Three Weeks Living and Working at Manjushree
Rory Gallagher, April/May 2006
To get to Tawang, one must be fairly determined. It is a long way from anywhere (closer to Lhasa than to any Indian city), and is situated at 10,000ft, separated from the rest of India by a pass at 14,000ft. This pass, the Sela, was a foot deep in snow when we crossed it in mid-April.
From the moment I met Lama Thupten – the founder and director of the orphanage – I knew that here was a friend, and even a brother. He is one of the warmest and kindest people I have ever met. I immediately felt at ease with him, and I believe that he inspires confidence, respect and love in everyone he meets.
I quickly found that the school is extremely well run, and the children very fast learners (they learnt elementary Spanish in 45 minutes!). There is a family atmosphere there that I have never seen before in a school, and I soon became “big brother” to all the kids. Lama Thupten is obviously responsible for the high standards and wonderful sense of belonging that one feels at the school. Credit should be given to the teachers too, who give their all to the school and children, for relatively low wages. Theirs is a true vocation. The children are central, however, and what completes the picture is the happiness and love that one can see in them.
What is needed now are funds to help Lama Thupten continue his work, to offer better facilities for the children and staff, and to allow more orphaned, handicapped and destitute children to benefit from this amazing place.
REFLECTIONS ON MY VERY EXCELLENT ADVENTURE
Linda Stormonth, November 2008
There are moments in our lives that mark us forever and my trip to Manjushree has made a deep and lasting impression on me, so much so, that I frequently think of how soon I can go back and what I can do to help. However, I have been struggling to explain clearly to others – and to myself- why this should be so.
In telling others about Manjushree, I related glibly how Lama Thupten Phuntsok founded the orphanage in 1998 and launched into details about how and why, but after my visit, I stopped and really gave some thought to what that means: to formulate the wish to do good is not unusual but to carry it out and take it to such successful lengths is breathtaking. Imagine saying to yourself, “I will work as a Tibetan teacher and save money and buy land and I will start a school”. I am awestruck at the determination, hard work, compassion and vision needed to carry through this project as successfully as it clearly has been.
This success is more comprehensible after meeting Lama Thupten in person. His honesty, sincerity and commitment shine in all his words and actions – all accompanied by a mischievous sense of humour.
When I went back to work in my secondary school, where many of the children come from socially deprived backgrounds, I was struck by how unhappy and dissatisfied the pupils looked. It is not the fault of my pupils. They only respond to the society they live in and what they see around them. I felt heart sorry for them and realised that the children in Manjushree are in many ways luckier than my students who are materially rich but spiritually poor.
What a contrast at Manjushree where the children are polite, friendly, helpful, charming and kind to each other. The senior boys and girls provide positive role models for the younger ones, and help practically, such as washing clothes for the kindergarten children. In the 4 days I was there, a senior girl used wool we had brought her, not to make something for herself, but a woollen hat for a 5 year old. If the children did not have much, they did not complain but made the best of what they had with gratitude. A piece of wood, and paper tied with string make a very good substitute for a cricket bat and ball.
No visitor can fail to notice, or be impressed by, the loving-kindness that is apparent from Lama Thupten, from the dedicated teachers and between the children. His practical but unsentimental compassion have made Manjushree into a model society, one in which each person is valued and loved for who they are. Lama’s vision, ethos and Buddhist principles and beliefs are reinforced and consolidated daily through prayers, meditation and shining example, without too much interference from outside influences. Nothing in life is permanent but I have every confidence that the values instilled in the Manjushree children go deep and will be a bedrock of stability for them whatever happens in the future.
I was not in the least bit surprised to hear that Lama Thupten had been awarded the Sri Padmashri Award, the highest civilian honour in India. No one deserves it more. This is why I consider it a privilege and an honour to be a Friend of Manjushree and to be involved, however incidentally, in the astonishing, joyful community that is the Manjushree Family.
MY VISIT TO MANJUSHREE
Doctor Tim Pardoe, November 2008
In November last year I had the privilege of visiting Manjushree Vidyapith School and Orphanage; I was lucky to accompany my childhood friend, Di Gallagher (known to all at Manjushree as ‘Mama Di’) and her son, Rory. I had recently retired from General Practice in Cornwall and an invitation of “why don’t you come with us?” was all I needed.
Just getting there was an adventure; the flight to Delhi was followed by a two day train journey through the northern India plains of Bihar and Assam, then 3 days in a Tata jeep wending our way up through the Himalayan foothills, over a 14000 foot pass, then on to Tawang.
Nothing could have prepared me for Manjushree; I felt humbled by the generosity of spirit of Lama Thupten Phuntsok, the founder of the orphanage, and also of all his staff who seemed prepared to give so much in return for so little in the way of material reward.
The children themselves were happy, and exemplary in their behaviour. It occurred to me that I never saw them cry because they were not getting their own way. I came away feeling that these children were, in a lot of ways, luckier than many children in our world because, despite their lack of expensive toys, clothes, treats etc., they had what children need more than anything else and that is genuine love and affection.
I keep many happy memories of my visit and I have the greatest regard for Lama Thupten, whose vision has made all this possible.
