LO Edwards former Wynberg-Allen School's Headmaster writes to his student in Sikkim

LO Edwards (circled) in group photographs of Wynberg-Allen School Staffs

The two articles i wrote about the reunion of Wynberg-Allen School members, Mussoorie When the Alwynian met after 41 years in Sikkim - i and its second part When the Alwynian met after 41 years in Sikkim - ii holds special to me. The articles was itself a historical moment of an account of reunion of old school teachers meeting up their old students at Gangtok, late November. My Dhaba, Ghanashyam Pradhan at Parakha, was able to contact Shanker Menon his old friend at Oman through my blog and i am happy i was the medium between them.

This time around my Dhaba had contacted with Mr LO Edwards, his old Head Master at Wynberg-Allen School and is very pleased to share the letter send by his old Head Master through this blog. He wish if any of his old friends come across this articles they can contact him. 

Tashiding Monastery: Where Guru blessed?-i

Tashiding, in West Sikkim was one place I did wanted to visit for the last few years but it never happened until last month and I am in high spirits I finally did it. Regarded as the holiest of monasteries in Sikkim, the Tashiding Monastery over the centuries does hold strong its own legends and folks. The first look I had of the faintly seen yellow roof of the monastery on top of a hill from the opposite roadway gave me a pleasant feel that was beyond my expectation. The Monastery is built on top of a hill between Rangit and Ratong rivers.

I am told of a legend that Guru Padmashambhava had shot an arrow to select his place of meditation and that place is the present site of the Tashiding Monastery. It is even said the rock is still found at Tashiding Monastery premises where the great Guru had meditated.

One of the reasons I wanted to visit this place was to see the stupa of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, regarded as the most outstanding Tibetan master of the last century. I tried my best but I failed to recognize it among the many chorten lying out there. It was only later I was informed that the golden coloured chorten was the one I was looking at. The other important holy chorten Tashiding is very famous is “Thong-wa rang toa”. It is believed that the “funeral granules of the mythical Buddha” is preserved inside it.

Build in 1716 according to “The Gazeetter of Sikhim” Tashiding Monastery was the fifth monastery to be build in Sikkim after, Sanga Cholling, Dubdi, Pemayangste and Gangtok  is a sacred and is regarded as the centre of Sikkim state that is surrounded by four holy caves. The meaning of the name “Tashiding” is ‘devoted central glory’. I first heard about this famed monastery during my days at Weekend Review Newspaper some 7-8 years back when one of my colleagues had visited the place to cover the “Bhumchu” event. Bhumchu festival is a rare event in which a blessed vase that holds water in it predicts the future of Sikkim for the year. Sounds incredibly and I am sure some day I shall witness this “rare event” too. The event held every year draws large followers.

Nagadak Sempa Chempo, one of the three men behind the coronation of the first Sikkim Chogyal at Yoksum in the 17^th century built a small Lhakhang at this place. The main monastery was later built by Pedi Wangmo during the reign of Chakdor Namgyal, the third Chogyal of Sikkim Kingdom and it is said some of the relics built then still exist inside the present monastery.

East Point SSS Class X results 2010

Source: Samay Dainik

East Point SSS student scores “Perfect 10” in CBSE 10th results

Singtam, May 28: It was a golden day for the East Point SSS at Golitar, Singtam where one of its students Navin Kumar Trivedi scored a “perfect 10” in this year CBSE 10^th examination results. Navin Kumar Trivedi hailing from Singtam bazaar had scored the highest Grade Point i.e. “10” along with “A1” Grade in each of the five subjects he had undergone. His subjects include English, Hindi, Mathematics, Science and Social Science. According to the newly introduced grading system “Grade Point 10” is given to the students who scores between 91 marks to 100 marks. Ten students from EPSSS had scored first division while the school pass percentage is 90 % with no failed students. Speaking to this reporter Navin Trivedi told that he is very happy about his performances. He said he had not done any extra labour on his study; he had work hard as any other fellow students had done. He wants to build up his career in medical, he told.

Along with Navin Kumar Trivedi other three students Shubham Prasad, Arindram Mishra and Ashish Kumar Singh went on to achieve Grade 9.6, Grade 9.4 and Grade 9.2 respectively. Five students went on to score Grade 10 in mathematics, those included Navin Kumar Trivedi, Shubham Prasad, Arindram Mishra, Ashish Kumar Singh and Deobratp Ishwar. Shubham Prasad, Arindram Mishra and Ashish Kumar Singh also went on to score Grade Point 10 in three individual subjects respectively.

