From Dawn To Dusk: A Lama’s Devotion
Drupon Khen Rinpoche is doing his utmost to continue teaching and guiding the retreatants at Thrangu Sekhar while receiving the reading transmission of the Kangyur (the translated words of the Buddha) from Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche in Benchen Monastery, Swayambh, Nepal.
As soon as Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche concludes each day’s reading transmission at 17.00, Drupon Khen Rinpoche rushes to the exit where a car is waiting to whisk him to Thrangu Sekhar Retreat Centre in Bhaktapur. Due to the traffic at that time of day, the journey takes almost two hours.
On arriving at the retreat centre, Rinpoche heads straight to the shrine room to teach The Life and Songs of Milarepa to the young monks, nuns, and the international students. These students are on either a twenty-one or twenty-six year study programme or on a six-year retreat and number about 150 in total.
This teaching finishes at 20.00, upon which Drupon Khen Rinpoche goes directly into the inner retreat to teach the 24 retreatants of Tilo Ling and Naro Ling, who are practising the traditional three-year, three-fortnight retreat programme.
Rinpoche teaches the inner retreatants until just after 21.00. Rinpoche then heads back to his residence. His day does not finish there, though. He cooks a bedtime snack for the youngest monks of the retreat community before they go to bed. He also makes a little something to eat himself at this time, having not eaten anything since lunch.
Then, at 05.15 in the morning, he leaves the retreat centre and makes his way to Swayambhu for a quick breakfast before heading to Benchen Monastery to receive the reading transmission that starts at 07.00.
Even that does not cover the full extent of Rinpoche’s daily activities, as a few tulkus and khenpos requested Drupon Khen Rinpoche to give the reading transmission for The Life and Songs of Milarepa during the lunch break. There is only an hour and a half break at lunchtime, so Rinpoche rushes to get lunch, starts the reading transmission as soon as he finishes eating, and continues until the transmission from Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche commences.
Regarding his timetable, Drupon Rinpoche said:
“I go to the trouble of travelling back to the retreat centre and teaching each evening not only because the teachings need to be given to benefit the retreatants but also to show the young monks and nuns the importance of exerting oneself and not slacking off whenever the opportunity presents itself. I could stay in the house I rented for my relatives and dharma friends in Swayambhu, and no one would think twice about it. But if my actions encourage the children to work hard and they take on that trait of exerting themselves and fulfilling their obligations, my actions may benefit them more than the words I utter from the teaching seat.
At first, I didn’t think I would be able to maintain this schedule of coming up and down and teaching at nighttime. I thought I would be worn out after a couple of weeks. But surprisingly, I feel even lighter and more energetic than usual. I think this is because I have no duties or responsibilities during most of the daytime. I can just sit there, receive the transmission and meditate a little.
What is more, where I am sitting, I am surrounded by older geshes. They are very lighthearted and fun. Seeing them play and joke around reminds me of my youth. Maybe this also has helped me feel more sprightly."
