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August 1989 issue

Nagarjuna Institute of Exact Methods (NIEM) was established as a Buddhist Research Institute in March 1980 with a view to enlighten Nepalese people about their own form of Buddhism, its philosophy and practice. Nepalese Buddhism is a unique tradition in itself. The nature of this tradition was observed centuries ago in Nalanda and Vikramashila Universities. Tibetan Buddhism was based on the same tradition. It has retained all the lineage and traditions of the Siddhas of India, Nepal as well as Tibet. For reinstatement of the glorious traditions and lineage of Nepalese Buddhism we have to seek the support from the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Nagarjuna Institute of Exact Methods aims at this very purpose of restoration through the following means:

  1. Conducting meditation courses like Margakrama (Lam rim), Purvagata Carya (Ngondro Practice), Avalokiteshvara Sadhana, Bodhicitta Bhavana, Nirvikalpa Samadhi, (Meditation on Emptiness) under the guidance of Nepalese and Tibetan Buddhist Masters.
  2. Conducting classes on Philosophy and Practice of Buddhism in all its phases of development.
  3. Organizing discourse programs form eminent Buddhist Masters.
  4. Publishing the translation of Buddhist texts into Nepalese and English languages form Sanskrit and Tibetan.
  5. Conducting research projects on Buddhist culture and religion.
  6. Conducting seminars and symposiums on Tibetology and Nepalese Buddhist Studies etc.
    Publishing annual journal ‘Buddhist Himalaya’ in English.
  7. Publishing a newsletter “Dharmadhatu” to promote Tibeto- Nepalese Buddhist Studies.
  8. Establishing a Buddhist Library with research facilities.
  9. To execute above aims and objectives we have formed following board of directors.

Board of Directors
1) Spiritual Directors:
Ven. Thrangu Rinpoche and Ven. Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche

2) Directors :
Mr. Min Bahadur Shakya
Mr. Bhakti Das Shrestha
Ven. Sumati Sangha
Dr. Vajra Raj Shakya

Nagarjuna Institute of Exact Methods (NIEM) greets you with its maiden issue of the Bulletin. This Institute was established and designed to function as a bridge for Nepalese Buddhism. This bulletin, I hope, will serve for promoting literary and cultural activities in the field of Nepalo- Tibetan Buddhist Studies. Some regular discourse programmes, starting of Nagarjuna Institute Publications, and its free distribution to its Nepalese audience have been initiated. Along felt need to train Nepalese college students in Buddhist studies have been actualized this summer.

I cannot hide the burning problem of this Institute to develop as a full-fledged Independent unit in the face of shortage of funds. Until now it has not been able to secure its own office room. We have collected Books on Buddhism about 500 in number and about 100 photo copies of rare texts on Mahayana Buddhism, Buddhist History and art. Well Wishers are requested to fill up the Membership Forms, available with this issue of Bulletin. Contributions and suggestions are appreciated.

1. With the collaboration of Himalayan Yogic Institute, this Institute has sponsored various discourse programmes under Ven. Geshe Lopsang Jampa with Ven. Sumati Sangha as interpreter for Nepalese Buddhist devotees. The topic includes following subjects:

a) Jorcho Practice
b) Seven Instructions on cause and effect
c) Exchange of self with others
d) Through transformation in eight stanzas
e) Ratnavali of Nagarjuna
f) Parting from four attachments

2 Ven. Geshe Jampa Losang, another Buddhist Master from Sera Monastery delivered a discourse on Chandragomin’s TWENTY VERSES ON BODHISATTVA VOWS at the premise of Golden Temple, Patan at Jan. 29, 30th, 1989. About 300 Nepalese Buddhists received the teachings.

3. After Ven. Lopsang Jampa left for the Milarepa Center in the United States last year,
Ven. Sumati Sangha has offered teachings to Nepalese Buddhists on Lam Rim tradition at the premise of Maitreya Vihara, Swayambhu on Saturdays.

1. A manual of recitation text ‘Trisaranagamana’ in Newari has recently been published
by the Institute and has been distributed widely free of cost to Nepalese Buddhist devotees. The text contains a translation of minor Buddhist texts which are as follows

1) Going to Refuge by Thogme Zangpo
2) Thirty Seven Practices of all Buddha’s sons by Thogme Zangpo
3) Three Principal Aspects of the Path by Lama Tsong Khapa
4) Thought Transformation in eight stanzas by Langri Thangpa
5) Confession Sutra, Bodhisattva vows, and others.

