Dharamshala: Additional Secretary Dhondul Dorjee of the Department of Religion and Culture attended the 3rd Great Conference on Madhyamika Zhentong (the other-emptiness) and commemoration of the 660th year of Dolpopa Sherab Gyeltsen’s parinirvana (nirvana-after-death) at Bodhgaya on 23 and 24 December 2022.
Following the offering of a mandala to a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from the conference’s guests, the 3rd Great Conference on Madhyamika Zhentong commenced with an introductory remark from Kachupa Tsultrim Namgyal, the president of the Organising Committee of Madhyamika Zhentong Conference. Subsequently, Kyabje Jonang Gyaltsab Rinpoche, the head of the Jonang school of Tibetan Buddhism in exile, addressed the gathering regarding the conference.
Additional Secretary Dhondul Dorjee spoke at the conference by presenting a brief life story of Dolpopa Sherab Gyeltsen (1292 – 1361) after Jonang Gyaltsab Rinpoche. He further lauded the organising committees for organising the two events concurrently, with a majority of participants being young. Before concluding, he said, “the Department of Religion and Culture emphasis fostering and training young novices from the respective religious schools”, followed by a vote of thanks from the Younten Gyatso, the Vice President of the Organising Committee of Madhyamika Zhentong Conference.
Thirteen monks talked during the conference sessions that were presided over by Khenpo Gedun Gyatso, Khentrul Kunga Choephel, Khensur Kunga Tsamchung and Geshe Lharampa Drime Woeser.
On 24 December, the conference’s closing ceremony was addressed by various guests, namely Lama Jinpa Sangpo (President of the International Jonang Wellbeing Association), Lhakyab (Tutor at Du Khor Monastery), Khenpo Gendun Gyatso (Abbot of Jonang Monastery in Nepal), and Khentrul Kunga Choephel (Abbot of the Jonang Monastery in India). At the same time, Jonang Gyaltsab Rinpoche bestowed the position holders of the examination with prizes.
The event was collaboratively organised by the International Jonang Wellbeing Association, Jonang Monlam Committee (India), and the Organising Committee of Madhyamika Zhentong Conference.
-Report filed by Department of Religion and Culture, CTA