Dialogue / Text

Picture

Translation (eg. Spanish)

00:02

Buddhist Monk Lobsang Phuntsok was trained under His Holiness The Dalai Lama to share Tibetan Buddhism with the West.

(Text on screen)

Mountains

In 2006 he felt called to leave his life as a spiritual teacher in the United States and returned to the region of his birth with a dream of rescuing unwanted children.

(Text on screen)

Mountains

00:15

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

(Text on screen)

Jhamtse Gatsal

01:26

Tashi and the Monk

Title

01:32

“When you look today at this kind of growing community,

Lobsang assembly

01:38

in some ways all of us are basically abandoned or not really wanted person.

Tenzin Dolma

01:47

Everybody kind of give up hope on us.

Raju

01:52

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

Tashi pulling hood on Tenzin Phuntsok

01:57

And we will be with you no matter what.

Girl in assembly

02:01

This is a community of love and compassion. 

Lobsang facing assembly

02:05

We need to move forward together, supporting each other, caring for each other. 

Whole assembly

02:11

And these little ones, even the naughtiest ones are the most amazing seeds of compassion and love.

Lobsang addressing youngest children

02:18

Some day they will blossom.

Tashi Drolma

02:27

Every single kid who are in Jhamtse Gatsal suffered a lot. 

Assembly dispersing

02:32

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

Children walking single file

02:36

Some were actually abandoned by their parents.

Two Girls looking out at mountains

02:40

Some were like actually sold by their parents.

Kids sitting against building

02:43

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

Tashi Drolma spinning

02:52

Sit properly Maling.

Teacher with younger students in classroom

03:05

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

Three younger students sitting on floor

03:09

I will colour your face.

Tashi Drolma sitting on floor with marker

03:14

Keep writing.

Tashi Drolma sitting on floor with marker

03:26

Do you want a slap?

Tashi Drolma interacting with boy on floor

03:45

I am almost finished!

Wide angle of kids working on floor, one gets up

03:55

I’m going to tell Madam what you did.

Boy sits down next to Tashi Drolma

04:01

Well why did you hit me?

Tashi Drolma sitting on floor

04:03

You started it.

Tashi Drolma sitting on floor

04:13

When you misbehave you go to the office.

Teacher picking up Tashi Drolma

04:22

I don’t want to.

Tashi Drolma being dragged to office

04:25

Come on, let’s go.

Tashi Drolma falling down outside office

04:35

Look at me.

Tashi Drolma crying, Lobsang is talking to her in office

04:41

No more tears.

Tashi Drolma crying, Lobsang is talking to her in office

04:48

Did you beat Maling? Did you spit on him?

Lobsang talking to Tashi Drolma not crying

04:51

Have you done something wrong?

Lobsang talking to Tashi Drolma looking down

04:55

What did your teacher tell you?

Lobsang talking to Tashi Drolma looking down

04:59

Give me your hand.

Lobsang holding Tashi Drolma’s hand

05:03

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

Lobsang looking at Tashi Drolma’s hand

05:07

Does it hurt?

Close up on their hands

05:10

Did you get some ointment for it?

Close up on their hands

05:15

Look, I have one too.

Close up on Lobsang’s hands

05:23

Mine hurts, does yours?

Close up on hands, Lobsang holding Tashi Drolma’s

05:28

Are you happy here?

Panning up from their hands to their faces

05:33

Nobody beats you here.

Lobsang talking to Tashi Drolma

05:38

What should you do in class?

Lobsang holding Tashi Dromla, focused on her face

05:39

Study

Lobsang holding Tashi Dromla, focused on her face looking down

05:41

That’s right, study.

Lobsang holding Tashi Dromla, focused on her face looking down

05:42

Sometimes being naughty is OK.

Lobsang looking at Tashi Drolma, Tashi Drolma looking up at him

05:46

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

Lobsang looking at Tashi Drolma, Tashi Drolma looking up at him

05:51

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

Lobsang lifting up arm Tashi Drolma looking up at him

05:57

Now you have to stop crying and smile.