The cost of this publication was borne by Mr. Bhakti Das Shrestha, a member of Board of Directors of this Institute.

2. The Institute has also published its Bi-annual journal ‘BUDDHIST HIMALAYA’ vol. 1, No. 1 & 2,1988.

3. A Quarterly Bulletin has also been published on the occasion of 2533rd Anniversary of Lord Buddha’s Birth, Enlightenment, and Parinirvana Day.

1. To mark the auspicious occasion of 2533rd Anniversary of Lord Buddha’s Birth, Enlightenment, and Parinirvana Day a summer session of BUDDHIST STUDIES PROGRAME commenced on 27th May 1989 for college students, at the premise of Aksheshvara Mahavihara, Pulchowk, Lalitpur. Ven. Thrangu Rinpoche, spiritual directors of this Institute inaugurated the opening ceremony. Rinpoche blessed the students by offering teachings on Buddha Nature. The summer session was started from May 27th, two hours each on Saturday and Sunday evening for the period of three months. The topic includes the following subjects:

1) History of Buddhism in India.
2) History of Buddhism in Tibet.
3) Jewel Ornament of Liberation.

About forty students are participating in the programme.

2. The Winter Session on Buddhist Studies Programme will commence from September 1989.

A French Buddhist scholar Miss Shanta, author of LA VOIE JAINA visited our center. She came to Kathmandu for her research work on ‘Buddhist Nuns in the Himalaya regions’. During her stay in Kathmandu she interviewed all the distinguished Buddhist nuns both Nepalese and Tibetans. She contributed to the Institute her valuable work LA VOIE JAINA and also a copy of Mahayana Sutralamkara translated by Sylvain Levi. Besides, she also offered some books on Bhutan and a dictionary on English-French-English. She has become ‘Hon. Director’ of this Institute for the term 1989-1990.

Past Events (1988)

1. On the auspicious occasion of 2532nd Anniversary of Lord Buddha’s Birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana Day Ven. Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche gave a week long teachings programme on Kun Sang Lama’i Zhalung of Paltrul Rinpoche at the premise of Golden Temple, Patan from April 24-30, 1988. About two thousand Nepalese Buddhists received the teachings.

2. Ven. Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, one of the spiritual directors of this Institute offered a seminar course on ‘Lamp of Mahamudra’ for practitioner and jewel Ornament of Liberation for beginners in the premise of Kanying Shedrup Ling Monastery near Bodhnath Stupa, Kathmandu in the month of October, 1988. About 100 westerners and a dozen Nepalese Buddhists participated in it. Participants also visited Nagi Gompa where they received teachings from H. H. Samarpa Rinpoche and Pointing out instructions from Ven. Urgyen Tulku Rinpoche.

Recent Events (1989)
1. January 4th- Feb. 15th
Namo Buddha Seminar: This seminar took place in Thrangu Tashi Choling near the Great Stupa in Bodhnath, Kathmandu, Nepal. In this seminar am intensive dharma Study activity was taken place under the guidance and teaching of the Ven. Thrangu Rinpoche. Rinpoche is the foremost scholar of the Karma Kagyu lineage who holds the degree of Gheshe Rabjam. The subject of the first course of meditation instructions was from THE GREAT TREASURY OF KNOWLEDGE by Jamgon Kongtrul. The second was on the LIFE OF RECHUNGPA, a famous disciple of Tibet’s great Yogi Milarepa, Thrangu Rinpoche gave teachings and empowerments on Guru Vajrasattva, Medicine Buddha, and Chenressig. But the participants were mostly westerners. Previous to this seminar Rinpoche had delivered the courses on Mahayana Uttaratantra Sastra of Maitreya and Bodhicaryavatara of Santi Deva.

2. February 24th, 1989
Renowned scholar Pandit Divya Vajra Vajracharya released his summarized translation of Nine Buddhist texts (Navakhanda) i. e.

