Ngari Institute Foundation

Written by Geshe Tsewang Dorje, President of Ngari Institute of Buddhist Dialectics

Winter retreat in Sumur Village, Nubra Vally from January 27 to February 3, 2020

Winter in Ladakh is totally different from the other seasons. The local villagers have very little to do during winter months, so free time is turned into religious celebrations and retreats. There are many festivals such as Ladakhi Losar, Spituk Gustor, Thinksay Gustor, Stok and Matho Festivals, or people would gather in monasteries or community halls to recite mantras and practice retreat.

Based on the guidance and instructions of the 102th Gaden Tripa  Rizong Rinpoche, the recitation of the sacred text “Praise to Lama Tsongkhapa” not only benefits the people of Ladakh but the people around the world as well.

Following Rinpoche’s instructions, I lead the local villagers in reciting the “Praise to Lama Tsongkhapa” mantra and visualizing of Lama Tsongkhapa to purify everyone’s karma and to bring Peace, Prosperity and Compassion to the world.

During the last five years, we collectively recited over 5 billion times of the Mantra at Stok, Leh’s Jokhang, Saboo and other places in Ladakh. Devotees also were invited to participate in the Mantra retreat in Nubra Valley, which witnessed the gathering of a few thousand people.

At Leh’s Jokhang, the organizing committee celebrated our completion of one-hundred-fifty-thousand Mantra recitations in front of the entire Leh’s population.

We are organizing the retreat every year between December and January, which is the peak of winter season.

Upcoming retreats in Stoke Village and Saboo Village

I recently lead a ten-day Mani retreat in Stok Village with the local villagers. My next Mani retreat will be in Saboo Village from February 23rd to March 11th, 2020.