Benchen Nangten Thösam Ling Shedra in Pharping, Nepal

A welcoming ceremony was held on 19 February 2007 for the 38 students who entered the college. Although  a big event was not planned because this was not the actual inaugural ceremony, it somehow became a  well-organized celebration and the shrine hall  was filled with participants.

Three days before the ceremony, Tenga Rinpoche led special pujas to dispel obstacles and for the  success of the studies. During the ceremony, V.V. Tenga Rinpoche made body, speech and mind offerings  to H.E. Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche for his long life and for him to turn the wheel of Dharma for all  sentient beings. Tenga Rinpoche gave Manjushri statues to all of the students of the shedra with great  wishing prayers for the success of their dharma studies so that they would be able to help all sentient  beings. The statues were filled with mantras, especially the collection of Manjushri pills that were  blessed with hundreds of thousands of mantras. The students received these statues with great joy.

For many years, both Rinpoches had wanted to establish a shedra in order to educate monks from Benchen  as well as from other monasteries.  In 2004, the Rinpoches decided to have the shedra in Pharping because it is a holy place and because it  is very close to the Benchen Clear Light Meditation Center. This shedra came into reality through the  dharma activities and great efforts of the Abbot of Benchen Monastery, H.E. Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche.

Rinpoche emphasized how important it is to have a shedra in order to provide a scholastic forum for the  teachings of Buddha Dharma. He urged all the students to apply themselves diligently so that through  their understanding they would be able to help themselves as well as others in the future.

Also during the ceremony Rinpoche read out the rules and regulations to be followed which were prepared  by the khenpos of the shedra. Rinpoche thanked all the people who were involved in this project, and  presented them with kadaks and gifts. To the delight of the Rinpoches, students and participants, a  short debate, as is traditionally done during such ceremonies, was held at the conclusion. This was  followed by the offering of gifts and kadaks to the khempos and students by all of the well-wishers. At  the time of the welcoming ceremony the wall paintings in the lhakang of the shedra had not yet been  completed, but the Rinpoches decided that time was so precious it was essential to start the classes as  soon as possible.