Emergency Relief Fund

Kopan Sangha preparing relief supplies for 300 families. Source: Kopan Monastery Facebook page.

The devastating floods that struck the border area of Tibet and Nepal on August 26 have caused immense suffering. According to the latest Nepal Government report, as of September 2, 1,204 people had lost their lives, 4,216 people remained missing, and 301 people had been injured. Thousands of people have been displaced, while homes and livelihoods have been destroyed, leaving many families facing an uncertain future. Children have been among those most deeply affected, with humanitarian organizations reporting growing concerns for vulnerable and orphaned children.

In response to the floods, FPMT established the FPMT Emergency Relief Fund to provide assistance to those affected. In cooperation with Kopan Monastery and Kopan Nunnery, the fund is already supporting emergency relief efforts for flood-affected families from Rasuwa.

Kopan monks distributing relief supplies to families from Ama Tsodinmo village. Source: Kopan Monastery Facebook page.

On September 1, rice and dal were provided for flood relief efforts through Budhanilkantha Municipality. On September 6, relief supplies—including mattresses, pillows, towels, and other daily necessities—were provided to 40 people from Ama Tsodinmo village in Rasuwa. On September 9, household kitchenware—including pots, pans, pressure cookers, cups, plates, and other items needed for preparing and serving meals—was provided to approximately 140 families affected by the floods. These families had traveled to Kathmandu from the flood-affected area and requested assistance.

Kopan Monastery providing essential kitchenware to around 140 families affected by the recent floods in Rasuwa. Source: Kopan Facebook page

Kopan Monastery providing essential kitchenware to around 140 families affected by the recent floods in Rasuwa. Source: Kopan Facebook page

These relief efforts have been made possible by Kopan Monastery and Kopan Nunnery and through the generosity of donors to the FPMT Emergency Relief Fund, together with the support of Kopan Helping Hands, Kleine Hilfe Deggendorf e.V., and many individuals and volunteers who have responded with open hearts to this crisis.

At present, the focus remains on meeting immediate and essential needs. As needs continue to be assessed and circumstances evolve, we hope that support can extend beyond immediate emergency relief and contribute to longer-term recovery wherever possible.

Kopan Sangha preparing relief supplies for 300 families. Source: Kopan Monastery Facebook page.

We offer our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported these efforts so far. Your kindness is already reaching families in need and bringing practical help, comfort, and hope during an extraordinarily difficult time.

We offer our sincere prayers for all those who have lost their lives in this devastating flood, and to all the families and communities who have been affected. Lama Zopa Rinpoche often reminded us that, even when circumstances seem overwhelmingly difficult, sincere prayer can have a profound effect. We have compiled Rinpoche’s key advice for natural disasters, along with prayers to do for those who have passed away.

The FPMT Emergency Relief Fund provides immediate support to communities connected with FPMT around the world. The fund assists people and families affected by natural disasters, emergencies at FPMT centers and projects, and other urgent situations where immediate help is needed.

Kopan Sangha offers prayers for all those who lost their lives in the Rasuwa floods on August 27.

People around the world have been deeply saddened by the devastating flash floods and mudslides that struck Nepal on August 26. The disaster has caused loss of life, injuries, displacement, and extensive damage in the Nepal-Tibet border region near the Rasuwagadhi-Gyirong crossing. Roads, transportation networks, and critical infrastructure have also been severely disrupted.

Devastation at the Nepal-Tibet border.

The floods are also affecting our community close to home. We are already in close contact with monks and nuns at Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu whose families have been directly affected by the flooding.

In addition to offering prayers (more information below), we can also express our compassion and concern through practical support. With the FPMT Emergency Relief Fund, we will work closely with Kopan Monastery to ensure that funds reach those facing the greatest challenges. 

The FPMT Emergency Relief Fund assists individuals and families affected by natural disasters, emergency situations at FPMT centers and projects, and other urgent crises requiring swift aid. FPMT is working directly with Kopan Monastery to identify those most in need and to help ensure that support reaches affected families directly. This is not the first time FPMT has supported Nepal’s communities in crisis. In the past, FPMT has responded to emergencies such as the 2015 Nepal earthquake and the 2024 Thame flood, providing direct support to Kopan Monastery, Lawudo Retreat Centre, and local communities. As more information becomes available, we will continue to share updates on the situation and how donations are being distributed.

