First Graders of Sengdruk Taktse School

Khentrul Jigme Kunzang Gyaltsen

Principal of Sengdruk Takstse School, Golok, Eastern Tibet

Jigme Dawa - Raising the Victory Banner of Education in Golok

It's my great pleasure to announce that 9th grader Jigme Dawa has the distinguished honor of having the highest college placement test scores in all of Golok. In addition to this, his other classmates together have helped to make Sengdruk Taktse School the highest scoring 9th grade class in the entire region of Golok.

My name is Jigme Dawa. I am from Sangruma, Darlag County, Golok. When I was one and half years old, my mother became sick and passed away. When I was three years old, my father also died from an illness. My sister was nine years old when my father passed away. We lived together and she took care of me. We used to cry when nobody was around. Because of this situation, our principal Khentrul Kunzang Gyaltsen gave me permission to come to Sengdruk Taktse School. I am now in eighth grade. I have won awards for best student and excellence in Tibetan poetry. I always look forward to what we will study in the next semester.

Jigme Dawa, and his other fellow 9th grade classmates are the first batch of graduates of Sengdruk Taktse School. The fact that they are placing the highest in all of Golok says alot about the quality of education they are receiving at Sengdruk Taktse School. It also says alot about how much potential there still is at Sengdruk Taktse School to acheive even more.

The majority of these 9th grade students have no parents. If it weren't for Sengdruk Taktse School, these kids would probably never set foot in a school. However, being given the opportunity to study at Sengdruk Taktse School has completely reversed their fortunes in life.

View the entire 9th grade class of Sengdruk Taktse School

Short Biography of Tulku Thubten Norbu Rinpoche

The sublime Tulku Thubten Norbu was born in 1965 in upper Wangchen, Golok, to his father, Garwa Lhalo, and his mother Barza Gaglo. From a young age, his personality was such that he would even give his own hat and clothing to those that are weak and with nobody to take care of them. Many people of high, middling, and low faith said he was the the display of the great awareness holder, Terton Tsechoe Rinpoche, who is considered to be an incarnation of Rigzin Godem. Kyabje Drubwang Karma Chopel Zangpo also agreed. Nyanmo Gonpa in Dar Valley also recognized and enthroned him as the reincarnation of Choktrul Lozang Pagpa Phunstok. After completing his studies (at a normal school) he came back to Phonkor Monastery (the monastery of Terton Tsecho Rinpoche) where the hair cutting ceremony (became a monk) was performed by Khenchen Palden Yeshe.

Since then, he has received teachings from HH Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok, Khenpo Munsel, Kyabje Drubwang Karma Chopel Zangpo, Kyabje Kenchen Choying Kyabdal, Kyabje Drubwang Trinley Norbu, Kyabje Drubwang Padma Norbu, Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, Dodrup Rinpoche, Namtrul Rinpoche Jigme Phuntsok (not to be confused with Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok), Khandro Tare Lhamo, Khenchen Jamyang Gyepay Loden. He received many teachings of sutra, tantra, and especially the three inner yogas. In particular, he received the ripening nectar of the terma and pure vision teachings of the pinnacle of the nine yanas, the Clear Light Great Perfection. The qualities of receiving teachings and understanding their meaning was born in his mindstream.

From Namtrul Yabyum (Jigme Phunstok and Tare Lhamo), he received their own treasures, Khandro Ting Od Barma, and Pagmo Tuktik. Tare Lhamo and Jigme Phuntsok recognized Thupten Norbu as a holder of these teachings, and they wrote a long life prayer for him to carry out the enlightened activities of Padmakara.

Meanwhile, in accordance with the aspiration/desire of the Dharma King, The Wish Fulfilling Jewel, Khenpo Jigme Phunstok, he taught Sutra and Tantra for over one year at Sribda Dzogchen Gonpa to the students in the Shedra, and their understanding improved like never before. To more than 10,000 faithful monks and laypeople, he taught the swift path of Phowa and the teachings of the Six Bardos and he also taught the various dances that demonstrate virtue and non virtue. He also explained about the negative effects of smoking, drinking, and hunting and because of this many people stopped their harmful actions. Tulku Orgyan Tenzin of Sribda Gonpa wrote down everything that Thubten Norbu taught and accomplished and shared this with Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok. After learning of his activites, Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok praised Thubten Norbu in the midst of more than 10,000 at a public teaching and explained all that he had done.



After this, he built Larung Teksum Choling (in Taiwan). Thubten Norbu is very reliable and honest and provides very much assistance to Larung Chode Chenmo (Larung Gar) in Golok. Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok bestowed many holy supports of body, speech, and mind to Thubten Norbu so that his activity would expand. Many scholars and Khenpos from Larung Gar composed many writings about Thubten Norbu and his life and activities, and compiled them all together in a book.



In Tawain, Thubten Norbu also built a publishing house that prints many volumes of texts related to Buddhist view, meditation, and action. He provides these texts free of charge to practice centers and practitioners from both East and West. He also has performed many actions that have released beings from fear (the practice of saving lives). For his own monastery on Ponkor, he has provided many forms of assistance for both the Shedra and Drupdra.

In Darlag, Golok, at the home of Ling Gesar, Kumkar Sengdruk Taktse, together with Katok Kentrul Kunzang Gyaltsen, Thubten Norbu decided that the best way to solve the problems of poor children and those living with poverty was to provide them with an education. After building Sengdruk Taktse School, the results were clearly evident, and many poverty stricken families and children have seen enormous benefit.




Written by Larung Editorial Committe in August, 2002.

For more information, please visit http://jorufoundation.org

In Memory of Do-Ngak Dronmey

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.

For some time, Khenpo Kunzang has had the wish to build a medical clinic at Sengdruk Taktse School. This isn't an unreasonable wish, it is definitely something within reach. Khenpo Kunzang has also wanted to build a Tibetan medical clinic where the Tibetan medical tradition would be continued and preserved. Students from Sengdruk Taktse School who had the desire to become a Tibetan doctor could be trained at the clinic, and the people from surrounding villages could receive treatment at the clinic. There are many people living around the Darlag area who have to travel very far in order to receive medical treatment, so building a clinic at Sengdruk Taktse School makes perfect sense.

The Tibetan medical tradition is in danger of completely disappearing in Golok. While there are still doctors and clinics in Kham, Golok has fewer and fewer people who are trained in the Tibetan medical tradition. A well known Tibetan doctor from Dzogey, in Kham, has stated that he would be willing to be the primary instructor at Sengdruk Taktse School if a building and program were funded. Read more about this in the weeks to come...

Where is Sengdruk Taktse School ?

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.


View Larger Map

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.

Some New Photos From Tibet

Here are some new photos of the students at Sengdruk Taktse School in Tibet. The weather is cold, but the sky is blue. The students are sporting their new uniforms, looking very sharp!








And another picture of the snow at the school right now, with horses.