About Poems and Translations

In this blog of the Society of Himalayan Studies in Finland, two poems by Kelsang Lhamo are translated into Finnish and into English.[1] The author of the poems, Kelsang Lhamo (bsKal bzang lha mo), is originally from a region named Lhokha in Tibet (Tibet Autonomous Region), which is located southeast from the capital Lhasa. Nowadays she lives and works as a librarian in Boston in the US. Earlier she has published a collection of stories based on the lives of nuns, titled “Dreaming in the Sages Abode,” and the life story of a Buddhist master and her poems. She has also written a biography of E. Gene Smith, which was published in the beginning of 2023. Two of the poems translated here have appeared in an anthology of Tibetan women poets titled bZho lung, which was edited by Pelmo (dPal mo) and published by the Nationalities Press in Beijing in 2005.

The title of the first poem “Ganden ngachoe” (dGa’ ldan lnga mchod) refers to the Buddhist holy day on the 25th day of the 10th Tibetan month. Celebrating this holy day and festival remembers and respects the memory of Lama Tsongkhapa (1357–1419) and the anniversary of his death over 600 years ago. He made an important contribution to the development of Tibetan Buddhism and wrote many remarkable literary works, and founded the well-known Ganden monastery in Lhasa.[2] For the celebration of Ganden Ngachoe, it is typical that in the evening, in monasteries, temples and private homes and courtyards, Tibetans light large numbers of butter lamps and recite a prayer called Migtsema (dMigs rtse ma, “Limitless Love”), a five-verse poem to Lama Tsongkhapa. 

The contents of the other poem, “Please Give Me Your Blessing!” (dNgos grub cig gnongs shig), was inspired by Buddhism and one of its central teachings about the need to become liberated from suffering and the cycle of repeating rebirth. Written in New York, the poem shows that Kelsang Lhamo’s moving to a Western country—the United States of America—is reflected in the thinking world of its writer.

When read in Tibetan, the poems have a clear sense of rhythm. The poem “Ganden Ngachoe” is structured with a meter of nine syllables per line, and it has six stanzas. “Please Give Me Your Blessing!” has nine stanzas with 11 syllables per line. Unfortunately, this meter and rhythm do not appear in the translations. I have tried to convey the meanings and contents of the poems and keep the stanza structure, but I did not manage to produce a metered version because of the very different structures of the Finnish and Tibetan languages, as well as the fact that English is not my native language.

Ganden Ngachoe

Kelsang Lhamo

The courtyard illuminated by the shining butter lamps looked beautiful
it was wonderful near the gates echoing the mumble of the prayer “Limitless Love”
the face of my mom skilled in preparing noodle soup was shining tenderly
I miss the Ganden Ngachoe celebration with my kind parents

Minds filled with youthful pride
intoxicated with drinks, songs and careless making fun
even understood as bad behavior how funny it all was 
I miss the celebration of Ganden Ngachoe with the youths of same age

In the place where mountains reach to the sky
my lama always practices the deep instructions of the bodhisattvas’ ways
and gives the followers advice for a vegetarian diet and loving kindness
I miss the celebration of Ganden Ngachoe with my kind lama

In the old, ruined house called Rishibhavan
I sang the songs of holy lamas of the past
although I always stay there, that day the sunlight felt warm
I miss the celebration of Ganden Ngachoe in the desolate wilderness

I have to keep my steps busy as if almost flying
although my mind would not yet like to wake from sleep
without realizing the time months and years have passed
the day of Ganden Ngachoe in New York City is depressing

One day in some wonderful place
surrounded by spiritual sisters, brothers and close friends
honoring the buddhas with generous presents
may I see such a perfect and happy Ganden Ngachoe celebration soon!

(New York, 2005)

Please Give Me Your Blessing!

Kelsang Lhamo

Oh, beautiful goddess from the turquoise field of the color of melted emeralds
Merely calling you to mind causes the disappearance of all pain
although this beggar’s continuous song is not so pleasant to the ear
please, be merciful and protect this sincere faithful devotee!

