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Tibetan
nuns in exile's support project
DZA GYUD WOGMIN SHEDRUB PHELGYE LING
RIGDZIN
COMMUNITY'S MONASTERY
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Introduction
This project is planned to support 15 Tibetan nuns,
exiled in Nepal and their monastery, Dza Gyud Shedrub
Phelgye Ling, in Kathmandu. This monastery permits survival
(providing a roof and food) and enables them to practice
their vocation as Buddhist nuns. The aim of this project
consists in giving back dignity and freedom to these
15 nuns, two things stolen by the Chinese occupation
of their country and their hard and precarious present
situation. Rigdzin Namkha Gyamtso Rinpoche, a Tibetan
Buddhist Lama of the Nyingmapa school, also exiled from
Tibet, founded this nunnery.
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The founder: Rigdzin Namkha Gyamtso Rinpoche
Born
in Tibet in 1967, in a region called Dza-Chukha, Rigdzin
Namkha Gyamtso Rinpoche was looked at since a very
young age as an important Lama. He was recognised
as a Tertön (revealer of teachings by means of
visions) and as the 12th Tulku (reincarnation) of
Rigdzin Trak-Ngak Lingpa, by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche,
head of the Nyingmapa school, by His Holiness the
14th Dalaï-Lama, and by Drubwang Penor Rinpoche.
Always taking an active part in the liberation of
this country, Tibet, Rigdzin Namkha Gyamtso Rinpoche
had to escape in India in 1998. Since then he teaches
Dharma (bouddhist religious instructions) foremost
to Western people and takes care of his Sangha (religious
community), composed of thousand of practitioners
coming from all around the world.
The
Rigdzin Community
The Rigdzin Community is an international Buddhist
community, including as well secular practitioners
as nuns and monks from the five continents. This association
aims to bring the Tibetan Buddhist teachings and practices
within the reach of everyone, teachings of the oldest
Tibetan tradition, Vajrayana, considering it's Sutric,
Tantric and Dzogchen aspects.
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The monastery, situated near to the Big Stupa
in the religious district of Bouddhanath. |
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The
monastery
The
foundation of this monastery in Nepal was decided during
a trip in 2000 to Namkha Gyamtso Rinpoche's master;
His Holiness Trinley Norbu Rinpoche, living in exile
in the U.S.A. Immediatly upon his return in Nepal, Rigdzin
Namkha Gyamtso Rinpoche started to build up the nunnery
for the exiled nuns, followings his master's instructions.
He found an ideal building near the to the "big
stupa" in the district of Boddhanathin Kathmandu
(Nepal). Some months later the present Tulku of His
Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche opened the site.
The founding of this monastery is aiming the survival
of the nuns and enabling them to practice their spiritual
vocation with dignity. The project wishes to contribute
also to defending the Tibetan Buddhist culture in trying
to maintain the traditional monastic life in spite of
all dangers menacing. It's of high importance to understand
that all nuns living in this center had to quit Tibet
where the practice of religious activities is no longer
possible. Most of the monasteries had been destoyed
or forbidden as well as sacred texts and works of art.
At present, in Tibet, the simple possession of an image
of His Holiness the Dalaï-Lama can be a reason
for sanction.
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Why do we ask for your help?
In
Tibetan tradition nuns and monks don't work but consecrate
themselves to the benefit of all sentient beings by
means of religious practice. Until about 1960, the families
supported the nuns and monks by different kind of donations.
There was an cultural organisation at that time permitting
a balanced system that worked about thousand years.
Today, families had been separeted geographically (by
forced exile or cultural restructuring) which brought
to an end possible help. That's the way that traditional
Tibetan life disappears. Facing adversity, Rigdzin Namkha
Gyamtso Rinpoche and his Sangha decided to help and
support 15 exiled nuns in creating the nunnery "Dza
Gyud Wogmin Shedrub Phelgye Ling".
