Social Services

As COVID-19 continues to impact individuals and communities, beneficiaries of charitable services aren’t as able to access the aid they are accustomed to relying on. Here we share an update on how Lamp of the Path NGO, Mongolia, is managing the current reality of this crisis.

A blind beneficiary of clothing from Lamp of the Path NGO.

Lamp of the Path NGO (LOP), part of Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, has offered social services to some of the poor and homeless living in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia since 2003. Its main program is a soup kitchen which offers food as well as free medical support through a health clinic, which reopened in 2017. LOP helps bring awareness to the epidemic of alcoholism in Mongolia and offers tuberculosis checkups for the disadvantaged in the area.

Lamp of the Path soup kitchen in operation, January 2020, prior to the COVID-19 restrictions.

The soup kitchen typically feeds 50-70 people daily from Monday through Friday and during the winter season, service is offered on Saturdays as well. In Mongolia, the quarantine came into effect on January 27 and impacted Lamp of the Path immediately and directly. They were not allowed to operate the soup kitchen and experienced frequent police check-ups, warning letters and kind reminders about not having any public activities.

In February, they arranged a “window soup kitchen” with distribution of food (mainly bread and instant noodle soup) through the window. This was successful before their beneficiaries stopped coming, perhaps due to fear of the virus.

Soup being made for Lamp of the Path’s “soup window.”

In the meantime, they have shared a substantial amount of food with another NGO who is providing shelter for former alcoholics and people with disabilities. Since March, in cooperation with government social workers, they initiated a home visit project. Every week those from the NGO, or caseworkers, visit five poor families and distribute food according to a list provided by social workers. They have increased the number of beneficiaries since April by allowing one representative of a family to receive takeaway of freshly made soup from the premises once a week, ensuring there is a 30 minute period between serving each family. In addition, they have distributed many items of second-hand clothing that were received from Switzerland to members of the Mongolian Blind Association.

Lamp of the Path’s plan for May is to provide food to thirty families with visually impaired members who are most affected by the quarantine. Ten of these families each have four or more small children with visually impaired parents who have lost their source of income. The need is quite great.

In good news, their vegetable garden project is expanding and they have prepared a plot for planting potatoes for the first time.

FPMT Charitable Projects will continue updating you on how social service projects around the world are navigating these challenging times.  

Learn more about Lamp  of the Path NGO: www.fpmtmongolia.org/lamp-of-the-path-ngo

As COVID-19 continues to impact individuals and communities, beneficiaries of charitable services aren’t as able to access the aid they are accustomed to relying on. Here we share an update on how MAITRI Charitable Trust in Bodhgaya, India, is managing the current reality of this crisis.   

Distribution of aid at MAITRI Charitable Trust, May 7, 2020. Photo courtesy of Adriana Ferranti.                                                                                                                            

Since 1989, MAITRI Charitable Trust has been operating as a beneficial example of Dharma in action. MAITRI is a registered charitable trust in India working to support the poor and disadvantaged in the province of Bihar, India. 

As MAITRI has a hospital for leprosy and tuberculosis patients and an animal shelter on campus, they have been bound to continue their work to keep their beneficiaries fed and taken care of. This means they must pick up their vegetables by driving to the farmers along back pathways early in the morning, and on alternate days, collecting their grains, lentils, etc., from a different supplier by motorcycle on back roads negotiating the police.

The grounds maintenance staff are local and able to come to work so that basic services can be ensured. This is more difficult for the office staff, who live father away and have had to abide by different pass-through schedules.

What has been seriously affected by the pandemic is the field work and their clinics, as only a few patients have dropped in to get their monthly rations or treatment.  

Beneficiaries receiving care from MAITRI Charitable Project, May 7, 2020. Photo courtesy of Adriana Ferranti.

However, recently the paramedics have ventured out early in the morning for home delivery of treatment for current patients, particularly milk powder for malnourished babies.

MAITRI has been providing all the staff with face masks and daily Vitamin C to ensure safety.

