Visit to Namdroling Monastery

May the Guru remain in the world for a long time to come, may the light of His teachings pervade the sky of mind and bring happiness to all.

Last week I & Jayati decided to visit Namdroling Monastery which is in Karnataka near Mysore. We fly down to Bangalore and from there we took Taxi till Kushalnagar, on the way passing through Mysore. Once you reach Kushalnagar, ask for "Fourth Camp Nyingma Monastery" or simply say Golden Temple. Every day Namdroling monastery welcomes hundreds of visitors, both from India and abroad to experience the teachings of Buddha and enjoy meditative environment.

 

Located amidst the sandal groves a few hours from Bangalore, Namdroling was established by his Holiness Pema Norbu Rinpoche shortly after he came to India from Tibet. With only 300 rupees in his hand and with just a handful of monks, he laid the foundation stone of the three-storied main temple that then covered an area of 80 square feet. His Holiness the Dalai Lama consecrated the spot and bequeathed the name "Namdroling Monastery." Today the monastery is home to nearly 5000 monks and nuns, renowned as a center for the pure upholding of the teachings of the Buddha.

After taking rest for an hour at Paljor Dhargey Ling Guesthouse we went to Monastery. Nishant one of the Jayati’s friends who had become monk after graduating from AIIMS -was there to guide us. I was shocked, and was quite impressed when I came to know that Nishant was Doctor by education.

“Whatever your questions, the Buddha has the answer” – the first full sentence he spoke. Nishant took us to the common room through silent and well-lit long corridors. The thirty-odd monks in the common room were listing in rapt attention to their teacher. In front of them, on small platform a fat, cheerful teacher was seating, who looked ageless and radiant, nowhere near the eighty years of age.

He was addressing heavy topics – birth, death, rebirth, bondage, enlightenment. I focused my attention on him, he stated his position untheatrically and calmly, without trying to convince or provoke. “Dukha in Pali also means uneasiness, restlessness, a vague feeling of incompleteness that characterizes all life”. I found myself getting just a little interested. I had sudden, surreal sensation that there was no one else in the room. He seemed to be speaking directly to me. He was right, I was clinging to my past. I was carving the happiness of better time…….