Dear friends and sponsors of the Khampagar togdens,
Here is finally another newsletter about the Tashi Jong togdens! I was lucky to again spend two months in Tashi Jong from around mid-November 2023 till early January 2024, when I went to Kerala in the South for a 3 week Ayurvedic treatment. I always have a very inspiring time in Tashi Jong, it’s one of the places where I feel most happy and would love to stay longer if it wasn’t for the restrictions on Indian visas, giving only 90 days continuous stay to Europeans….
Anyways, after I got settled in my little retreat house by late November I went to see the togdens early December 2023 to offer their sponsor money, hear their stories and how things were going, see photos. They all seem to be ok and very grateful for your continuous support. Both Togden Thutop Nyima and Togden Drubgyu take turns in accompanying Khamtrul Rinpoche on his visits abroad, like right now Khamtrul Rinpoche is in Taiwan for a few weeks with Togden Drubgyu. Togden Thutop Nyima also goes to Nepal from time to time to teach Tsoknyi Rinpoche’s retreat nuns, and visits Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo’s nearby nunnery retreat on a regular basis to teach the nuns there who are in lifelong retreat. Meanwhile Togden Achos stays quietly in his room where Khamtrul Rinpoche usually joins him for lunch and afternoon tea. The rest of the togdens are mostly in strict retreat.
Recently I heard that togdens Thutop Nyima, Drubgyu, Jampa Wangdu and Tsultrim Namdag went to Nepal for a few weeks to study and train with Tulku Rigzin Pema Rinpoche, an expert in creating and consecrating stupas which he has done all over the world. So now some of the togdens are perfectly able to build and consecrate stupas!
Under Media you can see Togdens Thutop Nyima, Lekden, Drubgyu, and Tsawa Lama below their houses near Togden Semdor’s stupa, where we met and had tea. In the other photos you’ll see a number of togdens during the annual Trochu (Yamankata) drupchen in the temple, Togden Achos in his room, Togden Thinley Kunchab and Togden Gyamtso while they came to visit my place, and Togden Gyamtso with Togden Jampa Wangdu while they’re making tormas at for a puja at Rinpoche’s house.
View 2023-24 photos:
With gratitude from all the togdens and kind regards,
Ani Jinba
August 30th, 2024
AUG
2024