We also want to share The Nepal Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund if you prefer to donate directly there. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche often reminded us that, even when circumstances seem overwhelmingly difficult, sincere prayer can have a profound effect. We’ve compiled some of Rinpoche’s key advice for natural disasters, which you are welcome to engage in as you are able.  Yesterday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama offered special prayers for victims of the recent floods:

Thank you to everyone who has been keeping the people (and all beings) of Nepal in their thoughts and prayers, and to all those offering their help at this difficult time. Knowing how to help in a positive way after a disaster can feel overwhelming. We hope these resources make it easy for anyone to make a meaningful difference.

The Social Services Fund, established to support Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization, focuses efforts primarily in India, Nepal, Tibet and Mongolia. Funds help children, the elderly, sick, and very poor.

Geshe Tsultrim Sherab and Gen Tsundu with some of the Thame residents who received essential aid at the Milanchok Thameychok Kidug Hall in Kathmandu, January 3, 2025.

We are very happy to report that on January 3, 2025, at the Milanchok Thameychok Kidug Hall in Kathmandu, we disbursed US$37,127 to 55 families from Thame, who were profoundly affected by the catastrophic flood caused by the bursting of a nearby glacial lake on August 16, 2024. These funds were raised through the Thame Support Fund. 

Thame, situated at an altitude of 12,450 feet (3,800 meters) with a population of 300 Sherpas, suffered immense devastation. The flood destroyed half the village, including houses, hotels, the school and health clinic plus essential infrastructure.

Thame families receiving essential aid at the Milanchok Thameychok Kidug Hall in Kathmandu, January 3, 2025.

Given that it is now winter and many of the families from Thame are in Kathmandu, the disbursement was carried out there and was kindly managed by Geshe Tsultrim Sherab and Gen Tsundu, from Kopan Monastery. Regarding the funds, 100,000 NPR (US$721) was offered to each of the 23 families who had completely lost their homes, while 50,000 NPR (US$360) was provided to each of the 32 families who suffered partial damage to their homes.

Please watch this heartfelt video message of gratitude from Geshe Tsultrim Sherab and Gen Tsundu of Kopan Monastery to all the supporters:

While this support is only a fraction of what is needed, many other groups and individuals have also been raising and disbursing funds for those in the Thame area. We hope that, together, these efforts will make a difference in the lives of those affected during this incredibly difficult time.

We are closely monitoring the situation in Thame and its ongoing needs. If future support can be directed toward the rebuilding of the school or health clinic, we will again try to help. We are closing the Thame Support Fund and any future needs will be managed by the Social Services Fund.

Our heartfelt thanks go to the many supporters who came together so quickly to offer assistance, as well as to Yeshe Norbu Appeal for Tibet Onlus in Italy for their generous contribution.

The Social Services Fund, established to support Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization, focuses efforts primarily in India, Nepal, Tibet and Mongolia. Funds help children, the elderly, sick, and very poor.

“The beautiful approach to Thame is completely washed away and instead there is a canyon of stones and gushing water from what are now three streams flowing through the village.”

“All these houses have suffered damage and some are damaged beyond repair.”

As previously reported, on August 16 of this year, the village of Thame, birthplace of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, was hit with a devastating flood which destroyed homes, community property, and everything owned or cherished by villagers. Remarkably, not a single life was lost, but the loss of everything else was immense. The river that used to flow next to the village now runs directly through it, taking up half the land. The ground is unstable with landslides and cracks. The future of the entire settlement remains completely uncertain. 

Venerable Sarah Thresher recently shared some photos, videos, and her reflections on the situation in Thame. This footage, and her thoughtful insight, really highlight the severity of the situation, and the need for all of our help:

“It was impossible not to feel a deep sadness surveying the damage in Thame as the whole landscape of the village has changed irreparably: potato fields are strewn with sand and boulders, houses and lodges have been swept away or irreparably damaged, and the land is cracking, unstable and subsiding.

