Written by Kargyen Drolma
Music by Dartso
Performed by Thupten Drolma
The white snow mountain, Machen,
Arises like a stupa of snow.
The snow lion with it’s turquoise mane,
is poised majestically on it’s summit.
The Palace of Sengdruk Taktse
Is like a crystal canopy.
At that joyous sacred place,
the nectar of sublime dharma overflows.
Traling Gonpa, in the land of Ma (Golok),
like constellations in the heavens falling to earth,
is the place where the Buddha’s teachings
are upheld by many learned practitioners.
Khentrul Kunzang Gyaltsen
Appeared as a Buddha in human form.
The name of Kunpen Tsekyong Lobling (School that Lovingly Protects and Benefits All)
is known throughout all directions.
The long Wall of Sutras
is like a turquoise dragon flying through the sky.
The blue Machu River
flows through the plains
Being at the school’s pleasant grove of lotuses
is like being transported to the land of the gods.
There, the diligent study of the ten fields of knowledge
progresses like the waxing moon.
The diligent study of the ten fields of knowledge
Progresses like the waxing moon
Words by Lholo Kar
Music by Norbu Gon
Performed by Kunzang Rigzin
When the youthful moon in the autumn night
Appears from amidst the stars,
I remember the mother of my dreams again and again
I remember the mother of my dreams again and again
When, from this human realm of happiness and sorrow,
I remember my loving mother,
The eyes of this young long lost son fill with tears
The eyes of this young long lost son fill with tears
In the realm of cyclic existence
Karmic debts due to past actions are many,
If I meet my mother, this human life will be happy
If I meet my mother, this human life will be happy
A friend of mine,(who writes this blog:http://onsausalcreek.blogspot.com brought up a good point today. She noted that I had never really mentioned exactly where Sengdruk Taktse School was. I have been telling people it’s in Golok, Eastern Tibet, which is actually quite a large area. I guess I never really got specific because I didn’t think people would have any idea if I were to say “Sengdruk Taktse School is in Darlag, about 3 hours drive from Tawu”. Am I right?
So I thought it might be helpful to include this map here. By the way, if you don’t have Google Earth (not Google Maps mind you), you really should download it. It is so fun to play with. You can see a lot of these Tibetan towns up close and even change perspective. It feels like you have your own little virtual airplane or something, and you can just fly over all the terrain and swoop down for closer looks. I highly recommend it.
The map below has one point in the middle of the town of Darlag, with a line going out to the West towards Sengdruk Taktse School. It is only about a 30 minute drive, or maybe 15 minutes on a fast motorcycle. Unfortunately, it appears as if the satellite imagery starts to fail as you get towards the actual location of Sengdruk Taktse School, so you can’t make out much detail. I drew a shape over the general area where the school is located, thought it’s a little difficult to tell exactly where it is using this map. Traling Gonpa is located not too far away.
You can use the zoom in and out controls on the map to get a closer look, or zoom out to get an idea of where Sengdruk Taktse School is in relation to other places in Tibet and China.
On February 15th, 2007, Do-Ngak Dronme, a 5th grader at Sengdruk Taktse School passed away. At age 13, he was a very bright, intelligent, and kind young boy. He suddenly fell ill after a Losar (New Year) party. He was rushed to the town of Darlag, but passed away en route. Ceremonies for his consciousness were performed immediately, and Phowa (transference of consciousness) was also performed. His younger brother, Do-ngak Nyima is also a student at Sengdruk Taktse School in the 5th grade.
