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News from Menri - 20071  2
News From The
Yungdrung Bon Monastic Center

View of Menri Monastery
main temple
Operating under the leadership of the Abbot of Menri, the Yungdrung Bon Monastic Center (YBMC) is a democratically- structured organization run by monks who represent the various departments of the Menri complex. Together with the Abbot, they determine budgets and priorities and are accountable for carrying out the projects and expenditure responsibilities to donors and to the government of India. YBMC extends its deep gratitude to people and organizations from around the world who have made possible the completion of its important projects.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama Celebrates
Menri Monastery And Its Library

HH Dalai Lama greets
Bon Community
To the delight of everyone, His Holiness the Dalai Lama made a three-day visit to Menri Monastery in April 2007 to dedicate the new Tibetan Yungdrung Bon Library and to celebrate the growth and development of the Monastery and Dialectic School. He marveled at the changes that had occurred since his last visit, and he enthusiastically encouraged the Bonpos to continue their fine work, reminding everyone that Bon is the source and embodiment of the Tibetan way of life, and that there is much to learn from its profound teachings. He urged the monks and nuns to be diligent in their studies and in their dedication to keeping Bon alive. The occasion was marked with Long Life Ceremonies for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness Menri Trizin, and debates were performed, along with colorful feasts, music and dance.

HH Dalai Lama and Abbot New Bon library and altar
Menri Complex Still Growing

View of Menri Monastery main temple
Under the leadership of the Abbot, the Yungdrung Bon Monastic Center has seen significant growth at the Menri complex. As of 2005, the population at the Center stands at 135 monks, 160 Menri children, 253 boys and girls at the Bon Children's Home, and 34 Nuns at the Redna Menling Nunnery. It is important to appreciate that since 1968 when the land had nothing on it but weeds, rock and dust, the Yungdrung Bon Monastic Center has completed housing for monks, nuns, and children, a dialectic school, two temples, a nunnery, library, health center, craft workshops, guesthouse, and farm. Also in the Menri complex is a settlement of about 75 families and a Tibetan School run by the Indian Government that educates children from the monastery, Bon Children's Home, and the Village of Dolanji.
H. H. Menri Trizin 33rd Visits Tibet
In Summer 2004

In the summer of 2004, H. H. Menri Trizin made a memorable three-month journey to Tibet to visit his family. Wherever he traveled, he was greeted by large numbers of faithful Bonpo. One member of his entourage was Geshe Shenpen Samdup, who recorded the event on video and in a detailed journal. Geshe Samdup writes: Arriving at H. H.'s birthplace a huge gathering of people holding scarves were waiting to receive His Holiness. Seventy cars and one hundred sixty motorcycles were lined up to greet him. His elder brother was in the crowd. The welcome occasion for His Holiness was so wonderful. We stayed in Amdo for one month and there we visited six Bonpo monasteries. After Amdo, we traveled to Amdo Ngawa and Gyalrong, the birthplace of Nyame Sherab Gyaltsen, the first Abbot of Menri.

Abott visits Tibet

Later the group traveled to Lhasa and Chengdu. Although they observed many changes, it was clear that his Holiness' visit meant a great deal to his family and to the thousands of Bonpo who came out to greet him and receive his blessings.

News continued on page 2

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Photos: Bill Megalos, Jonathan Kramer, Mary Ellen McCourt, and other Menri visitors.