Hello everybody,
my name is Dawa Dhargyal,
and I was born in Amdo, Tibet.
Until the age of five, my childhood and upbringing were similar to that of other children.
From the age of five, I went to a Chinese school and passed grade one and grade two, and so on.
Then, at the age of eight, I joined the monastic community.
I became a monk at Gamal Monastery in Amdo,
and I stayed there and studied for almost 25 years altogether.
During my time there,
I studied how to perform rituals,
I also studied chanting and logic,
and different philosophical texts from the Bön tradition.
And then, eventually, I gained my geshe degree there.
Yet, I was a little bit dissatisfied with my studies at Gamal Monastery,
and so in 1997, I came to India to meet His Eminence the Menri Trizin, the head of Menri Monastery,
and I ended up joining Menri Monastery.
So then,
I stayed there in the monastic academy and studied until 2012.
I was studying for my [second] geshe degree.
I studied sutra, tantra, and teachings on the mind, and obtained my geshe certificate.
So we can say that I have finished the studies of the five major fields of learning.
During my studies, I also served the monastery in various positions.
After I obtained my degree in 2012, my root teacher, the 33rd Menri Trizin, advised me not to leave the monastery but to stay.
So, I accepted his advice and decided to stay in the monastery.
I then held several positions at the Yungdrung Bön Monastic Center Society,
such as secretary, treasurer, and so on.
Then, in 2017, His Holiness the 33rd Menri Trizin passed away.
As he had passed away, a successor needed to be found for the position of Menri Trizin.
His Eminence Menri Lopon Trinley Nyima Rinpoche took responsibility to find a successor,
with advice and guidance from His Eminence Yongzin Rinpoche.
He consulted and discussed the appointment of a successor
with many great masters living both inside and outside of Tibet.
with consideration of the situation inside Tibet,
that it would be better if the new Menri Trizin was appointed outside of Tibet.
This was so that the new leader could stand side-by-side with all of the other Tibetan religious leaders.
Thus, everyone agreed to the idea of appointing the title of Menri Trizin to someone outside of Tibet.
As far as the procedure is concerned,
letters were sent to more than 100 geshes, all of whom could be considered as potential candidates
for the position of Menri Trizin.
We were all asked to consider whether we could take on the responsibility of the position,
as many of the geshes already had other engagements.
Hence, over 40 geshes withdrew immediately from the candidacy.
The remaining 60 or so geshes then joined a sign examination phase [looking for auspicious signs],
and of the 60 geshes, 8 geshes remained, and then a final two.
In the end, it was my name that came out.
Generally speaking, I have neither sufficient educational qualifications nor the confidence
to take the seat of Menri Monastery and become the religious head of all Bön followers.
However, Bönpos have a tradition saying that whoever's name comes out from the sign examination
is appointed by the gods and protector deities,
and so I have accepted the tradition.
As many great teachers and individuals who serve Yungdrung Bön
have also supported me well,
I have been continuing my responsibilities as Menri Trizin with courage.