THE DREPUNG GOMANG MONKS

SHORT Bios of 2018-19 US Tour group

Bios of 2018 -2019 Sacred Art Tour

NAME:    VEN. GESHE MONLAM GYATSO

Venerable Monlam Gyatso was born on 20th Sept, 1969 at Tsomon, Amdo Tibet. From age 8-13, he studied at the local school at his native place. At the age of 13, he became a monk and received his Getsul vows (novice ordination vows) from Aku Shoupang at Kowa monastery. For nine years, he studied the basic elementary texts and scriptures reading at his native place. In 1992, he joined Drepung Gomang Monastery pursing the traditional monastic curriculum.  He received his Gelong Vows (Bhikhu ordination, Full ordination vows) from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1998. While at Drepung Gomang Monastery, he continued and completed his monastic studies on Five Major Treatise on Buddhist Philosophy (16 year courses). He also passed all the Gelug Gyuktoe (Gelug University Examination of six years course) with remarkable result and was conferred Geshe Lharampa title (equivalent to Ph.D in Western University) in 2009. He also joined one-year mandatory Tantrayana course at Gyumed Tantric College in 2010. He has visited England in 2004 and Mongolia in 2015 as an official member of the monastery. As the member of Sacred Arts Tour group 2018, he is highly qualified in conducting all the religious ceremonies and prayer chants, Buddhist rituals. He is also highly qualified to provide religious teachings, discourse and participate in any interfaith discussion. During Monks Cultural Pageant, he will participate as the Chöd Master. He will be leading the Sacred Art Tour 2018-2019 to United States of America.

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NAME:    VEN. GESHE NGAWANG SOPA

Ven. Ngawang Sopoa was born at Mundgod on 15th Jan, 1982 in the Indian state of Karnataka. He became monk at the age of 13 and joined Drepung Gomang Monastery in 1995, initially studying the basic elementary texts and scripture reading under his teacher. He also received his Getsul vows (novice ordination vows) from H.E Rizong Rinpoche that same year when he joined the monastery and received his Gelong vows (vows of fully ordained monk) from Khensur Rinpoche Tenpa Tenzin in 2001. While at Drepung Gomang Monastery, he studied and completed all the monastic curriculum (Five Major Treatise on Buddhist Philosophy, 16 year courses) and also passed all the Gelug Gyuktoe (Gelug University Examination of six years course) with remarkable result and was conferred a Geshe Lharampa title in 2015 (equivalent to Ph.D in Western University). He has visited Russia in 2009 as a member of monastery’s official Mandala group. As the member of Sacred art group 2018, he is the Chant Master of the group and expert in the construction of Sand Mandala, Butter sculpture, religious ceremonies and well versed with all Buddhist chants, prayers and ritual ceremonies. During the cultural pageant, he will be participating in Chöd ritual, will perform in Yak, Snow Lion, Panda and Tashi Sholpa (Good luck) monk dance.

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NAME:   VEN. GESHE NGAWANG   JINPA

Ven. Ngawang Jinpa, born on 10th Oct, 1980. From 1987, he joined a school at his native place and as he was very much interested to become a monk, he took Getsul vows (novice ordination vows) from Khenpo Je Ngawang Tenzin Woser of Minyak Tashi Choepheling monastery where he studied elementary Buddhist monastic studies. He also studied rituals, chants, Sand Mandala taking out time from his studies. He joined Drepung Gomang Monastery to pursue monastic studies in 1995. He received his Gelong Vows (vows of fully ordained monk) in 2009 from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He was honored with Geshe title in 2009 for completion in monastic curriculum (Five Major Treatise on Buddhist Philosophy, 16 year courses). As the member of Sacred Art group 2018, he is highly qualified in all the chants/rituals, expert in the construction of Sand Mandala painting and butter sculpture. During cultural pageant, he will be performing in Tashi Sholpa Dance (good luck dance), Yak Dance and is an expert in playing drums, gyaling (little trumpet). He has visited England twice (2004 and 2007), Russia (2008) and United States of America in 2010.
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NAME:    VEN. TENZIN GYATSO