“Right now, it’s hard to know what the future holds. But we found a community working together and striving to keep hope alive and rebuild and reopen despite the pain in their hearts—and your support really does make a difference.”

“First view of Thame … it’s still so beautiful despite the destruction. Such a special place.”

Video from the Yak Hotel, Thame Nepal:
https://youtube.com/shorts/_jPUafS4oxI?si=GzXrtG6zX8bYcXuJ

“[Regarding video]: This is the view from the back window of the Yak Hotel where I stayed in June. The dining room and kitchen were swept away along with the original house, new shower and toilet and the whole back garden and connected fields. The guesthouse is now perched over a roaring river and gutted… Behind, houses, the school, a clinic and guesthouse were washed away. It’s not even possible for the locals to say where they were located—the landscape has changed so much.”

Ruins of the Yak Hotel.

“Ruins of the Yak Hotel perched over the new river that has replaced a gentle stream flowing through green fields. To get to the hotel from Rinpoche’s house it is now necessary to climb down the bank of the river, clamber over huge boulders and then walk over a simple makeshift bridge.”

Video of view from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birth home and prayer wheel:
https://youtube.com/shorts/MSY4UDj1N8Y?si=oDcGUTURAP0oOBjT

“[Regarding the video]: The view from Rinpoche’s birth house and the prayer wheel. Potato fields are now strewn with sand and boulders and houses washed away.”

Ani Tsultrim praying at Rinpoche’s throne in his birth home, Thame, Nepal.

“Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birth house which is now a makeshift restaurant and hotel for Rinpoche’s relatives who lost the Yak Hotel. Here is Ani Tsultrim praying to Rinpoche’s throne as the early morning sunlight streams through the window.”

View from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birth house.

“View from the prayer wheel, which was sponsored by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Rinpoche’s sister Anila Ngawang Samten, and Rinpoche’s house.”

Video of the view of Thame from the ridge and Tara Temple:
https://youtube.com/shorts/NWsHg0PwSNk?si=hfz8BWfdn1dufrpk

“[Regarding video]: The view of Thame from the ridge and Tara Temple above. The houses hugging the ridge are okay but the view is deceptive because many of these fields and house are unstable and sinking and cracking—no longer habitable. The future is uncertain. As the camera pans around you see how the village is now cut by three rivers which have formed gullies and the upper part of the village is now fields strewn with boulders and sand.”

Kayla and Yangchen of Thame’s Yak Hotel. “We laugh and smile but there is pain in our hearts.”

“Kayla and Yangchen are trying to rebuild their lives amid all the uncertainty, making a place for trekkers and pilgrims to eat and stay. They lost their Yak Hotel in the flash flood and were lucky to be able to run for their lives and survive. ‘We laugh and smile but there is pain in our hearts,’ Kayla told me.

“No matter how much you hear about it nothing prepares you for the devastation of Thame when you see it.”

With grateful thanks to Ven. Sarah Thresher for these words, photos, and video. 

How to Help

In response to this crisis, the Thame Support Fund has been established to provide essential aid to the residents of Thame and support their future needs. The fund will be administered through Kopan’s Helping Hands, who will work directly with the community to assess and address their needs. Please consider offering support at this most critical time: https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/thame/

Please watch and read about a recent interview with a Thame family who describe their experience, and the uncertain situation of Thame. 

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service. 

One of the many houses devastated by the recent flooding in Thame, Nepal.

On August 16, 2024, the serene Himalayan village of Thame, birthplace of our kind guru Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, faced an unprecedented calamity. Two Thyanbo glacial lakes burst their banks, unleashing a devastating flood that would forever alter the landscape and lives of its inhabitants. This glacial lake outburst flood struck with fierce intensity at 1:30 p.m., leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The flood’s impact was immediate and severe. many homes crumbled under the torrent’s force, while the village’s elementary school and clinic – pillars of community life – were swept away.

Image of the flooding in Thame.

In the aftermath, the villagers found themselves displaced, their lives upended in mere moments. The disaster buried the settlement under a mountain of debris, leaving no ground for immediate rebuilding.

