Description

The humble cottage on De Saix Boulevard has served as a home for members of the Dhongak Tharling Dharma Center for a decade. Brightly painted over several times the cottage is easy to spot. Recently the Center has undergone a complete renovation. A beautifully polished wood floor presents itself upon entering the newly refurbished Center. The wall immediately facing the entrance contains five bright, intricate wall hangings ('thangkas') depicting a wrathful yi-dam in various colors. The altar stands just in front of a large mahogany cabinet which houses images of various Buddhist divinities. Next to it are plastic storage bins which temporarily hold a full set of Kanjur and Tanjur texts which comprise the Tibetan canon. Two ornate seats with microphones stand in two corners of the room on each side of the altar. These elevate the Lama and his associate during ceremonies. To the back of this central hall is the kitchen area, and to the right are the rooms where the monks reside. The Dhongak Tharling Dharma Center has a growing library which includes many other traditional Tibetan works, as well as about 400 texts in English. Lama Tsultrim hopes to soon install permanent shelving to properly preserve these sacred texts.

Activities and Schedule

Dhongak Tharling has weekly ceremonies ("pujas") on Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. along with Dharma study, reading and discussion group from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. This lasts for one hour before the puja. The center also offers special pujas on the Full Moon and New Moon of each month, Chöd Tsoks on Dakini Day, and Ganapujas on Guru Rinpoche Day each month, all at 7:00 p.m. Lama Tsultrim has invited a young scholar from Nepal to reside at the Center and they plan to offer Tibetan language classes starting in August, 2004.

History

Dhongak Tharling is a Rigdzin Dakgyud Nyingma Center. It is the western seat for the combined Rigdzin Dakgyud lineages held at Tolu Gomba, the Tolu Tharling Monastery in Shardingma (Nalidanda), Nepal. Established by the Ven. Lama Ngawang Tsultrim in March of 1994 the temple is located in a recently renovated cottage in the Bayou St. John section of New Orleans. Lama Tsultrim spends about seven months in residence each year, returning to his native Nepal for most of the remainder. He has recently brought a young Nepali monk named Khenp Sangye to be in residence in the Center. Khemp Sangye has attained a traditional degree in Tibetan learning at an institute of higher education in Sikkim.

A meal at a prayer service

A light meal is served at the weekly prayer service on Sunday evenings. Traditional dress is observed by the monks and by some members, but no energy is expended to prepare Tibetan cuisine. Lama Tsultrim explained that in some areas adaptation is both necessary and desirable. A typical menu: a 7-layer bean dip with chilies on top, sliced ham, wheat thins with crabmeat dip, strawberries, mixed nuts, cinnamon bread, cream pie with fruit topping, juice or wine. Small portions of all items were arranged in styrofoam bowls. The monks do not take meat dishes since they are vegetarian. Three members served the food, first presenting dishes to the Lama and the associate monk. Members sit on the floor on cushions with small reading tables to hold their liturgical readings which are recited before and after the meal.

Special Event, Fall 2004

The Most Venerable Dzatrul Rinpoche visited New Orleans in October, 2004 for the sake of presiding over two traditional Tibetan empowerment rituals. Recognized as the 12th reincarnation of the Great 10th Dzatrul Ngawang Tenzin Norbu Rinpoche, the presence of the Most Venerable Dzatrul Rinpoche at the Dhongak Tharling Dharma Center was a great privilege for the local community. The first teaching he delivered is called the Phowa Teaching, which transfers our consciousness at the time of death to Buddha Amitabha in the Western Pure Land. The second is the Tsewang, or "Long Life Empowerment." This is performed to remove obstacles that can cause untimely death or injury and to obtain the blessings of good health, prosperity, peace and happiness. Individuals who seek to receive these teachings were requested to make a donation of $50 to the teimple for each ceremony.

Directions

Directions from Loyola University:
1. Go NW on ST CHARLES AVE toward AUDUBON PL. 0.4 miles
2. Turn RIGHT onto BROADWAY ST. 1.1 miles
3. Turn LEFT onto S CLAIBORNE AVE/US-90 W. 0.4 miles
4. Turn RIGHT onto S CARROLLTON AVE. 2.6 miles
5. Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto WISNER BLVD. 0.3 miles
6. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto DESAIX BLVD. 0.1 miles
7. End at 3621 DESAIX BLVD NEW ORLEANS LA