Long Life Prayer to His Holiness

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This recording was made live at the Nechung Monastery in Dharamsala, India, with the blessings and generous help of Kuten-la, Ven. Thupten Ngodup, the Medium of the State Oracle of Tibet.

Proceeds from this CD benefit the non-profit Nechung Buddhist Center of SF; 1036 Evelyn Avenue, Albany, CA 94706. Tel 1-510-525-8452.

The Nechung monks who participated are:
1. Ven. Thupten Ngodup (Medium of the State Oracle)
2. Ven. Tenzin Choekyong (Chanting Leader)
3. Ven. Tenzin Choephel (vocal)
4. Ven. Tenzin Rinchen (vocal)
5. Ven. Konchok Tsultrim (vocal)
6. Ven. Ngawang Rigzin (vocal)
7. Ven. Phuntsok Donyoe (vocal)
8. Ven. Phuntsok Tensang (vocal)
9. Ven. Dasang (Long Horn) Dung-chen
10. Ven. Namgyal Tsering (Long Horn) Dung-chen
11. Ven. Lobsang Norbu (Silver flute) Gya-ling
12. Ven. Tenzin Darma (Silver flute) Gya-ling
13. Ven. Tenzin Rabten (Short Horsn) Kang-dung
14. Ven. Tenzin Norphel (Short Horns) Kang-dung

Produced and recorded by Richard Martini/ Mixed by Timo Spekkens /Recorded live at Nechung Dorje Drayangling Monastery/ Ganchen Kyishong, Dharamsala, India
District Kangra, H.P. 176215/ On the cover: The Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet/ Photo courtesy of Manoj Sharma, All Rights Reserved. Photo on the back: Ven. Thupten Ngodup (Medium of the State Oracle) Photo courtesy of Sanjay Saxena, All Rights Reseerved. For travel to Tibet and other Himalayan countries, please contact:
www.DestinationHimalaya.net

Music from this CD is featured in the film "Blindsight."

In an effort to record the acoustics of the sacred temple itself, recording was made on two stereo microphones using a Sony portable DAT TCD-D8. Recording could not have been made without the generous support and logistical help of Sanjay, Jane and Arjun Saxena. CD was recorded and produced by Richard Martini and post production by Timo Spekkens, of Timo Spekkens Music, Santa Clarita, CA.

This recording is protected by international copyright laws, and may not be used, sold, reporduced or distributed without consent of Homina Publishing (BMI) PO Box 248, Santa Monica, CA 90406, or The Nechung Buddhist Center of San Francisco. Internet users are permitted to trade these tracks on their honor if they make a tax deductible donation to the Nechung Buddhist Center. Visit our website at www.nechung.com

Copyright 2007 Homina Publishing, PO 248 Santa Monica, CA 90406. USA fax: 310-451-7222. Email: RichMartini@yahoo.com
Warning: All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws. Manufactured and distributed by Homina Publishing. Printed and manufactured in the USA.

From Tibet.org on the history of the monastery:

Nechung monastery in exile

Of the 115 monks of Nechung monastery, only six managed to escape Tibet after the country was occupied by Communist China. As such, it was not until 1984 before the seat of the State Oracle was fully reconstructed m Dharamsala in northern India.

"We built the monastery slowly, step by step," says the 72-year-old Venerable Thubten Phuntsok, one of the key players in the reconstruction of Nechung monastery, and as the holder of the Vajra Acharya (Lopon) title, is the highest ranking monk after Nechung Kuten and Nechung Rinpoche.

Once temporarily operating from an old rented Indian house, the neatly built Nechung monastic complex near the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives is now one of the main attractions of Gangchen Kyishong, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile headed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Since then dozens of young monks have been ordained and, like in the past in Tibet, Dorje Drakden (Nechung) is daily invocated in their prayers. Tibetan refugees attribute much of their success in exile to the ongoing guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and their Protector.

The Vajra Acharya Venerable Thubten Phuntsok, too, gives credit for his monastery's accomplishments to the blessings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Dharma Protector. He also told the Tibetan Bulletin that the encouragement received from the previous Nechung Kuten and the late Nechung Rinpoche were extremely useful. Nevertheless, it is apparent that for all practical purposes, behind all the spiritual and moral forces, lies the human spirit and determination.

"I simply worked hard to teach the Chinese that human spirit cannot be destroyed, no matter how hard they strive to destroy monasteries. Even the latter can be rebuild. My friend, Kushok Thupten Sherab (Wangyal) and others have given full support," says Vajra Acharya Venerable Thubten Phuntsok.
The Nechung monastery in Tibet also was destroyed during the fatal "Cultural Revolution." Lately, the monastery, despite Chinese vigilance, has been voluntarily and partially rebuild by Tibetans, including some former Nechung monks. It reportedly has about 16 monks only and little spiritual activity in sight ().

On the other hand, the scene at its counterpart in exile is a living culture for all to see. After receiving land from the Tibetan government, construction of a hostel for Nechung monks' began in 1977 and was completed in 1979. The construct ion work on the monastery was started in May 1981. It was completed in March 1984 with a private chamber for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and statues, thankas, and religious scriptures - all systematically laid out. The monastery was formally inaugurated by His Holiness on March 31, 1985.

The monastery has 61 junior and senior monks, including five monks from the parent Nechung monastery who escaped Tibet in 1991. The daily schedule of the monks begins at 5:30 a.m. and ends at 9:45 p.m. Apart from daily prayer sessions, their study course include Buddhist philosophy, debate, training in chanting, preparation of ritual cakes and mandala creation, memorisation of religious texts and classes in Tibetan literature and English. The monks also study various subjects of Buddhist sutra and tantra of both the Ancient and New traditions.