Tashi Drolma looking down

06:04

Shall I walk you to your class?

Close up on Tashi Drolma’s face

06:14

Where are your shoes?

Lobsang and Tashi Drolma holding hands walking to door

06:17

You don’t have any shoes?

Lobsang and Tashi Drolma holding hands walking out

06:50

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

Two women sitting on bed facing Lobsang

06:58

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

Lobsang sitting on bed with boy in lap facing women

07:03

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

Tashi Drolma sitting outside

07:09

She’s not afraid. She’s not afraid of anyone.

Lobsang with boy sitting on lap

07:14

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

Close up of Tashi Drolma sitting outside

07:21

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

Two women sitting on bed facing Lobsang

07:31

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

Tashi Drolma standing up outside.

07:38

That’s why she’s here at Jhmatse Gatsal.

Lobsang talking to two women

07:44

I hope eventually she will become like the other kids.

Tashi Drolma standing outside

08:05

What are you studying?

Lobsang standing in family house

08:09

Social Studies.

Girl sitting in bed

08:13

Do you have a test tomorrow?

Another girl sitting on bed with notebook in lap

08:20

Tell us a story!

Lobsang standing looking down

08:21

A story?

Lobsang standing looking down

08:23

OK.

Girls sitting on bed looking up

08:26

Are you ready?

Lobsang sitting

08:23

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

Lobsang sitting

08:40

A really little baby.

Lobsang sitting making hand motion

08:43

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

Tenzin Phuntsok

08:50

Because she was not married she was so ashamed.

Tenzin Phuntsok

08:56

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

Girls sitting and looking at Lobsang

09:01

And she threw him under some leaves.

Girls sitting and looking at Lobsang

09:07

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

Kopila Thapa

09:16

The child became very naughty.

Lobsang sitting and pointing

09:22

Have you ever broken anyone’s window?

Lobsang talking to Tenzin Phuntsok

09:25

Are you telling the truth?

Lobsang talking to Tenzin Phuntsok

09:26

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

Girls listening to Lobsang

09:33

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

Lobsang sitting making hand motions

09:39

He was young, like all of you.

Close up profile of Lobsang

09:42

Do you have any idea where they sent the boy?

Boys sitting on top of bunk beds

09:45

A far away place?

Close up profile of Lobsang

09:49

They decided to send him to the monastery.

Close up profile of Lobsang

09:52

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

Lobsang sitting making face

09:57

And the teachers got fed up with him.

Dorjee Wangchu and Konchok Norbu

10:03

But there was one teacher who believed he could change.

Lobsang sitting holding up finger

10:12

And slowly, over time, he began to change.

Lobsang

10:19

One day he became an adult.

Raju

10:22

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

Lobsang hand on chin

10:26

He thought and he thought.

Lobsang hand on chin

10:29

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

Lobsang hand on chin nodding

10:34

So he decided to build them a big house.

To side of Lobsang

10:42

Where they could all live together.

To side of Lobsang to side of kids listening

10:51

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

Girls looking up at Lobsang

10:58

Do you have any idea where this school is?

Girls looking up at Lobsang

11:00

Our school.

Girls looking up at Lobsang

11:03

What is the name of your school?

Girls laughing

11:05

Jhamtse Gatsal

Girls looking up at Lobsang

11:08

And who was that naughty kid?

Lobsang talking to kids

11:12

You?

Girls looking up at Lobsang

11:14

It was you Daddy!

Girls looking up at Lobsang

11:21

Now what should we do?

Tenzin Phuntsok

11:23

Now we should go to sleep.

Lobsang on bed talking to kids

11:24

That’s right, it’s time for bed.

Lobsang on bed talking to kids

11:28

Goodnight!

Lobsang claps on bed talking to kids

11:29

Goodnight Gen-La!

