Dharma Wheel of Great Bliss- A Guide to the Thangme Gompa Dechen Chokhor Ling

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About the Authors Ngawang Shedrub Tenpe Gyaltsen Rinpoche is the head lama of Thangme Gompa. Born in Rolwaling in 1958, he spent his early youth studying in Thubten Choling Monastery under the guidance of Kyabje Trulzhig Rinpoche. Under his leadership the Thangme Gompa has been renovated on various occasions.

Venerable Jamyang Wangmo (Helly Pelaez Bozzi) was born in Spain in 1945 and trained in law and art. Ordained as a Buddhist nun in 1973, she lives in Nepal. She is the author of The Lawudo Lama: Stories of Reincarnation from the Mount Everest Region (2005) and Dancing in the Clouds: The Mani Rimdu, Dumche and Tsogchen Festivals of the Khumbu Sherpas (2008).

Preface For many years now the Khumbu region of Nepal has been visited F by mountaineers, trekkers and scholars. A large number of authors, including myself, have written books about the Sherpas and their country, most of them focusing upon the natural environment, the economic and social development of the region, the quest for yetis, and of course mountaineering. Unfortunately, some attempts to present the very general term "Sherpa culture" have been plagued with historical errors and spelling mistakes.

Most Sherpas, particularly the young generation, have only a superficial knowledge of the history and religion of their own country. Moreover, tourist guides accompanying tourists or trekkers tend to offer very brief and often mistaken explanations. Thus, I thought that it would be very useful for the Sherpas and the tourists or trekkers, as well as for interested scholars, to provide some accurate and practical information about the history of the monasteries and temples, the artworks they contain, and the meaning of religious objects and rituals.

The present volume contains the Tibetan text of a short history of the Thangme Gompa and its lamas composed by the Thangme Rinpoche Ngawang Shedrub Tenpe Gyaltsen, followed by the English translation complemented with additional information from the lama himself and from other respected local lamas, monks, and elders, as well as from Tibetan scriptural sources. I have also included a plan of the temple and a complete description of its religious objects.

As a Buddhist nun who has spent many years practicing meditation in various hermitages of the Thangme area, I have listened to the traditional stories about the temples and lamas; in addition, I have been able to consult a number of available written sources. With the wish to benefit Sherpas, visiting tourists, and scholars, I have translated the words of the Thangme Rinpoche and included the life stories of some head lamas of the Thangme Gompa according to information gathered. from their descendants and various written sources.

I hope this work will contribute to the preservation of the culture and religion of the Khumbu Sherpas and will help to promote peace and understanding among people of different cultures and religious beliefs.

**Contents and Sample Pages**