Tashi and the Monk

Buddhist monk Lobsang Phuntsok was trained under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to share Tibetan Buddhism with the West. In 2006 he felt called to leave his life as a spiritual leader in the US, and returned to his region of his birth with a dream of rescuing unwanted children.

In the remote foothills of the Indian Himalayas he created a unique community called Jhamtse Gatsal: "The Garden of Love and Compassion."

Tashi and the Monk

When you look today, at this growing community:

In some ways, all of us...

...are basically abandoned or not really a wanted person.

Everybody kind of gave up the hope on us.

But in this place you are welcome and you have the opportunity to change.

And we will be with you no matter what.

This is a community of love and compassion.

We need to move forward together, supporting each other, carrying each other.

And these little ones, even the naughtiest ones,

are the most amazing seeds of compassion and love.

Some day, they will blossom.

Every single kid who is in the Jhamtse Gatsal has suffered a lot.

Some lost both of their parents when they were very young.

Some were actually abandoned by their parents.

And some were actually sold by their parents.

These are all children who are sort of uninvited guests in this universe, in this world.

Sit properly, Maling!

Keep studying, I'll be back in a minute.

I will colour your face.

Keep writing!

Do you want a slap?

I'm almost finished!.

I'm going to tell Madam what you did.

Well why did you hit me?

You started it.

When you misbehave you go to the office.

I don't want to.

Come on, let's go.

Come on, let's go.

Look at me.

No more tears.

Did you beat Maling? Did you spit on him?

Have you done something wrong?

What did you teacher tell you?

Give me your hand.

You have a wound on your hand. How did you get it?

Does it hurt?

Did you get some ointment for it?

Look I have one too.

Mine hurts, does yours?

Are you happy here?

Nobody beats you here.

What should you do in class?

Study.

That's right, study.

Sometimes being naughty is OK.

But the rest of the time you have to study and listen to your elders.

When you grow up like me you will be very happy.

Now you have to stop crying and smile.

Shall I walk you to your class?

Where are your shoes?

You don't have any shoes?

Right now Tashi is the naughtiest student at Jhamtse. She is a troublemaker.

She's been here for 6 months, and she's not getting better.

She never shares. If someone takes her snacks she'll fight them.

She is not afraid. She's not afraid of anyone

We have to think about how we can help her change.

She wets the bed, and tries to hide it with blankets.

Her mother died from a bad ilness, her father is a severe alcoholic.

That's why she is here at Jhamtse Gatsal.

I hope eventually she will become like the other kids.

What are you studying?

Social studies.

Do you have a test tomorrow?

Tell us a story!

A story? OK.

Are you ready?

Once upon a time there was a small village and a child was born there.

A really little baby.

The baby's mother had got pregnant at a very young age.

Because she was not married she was ashamed.

She gave birth to the child all alone, in the toilet.

And she threw him under some leaves.

But the grandparents heard the child crying and rescued him and raised him.

The child became very naughty.

Have you ever broken anyone's window?

Are you telling the truth?

The villagers complained that he broke their windows and hit their cows.

They decided the only solution was to send him far away.

He was young, like all of you.

Do you have any idea where they sent the boy?

A faraway place?

They decided to send him to the monastery.

But he started to make trouble as he did in his village.

And the teachers got fed up with him.

But there was one teacher who believed he could change.

And slowly, over time, he began to change.

One day he became an adult.

"Now I am grown up, what should I do with my life?" he asked himself.

He thought and he thought.

He realised there are many naughty and unwanted children like him.

So he decided to build them a big house.

Where they could all live together.

He brought many kids to the house and tried to teach them good things.

Do you have any idea where this school is?

Our school.

What is the name of the school?

Jhamtse Gatsal.

And who was that naughty kid?

You?

It was you Daddy!

Now what should we do?

Now we should go to sleep.

That's right, it's time for bed.

Goodnight! Goodnight Gen-La!

Goodnight.

When grandfather visited recently,

he told me what happened to the boy's father.

My son fell from the roof onto a metal rod it went straight through his chest.

He didn't have a chance.

He died on the way to the hospital.

What's the boy's name? -Dorjee.

How old is he? -Around four.

I ask you to take my son to your school.

He is so young that I can't go anywhere for work.

If I leave him alone the other village boys beat him .

You take care of all the kids like your own children.

The Amalas (house mothers) wash their clothes, and take good care of them.

We are really poor, and she is alone now.

When we decide to take a child, I have to think about it very deeply.

It's not just for a few months, it's for a whole life.

When I take a kid into the school, I promise to them that I will be their parent.

I'll try to help you...

But I have to consider many factors.

We understand.

My most difficult job is, when and how to accept new kids.

When I say "yes", it also means that I will save this kid's life.

When I say no....

saying "no" is equal to...

saying "No, I don't want to save this boy", or "I can not save this child."

Please take two of our kids, we are really poor.

Take one child from this woman's house.

We are poor, really poor. If there is space, please take one of our kids.

If it was possible I would take them, but it's not possible now.

I went to Jhamtse Gatsal with one child on my back, and one holding my hand...

You took children who still had both parents, and you didn't even look at my children.

Tashi Drolma, look at me, I am on your bed.

I am getting angry.

Stop running away!

I'll kill you!

Come here, I'll tell you something...

I'm not going to beat you, come...

Tashi Drolma very bad.

How are your studies going ? -Fine.

Tashi is the newest arrival here at Jhamtse and one of the youngest.

I've seen she mixes with the other kids, but has she made any friends yet?

It's difficult to make friends with her because she's so naughty,

so she's just on her own.

Amala alone can not look after her, or take care of the situation.

You are like an elder brother, so you must help her understand...

...what is right and wrong.

Slowly she will begin to understand.

This is your job as a responsible elder brother. OK?

Raju, remember always try to be a good, straightforward human being.

When I was young I was in the monastery, and I had to shave all my hair off.

I was only a little bit older than you.

Even this part on the top.

This bit?

I want to keep the top part.

There are many kids like me in this world,

that don't get the opportunity to call someone Dad.

And I don't remember using that term in my life.

Even today, at this age, I feel I wish I had a dad...

...and I could share things with him and...

...listen to him and learn about his life...

Aren't you handsome now?

Thank you Daddy.

I'll cut your throat.

Stop talking and go to sleep, do you want me to come over there?