As any of you know who have visited the Center, Ven. Donyo never sits still, never gets to finish a meal and is constantly on the telephone. His desk is covered with papers. He sits in an office with several computers, fax machines, copiers and high speed internet connections. Dealing with monks, monasteries, embassies, Dharma students, friends from the Tibetan community and utility bills, as well as requests for tours, blessings and CDs, Donyo is a whirlwind of activity. Oh, and he is the only monk that can drive so he does all the shopping and, as he is the only monk that is fluent in English.

Ven. Jampa wanted me to tell you that Donyo is also very special as he has three beds and the other monks only have one. Besides his regular bed Donyo often falls asleep in his chair in his office and on the couch going over paperwork. The monks say that Donyo is frequently up until 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning! Local newspaper interviewed Donyo.

Early Days

Ven. Donyo was born in 1961. His father, Pema Thinley, and mother, Phurbu Dolma named him Pasang - Friday – the day of his birth. Donyo’s grandparents had been traders from Kham in Tibet but due to their business in Nepal settled their family there. His parents were farmers growing potatoes and white radish. They also had a cow, a buffalo for milk, and nine yaks – for milk, butter and cheese. Actually they had nine Dzomos. Westerners often talk about Yak butter or Yak cheese which is very funny to a Tibetan as a Yak is a male animal. The female is a Dri. However, when Yaks interbreed with a cow the female result is a Dzomo, much better for milk!

He grew up in Solu Khumbu high above the snow line in the shadow of Mount Everest, probably the highest village in the world. The Tibetan people of that region are known as Sherpas. We think of them as the expert climbers of the Himalayan Mountains. Actually “Sher” means east and “Pa” refers to a person so Sherpa means Easterner and refers to the fact that the Sherpas are originally from far eastern Tibet.

Donyo’s parents had ten children, three of whom became Gyuto monks. Looking back, Donyo can see the tremendous hardships his parents had to endure and the difficulties they had in raising ten children. He doubts that he will ever be able to repay their kindness. When he was about seven years old Donyo, two of his brothers were sent to the local school, one hour walk away. The school was very primitive, very strict and classes seemed to last forever to the young Donyo.