Ven. Tenzin Gyatso was born on 6th Feb, 1977 at Lithang, Tibet. He became monk at the age of 18 at Othok Monastery, Tibet where he received his Getsul vows (novice ordination vows) from Kushok Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. For two years, he studied elementary text and scripture reading at Othok Monastery. In 1998, he joined Drepung Gomang Monastery in India to pursue advanced monastic studies in Buddhist Philosophy. While at Drepung Gomang Monastery, he continued his traditional monastic studies on Five Major Treatise on Buddhist Philosophy of 16 year courses. He received his Gelong vows (Bhikhu ordination vows: Full ordination) from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2000. At present, he has completed Kyab bog class (preparatory class to Gelug examination) of monastic curriculum. He has previously visited Russia as a member of monastery’s  Mandala official group in 2016. As the member of sacred art group 2018, he is an expert in the construction of Sand Mandala, Butter sculpture, religious chants/rituals.  During the cultural pageant, he will be participating in Tashi Sholpa dance (Good luck dance), Snow Lion dance and Chöd ritual. He will be also playing the monastic religious instruments of Long horn (dungchen) and clarinet (gyaling).

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NAME:    VEN. LOBSANG JAMYANG

Ven. Lobsang Jamyang was born on 8th Oct, 1983 at Mundgod in the Indian state of Karnataka. At the age of 13, he became a monk and joined Drepung Gomang Monastery initially studying the basic elementary texts and scriptures reading under his teacher. He received his Getsul vows (novice ordination vows) from then Abbot Khen Rinpoche Tsultrim Phuntsok in 1998 and continued his further monastic studies on Buddhist Philosophy (Five Major Treatise on Buddhist Philosophy, 16 year courses) at the monastery. While at the monastery, he received his Gelong vows (vows of fully ordained monk) from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2015.  At present, he has completed Kyab bog (preparatory class to Gelug examination) of monastic curriculum. As the member of Sacred art group 2018, he is an expert in Buddhist religious chants, ceremony and rituals, highly qualified in the construction of Sand Mandala, and Butter sculpture.  He  will be performing in Snow Lion Dance, Yak Dance, Tashi Sholpa (Good Luck) dance, Panda dance and participating in sacred Chöd ritual during the cultural pageant. He will be playing Dungchen (long horn:religious instrument) during the religious ceremony.
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NAME:    VEN. TENZIN GYATSO

Ven. Tenzin Gyatso was born on 12th July, 1988 at Amdo, Tibet. At the age of 10, he became a monk at Galmon Gön monastery, Tibet studying the basic elementary texts and scriptures reading at his native place under his teacher. He received his Getsul vows (novice ordination vows) from Je Gedun Gyatso in 2003. He came to India in 2005 and joined Drepung Gomang Monastery to study traditional monastic curriculum of Five Major Treatise on Buddhist Philosophy which is of 16 year courses. While at monastery, he received his Gelong vows (vows of fully ordained monk) from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2016. At present, he is studying in Uma Nyingpa (Madhayamaka Class 2nd year) of monastic curriculum. As the member of sacred art group 2018, he is an expert in the construction of Sand Mandala, Butter sculpture, religious ceremonies, chants and rituals.  He will be performing in Snow Lion Dance, Yak Dance, Tashi Sholpa (Good Luck) dance, Panda dance and participating in sacred Chöd ritual during the cultural pageant. He will be playing Dungchen (long horn:religious instrument) during the religious ceremony.

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NAME:    VEN. TENPA GYAMTSO

Born on 5th Jan, 1977 at Mundgod in the Indian state of Karnataka. Ven. Tenpa Gyamtso, at the age of 13 became a monk and joined Shetsang Gonpa. He received his Getsul vows (novice ordination vows) from Je Gedun Gyatso in 1991. He studied the basic elementary texts and scripture reading at the monastery under his teacher before joining Drepung Gomang Monastery in 2003 to pursued further monastic studies on Five Major Treatise on Buddhist Philosophy, 16 year extensive courses at the monastery. While at the monastery, he received his Gelong vows (vows of fully ordained monk) from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2013. At present, he is studying in Kyab bog (preparatory class to Gelug examination) of monastic curriculum. As the member of sacred art group 2018, he is an expert in the construction of Sand Mandala, Butter sculpture, religious prayers, chants and ritual ceremonies.  During the cultural pageant, he will be participating in Snow Lion Dance, Tashi Sholpa (good luck dance), Panda dance, Yak dance and Chöd rituals and will play/blow Dungchen (Long Horn; religious instrument).