Yet, amidst this chaos, a miracle unfolded. Remarkably, not a single life was lost. However, while lives were spared, Thame now faces an uncertain future. The river that used to flow peacefully by the village now runs right through it, taking up half the land. The ground is still dangerous, with landslides and cracks appearing. This ongoing instability endangers even those few houses that initially escaped the flood’s wrath, making the future of the entire settlement uncertain.

Thame family at Kopan Monastery, who shared their experience, needs, and concerns following the Thame flood.

Recently Mingma Rita Sherpa and his family came from Thame to make prayers in front of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s kudung (holy body) at Kopan Monastery and we took this opportunity to interview them. Please watch the video of the interview. They explained the immediate needs now and then the longer-term needs, and that they are waiting to understand what will happen and if they can be relocated as well as possible allocated lands. We share below some of the more profound statements from this interview (lightly edited), and we encourage you to watch the full interview to understand the scope of their experience and how we can help.

Describing the experience of the flood: 

“At first, we saw that this flood is not that strong, it’s not so big, we thought we’re safe now, it’s not so much damage in the ‘village, but again, such an unfortunate thing happened, a second flood came, and this flood was much stronger, then the previous ones. … Most of the many houses have been damaged and people were unable to save their belongings, their property and many other things. Because they were so worried, and just trying to save themselves, they ran away. … We never expected these unbelievable things. Then the flood came again and then again, the third time was the strongest, from the top it slowly swept away the village and this was really a tragedy. We could not think, it was just like a dream, we could not believe it.

“People were worried and crying, they are facing so many problems and difficulties. In the location where the Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s stupa is [Thametang Stupa] and the Mani Prayer Wheel [sponsored by Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s sister Anila Ngawang Samten], that side was not affected much by the flood. We believe that it was protected because of this Mani Prayer Wheel, as that area was not affected as much.”

Explaining some of the turmoil, loss, and devastation: 

“All the things have been destroyed within a few minutes, and we were not even able to save our shoes, we just ran away, and many have even left their own shoes and had to run away. … We cannot believe it, or we cannot accept, what to really believe at first. We have been rescued by the local government and we stayed there. Of course, all the people were crying, everyone was crying, and not able to think about what had just happened. Whatever they have owned in their lifetime, everything has gone away, all has been destroyed by floods. … Unbelievable things happened, and of course we cannot imagine this, and we cannot think of this happening, and so we feel so sad, even now just remembering these things.”

Regarding the plans for rebuilding and recovering from this disaster:

“There are four or five lakes. They are not protected. Also now global warming is creating disasters everywhere in the world. … Now the government wants to rebuild Thame, but not at the same places, and they are trying to move to some other areas. Until now they have appointed the area Hungo Tengma which means upper Hungo behind southern Thame, and the government wants to rebuild Thame on the other side. That decision is not really fixed, but they are trying to rebuild Thame, but I don’t know if they will do or not. And also, ourselves we are not going to build at the moment because the route from Namche to Thame is not quiet [stable].

In Thame, half of the people are farmers, they have yaks and naaks [female yaks], and others have many other cattle. If we move to Zarog that’s too far to get cattle and that’s why some people are saying it’s a bad idea, and the best idea is upper Hungo, which is nearby, 15 minutes from Thame. But there is a problem with the drinking water. There’s no drinking water, that’s a problem, but otherwise the landscape is good really.”

A plea to take global warming and the protection of our environment seriously: 

 “In my opinion that we know, everybody in the world knows, that [the issue is] global warming, climate change, it continues to get warmer and warmer. Even in the winter we didn’t get any snow this winter, not only this winter, the last two years we didn’t get any snow in the winter. And in summer there was a lot of rain, and sometimes so hot, sometimes too much rain, and that means we are feeling the climate change. … I want to request everywhere in the world, everybody has to protect the environment. There are many, many factories, much smoke [pollution], and the countries who are strong, they create a lot of pollution. And even in our country we have to protect the environment, we have to plant more trees, and we have to protect cultures, also our culture’s environment. That’s why we also we have to protect our natural culture like Dharma and the language. … I think everybody, we all have to protect the environment.”

Insight into needs at this time:

“So now even material things, these things will not work there because the land is totally unstable, kind of unusable. If we could have [support] or some support with the money, with cash, we think that this is the best support now, and with that money we can have some other place.  At the moment the highest priority is having money, rather than material things, trying to support to rebuild our house, all this is not working. If someone helps with cash, that is most useful for us.”