1) Lalitavistara Sutra
2) Suvarnaprabhasa Sutra
3) Gandavyuha Sutra
4) Dasabhumika Sutra
5) Lankavatara Sutra
6) Saddharmapundarika Sutra
7) Samadhi raja Sutra
8) Astasahasrika Prajna Paramita Sutra
9) Tathagata Guhyaka Sutra

The Release ceremony was held in the premise of newly built private monastery of late Bekha Ratna Dhakhwa called Bauddha Santi Niketan, Kamaladi. Amidst the distinguished gathering of Nepalese Buddhists Pandit Dibyavajra performed his Dharmapuja according to Nepalese Buddhist tradition along with melodious hymn of Samantabhadra carya by a group of lay practitioners. Panditjyu also explained briefly his summarized translation.

3. March 11th, 1989
In the premise of Haranyavana Mahavihara, Ven. Thugs Zigs Rinpoche gave three empowerments i. e. Rigzin Duspa, Gyalmo and Tsewang (long life) to the Nepalese Buddhist devotees. During empowerment sessions Rinpoche gave teachings briefly on the importance of Dharma and offered the mantra of Shakyamuni, Avalokiteshvara, Padmasambhava, and Arya Tara. About 600 Nepalese Buddhists attended empowerments session.

3.4. Buddhist Festivals
April 13th, 1989
According to Svayambhu Purana text, the Day of arrival of previous Buddha Sikhi is the New Year day of Nepalese calender(Vikram Sambat) and is celebrated by visiting his place of meditation called Dhyanochcha mountain in the south of the Kathmandu valley. Every year Nepalese Buddhists visit this spot where a stupa has been constructed very recently.

April 21st, 1989
Similarly the visit of previous Buddha Vipashvi is celebrated by holding a fair in Balaju Garden, Kathmandu. Nepalese Buddhists visit the top of the Nagarjuna Hill, where a stupa has been constructed long time ago. Here in this celebration Buddhists from Northern Nepal and from different ethnic groups, such as Tamangs, Sherpas, Magars have dominant participation than the valley citizens.

April 22nd, 1989

Amidst the thousand of spectators the bathing ceremony of Lord Karunamaya Avalokiteshvara was celebrated in the premise of Lagankhel Bus Stand as per tradition. This year also Buddhists as well as Hindus gaily observed this festival. This deity is the patron deity of Nepal even H.M. the king of Nepal observes and pays homage to this Lord Karunamaya on the occasion of Bhoto Jatra Festival. Hindus regard this deity as Rato Matsyendranath where as Buddhists Karunamaya Avalokiteshvara. The chariot festival of this deity lasts almost one or two months.

May 31st, 1989
On the occasion of 2533rd Anniversary of Lord Buddha’s Birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana Day the Buddha Jayanti Celebration committee sponsored and organized a One day Buddhist Seminar on the topic:

1) Buddhism and Science
2) Buddhism and Economics
3) Buddhism and Arts.

The venue of Seminar was in Aksheshvara Mahavihara, Pulchowk, Lalitpur.

June 4th – July 4th, 1989 Lam hbras Seminar

Ven. Chogay Trichen Rinpoche, the abbot of Tibetan Monastery in Lumbini and Maitreya Temple in Bodhnath is offering a ‘Path and Fruition’ doctrine to his numerous western as well as Nepalese disciples in the premise of Maitreya Temple Bodhnath, Kathmandu.

Future Events
Oct. 10th -24th, 1989
Rangjung Yeshe Institute announces its 9th Annual Seminar by Ven. Urgyen Tulku and Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche on the topic: Realizing Egolessness. Based on the Chapter on Transcendental Knowledge from the Bodhicaryavatara by Shanti Deva.
Location: Boudhnath and Nagi Gompa, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel.: 4412893

Nov. 10th -Dec. 10th, 1989
As the previous years Kopan Monastery near Bodhnath announces its one-month course in Lam Rim Meditation. Contact Himalayan Yogic Institute. Tel. 413094

Oct 13th – 24th, 1989

As in previous years Nepal Vipassana Center announces its annual Vipassana meditation course under the direction of S.N. Goenka. Contact: Nepal Vipassana Center, Jyoti Bhavan, Kantipath, Kath., Nepal P.O. Box 133, Tel: 2-25490.