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Private Audience with Ven. Ula Jigmé Tsewang Namgyal Lama

The Venerable Ula Jigmé Tsewang Namgyal Lama, Chief Lama of Pema Choling Temple / Monastery in Samagaun, Nepal, is travelling in Malaysia for a month. We had a private audience with him yesterday (20th Feb 2023).

vegetarian lunch with Ven. Ula Jigmé Tsewang Namgyal Lama and a Tibetan Buddhism disciple
vegetarian lunch with Ven. Ula Jigmé Tsewang Namgyal Lama and a Tibetan Buddhism disciple

Ula, who has been Chief Lama (or abbot) of the temple for ten years, updated us on the development of Samagaun Village in Nubri Valley, northern Nepal, which we visited almost four years ago. The best news is that the hydroelectric project in the village has been completed, which means that the community now has a stable electricity flow, and is no longer reliant on erratic solar power.

Another positive update from him is that they are on track to preserve Pema Choling Temple / Monastery as a heritage site, a plan that has been recognised and endorsed by the local government since 2019.

Lotus Feet of Manaslu Heritage
Lotus Feet of Manaslu Heritage

Last year, a main gateway or archway was constructed at the entrance of the temple (Lotus Feet of Manaslu Heritage, Samagaun) at almost 4000 metres above sea level. Thus, visitors can only enter the sacred land by way of an entrance ticket, which costs approximately US$2. This ticket includes a temple tour conducted in the English language. Visitors also have the chance to purchase custom-printed scriptures for a small price. The monies collected go towards the upkeep of the temple-cum-monastery.

meet Mr Moo
meet Mr Moo

Within the 200-acre temple compound, Ula Jigmé envisions erecting nomad huts as guest houses or spiritual retreats. Consequently, guests are able to experience the nomadic lifestyle, without having to fully bear the harsh realities of such a life in the Himalayan mountains. Next in the pipeline is an antique museum.

This heritage project is part of a ten-year plan that Ula Jigmé has drawn up. As the chief lama and village head of Samagaun, the heavy responsibility has fallen on his shoulders; to preserve the cultural heritage of the land as well as create income streams both to retain the younger generation and provide better healthcare for the community.

Venerable Ula Jigmé Tsewang Namgyal Lama, Chief Lama of Pema Choling Temple / Monastery
Venerable Ula Jigmé Tsewang Namgyal Lama, Chief Lama of Pema Choling Temple / Monastery

The multi-pronged income generation begins with Ula Jigmé conducting short meditation classes and mini tours to foreign trekkers. Most of them are from France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Last year, some eighty trekkers participated in these classes and tours, while they took a brief break from their pre-planned activities.

By the way, Nubri Valley is rich in natural resources. Harvesting these gifts from Mother Nature, Samagaun villagers will soon be exporting yak butter, yak fur scarves, rose tea, and sea buckthorn products. As an example of the potential income that the locals can earn, for each kilogramme of rose fruit plucked and cleaned to be made into rose tea, they are paid approximately MYR150. Recently, a family earned some MYR7500 in a week, after plucking and cleaning 50kg of rose fruits. This seasonal task derives very good income and seems easier compared to hunting for and picking cordyceps at extremely high altitudes in late spring / early summer.

Ula Jigmé during a light moment
Ula Jigmé during a light moment

Yet, even as natural resources are utilised for the livelihood of the community, sustainability is the key and Ula Jigmé is mindful to keep commercial activities at a minimum. For one, outsiders are not permitted to conduct business in Samagaun due to negative past experiences. At the same time, the locals are educated on the importance of caring for nature. For instance, regular gotong-royong sessions are organised to clean up the rivers.

at Ula Jigmé's Ipoh centre
at Ula Jigmé’s Ipoh centre

It’s heartening to learn the extent Samagaun has developed these past four years since our last visit. As one of the worst hit areas by the devastating Nepal earthquake on 25th April 2015 at a magnitude of 7.8, the village has literally risen from the ashes. Ula Jigmé admitted that the recent pandemic gave him some quiet time to reflect on the direction that he should take for the betterment of the village and his people, an idea that stemmed from a conversation with Mr Vincent Tan Kai Lang from Malaysia during his second visit to Samagaun in 2014.

According to Ula Jigmé, “Mr Vincent Tan visited Samagaun Village twice, in 2008 and 2014. He saw our living conditions, which got worse following the Nepal earthquake in 2015. As a business person, he shared some ideas with me to preserve the cultural heritage of Samagaun whilst generating a sustainable income for the people, without harming the biodiversity of the land. With time on our hands during the global lockdown, we finally managed to put the plan in place.” Little steps but ultimately fruitful.

The Venerable Chief Lama Ula Jigmé is the cousin of the famous brothers Venerable Tsoknyi Rinpoche, one of the greatest living Tibetan masters, and Venerable Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, a world-renowned meditation teacher.

With love

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