A Heartfelt Testimony from Nubtul Tenpei Nyima Rinpoche

My Personal Story on Education

The Serang Primary School Project was inspired by my own special education experiences.

I was born in 1984 to a poor farmer’s family in a remote Himalayan village called Nubri in northern Nepal. My parents are kind and loving, but like many fellow villagers, they are illiterate. My early childhood was like every other child in our village: taking care of the cattle, running about and trying to create troubles to stir up the peaceful boredom. Following this traditional way of living, I would have by now, become the head of the household, inherited the responsibility of farming from my father, and found good marriages for my younger sisters at their teenage years.

However, at the age of 7, I was recognized as the reincarnation of a master known as Khedrup Tenpei Gyaltsen according to the Tulku system of Tibetan Buddhism, and was then brought to a monastery in India. Thereafter, I had the opportunity to learn reading and writing. Till the age of 24, I studied Buddhist philosophy and meditation. At the age of 28, I was selected to attend a three-year program in Hampshire College, Massachusetts, as an exchange scholar. I knew very little about the world outside of Nepal and India. With only a one-month crash course in English, I set foot into the modernized Western societies. Amidst numerous challenges in studies, language, culture and social interactions, my understanding of the world has deepened and been enriched.

As I spent more time travelling in America and Europe, I have developed a profound concern for the future of underprivileged children in Nepal. Ten years ago, it might still be possible to lead an isolated, agrarian life in the Himalayas. But ten years from now, even the remotest area will be penetrated by Internet and one’s livelihood will depend on the education or training that one has received. The idling school-age boys strolling in the mountains or the young teenage girls caring for their siblings in rural Nepal will face unthinkable challenge in the future.

A Wake-Up Call to Take Action

In 2015, I returned to the Gorkha region in Nepal and survived the devastating earthquake that took place in the month of April. To have directly seen the world shake and crumble in front of my very own eyes was a wake-up call for me to take action in this transient but precious life.

During the earthquake relief efforts undertaken by Sangchen Rabten Norbuling in November, I spoke to many disheartened villagers and frightened children in the region. At the sight of their damaged houses and the distress that filled their eyes, I announced that our monastery would offer temporary education and housing for some of the homeless or poor children from the nearby villages. Upon hearing this news, the faces of these villagers brightened up, as they saw strong hope in life with their children finally receiving education.

The school has received approval from the Nepalese government. It is estimated that we will receive 90 children by this year, with nearly 50 of them having arrived at our monastery. At present, they are sharing the facilities and food with the monastic Sangha.

Thank you very much for taking time to read through this. May your life be healthy, fulfilling and prosperous.

Yours faithfully,

Nubtul Tenpei Nyima