Onlyseveral, individual actions can influence concretly
the support of these exiled persons : this is the reason
why we need help : your help.
What
are the monastry's need?
The
project started one year ago, enabling us today to have
quite a clear idea concerning the monastry's needs and
costs. Most urgent needs: food, housing, clothing and
medicine. The figures hereunder correspond to the minimum
necessary for maintenance of what had been realised
already. Nevertheless, it is quite clear that we have
to carry out improvements to their quality of life,
such as i.e. the phone or a gas stove.
Hereunder
the estimation of minimal financial needs for 2002/2003,
based on last year's experience.
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Details
of last year's expenses (2001/2002)/in CHF (Swiss franks).
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| Rent |
3160 chf
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| Electricity |
1060
chf
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| Food |
9930
chf
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| Kitchen |
795chf
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| Cylinder
of gas |
745
chf
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| Health
care and medicine |
1860
chf
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| Individual
needs (soap,etc) |
795
chf
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| Clothing |
1975
chf
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| Books |
220
chf
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| Phone
calls |
270
chf
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| Garbage
taxes |
135
chf
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Total costs for last year
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20945 chf
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Unexpected event +general increase 10% |
2095chf
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Esimated expenses for 2004/2005 |
23040 chf
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| Some
new expenses foreseen for next year: |
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| Computer |
2530
chf
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| English
lessons |
845
chf
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| Gas
stove |
85
chf
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Total of new acquisitions |
3460 chf
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Total of estimated costs for next year |
26500
CHF
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Based on last year's experience, the estimation costs
for the nuns next year:
Support one nun during one year : 1536 CHF
Support one nun during one month : 128 CHF
Support one nun during one week : 30 CHF
Any donation you make, however modest it may be, will
be gratefully appreciated.
The
future
Recently
a piece of land was offered to the Association and we
hope being able to build a new monastery, bigger and
more comfortable than the present one, to accomodate
more people, because there are many nuns without a place
to go since they live in exile. We also consider preparing
a retreat place for nuns, monks and all practitioners.
Contacts
In
case you wish to contribute financially to this project
we give you hereunder two methods of founding, enabling
you to help the 15 nuns in the Dza Gyud Wogmin Shedrub
Phelgye Ling monastry in Nepal:
Association:
Ewam Rigdzin Sangchen Thegchok Ling
President: Tsering Dorje
Ch. de la Dôle 13
1196 Gland
A/c n°:CCP : 17-512068- 4
If you want to contact our community or receive further
informations concerning the monastery, the nuns or one
nun individually (for correspondance i.e.), or you have
some good ideas for the development of this project,
please don't hesitate to contact us at our e-mail address:
info@namkha.org
We thank you for your attention,
Every
donation is a hope for these 15 persons, for Tibetan
culture and for the well being of all sentient beings.
Thanks.
Herewith
we present you the monastery's nuns:
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Kunga
Palmo (29), from Dheyma she left Tibet 4 years
ago
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Lhamo
(17)
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Drolma
(25)
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Kunzang
Wamgmo (34),
from Bayme, she left Tibet 2 years ago and she's
a nun for 20 years
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Thupten
Palmo (28), from Sershul, she left Tibet 8 years
ago. She is nun since 22 years
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Sonam
Chenzim (15), from Shikatse. She left Tibet 3
years ago
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Tsultrim
Drolma (34), fromDza-Chukha. She left Tibet 2
years ago.
She'is nun since 15 years. The responsible of
the monastery
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Sonam
(21)
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Chozang
Palmo (37), from
Shikatse. She left Tibet 2 years ago. She is nun
for 10 years
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Lobsang (26)
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Tenzin
Chotso (34), from
Makans. She left Tibet 2 years ago. Responsible
for the offerings in the monastery
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Norbu in the kitchen
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The
monastery exists thanks to generous donations.
We thank you for your attention and the support you
will bring to this project.
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