Dharamshala: Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay of the Central Tibetan Administration and Ven. Thomthog Rinpoche, Abbot of Namgyal Monastery today inaugurated the newly constructed elevator service at the courtyard of Tsuglagkhang Monastery.
A small gathering comprising of the Secretary Tsewang Dolma of Home Department, former and new heads of Housing and Estate Section (DOH), and staff of Namgyal Monastery attended the brief inauguration and consecration ceremony.
Funded by the Department of Home, the elevator service has been built as a gesture of gratitude for the selfless leadership services by His Holiness the Dalai Lama towards the well being of humanity. In addition to CTA’s funding, five Tibetan individuals donors also pledged donations toward the project evaluated at around INR 26 lakhs.
Speaking briefly after the inauguration, Sikyong said that the elevator service aims to offer a convenient and pleasant experience to the temple visitors particularly the aged and people with disability. He also thanked the donors for their contributions.
Abbot Thomthog Rinpoche expressed his appreciation to Sikyong and his administration for the initiative.
Following the inauguration, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay paid an official visit to Namgyal Monastery School adjacent to Tsuglagkhang temple. Sikyong toured the premises of the school, inspected the classrooms and interacted with the students and teachers.
Commenting on his visit today, Sikyong extolled the school’s faculty staff particularly Abbot Thomthog Rinpoche for administering a thriving learning environment for young Tibetan monks.
“The facilities and amenities of the school are excellent and I highly appreciate how the school admirably encompasses and uphold the unique Tibetan traditional Buddhist studies and practices along with engaging in modern studies”, Sikyong added.
Namgyal Monastery School was established in 2017 under the initiative of Abbot Thomthog Rinpoche who started the project in 2011 with the blessings and consent of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Besides the studies of major texts of Buddhist Sutra and Tantra, the school offer courses on modern studies. At present, the school has over 110 students and 22 faculty staff.