Speaking on the occasion ND Mishra, Mathematics teacher of the East Point SSS added it was a great occasion for the school management and we are really proud of the students. These students had really worked hard and it was their efforts that has been paid, said Mishra. He informed the news was celebrated by using fire crackers in school premises. Sunita Subba, Principal said the credit of the good performances of the students was not possible without the hard works of the teachers, students and their family members.  

Dhan Kumar Subba, Chairman of EPSSS told that the coming Monday, a holiday had been officially announced after the success of the CBSE class x results. It was for the first time in the history of the school since its establishment in 1986 an official school holiday had been observed. Subba further said we are happy to say that five students from EPSSS had been selected from the NERIST Entrance Examination.

Navin Kumar Trivedi (left) and Subham Prasad (right)

It should be noted that in one of the popular daily newspaper from Gangtok had named the examination performance of EPSSS for class xii as ‘poor’ along with other schools across the state. Dhan Kumar Subba stated that the performances of the school were not a detailed account. The newspaper failed to mention that EPSSS runs only a Science Streams and the pass percentage of the school was more than 50 % that was shown less in the printed matter. The newspaper also had failed to mention that there were seven students that went on to score first division in the examination with Diwakar Gurung scoring the highest 79.8 percentage. Divakar Gurung went on to score 91 marks in Chemistry, 86 marks in Maths and 85 marks in Physics. EPSSS management is disappointed that we could had bettered our performances but in no sense it can be termed as poor, he added.

Saga Dawa celebrated at Singtam (2010)

Professor Lupant with Sikkim's former flag

Professor Lupant and Jigme with Sikkim's former flag 

Professor Michel Lupant's Vexillological Research - Sept/Oct 2007

pic: questhimalaya.com

CBSE results declared

source: Sikkim Reporter

Mr Sudash Dhakal from Sikkim completes PhD in Physical Geography.

Mr Sudash Dhakal, PGT, Geography at Mangan senior secondary school has been awarded with a PhD degree by the University of Pune.  Dr Dhakal joined the school last year in the month of June after submitting his PhD thesis. He probably is the first student from Sikkim to complete PhD in Physical Geography.

Sikkim's own Big Ben

Sikkim's own Big Ben at Gangtok

Kapilvastu Day Movement Global Committee Formed

Shared by Ram Kumar Shrestha
Global Coordinator
Kapilvastu Day Movement Global Committee

As part of the World Peace Movement, Nepalese people living in different parts of the world last year decided to commemorate Lumbini and Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, by observing Kapilvastu Day as a global holiday in order to spread the Buddha’s peace and nonviolence messages all over the world. The Buddha is revered as a Messenger of Peace. He is also known as the Light of Asia who is actually the Light of the world as his message of peace and nonviolence has become more relevant as the world is facing the problems of violence today. The world today has become more violent than ever before. Therefore, we have decided to spread the messages of the Buddha all over the world by observing Kapilvastu Day every year. 

Originally, on December 1, 1896, Dr Anton Führer, a German archaeologist, had discovered the Buddha’s birthplace when he found the Asoka Pillar at Lumbini.  Even though this site was first discovered by Khadga Shamsher Rana before Führer had reached the site but Führer is credited for this discovery as he brought it into light and made it known to the international community.

The Asoka Pillar is the most important evidence that Buddha was born in Lumbini. Therefore, it was decided to observe December 1 as Kapilavastu Day. The historic Kapilavastu, located close to Lumbini, is considered to be another holy pilgrimage for the Buddhists since it was the place where the Buddha grew up and which he later renounced seeking to understand the cause of human sufferings. The result of years of excavations and researches by numerous national and international teams has been that Tilaurakot is the historic Kapilvastu which UNESCO should certify as another World Heritage, next to Lumbini.