Extracted and edited for reading from an interview at Kopan Monastery, September 2024. A rough transcript of the full interview is also available. Watch the full interview with Mingma Rita Sherpa and his family:

How to Help

In response to this crisis, the Thame Support Fund has been established to provide essential aid to the residents of Thame and support their future needs. The fund will be administered through Kopan’s Helping Hands, who will work directly with the community to assess and address their needs. Please consider offering support at this most critical time.

We will provide updates on the needs and how the funds are distributed. We are sincerely requesting everyone to hold the Thame families in their hearts, as they have lost everything, including their livelihoods, homes, and land. They need our help: https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/thame/

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service. 

Flood of August 16 tearing through a village on the way to Namche Bazaar, Nepal. Photo courtesy of Khabarhub.

Co-director of Lawudo Retreat Centre, Frances Howland reports on the flood that struck the village of Thame, Nepal, birthplace of Lama Zopa Rinpoche:

In a tragic event, the village of Thame in the Solu Khumbu district of Nepal, was devastated by a catastrophic flood on August 16, 2024. Thame holds a special place in our hearts as the birthplace of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche. It is also the home to many Kopan monks and nuns including Charok Lama, and a number of legendary mountain climbers.

The flood was triggered by a sudden glacial lake outburst. This sent a torrent of water hurtling down the mountain slopes, filled with mud and debris, the water surged down with a deafening roar, giving villagers just enough time to flee to safer, higher ground.

Miraculously there was no loss of human life, had it happened at night human casualties would likely have been unavoidable. Thame, at 12,450 feet (3,800 meters) usually has a population of 300 Sherpa people who depend mostly on trekking and mountaineering for their livelihood. Due to the off-season for tourism, there were few people in the village.

Some of the devastation from the flood in Thame village, August 16, 2024. Photo courtesy of Khabarhub.

Villagers left behind their houses, hotels, animals, and everything they owned. About half of the village has been destroyed or severely damaged, including the school and health clinic, plus vital infrastructure. The dam and hydroelectric plant that provide electricity to the whole valley, including Lawudo Retreat Centre and the main town of Namche Bazaar, were severely damaged. Several bridges were washed away and the walking trail to Thame was swept away.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birth house, and the prayer wheel next to it, were spared. Water came up to the prayer wheel house but did not enter inside. The prayer wheel, inaugurated in 2022, contains 100 trillion mantras on microfilm. Rinpoche lived his early years in Thame village with his family, until he was recognized at a young age as the reincarnation of the Lawudo Lama, Kunzang Yeshe, who was also from Thame, but had spent his later life meditating in the Lawudo cave.

The ancient, historic Thame Monastery located high up on the ridge was unaffected by the flood.

Thame was also seriously damaged during the 2015 earthquake. Almost all of the homes in the area were damaged or destroyed and several people died. The Thame Stupa was then rebuilt under Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s financial assistance and direction, completed in 2020. It is located over the ridge in Thame Teng, this area was not affected by the flood.

The Lawudo Retreat Centre, a couple of hours walk from Thame, the home of Rinpoche’s previous incarnation, is home to Rinpoche’s sister, Anila Ngawang Samten. A number of FPMT sangha are currently in retreat there.  Lawudo has no electricity due to the flood, but it was not affected by the floodwaters as it lies further down the valley high up on a ridge. 

Immediately following the disaster, the Nepal Police and Army were dispatched to help and rescued some trapped animals. In the following days the local people salvaged any personal belongings they could find in the mud and debris that was left behind. However, questions remain about the safety of rebuilding in this area. There are several glacial lakes above Thame. These lakes forming, becoming larger, and then bursting has become increasingly common in the Himalayas due to rising global temperatures.

A video clip of this devastating flood can be viewed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwJb34aOx7Y

FPMT International Office, through the Social Services Fund, is working with Kopan Helping Hands to offer support directly on the ground in Thame, where it is most needed now and in the future as the situation and urgent needs become clearer. Please consider offering support at this most critical time: 
https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/thame/

Please look for more information regarding this coming soon. 

