer retreat ended, all the monks from Kagyu College and the nuns from Samtenling Nunnery offered wonderful speeches, read poems, and debated at the Kagyu College main temple. That program was carried on for two days from 2pm till 10pm. All the monks from Drikung Kagyu Institute and many staff members participated.

After the summer retreat was completed, on October 2, 2010, the staff from the Office of His Holiness (Labrang), the Songtsen Library, as well as the staff and students from Drikung Kagyu Institute and Kagyu College, all had a very nice summer picnic, which was tremendously enjoyed by everybody.

In order to improve the knowledge of the students, the managing committee of the Kagyu College decided to hold a seminar for the students every month on the full moon day. The first seminar was held recently at the Songtsen Library and the second seminar at Kagyu College. The Acharya and Shastri students of the Kagyu College gave presentations on the very profound Gongchig text by Lord Jigten Sumgön. All the staff and students of Kagyu College and Samtenling Nunnery that attended had very meaningful discussions.

After the Tibetan New Year, we plan to hold the Third International Gongchig Seminar at the Kagyu College for five days. The details of the seminar’s program will be displayed on the website soon.

Last but not the least, we the members of Kagyu College send our prayers and best wishes to everyone.

With lots of prayers and greetings,

Khenpo Rangdol

Principal of Kagyu College

Managing Committee of Kagyu College (from left): Khenpo Nyima Gyaltsen, Khenpo Konchok Choskyab, Khenpo Konchok Rangdol, Khenpo Konchok Urgen, Khenpo Konchok Molam