After celebrating the Kapilvastu Day as the Global Day for the first time in history on December 1, 2009, we discussed on how to keep the program going ahead. Hence a 19 member committee (which will be of 21- member in the future) has been formed as the Kapilvastu Day Movement Global Committee under Ram Kumar Shrestha’s leadership. The committee is constituted as follows:

1. Ram Kumar Shrestha  Global Coordinator, UK
2. Abi Sharma   Coordinator, Canada        
3. Baburaja Maharjan  Coordinator, Newzealand
4. Bhanu Poudyal   Special Coordinator, Canada
5. Binay Shah   Coordinator, Hongkong
6. Chandra Rai   Coordinator, Canada
7. Dr. Hari Kumar Shrestha  Coordinator, Taiban
8. Hari Nepali   Coordinator, Qatar
9. Laxman Devkota   Coordinator, Portugal
10. Laxman Puri   Coordinator, Nepal
11. Mrs Laxmi Simkhada  Coordinator, USA
12. Om Gurung   Coordinator, Japan
13. Raj Shrestha   Coordinator, Nepal
14. Ramhari Shrestha  Coordinator, UK
15. Santosh Neupane  Coordinator, Belgium
16. Miss Sanu Ghimire  Coordinator, Australia
17. Shailesh Shrestha  Coordinator, USA
18. Shambhu Kattel   Coordinator, USA
19. Sujan Neupane   Coordinator, Australia

To make the movement more effective and to simplify the decision making process of the committee a nine member secretariat has been formed and the secretariat members shall be the regional coordinators of corresponding regions as follows: 

1. Baburaja Maharjan (Australia, Newzealand and surrounding countries), 
2. Hari Nepal (Middle East),  
3. Binay Shah and Om Gurung (Japan, Hongkong, China and surrounding countries), 
4. Shailesh Shrestha (USA and South America),
5. Chandra Rai (Canada)  
6. Santosh Neupane (Europe).
7. Raj Shrestha (SAARC)

The Global Coordinator shall be the Chief in the secretariat which shall be located in London.

Bhanu Poudyal shall be designated as the Special Coordinator, to inform those who are misinformed particularly on Lumbini, and the birth place of the Buddha.

To smoothly spread the Movement’s Peace Mission at national and International levels a seven member Advisory Board shall be formed with the following members:

a)  Mr. Agni Frank Eickermann (writer, Founder of Spiritual Teachers Training, Alpha Chi Consultants, and "Path into Light", Speaker: Spirituality, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Feng Shui, Management solutions, Golden Age, USA),  

b) Dr. Arzu Rana-Deuba (CA member and MP),  

c) HE Deepak Khadaka  (Consulate General, NSW, Australia),  

d) Ms Domo Geshe Rinpoche (Spiritual Director, White Conch Dharma Center, USA),  

e) Dr.  Kavitaram Shrestha (writer and founder of Aswikrit Movement), 

f)  Mr. Rajendra Shrestha (former minister), and 

g)  HE Dr. Rishi Adhikari (Nepali Ambassador to Malaysia) 

The Movement expects coordination and cooperation in attaining its objectives from Nepal government, intellectuals, journalists and all peace movement committed institutions from different part of the world and committed to give its hands to all peace loving institutions. 
  

Sogyal Rinpoche's Teachings in Sikkim

Press Release

by Yishey Doma

Sogyal Rinpoche

World renowned Buddhist teacher and author of the spiritual classic ‘The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying’

Teachings in Sikkim

Thursday May 20, 2010, 4:30 pm at Chintan Bhawan

Open to all

The Heart Essence of the Buddha’s Wisdom and its

Practical Application for transforming our Daily Lives 

SOGYAL RINPOCHE BIOGRAPHY

Born in Kham in Eastern Tibet, Sogyal Rinpoche was recognized as the reincarnation of Lerab Lingpa Terton Sogyal, a teacher to the thirteenth Dalai Lama, by the great Dorje Chang Jamyang Khyentse Lodro, one of the most outstanding spiritual teachers of the twentieth century. Jamyang Khyentse supervised Rinpoche’s training and raised him like his own son.

Rinpoche continued to study with many masters, of all schools, especially Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche and Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He served as a translator and aide to Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche for many years and then began teaching under his guidance.

Rinpoche is also the author of the highly acclaimed and ground breaking book ‘The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying’. Over two million copies of this spiritual classic have been printed in 30 languages and 56 countries. In the East, ‘The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying’ has been received with tremendous impact and enthusiasm by English speakers in the Himalayan regions, such as Bhutan, as well as in Taiwan and mainland China.

In addition, Rinpoche is the founder and spiritual director of Rigpa, an international network of 130 Buddhist centres and groups in 41 countries around the world. He has been teaching for over 30 years and continues to travel widely in Europe, America, Australia and Asia, addressing thousands of people on his retreats and teaching tours.

pic: bhutanobserver