By Laura Ellis
Her Eminence Dagmo Kusho Sakya spent three weeks in Asia in September 2011. The primary purpose of her visit to India was to attend Dhungsey Asanga Rinpoche’s Vajrakilaya exams in Dehra Dun. She toured multiple Sakya monasteries and nunneries in India and Nepal and made many offerings to the lamas, monks and nuns of those monasteries. Her Eminence was accompanied by her granddaughter, Jetsun Soyangla. Jetsun Soyangla is the eldest daughter of Dhungsey Sadu Rinpoche and Dagmo Pema. Overall the trip was very successful.
Dagmo Kusho and Jetsun Soyangla stayed several days in New Delhi at the Phuntsok Phodrang in order to check on the young monks in residence there. Dagmola reported that the monks are all doing very well. Many of the monks, ages 6-18 years old, are from orphanages. The Phuntsok Phodrang in New Delhi is home to 31 people, including monks, teachers and staff. Dagmola was delighted to be able to offer each of the young monks a brand new set of clothing provided by patron, Tho Luu, who is the head of Sakya Buddhist Center in Vietnam. The maroon and yellow garments were made in Vietnam.
On the way to India Dagmola stopped in Hong Kong where she gave a Chenrezi initiation at the Maha Sandhi Yoga Center. At the Hong Kong Sakya Center she gave a Green Tara teaching. Lama Tashi came from Taiwan to assist with the teaching.
In Dehra Dun, the seat of His Holiness Sakya Trizin in India, members of the Phuntsok Phodrang gathered to attend H.E. Asanga Rinpoche’s Vajrakilaya exam. H.H. Sakya Trizin and family members of the Drolma Phodrang hosted members of the Phuntsok Phodrang and their attendants including Dhungsey Ani Rinpoche and his family, Dhungseys Avikritar Rinpoche and Abhaya Rinpoche, and Dagmola and Jetsun Soyangla. It was a memorable home coming and reunion for family members of both palaces.
H.E. Asanga Rinpoche, grandson of H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche and H.E. Dagmo Kusho, began his studies at Tharlam Monastery in 2006 when he was five years old. He is now twelve, and according to many lamas and khenpos, including H.H. Sakya Trizin, his performance during the exams was exceptional.
The trip was very beneficial on many accounts. Many offerings were made by Sakya family members and by patrons. Dagmola was happy that her granddaughter, Jetsun Soyangla, made a connection with the numerous Sakya monasteries and nunneries in India and Nepal. According to Dagmola, Jetsun Soyangla enjoyed the trip, especially the nunneries, and the reunion with her cousins, Dhungseys Avikritar Rinpoche, Abhaya Rinpoche, Asanga Rinpoche, and members of the Drolma Phodrang’s royal family. May the Sakya teachings long endure!