Projects Supported by Thrangu Rinpoche
Tara Abbey Nunnery
Tara Abbey, which was founded in 1992, provides monastic
support for 114 nuns from Tibet, and the Himalayan regions
of Nepal. It is located in Swayambhu at the western end of
Kathmandu Valley. Most of the nuns come from very poor families
with almost no access to education. Now many of the young
nuns are either attending school or classes at the nunnery
to learn to read and write in English, Tibetan and Nepalese
as well as receiving a general education.
Thrangu
Tashi Choling Monastery (Nepal)
Thrangu Tashi Choling, Boudhanath, Nepal: In 1982 Thrangu
Rinpoche built his first monastery outside of Tibet in the
Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. The Thrangu Tashi Choling Monastery
in Boudhanath is the center of monastic life for nearly 250
monks. This means they receive complete training in the Dharma,
learning and practicing all aspects. They also take turns
learning the different jobs of the monastery each year, including
such things as discipline master, shrine master, and even
cooking and management of the monastery. Eventually, those
that take full ordination will study in the shedra and also
do the traditional three year, three month, three day retreat
training.
Thrangu
Tashi Choling Monastery (Tibet)
Thrangu Tashi Choling, Tibet: Since the late 1980's Thrangu
Rinpoche has been overseeing the rebuilding of his monastery
in Tibet. The temple, monks quarters, the Stupa, and shedra
(monastic college) are now completely restored and at this
time there are 135 monks in residence. This dharmic activity
is not only a benefit for the monks themselves but is a long
awaited and welcome activity for the people of the region.
Namo
Buddha Monastic College and Retreat Centre
Namo Buddha, which is located in the mountains
about 2 ½ hours from Kathmandu, is one of the most
important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal and one of the
holiest in this part of the world. It is known as the place
where the Buddha, in a previous life as a prince, gave his
body to a starving tigress and her cubs. There is a very old
temple in the village of Namo Buddha, located below Thrangu
Rinpoche’s land, which sits on the top of the mountain.
Several lamas have determined that the actual site where the
Buddha gave his body is actually on Thrangu Rinpoche’s
property near the retreat center. There is a cave with statues
of the prince, the tigress and the cubs on this site. Namo
Buddha is otherwise known by Tibetans and people of the Himalayan
regions as “Takmo Lu Jin”, which is literally “Tigress
Body Generosity”.
Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche has built a retreat center, a college
for higher Buddhist studies (Shedra), a translation and publication
house, a house for the office and staff and several guesthouses.
As well, a new temple is under construction. Because of the
sacredness of this place the temple is beautiful, elegant
and filled with symbolic meaning. Two new dormitories have
just been completed to house the shedra students.
Namo
Buddha Medical Clinic
" It is my wish that the medical clinic serve all
the people living in the poor and isolated area surrounding
Namo Buddha. Women, children, laborers, and the elderly all
benefit from this very needed service. Please support this
project." Thrangu Rinpoche
Vajra
Vidya Institute
In the fall of 1999, Thrangu Rinpoche completed his project
to build an institute of buddhist studies in Sarnath near
Varanasi. Sarnath is where the Lord Buddha first turned the
wheel of the dharma for sentient beings. It is a very auspicious
place for learning. There are many great buddhist universities
such as Sanskrit University and Tibetan Vajrayana University
located there. His Holiness Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche was working
on plans to build his monastery there but passed away before
starting construction. Thrangu Rinpoche feels by building
his institute, it would please the mind of Jamgon Kongtrul
Rinpoche. The institute is to be called the Vajravidya Institute
which was the name of the sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa. It means
"indestructible knowledge".
|
