Jonang Well Being Association Inaugurated[Friday, 30 April 2010, 4:43 p.m.]

Great stupa of Jonang in Tibet. Photo/ Jonang Foundation

Dharamshala: Kalon
Tsering Phuntsok and Deputy Speaker Dolma Gyari, inaugurated newly
formed Jonang Well Being Association on Thursday morning at Gangchen
Kyishong, Dharamsala. The Association was formed on the advice of His
Eminence Khalka Jetsun Dhampa, head of the Jonang tradition.The
function was attended by the President of the Association Tsangyang
Gyatso, the Association’s advisor Chogtrul Woeser Rinpoche and monks of
Jonang tradition and lay people.Kalon Tsering Phuntsok, Chief
Guest of the day said, Jonang tradition should empower practice of
Buddhism for the welfare of all the sentient beings.  He also informed
the gathering that the Department of Religion has always regarded
Jonang tradition of Tibetan Buddhism same as the other sects of Tibetan
Buddhism for the department’s services and activities. While
speaking at the function Depuy Speaker Dolma Gyari explained, among
other things, that there were discussions in parliament for allotment
of a seat of Jonang tradition in Tibetan parliament earlier.
Unfortunately it could not be successful because of procedural
difficulties.Jonang tradition has its origin from 1294 when Kunpang Thukjé Tsöndru received
the Kalachakra teachings from many different masters and spent many
years in retreat practicing the Six Kalachakra Yogas in a place known
as Jomonang.  He was invited to the site by the female deity protector Jomo Ngag Gyalmo. It is also the site of the main Jonang monastery.  In
exile Jonang tradition has monasteries in  Sanjauli, Shimla in India;
Boudha, Kathmandu in Nepal,  in America, Taiwan, Malaysia, Mongolia,
Russia, Australia, Europe and has many monasteries in Amdo Province in
Tibet.