Lobsang on bed kids dispersing

11:40

Goodnight!

Lobsang turning out lights

12:28

When grandfather visited recently he told me what happened to the boy’s father.

Close up of Lobsang in house

12:39

My son fell from the roof onto a metal rod.  It went straight to his chest.

Close up of woman and boys hands

12:47

He didn’t have a chance.

Man talking

12:50

He died on the way to the hospital.

Woman with boy in lap

12:58

What is the boy’s name?

-Dorjee

Boy in woman’s lap

13:02

How old is he?

-Around four

Boy in woman’s lap

13:05

I ask you to take my son to your school. He is so young that I can’t go anywhere for work.

Side view woman and boy in her lap

3:13

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

Side view woman and boy in her lap

3:19

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

Profile of man

13:24

The Amalas wash their clothes, and take good care of them.

Profile of man

13:30

We are really poor, and she is alone now.

Profile of Lobsang

13:37

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

Woman and boy in her lap

13:43

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

Woman and boy in her lap

13:48

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

Lobsang arm on knee

13:54

I’ll try to help you…

Man woman and boy

13:57

But I have to consider many factors.

Man woman and boy

14:00

We understand.

Man woman and boy

14:12

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

Lobsang walking out

14:21

When I say yes, it means equal to saying, “I will save this kid’s life.”

Lobsang walking

14:28

When I say no, saying no is equal to saying, “No, I don’t want to save this boy.” Or “I cannot save this child.”

People in village

14:43

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

Lobsang

14:45

Take one child from this woman’s house.

Two women

14:50

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

Lobsang and two women

14:57

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

Lobsang and two women

15:04

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

Woman facing mountains

15:09

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

Lobsang and woman

15:38

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

Tashi Drolma

15:48

I am getting angry.

Tashi Drolma with broom

15:51

Stop running away!

Tashi Dromla following kid with broom

15:53

I’ll kill you!

Tashi Drolma standing on bed

15:57

Come here, I’ll tell you something…

Tashi Drolma reaching out on bed

16:00

I’m not going to beat you, come…

Tashi Drolma reaching out on bed

16:04

Tashi Drolma very bad.

Tashi Drolma standing on bed with broom.

16:16

How are your studies going?

- Fine

Side view of Lobsang talking to Raju

16:20

Tashi is the most recent arrival at Jhamtse, and is one of the youngest.

Profile of Raju

16:26

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

Profile of Raju

16:34

It’s difficult to make friends with her because she’s so naughty, so she’s just on her own.

Raju

16:44

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

Raju

16:49

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

Raju

16:53

…what is right and wrong.

Raju

16:57

Slowly she will begin to understand.

Raju

17:00

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

Lobsang

17:09

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

Silhouette of Raju and Lobsang walking

17:27

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

Tenzin Phuntsok in mirror

17:33

I was only a little bit older than you.

Close up on Lobsang’s face

17:39

Even this part on the top.

Tenzin Phuntsok in mirror

17:43

This bit?

Close up of Tenzin Phuntsok in mirror

17:48

I want to keep the top part.

Tenzin Phuntsok and Lobsang in mirror

17:52

There are many kids like me in this world, that don’t get an opportunity to call someone “Dad”.

Profile of Tenzin Phuntsok

17:59

I don’t remember using that term in my life.

Profile of Tenzin Phuntsok and comb

18:02

Even today, at this age, I feel I wish I had a dad that you could share things with him.  And listen about his life.

Close up of Lobsang cutting Tenzin Phuntsok’s hair

18:19

Aren’t you handsome now?

Lobsang and Tenzin Phuntsok looking in mirror

18:23

Thank you Daddy.

Silhouette of Tenzin Phuntsok and Lobsang

18:47

I’ll cut your throat.

Tashi Drolma laying in bed with doll

18:51

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

Tashi Drolma laying in bed with doll

18:57

I am talking to my baby.

