Eight monks from the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Bylakuppe, India visited a school in Ringwood as part of their 50th-anniversary tour of the UK. 

The students and staff of Moyles Court School were treated to an immersive learning day on May 9 from the eight monks who were supported by David and Jill Holme of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery UK Trust.

Buddhism is studied both at GCSE and in Key Stage 3 at the school, due to its ethical teachings, alternative philosophy and overall relevance to the world.

The monks are currently on their 50th-anniversary tour of the UK, travelling up and down the country to demonstrate Tibetan music and teach Buddhist philosophy.

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The day was organised by Emma Monahan, head of philosophy, religion and ethics and started with the Dungchen (longhorns) calling the school to study, followed by Tibetan prayers, chanting and meditation.

The activities that ensued were guided by the monks, ensuring students learned the significance of each.  They included making sand mandalas and prayer flags, Tibetan calligraphy and thread dukhars.  GCSE students engaged had the opportunity to explore Tibetan Mahayana Buddhist beliefs and practices in more depth with one monk. 

The monks also engaged in a cricket match, organised by deputy head and head of sport Paddy Padfield, for a welcome opportunity of recreation during their busy tour.

Headmaster Richard Milner-Smith said: “I have been fortunate enough to witness some amazing assemblies and speeches during my teaching career, however, our assembly on Tuesday, led by the eight Tibetan monks from the Tashi Llunpo monastery, was something else entirely. Rarely have I seen an audience so immediately transfixed and enraptured as they were on Tuesday morning.”

Established in 1447 in the mountains of Tibet by the first Dalai Lama the Tashi Llunpo monastic order developed unique prayers, meditation, Tantric rituals, music and dance whilst being almost entirely separated from the outside world. 

The monks have long been famous for their scholarship of the Buddha’s teachings and Mahayana philosophy; education is of pre-eminent importance to the studentship off all monks, regardless of age.

The Tashi Lhunpo monks, along with the Dalai Lama, were forced to flee over the mountains to India in 1973, due to the Chinese occupation.

They have established a thriving new Tashi Lhunpo monastery in southern India. The order is outward looking and a selection of monks regularly tour all over the world to share their Buddhist teachings, philosophy and secular ethics.