Monday 14th August
Ven. Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche was busy again this week in Mongolia, continuing to give Dharma teachings on Lam Rim at the weekend, as well as receiving and giving blessings to visitors and students throughout the week at Kunchab Jampa Ling /Asral Centre. The documentary team from Ireland continued to film Ven. Rinpoche’s many humanitarian and spiritual projects.
Tuesday 15th August
A large number of students and individuals gathered at the centre to travel by coach to Lamrim Monastery in the mountain region of Terelj National Park.
Rinpoche gave teachings in the beautiful hilltop temple, attended by many Mongolians and foreign tourists, including two women from Ballymena in Northern Ireland.
Wednesday 16 August.
The recently enthroned young Tulku Ven. Bakula Rinpoche was received by Ven. Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche and his students at the centre and offered a long life mandala, followed by refreshments in the reception room. Afterwards, Ven. Rinpoche had discussions with Tulku Ven. Bakula Rinpoche and offered gifts, including MIM slippers.
Thursday 17th August
Ven. Rinpoche visited the Women’s Prison, where his teaching was attended by almost one hundred and fifty women. He advised those present not to lose hope or to waste time, and to take advantage of the training in vocational skills offered to them while in prison. He advised the women to learn how to calm their minds by taking advantage of the meditation techniques taught by Asral in the prison on a monthly basis.
Ven. Rinpoche said that there are no bad human beings, that all sentient beings are by nature pure, but due to our ignorance, we tend to create negative actions or behaviour which can cause problems for ourselves and others. Through practicing Dharma, we can change these negative actions into positive ones. Ven. Rinpoche advised making a strong motivation every day to utilise their lives in a happy and meaningful way.
The women applauded and sang a song in appreciation of Ven. Rinpoche and his teachings. Rinpoche gave individual blessings to all who attended, and gifts, including toiletries (soap and toilet paper) were distributed. Afterwards, Rinpoche was shown the prison’s beautiful Shrine Room by the staff, filled with statues and images relating to Buddhism, including pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Ven. Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche. Discussions were held with the staff before Ven. Rinpoche visited the prison’s unit for mothers with babies.
A former inmate of the prison, Oyuntsetseg, was greeted by some of her old friends and said a few words about how helpful Rinpoche and Asral were to her and her family during her time in prison.
Friday 18th August
Ven. Rinpoche was invited by the Abbot Choijamts to visit Ganden Monastery to honour his humanitarian and spiritual work in Mongolia. Refreshments were served in the Abbot’s private office, followed by a walk through the Monastery grounds and Chenrezig Temple.
Ven. Rinpoche was received by Ven. Thuksay Rinpoche at the Kelkha Jetsun Dhampa’s place where he gave a brief introduction about the Kelkha Jestsun. Ven. Thuksay Rinpoche then very kindly invited Rinpoche and ten guests to lunch.
Saturday 19th & Sunday 20 August
Many people attended Ven. Rinpoche’s teachings on Lamrim (the Stages in the Complete Path to Enlightenment) at Kunchab Jampa Ling over the weekend. He gave audiences, blessings and an overview of Asral Charity’s humanitarian projects to many Mongolians who came to see him.