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NAME:    VEN. LOBSANG TSMDNE

Ven. Lobsang Tsmdne was born at Mundgod on 10th March 1982 in the Indian state of Karnataka. He became monk at the age of 7 at Gaden Choeling Temple, studying the basic elementary texts and scripture reading under his teacher. In 1989, he received his Getsul vows (novice ordination vows) from Venerable Lobsang Gyatso. To pursue further monastic studies on Buddhist Philosophy (Five Major Treatise on Buddhist Philosophy, 16 year extensive courses), he joined Drepung Gomang Monastery in 2000. While at the monastery, he received his Gelong vows (vows of fully ordained monk) from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2002.  At present, he has completed Kyab bog (preparatory class to Gelug examination) of monastic curriculum. As the member of sacred art group 2018, he is highly qualified in the construction of Sand Mandala, Butter sculpture, religious chants and rituals ceremonies.  During the cultural pageant, he will be participating in Snow Lion Dance, Tashi sholpa (good luck) dance, Panda dance, Yak dance and Chöd ritual, he will be also playing the religious instrument of Tibetan clarinet (gyaling), drum and also cymbals.

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THE DREPUNG GOMANG MONKS SACRED TIBETAN ARTS TOUR

hosted by the Sawdust Art Festival – The Sawdust Festival Grounds Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Jan 28^th to Feb 5^th 2019

          “Experience now a future that is without violence;

a future of worldwide compassion,

     a future full of the wisdom of open hearts and
a future that places the highest appreciation

  on the value of a healthy universe and our ever-connectedness.”                                          — Gomang Monks

 Mon. 1/28/19:  Opening ceremonies for the creation of the WHITE TARA MANDALA, 10 a.m. to
11 a.m.     Mandala creation 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  4 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Explanation for the White Tara Mandala

Hear the Monks’ unique trichord chanting at the beginning and end of each day

 Tues. 1/29/19:  Mandala creation 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

7p.m. to 8 p.m.  Chanting for World Peace and “Meet the Monks” followed by Q and A.

Suggested donation $10

Wed. 1/30/19:  Mandala creation 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

7p.m. to 8 p.m.  Tara and Guru Puja     For good health, relieve of suffering and purify obstacles

Suggested donation $10

Thurs. 1/31/19:  Mandala creation 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fri. 2/1/19:  Mandala creation 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

7p.m. to 9.p.m.   Chod Puja.  A combination of chanting, music, prayer and visualizations using Tibetan instruments.       Suggested donation $10.

Sat. 2/2/19:  Mandala creation 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Children’s workshops, Artist’s booths and displays, Meditation garden, labyrinth.

7p.m. to 9.p.m. Cultural Pageant featuring Mandala Prayer, The Good Luck dance, The Black Hat dance,

The Snow Lion Dance and more.     Main Stage: The Festival Grounds

Suggested donation $10 single, family $20, free under 10 years of age

Sun. 2/3/19:  Mandala creation 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

White Tara Mandala Dissolution and procession to the Main Beach.

Tues. 2/5/19:   The Tara Puja, Liberation from Sorrow, which includes a special prayer – Praises to the Twenty-one Taras composed by Budda   at HeartSpace OC  A Community Center of Light, Learning  & Wellness in a more intimate setting 18271 McDurmott W. Irvine, 92614  949.752.5272  $10 Donation       Limited Seating for 80!     Click to register and pay to hold seat

NOTE:  House blessings (office, school, galleries, churches, etc.)  are available during the period from Jan 28th to Feb 5th. Call Pam Wicks at 949-573-7104 for scheduling and information. All events are open to the public. Donations gratefully accepted as we work together toward World Peace!