The publication of the Classical Writings (Ka-bhum) of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (Teachings, Lectures, Speeches, Messages, and Literary Works since 1954).
Over the years, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has made a tremendous contribution with his compassionate teachings and unfathomable acts of wisdom, which have touched the hearts of millions around the world. Original manuscripts of his profound teachings, lectures, speeches, messages and literary works are very rare, they are priceless, precious and hold great potential to benefit communities around the world. Unfortunately, in many cases, these manuscripts are being held in poor facilities, by individuals, establishments and governments who have been unable to provide the care and attention that they require. Their true worth and value has not always been appreciated or acknowledged. It has been hard to find enough scholars willing to undertake the essential task of compiling, printing and publishing these works. Having taken all of these concerns into consideration, in 2008 the Educational Committee of Namgyal Monastery launched its first project: that of compiling the classical writings of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Our main objective was to preserve all of his deeply profound and priceless works. The committee started this project, with a great sense of responsibility, by gathering related materials from all corners of the world.
Since 2008, we have contacted many well-known scholars, governments, private institutions and departments, various libraries, research centres, publishers and related information centres and have successfully collected a large number of authentic materials in both printed media and audio records. Everything we have collated has been archived and is in the process of being translated and published.
In the past five years we have been able to find, collect and input some very rare original manuscripts. So far, we have successfully published 22 books in Tibetan on various topics, along with audio recordings on CD and have made them available to the public. One of the books, a collection of the 10th March statements of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from 1960 to 2008, was published in 2009 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 10th March Uprising. Another five books already published contain general introductions to Buddhism, given specifically since 2007 to Tibetan students at TCV. We have distributed these books freely to both students and the general public. We have published another five books in Chinese language, two books in English and a book in Spanish. This year, we are working on publishing more books and are hopefully going to release them on the special occasion of His Holiness’ Nobel peace prize day. For publication at a future date, we are now organising His Holiness’ teachings into categories for compiling into Ka-bhum (compilation of classical writings)
The publication of the monastery Buddhist philosophy text:
Namgyal Monastery has had a long history of traditional tantric ritual practices which were established by the lineage of the Dalai Lamas for the sacred and secular welfare of all sentient beings. They have been well-preserved and revived in exile under the very guidance of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. In addition, out of his wisdom and compassion, His Holiness has also established traditional Buddhist philosophical studies and debate in Namgyal Monastery.
In the Iron Dog Year, Tibetan Year 2095 (1970 CE), to celebrate the inauguration of the TheckChen Choeling Tsuglakhang, His Holiness bestowed his third Kalachakra initiation. In the same year, on the auspicious first day of Tibetan Losar, His Holiness initiated a program of topics for debate for twenty new monks of Namgyal Monastery. This was the beginning of the tradition of Buddhist philosophical studies and debate in Namgyal Monastery. Later with a view to developing a better understanding of both Tantric and Sutra teachings and for the preservation of the Buddhist Dharma. His Holiness the Dalai Lama kindly initiated the study of Buddhist philosophy in the monastery with a curriculum for a fifteen-year intensive course. His Holiness also appointed the first abbot of the monastery, Venerable Geshe Lobsang Dhondup la.
In order to follow the kind instructions of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to better serve both sacred and secular purposes, it is important for the monastery to provide an effective course in both Sutra and Tantra for the monk students. Until now, there was no proper textbook that catered for the specific needs of the monastery’s thirteen-year course. This has often caused problems for both teachers and monk students. Therefore, with a view to solving these problems and improving the monastery’s philosophical studies, the monastery’s Educational Committee has compiled and edited a comprehensive series of textbooks for the course, based on the texts originally specified by the second Abbot, Venerable Lobsang Nyima Chok, former Gaden Tri Rinpoche (the throne holder of Tibetan Geluk tradition).