Geshe Lhakdor (second right) launches the book A Happy Family by Tulku Sonam Gawa (aka Kunde Rinpoche), in McLeod Ganj, India, on 28 September 2019. On the left is Acho Rinpoche and Kunde Rinpoche's assistant Sonam Yeshi from Singapore. Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal

By Lobsang Wangyal

A new book dealing with daily life practice of Tibetan Buddhism was released today in McLeod Ganj.

Titled A Happy Family, the book, originally written in Tibetan, also has an English version. Both versions were launched by Geshe Lhakdor, Director of Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, in the presence of the author and guests.

Geshe Lhakdor praised the author for the books, and said that they will benefit readers in uplifting their minds for a happier life. He added that happiness has to come from within, by understanding that it is a well-proven fact that wealth and material values are not the source of happiness.

The author Tulku Sonam Gawa (aka Kunde Rinpoche) had composed the manuscript between 2009-2016. It was printed and published in Malaysia earlier this year.

On the day before the books’ release, Rinpoche met the Dalai Lama at his residence, and presented the books to him as an offering.

The book is in question-and-answer format, and deals with taming the body, speech, and mind. Gawa says that ethical and noble conduct is the memento of the body, pleasing and gentle words are the memento of speech, loving-kindness and compassion are the memento of the mind, and altruism and bodhichitta are the memento of all — the body, speech, and mind.

It contains explanations concerning the benefits of the everyday basic rituals of Tibetan Buddhism: offering prostrations, lighting butter lamps, circumambulating temples, saying mantras, hanging prayer flags, etc.

The preface of the book, written by the Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration, appreciated its author, and hoped the readers will benefit from it in living a happier life.

Rinpoche is based in Sangchen Woesel Dzogpachenpo, Dehra Dun, India. He is well known for giving meditation courses, and for videos of his meditation teachings posted on YouTube.

His first book, A Garland of Flowers, also in question-and-answer format, was published in 2011.

Gawa was born in a village called Yakra Taktse in the Kham region of Tibet in 1975. He became a monk at age nine, and was recognised as the reincarnation of the second Kunde Rinpoche. He became Khenpo (Abbot) of Horthang Tashi Monastery when he was 20 after receiving initiations, transmissions, and explanations from various masters in Tibet.

He later escaped to India and joined the Dzogchen monastery in Kollegal in South India to teach monks at the monastery. Since leaving the monastery he has travelled to various countries for teachings, and in promotion of Dharma — the Buddhist teachings.