The Gyalwang Drukpa

Finally, after a week of struggling and learning about the new techniques for my newly designed website, I am now proudly and officially announcing that this website is having a new look. Thanks to a number of helpful new friends that I met here, somewhere in India. India is not only an elevated land of Arhats or a land of Phagpa, it's a land full of genius. I love India!

I have chosen this design and this program because it is easier to manipulate than the old program. In the process, I have visited the websites of almost all of my centres. I enjoyed a lot looking through their photos and designs. The key is not just to have website, but also to keep fresh news and relationships.

Before I forget, I want to express my appreciation to Drubpon Ngawang and all of our Drukpa Europe and UK members for being a great host on my behalf for our precious Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo in her recent visit and now for our precious Kyabje Drukpa Choegon Rinpoche Ngawang Tenzin Chokyi Gyatso. Jetsunma told me personally that Drubpon Ngawang is really a jewel of our lineage and that she truly enjoyed being in his company and in the company of our entire Drukpa family there. Thank you all for sharing your warmth and love with our Jetsunma and Kyabje Drukpa Choegon Rinpoche.

I am surprised to see in the poll section that there are a few people who prefer the look of my old website. Anyway, I much prefer the new design, whatever the end result of the poll, though I am always interested to know what people think.

I am always nagging to my own people that things should be updated and everything has to be out quick and fresh. Even practice has to be kept fresh and not dull, otherwise even we ourselves will become very bored. As I always say, life is short, we have to live a colourful and meaningful life. Whether our life is boring or interesting, wasteful or useful, stressful or fun, it's really all up to us. Don't complain about others. We should take a mirror and look at ourselves and then improve.

I also say that we should be flexible. I remember telling you that by being inflexible, you are giving yourself unnecessary stress. Of course, you should not be too flexible, then nothing will work. Some flexibility has to be there so that you can have room to be creative and to be more effective. I don't feel happy or comfortable when my own people start to be very stuck and stubborn in their ways. This means they have no room for improvements, no room for creativity. I get so tired when I talk to these people, who only complain others. I recently heard something very interesting, but I can't recall where I heard it. A big boss told his staff, "Whenever you complain about a problem or something that is not working, I hope you will also give me a solution." I think whoever gives me problems, headaches and bad news, they should at least have the courtesy of giving me options and solutions. Whoever is able to do this, I think he or she is a very kind, very intelligent and very creative, so his or her life must also be very fruitful, very positive and very colourful.

As spiritual masters, we have to be able to develop skills to communicate with others, so that the message of Live to Love can be transmitted and spread. We also need to understand the world that we live in today is full of different and interesting communication gadgets that we can use and apply. To communicate with others, we also need to modify our style and also to listen to others. Without listening, there is no way you can reach out, and without a way to reach out, there is no way to understand what others are going through in their lives. Anyway, so long as we are not addicted to any of this means, any method that is helpful and beneficial to make others happy and to encourage them is great.

In Ladakh, after our Pad Yatra, many people asked what is Live to Love. I said "Live" means our life and "Love" means the positive activities of our life that can benefit and help others. If I may say, "Live to Love" is the philosophy of our lineage. Therefore, I was very moved by the activities of Young Drukpa Association (YDA) of Ladakh. They are actively promoting homestay so that foreigners will understand our beautiful Himalayan culture and through it, non-biodegradable waste is somehow reduced. They are planting so many trees in Shey, which is like a desert land, but you can see many baby trees if you visit Naro Phodang and Druk Padma Karpo Institute in Shey. Growing trees in Ladakh is not a joke, it is really very difficult but definitely a Bodhisattva activity. I am also very happy to hear that YDA Ladakh is now planning to continue our "Say No to Plastic" campaign and to find ways to educate the local villagers about dealing with fire accidents, so that less children will suffer.

As I said a few days ago, because of their hardwork, I have decided to give them more work and more headaches, by accepting their request to celebrate my Tibetan birthday to teach Dagpo Tharchin. This time YDA Ladakh and Drukpa Publications (DPPL) will jointly organise this birthday and the teaching, all to be held at Shey.

Then I ended up with another headache. Some of friends and students requested me to celebrate my Western birthday in Kathmandu. Personally, I really don't understand why I have to celebrate birthdays, and why twice or sometimes many times in a year. But if it makes people happy, why not? If it is another excuse to gather and benefit each other, why not? So I have put all the programs in the schedule.

Between my Tibetan and Western birthdays, there will be 2nd Annual Zangchod Bum, which will start on the 15th of the 1st Tibetan month and continue for 4 days. Now, there is also a page for the annual events, which I don't think anyone who has time and resources to join should miss.

I have been speaking with Khamtrul Rinpoche Jigme Pema Nyinjadh who is now teaching in Taiwan and who was in Hong Kong a few days ago. I am very happy that Drukpa Hong Kong has done a great job for him. I am also very excited that finally we have bought a centre in Hong Kong, I want thank all the friends and members in Hong Kong for working so hard to buy this centre.

I am also amazed that someone by the name of This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it had posted almost all of Khamtrul Rinpoche's latest teachings on Youtube and photos on his web.  Unfortunately, I can't read Chinese, otherwise, it must be interesting to read what he says there. Those of you who can read and write in Chinese, please send my greetings and wishes to him. Without his approval, I am putting Rinpoche's teachings and photos here. To me, it's important to always tell people that we appreciate them and their work. We have to appreciate and we have to stop complaining. We should always try to look at the good side of a being, this is how we learn to appreciate. I hope all of us will appreciate each other and everyone when we are still here together in this world.

Anyway, we all should wish Khamtrul Rinpoche's first teaching tour in Asia a great success. I am putting his videos here for you to enjoy! By the way, he will be the 2nd ADC Chairman and we will have another of our hero Rinpoches to be the 3rd ADC Chairman, which will be decided during or after the 2nd ADC.

19th July (Taipei)

20th July (Taipei)

26th July (Taichung)

27th July (Taichung)

27th July (Taichung)