With grateful thanks to Frances Howland for providing the FPMT community with this moving report.

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service. 

Aid being distributed to those i need in Nepal thanks to grants offered through the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund.

Following the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, FPMT International Office established the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund to help raise funds for basic necessities needed such as food, water, tents, bedding, and medical aid to many who lost everything in remote regions.

Later on, grants were also given to rebuild a number of monasteries and nunneries that were damaged or destroyed such as Shri Sengedrak Ngedhon Samten Choeling Retreat Center, a Kagyu nunnery; Pema Choeling Monastery; Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery; Khumjung Gompa; Lawudo Retreat Centre; Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery (Kopan Nunnery); and Kopan Monastery. 

Substantial grants were also given in support of the incredible efforts of Kopan Helping Hands which helped over 19,000 families in various effected areas through the effort of 150 monks and nuns; and in support of the amazing work of Losang Namgyal Rinpoche’s NRFoundation which helped the people of Tamang after the earthquake.

Damage from the 2015 earthquake in Nepal was extensive and the need for aid was great.

Please rejoice that US$2,140,930.73 was disbursed from this fund thanks to the generosity of many kind individuals around the world. You can read about the various grants offered and the impact on the communities they served. 

This specific fund is now closed, however, work of this nature continues through the Social Services Fund which offers beneficial support such as grants to aged care facilities and schools primarily in India, Nepal, and Mongolia; and if we need further funds for any future catastrophes similar to the earthquake, it will come from this fund.

Tremendous thanks to all who donated to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund enabling us to offer an incredible amount of aid to those in need following the disaster. 

If you would like to support the Social Services Fund and help ensure grants such as this can continue, you can read more about the charitable projects this fund supports or donate any amount to the fund itself. 

Pema Choeling Monastery suffered severe damage following the 2015 earthquake.

Pema Choeling Monastery has stood above the village of Phakding for more than 500 years. Phakding is a small village in the Khumbu region of Nepal. It is just north of Lukla.

Pema Choeling Monastery has stood above the village of Phakding for more than 500 years.

The monastery suffered severe damage following the massive earthquake and aftershocks of 2015. Rooms, the kitchen, and gompa had to be completely rebuilt. The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund recently offered US$15,000 to rebuild the gompa. 

To date US$923,822 has been offered to toward rebuilding and disaster relief following the 2015 Nepal earthquakes.

Beautiful and traditional paintwork being offered on the new gompa at Pema Choeling Monastery.

Please rejoice that this historic and important monastery has received the support it needs to rebuild and continue serving as a place of refuge for the resident monks to study, practice, and live in the monastic vows. This grant was made possible due to the kindness of so many people who immediately wanted to offer support after the devastating earthquake. Thank you to all who contributed.

If you would like to support the Social Services Fund and help ensure grants such as this can continue, you can read more about the initiatives this fund supports or donate any amount to the fund itself. 

Group photo from the fourth meditation course held at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, 1973. Photo by Christine Lopez.

At the end of last year we reported on the extensive rebuilding needed at Kopan Monastery and Nunnery following the devastating April 2015 earthquake in Nepal. 

Chenrezig Gompa prior to the earthquake damage.

Kopan Monastery is FPMT’s most precious destinations as the very first FPMT teachings happend there with Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche in the early seventies.  Since the early days of the organization, this Chenrezig Gompa has been a place for new and old students to connect or reconnect to the Dharma. The gompa was severely damaged in the earthquake. In response to the damage, engineers from Taiwan flew to Kopan to professionally evaluate the structural damages to buildings. Based on their advice, the entire Chenrezig gompa was pulled down and is being rebuilt. The foundation has now been laid and construction has begun.  

There are more buildings at Kopan that still need to be completely rebuilt or extensively  repaired due to the earthquake and these repairs will be happening soon.

The foundation of the new Chenrezig Gompa being rebuilt at Kopan Monastery.

Kopan Nunnery is currently the largest Tibetan nunnery in Nepal with 400 nuns. The nunnery provides full scholarship for the nuns, which includes education, accommodation, health care and food.