Tashi Drolma laying in bed with doll

19:08

Tashi Drolma, little one…

Raju next to Tashi Drolma’s bed

19:12

Raju, tell me a story?

Raju next to Tashi Drolma’s bed

19:14

You tell me one first.

Close up Tashi Drolma

19:15

Once there was a ghost in my house and he was laughing…

Close up Tashi Drolma

19:26

Oh I was so scared. I was crying like a little baby.

Raju sitting looking at Tashi Drolma

19:34

What

Raju sitting looking at Tashi Drolma

19:37

I was calling for my mother, and I was crying…

Raju sitting looking at Tashi

19:46

And the ghost ate my father and mother.

Raju and Tashi Drolma

19:56

This story makes no sense.

Raju and Tashi Drolma

19:58

Move over.

- No, go away.

Raju and Tashi Drolma Tashi Lhamu A getting in bed

20:05

Go now.

Tashi Drolma

20:10

It’s cold!

Tashi Drolma

20:19

Tashi Drolma keep quiet.

Tashi Lhamu A

20:22

Did you wet the bed again?

Tashi Lhamu A and Tashi Drolma in bed

21:05

Back in the village there was a boy, he was 11 years old.

Kids sitting listening to Lobsang

21:10

For whatever reason, last night actually he hanged himself. 

Profile of Lobsang

21:17

I had a couple of times actually opportunity to meet that young boy.

Tenzin Drolma A,  Tsering Gombu, and  Tsering Lhadron A

21:21

I think a year ago when I went to visit their village that the grandmother encouraged me to save his life:

Profile of Lobsang

21:30

“If you could take that boy to the community, because of some challenge in his family.”

Pan of kids listening

21:37

And I felt this morning that on my side, a little bit kind of failure.

Profile of Lobsang

21:47

The mistake I feel that I made is I was not able to see the condition of his insight.

Pema Drolma A

21:53

The mental condition of the boy, what kind of stress he was going through.

Tenzin Phuntsok

21:58

And he actually ended his life last night.

Profile of Lobsang

22:12

We have more than a thousand requests so far, that we received to take the kids into the community.

Lobsang driving

22:21

If I am able to say yes to one family, and I am saying no to ten families.

Lobsang driving

22:29

Some of the decisions that I made I think I have to deal with the rest of my life.

Lobsang driving

22:55

My grandson.

Photo album in hands

23:01

He was handsome.

Photo album in hands

23:13

He was going to be a teenager soon.

Woman crying

23:20

I’ve been talking to him and asking why he killed himself.

Woman

23:37

It’s all since his mother died.

Lobsang

23:41

When I came to your village, you asked me to take him to Jhamtse.

Woman looking at Lobsang

23:49

But unfortunately at that time I didn’t realize his situation was so serious.

Hands with beads in it

23:58

I wish I had died instead.

Lobsung

24:01

I lost seven children, but it never felt this bad.

Lobsang

24:10

I feel so lonely.

Woman

24:21

In this great big world.

Hand lighting candles

24:28

There is so much love and care.

Dorjee Wangchu lighting candles

24:37

But there is no kindness greater…

Lighting candles

24:46

…Than my mother’s love.

Tenzin Phuntsok

25:16

A real hero!

Girl washing hair

25:21

Tashi Drolma bring me that cloth.

Tashi Drolma washing hair

25:29

I am a dragon!

Tsering Lhadron B washing hair

25:30

The dragon will eat you.

Tsering Lhadron B washing hair

25:33

My eyes are burning.

Lham Tashi

25:43

Go and get dressed.

Tashi Drolma

26:02

Big brother, everybody got more than me.

- Oh, you only got a small portion?

Raju eating

26:07

You want some more?

Raju

26:10

I want a roti. I don’t want jam. Go and get it for me.

Tashi Drolma

26:16

Last night I saw a ghost of an old lady.

