Phone Call By Geshe Tenzin Zopa

Few days ago I got a chance to speak to Phuntsok Rinpoche just before my brother Lhundrup left for Singapore for the late great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s relic exhibition to be hosted by ABC during the coming Wesak for 3 days, from 16 – 19 May in ABC’s new premises.

Phuntsok Rinpoche asked me about my health and if I am eating a lot and whether I have gain much weight in order to compete with him.

I also asked about his schooling (language) which started few months ago in Kopan. Phuntsok Rinpoche replied that he has been very happy and enjoyed his lessons. He has completed his homework and he received good comment from his teacher. He wanted to know what I will be rewarding him for his good performance. I told him I have just sent him a very interesting car and that he can only play on Saturdays. He however requested to play the car on the second half of the day as well. My reply was “yes”, as long as he has done his homework, he can play with the car anytime. I have also promised to bring him a helicopter after I see the end of his one year result. He said he will not disappoint me and asked when I will be going back. My answer was “soon”.

He then said “tashi delek” and “be fat” before he hung up.

I am extremely pleased to hear he’s doing great and he has improved in this studies as well. I am also very grateful with the divine blessings and also very thankful to the great care and proper guidance given by Khen Rinpoche as well as his guardian Thubten Lhundrup, Ani Chodron and Nyudrup Tsering.

The Thousand Buddha Relic Stupa

The worst day of my life was the day that I lost the precious Guru whose kindness is indefinite, more than the tree times’ Buddhas, the precious Dharma Father, Geshe Lama Konchog. I never want to be separated from him. I only want to please him and serve him in accordance with the Buddha wishes of all the Buddhas.

In this book I have tried to share with you information about all the relics of body, speech and mind and all the holy objects that are housed in Geshe-la’s stupa. To read the detail contents of this wonderful book please click here to download. This downloading process will take a few minutes.

Blog Version
Copy by Candy Tan
Design by Elenie Tan
Photograph scanning by Belinda Chong

Phone call to Phuntsok Rinpoche on March 2008

About one week ago, I called Phuntsok Rinpoche and somehow he was the one pick up the phone. Naturally he asked who I was and my reply to him was “I am your great uncle”. Then I continued to ask him “Do you remember I have plans to test you on some of the prayers I requested you to memorize? I will test you when I see you next time”. Phuntsok Rinpoche then replied “I will do the test now but do you remember what you promise to give me if I pass the test? You promise to give me a toy car.” “Toy car? I thought you were joking” was what I said to him.

He then started reciting for approximately ten minutes all the prayers that I requested him to memorize. It was very shocking and wonderful, at the same time delighting moment for me that he has put so much effort to memorize these prayers. He is doing very well in his studies and so from this year onwards, he will do extensive studies and language memorization. He has also grown up to 5 years old and he is in good health and very happy in monastery that he do not wish to leave the monastery boundary. This is indeed very good and wonderful for him and for all of us too.

Photos

Update As At January 1st, 2008

My visit to Kopan this December 2007 was very enlightening especially after seeing the progress in Phuntsok Rinpoche’s studies. I was pleasantly surprised that within two months that I was away (my last visit to Kopan was in Sept 07), he could speak much better English. He was even able to communicate with the Westerners directly and so spontaneous of him! It must have been his interest in the language and I can see his effort to learn from every visitor who comes to see him. He constantly requests others to read to him. He learned English language from Ven Fran where he goes for daily classes. My brother Ven Thubten Lhundup who is Phuntsok Rinpoche’s guardian and also the one who manages Phuntsok Labrang. Ven Lhundup is entrusted to teach Phuntsok Rinpoche some prayers, rituals, Tibetan language and even Nepali language. He is assisted by our youngest brother Nyudrup Tsering and under the guidance of Khenrinpoche, in fact Phuntsok Rinpoche have memorized quite a few prayers. He is very happy and having so much interest in these studies, he doesn’t want to even leave the monastery for a moment and is totally contented staying in. He has so many invitations to go to Taiwan, Australia and some other parts of world but he insisted that he doesn’t want to travel at this moment. Phuntsok Rinpoche actually doesn’t even want to leave the Kopan gate for now.

We even requested him to return to Tsum to meet his parents, to give blessings and meet villagers who wish to see him. His answer was to go Sera instead to study and after he completes his study then only he will return to Tsum. Phuntsok Rinpoche does his daily morning and evening prayers but he also enjoys his childhood with a lot of motherly care from my aunt’s children. He is now staying in a perfect environment and I am very happy and have nothing to worry and happy to share this wonderful news to all his students and friends. Phuntsok Rinpoche sends his warmest regards, prayers and New Year wishes to all Geshe Lama Konchog’s students and friends.

Phuntsok Labrang