Rangjung Yeshe Institute1. [A Whirlwind of Semester] This past semester has been very special in many ways. Having finished my first semester last year here at RYI, I was quite looking forward to forge deeper into the “torturing” yet enchanting Tibetan language. Everything was peaceful and on the right track before the reading week until the outbreak […]
During my time here at RYI, I began having a completely different experience to the Buddhism that I knew. Having grown up in a Buddhist family, I had some experience of Buddhist practice and culture, but had never fully immersed myself in any specific text where the Buddhist terminology is used. I had of course some idea of what they meant, but never […]
An important feature of the Rangjung Yeshe Institute’s environment is the perfect combination of traditional monastic studies and contemplation with a high level of academic approach of studies and research. Among the teachers and students in RYI we have several good examples that it is genuinely possible to settle and to follow the spiritual path […]
I.
What is the deep listening?
Sema is a greeting from the secret ones
inside the heart, a letter.
[Divani Shamsi Tabriz, Rumi: The Big Red Book]
After finishing 5 kora at Boudha stupa, I went to one tea stall. The taste of the tea was so good and it was made by an old lady, around my grandma’s age. I asked her about the background story of Boudha during her childhood. She started telling me the story of Boudhanath. Once upon time, […]
Investigating Buddhist Ethics This semester RYI offered a class on Buddhist ethics, taught by Prof. Diane Denis. Have you ever wondered what Buddhism has to say about complicated ethical questions? Sure, we should be compassionate, follow our vows, avoid the ten non-virtuous actions and engage in the ten virtuous actions and the six paramitas, but what […]
Arya Tara on Khenpo Rinpoche’s 86th Birthday Today (March 1st 2020) is Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche’s birthday. On this auspicious day, one of my secret wishes was fulfilled. Last year, I received lojong and vajra dance trainings from Ani Tsering Youdon, one of Khenpo Rinpoche’s nuns. This year, I began caryā dance training from our respected Gurju Padma Raj Bajracarya and one of his prominent students Aasna Bajracarya. Since both Tibetan and Newar traditions have this practice of […]
This is my last semester at RYI!!! Amazing, we are already at the second half of the spring semester. When I started my BA years ago, I thought this time would never come and four years felt like a lifetime. However, now I feel like it was only yesterday I arrived in Kathmandu, and I […]
I am a third year B.A student at Ranjung Yeshe Institute. Apart from studying at RYI, I also work as a freelance music therapist and musical artist. Last fall semester, I got an opportunity to facilitate music therapy sessions for RYI students at the newly built meditation room in Utpala Café. We would meet most […]