Raju drinking

26:22

The old lady was killing a little girl.

Tashi Drolma acting it out

26:29

Yucky, don’t do it!

Raju and Tashi Drolma

26:32

Did the little girl die?

Raju and Tashi Drolma

26:35

No, I flew away.

Tashi Drolma

26:37

Was I in your dream?

- Yes, the ghost was eating you.

Raju and Tashi Drolma

26:42

What did I taste like?

Raju and Tashi Drolma

26:44

Tasty!

Raju and Tashi Drolma

27:14

Come on doggy!

Tashi Lhamu A and Tashi Drolma running

27:18

There are spikes.

Hands picking something off vine

27:23

I want another tomato.

- I want one too.

Tashi Lhamu A and Tashi Drolma looking down

27:27

Come over here.

Tashi Lhamu A and Tashi Drolma

27:36

I’m your big sister, I’ll do it for you.

Tashi Lhamu A and Tashi Drolma looking at plants

27:39

Take it.

- Where is it?

Tashi Lhamu A and Tashi Drolma

27:41

Take it and keep it.

Tashi Lhamu A and Tashi Drolma

27:45

Don’t take them all we’ll share them.

Tashi Lhamu A and Tashi Drolma

27:49

We are partners.

Tashi Lhamu A and Tashi Drolma

28:01

Come along.

Tashi Lhamu A and Tashi Drolma

28:07

Jam!

Tashi Drolma crushing

28:10

I’ll crack my walnut.

Tashi Drolma

28:24

Here…take it.

Tashi Drolma reaching out

28:35

Ah, beautiful!

Tashi Lhamu A

28:39

Magic.

Tashi Drolma

29:02

Let’s go now.

Tashi Drolma spinning

29:06

Hold my hand.

Tashi Lhamu A running backwards Tashi Drolma running

29:33

I have come here to request again the admission of my grandson.

Lobsang and man walking

29:44

Please take my child.

Lobsang and man sitting inside

29:55

Who is the boy with now

Lobsang and man sitting inside

30:02

He’s with his mother. His sister is working breaking rocks.

Lobsang and man sitting inside

30:08

It’s very difficult for us at the moment.

Man

30:14

The kids here have to finish their examinations first, then I’ll see what I can do.

Man

30:24

But I can’t promise we will be able to take the boy.

Profile of man

30:35

Today’s actually agenda is that we are going to discuss about the new session and how many kids we can actually take.

Lobsang talking to staff

30:43

We need to think of our current situation, reality of our community, whether we are capable, whether we have enough resources to take any more kids.

Pan of staff

30:52

No matter how many kids we plan to take in, we lack in classrooms and teachers.

Deki, Vasudha, and Amma

31:02

Is there space in the Family Houses for more kids?

Vasudha

31:07

We already have two kids to a bed and we can’t add more beds.

Amala Tenzin

31:16

All the things that we believe in, we are already struggling to make those happen.

Staff

31:23

And the more kids we take, the less attention we can give to each other and to the children.

Staff

31:30

You know, the reality for us right now is that it is hard to say yes.

Staff

31:42

I can’t ignore the reality.  The current reality tells me we cannot take any more kids.  But I know, kids die.

Lobsang by fire

31:51

I know kids just end up in a really bad situation.

Lobsang by fire

31:57

I can still hope that I can save someone else next year. And keep going.

Kids dancing

32:14

Tenzin, you were very young when you came here.

Jhamtse Gatsal

32:18

Now you are nearly grown up…

Silloute of Tenzin Drolma A and Lobsang

32:21

It is time to think about your future.

Tenzin Drolma A and Lobsang

32:25

You want to go to college. What do you feel about the world outside?

Tenzin Drolma A and Lobsang

32:35

I think when I go outside, maybe people will be different from our community.

Lobsang

32:42

Here people are really caring.

Tenzin Drolma A

32:46

If anyone gets sick people ask ‘How do you feel? Do you need anything?

