Just a quick update about the English lessons for Lobsang Jamphel Tendar Rinpoche-
Today I taught Rinpoche several new questions. One of the questions was “What is your favorite_____?”
“What is your favorite food?” (chicken) “What is your favorite color?” (red) “What is your favorite animal?” (rabbit- he has several pet rabbits back home in Mongolia) etc. Then I asked him, “What is your favorite book?”, and I was sure that he was going to say one of the very nice picture books or children’s adventure books that I had given him. Without hesitating for even a second he said “My favorite book is Kang-Dring”-which is the medium length Kangso written by Kyabje Pabongkha Dorje Chang. For an eleven-year-old to say that their favorite book is a religious text is rare indeed, but anyone who has come into contact with this boy would probably not be too surprised.
He is also a great actor. Another thing we studied together was the names for different feelings. Happy, sad, angry, tired etc. After he learned the new words he would act them out with much drama and enthusiasm. I was laughing so hard that I felt a little embarrassed at not being able to keep it together. I wish that I could have gotten some video of him doing his ‘sad’ routine. It was priceless. His ‘angry’ routine was hilarious as well.
The hour I spend with Tendar Rinpoche every day is definitely the highlight of my day and every morning that I wake up I can’t wait until 2 o’clock so that I can see him again.
He is truly a gem of our lineage. May he live long and spread the Dharma far and wide.
Until next time….
Much love from Shar Gaden,
T.S.