One of the ways the nunnery supports itself is by making incense. The building used for making the incense (which was a newly completed building at the time of the earthquake),  was completely damaged and had to be rebuilt following the earthquake destruction. 

All of this rebuilding is due to the generosity of donors who so kindly contribute to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund and there is still extensive need for rebuilding at Kopan Monastery and Nunnery as well as Lawudo and we will continue to support  this in whatever way we can.

Thanks to all who have contributed to this fund and to those who feel moved to do so in the future. With everyone’s help, these most precious FPMT institutions can be rebuilt soon so the Sangha, teachers, and students who depend on them can benefit for many, many years to come. 

All are welcome to donate to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund. 
https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/

You can learn more about Lawudo Gompa and the history of Lawudo. 
https://lawudo.com/About

The nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery were forced into temporary shelter due to their nunnery being rendered uninhabitable following the April earthquake in Nepal.

A young nun of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery .

Following the earthquake of April, 2015, the conditions at Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery (also known as Bigu Nunnery), located in a remote area of Nepal, were such that the nuns living there had to evacuate and take up temporary shelter in Kathmandu. The earthquake destroyed all of the buildings at the nunnery and there was no safe housing for the seventy-five nuns. Additionally, there was no accessible health care facility or place for the nuns to study as all roads were blocked due earthquake destruction. 

The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund was recently able to offer US$5,875 to the nuns, to help with food and health care needs while they are in their temporary shelter in Khatmandu. 

These nuns have been offering two 100 million mani retreats every year, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been supporting this through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund; the sponsorship of 100 million mani retreats is one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization. The nuns are still engaged in this retreat while in Kathmandu, 200 million mani mantra recitations are nearly finished. 

You can learn more about the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund and the support it has offered following the Nepal earthquake, the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, or about the 100 million mani retreats that the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery have offered in alignment with Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Vision for FPMT.

The Kopan Nunnery gompa is now being renovated thanks to grants received by many generous donors and the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund.

Earlier this week we reported on rebuilding which is now underway at Kopan Monastery due to severe damage sustained at the monastery by the earthquake and aftershocks in April 2015. 

Rebuilding has also begun at Kopan Nunnery which also experienced extensive damage. The nunnery is currently renovating the gompa, and several walls are being demolished, rebuilt, and renovated as well.  

Structural damage to Kopan Nunnery was sustained but renovation and rebuilding has now begun.

The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund has contributed to these efforts  thanks to the generous contributions of many kind donors. You can read a recent email report sent to those who have donated to the fund which presents details of money raised and how grants have been utilized. 

Please rejoice in this rebuilding and renovation work happening at Kopan Nunnery which is currently the largest Tibetan nunnery in Nepal with 400 nuns. The nunnery provides full scholarship for the nuns, which includes education, accommodation, health care and food.

To learn more and offer support to FPMT’s Nepal Earthquake Support Fund: https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/

For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,”:
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/

The Chenrezig gompa was in the original “old house” at Kopan, pictured here in 1969, until a new gompa was built in the 1990s. Photo courtesy of Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

The Chenrezig gompa at Kopan Monastery is one of FPMT’s most precious destinations.  Since the early days of the organization, this gompa has been a place for new and seasoned students to engage with the Dharma, strengthen their practice, and connect and reconnect with Dharma family old and new. The gompa was severely damaged in the April 2015 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks that struck Nepal. Due to a very kind benefactor, a team of engineers from Taiwan flew to Kopan to professionally evaluate the structural damages to buildings. Based on their advice, the entire Chenrezig gompa was pulled down and is being rebuilt. 

The Chenrezig gompa was severely damaged due to the earthquake but is now being rebuilt.

Many donors generously came to Nepal’s aid through the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund which was set up by FPMT International Office immediately following the earthquake as a way to help raise funds for both short-term relief needs and long-term rebuilding plans. 

Huge thanks to all who have contributed to the rebuilding efforts in Nepal, and please rejoice in the rebuilding of this gompa so that it can benefit students far into the future. To date the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund has been able to contribute US$235,400 in initial aid relief and US$608,000 in grants for rebuilding efforts. 

You can read a recent report on the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund to learn more about the ways this fund has contributed to short-term aid and long-term rebuilding needs in Nepal.