Tenzin Drolma A

32:50

But outside maybe it won’t be like that.

Tenzin Drolma A

32:55

Whenever you face challenges, remember you have a family here and you can talk to us.

Lobsang and Tenzin Drolma A

33:07

Before coming here I didn’t have a father, so I faced a lot of problems.

Tenzin Drolma A

33:22

You’re like a father to me.

Tenzin Drolma A

33:32

If I was still living in my village, I don’t know how my life would be.

Tenzin Drolma A

33:39

Maybe I would have gone to school, but I wouldn’t have a father like you.

Tenzin Drolma A

35:16

Yesterday Tsering Gombu punched a beehive.

Lobsang walking

35:22

Tashi and Maling were fighting each other/

Lobsang walking with Tashi Drolma and two other kids

35:24

Now you guys are friends, right?

Lobsang walking with Tashi Drolma and two other kids

35:26

No, I want to pinch her.

Lobsang walking with Tashi Drolma and two other kids

35:29

- Then I’ll kick you.

Lobsang and Tashi Drolma walking

35:33

You like fighting, or you like to be friends?

Lobsang and Tashi Drolma sitting down

35:36

I like to be friends.

Tashi Drolma

35:39

At the moment you are the youngest in Jhamtse, but there might be more kids coming…

Lobsang with Tashi Drolma, Maling Tashi, and Kopila Thapa

35:44

Will they be staying with us?

Lobsang with Tashi Drolma, Maling Tashi, and Kopila Thapa

35:50

Are they all your kids?

Lobsang with Tashi Drolma, Maling Tashi, and Kopila Thapa

35:52

If the little ones come, you’ll be their older sister.

Lobsang with Tashi Drolma, Maling Tashi, and Kopila Thapa

35:55

You want to be an older sister, or stay a little kid?

Lobsang with Tashi Drolma, Maling Tashi, and Kopila Thapa

36:00

I want to be an older sister.

Lobsang with Tashi Drolma, Maling Tashi, and Kopila Thapa

36:02

Then you should pretend to be an older sister, and help them.

Close up on Tashi Drolma and Lobsang

36:07

What should you teach them?

- First, eat your food.

Lobsang with Tashi Drolma, Maling Tashi, and Kopila Thapa

36:12

Go to your class.

Lobsang with Tashi Drolma, Maling Tashi, and Kopila Thapa

36:18

Don’t fight with each other, listen to your elders.

Lobsang with Tashi Drolma, Maling Tashi, and Kopila Thapa

36:22

Don’t fight with each other.

- Can you do this?

Lobsang with Tashi Drolma, Maling Tashi, and Kopila Thapa

36:34

Give each other a hug.

Maling Tashi and Kopila Thapa

36:43

Maling, give her a proper hug.

Tashi Drolma on ground Maling Tashi standing

37:14

I cannot undo my life and go back to my childhood and really live my childhood fully.

Lobsang playing with the kids

37:25

But one thing that now I know is that I could help to give these children their childhood, that I missed in my life.

Lobsang playing with the kids

37:40

When I see they are laughing, screaming and playing, I feel I am living my childhood.

Lobsang playing with the kids

37:53

I am lucky that we have 85 children now.  And I miss only one childhood but I got opportunity to live 85 childhoods.

Lobsang playing with the kids

38:21

I know when I look back, why I am alive today.

Lobsang playing with the kids

38:25

There’s something really special in my life that happened.

Lobsang playing with the kids

38:32

Kids who are here now found a safe home.

Lobsang playing with the kids

38:38

And now they have this opportunity to dream about their future.

Lobsang playing with the kids

38:46

I am Tashi Drolma!

Tashi Drolma looking out

38:57

My name is Tashi Drolma

Tashi Drolma

39:35

Film by

(Text on screen)

Sky

39:46

With thanks to

(Text on screen)

Sky