Yesterday’s world covered by silver snow
today after it melted has suddenly turned green
contemplating the change of the seasons I could not feel calm
the deceitfulness of the queen of nature and seasons is cruel

The image of my country where my loving mother stays
now appears in my mind only as a memory
contemplating the powerful force of karma I did not feel peaceful
the words of earlier enlightened masters were so true!

Even though a human life, characterized by leisures and endowments, shines like a sun
contemplating in my heart the holy dharma resembles a cave facing north
taking birth again and again in samsara there is no peace
my peerless kind lama, please look here with compassion!

In a cave at the mountain slope far from enemies and friends
I considered the twelve ascetic practices as my permanent place of protection
The years and months passed without serious dharma practice
my kind parents living in hope, please do not feel desperate

I arrived to the well-known, prosperous Western Land
to practice dharma for secular aims is common
The careless way holy dharma is taught makes me anxious
I openly confess this to Buddha Shakyamuni

Although thinking again and again about my remaining days
they appear without meaning, causing only a feeling of crying
the round world is without beginning and end
I have no peace now like being in a ship leaking water

Although wrinkles have appeared on my face being a servant of emotions 
still have I not managed to find a pleasant, happy place
when everything disappears by itself like a rainbow
only a pencil has remained in my trembling fingers

A prayer of a wanderer from the Himalayan region
I make to the gods who see without obstacles
always compassionate Three Jewels
please give me your blessing for escaping the circle of bad karma!

(written in 2004 in New York)

(The translations of Kelsang Lhamo’s poems from Tibetan and the introductory text: Riika J. Virtanen)

Notes

1. I wish to thank Chime Lama for revising the English of the translation of Kelsang Lhamo’s poem “Please Give Me Your Blessing!” I am also grateful to Dr. Albion M. Butters for revising the English of Kelsang Lhamo’s poem “Ganden Ngachoe” and the introductory text as well as Kelsang Lhamo’s interview published separately in this same blog.

2. See Richardson 1993: 114 and Repo 2011 for information about the life of Tsongkhapa Lobsang Dragpa (Tsong kha pa blo bzang grags pa) and the celebration of Ganden Ngachoe.

References

dPal mo (ed.) 2005. bZho lung. Beijing: Mi rigs dpe skrun khang.

Richardson, Hugh 1993. Ceremonies of the Lhasa Year. London: Serindia Publications.

Repo, Joona 2011. “Tsongkhapa Lobsang Dragpa” (“Tsong kha pha Blo bzang grags pa”), The Treasury of Lives, https://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Tsongkhapa-Lobzang-Drakpa/8986 (Accessed October 22, 2020). 

bsKal bzang lha mo 1999. Drang srong bsti gnas kyi rmi lam yun cig (“Dreaming at the Sage’s Abode: Biographical Sketches of Four Living Tibetan Nuns.” rTsom rig sgyu rtsal deb phreng 3 (Tibetan Literature Series, No. 3). Dharamsala: Amnye Machen Institute.

bsKal bzang lha mo 2005. “dNgos grub cig gnongs shig.” dPal mo (ed.), bZho lung. Beijing: Mi rigs dpe skrun khang: 47–49.

bsKal bzang lha mo 2005. “dGa’ ldan lnga mchod.” dPal mo (ed.), bZho lung. Beijing: Mi rigs dpe skrun khang: 49–50.

bsKal bzang lha mo 2016. mKhas zhing grub pa’i dbang phyug dge ba’i bshes gnyen ye shes stobs ldan rin po che’i rnam thar mthong bas don yod (“A Short Biography of Geshe Yeshes Tobden (1928–1999), aka Gen Drubthob Rinpoche”). New Delhi: Published by Kelsang Lhamo.

bsKal bzang lha mo 2023. ’Jam dbyangs ’jin si mid kyi rnam thar padma dkar po (The Biography of E. Gene Smith). Dhi Publications.