MAITRI Director Adriana Ferranti gave the following recent report from Bodhgaya:

Mothers and babies receiving care from MAITRI, May 2020. Photo courtesy of Adriana Ferranti.

On May 7, the day of Buddha Purnima (Lord Buddha’s birthday), when great celebrations usually go on in the scorching heat for three days as pilgrims flock to Bodhgaya from all over India and the world, the Mahabodhi Temple remained closed to the public and only a few selected monks could offer prayers. The disappointment for the failed procession with patients and students and the 24 hour health camp was quickly replaced with a MAITRI-style celebration: the resumption of our field clinics, albeit in a humbler mode as the paramedics had to go by motorcycle and the clinic had to be over by 9 a.m. Thirty-six very happy patients attended the clinic and could finally resume treatment after one and a half months!

While this was going on in the field at 6:30 a.m. patients started arriving at MAITRI for their rations, both TB patients and mother-child care patients. They kept coming until 9:30 a.m., as the curfew would restart at 10 a.m. and enjoyed the recitation of mantras and sutras and the unusually balmy weather. Indeed, what a beautiful way to celebrate Buddha Purnima!

On May 9 the clinic had an attendance of 18 mothers-to-be and small children who had not received their treatment at home from the paramedical worker. Our patients still rely on us. 

FPMT Charitable Projects will continue updating you on how social service projects around the world are navigating these challenging times.  

Learn more about MAITRI Charitable Trust: www.maitri-bodhgaya.org/home 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche leading an animal liberation during a Vajrayogini retreat, Institut Vajra Yogini, Marzens, France, May 2019. Photo by Tsanka Petkova.

Benefiting animals in any way possible is a high priority for FPMT and one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the organization. 

The Animal Liberation Fund sponsored the liberations of approximately 84,356 animals at Kachoe Dechen Ling, California, and Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington State, in 2019. Since 2015, 812,455 small animals have been saved from untimely death by resident Sangha and taken around an incredible amount of holy objects, mantras were recited and blown on them and they were carefully placed where they could live out the rest of their life. When Sangha finish these liberations, they make strong prayers for all those who are sick, have recently died, or who have requested prayers. This is one of the most beneficial aspects of this practice as the merit is shared among so many. All are welcome to request prayers and dedications from the Sangha  for themselves or loved ones. In addition to the animal liberations in Washington State, the Sangha regularly bless the beings living in the lakes of this area. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Sangha blessing all the beings in a lake in Washington State, US, June 2018. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Charity to ants is offered in Washington State every week (other than during the Winter when the weather doesn’t allow it) by a resident monk. When he does his daily prayers, after each mala of mantras, he blows in a bottle of water and mixes this water with a very fine powder made of: tsampa (roasted flour), sugar, butter, and blessed (MANI) pills from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Then, he visits about twenty different ants’ nests around the retreat land and he does the practice of charity to ants by sprinkling this mixture on the ants’ nests while reciting mantras, in this way benefiting the ants. After one week all the mixture has been eaten by the ants. This practice started a few years ago when Ven. Holly Ansett found two ants’ nests on the retreat land in Washington and did this practice for them. Now it is being done every week.

Animal liberation is a specific practice done for animals which would otherwise be killed. The practice involves taking the animals-in-danger around holy objects to leave positive imprints in their minds, reciting mantras for them, blessing water to sprinkle onto their bodies, and then releasing them. This differs from general animal blessings which involve blessing any animal with mantras or a holy object. Animal blessings are, of course, wonderful to do for animals, but this is not what is meant by “animal liberations.” Animal liberation practice is an incredible practice for anyone who has illnesses or is experiencing life obstacles.

How to Benefit Insects and Other Small Beings: fpmt.org/lama-zopa-rinpoche-news-and-advice/advice-from-lama-zopa-rinpoche/how-to-benefit-insects-and-other-small-beings/

Benefiting Ants: fpmt.org/fpmt-community-news/news-around-the-world/benefiting-ants/

All are welcome to contribute to the Animal Liberation Fund to help ensure that our work sponsoring animal liberations around the world continues. 

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. 

Students of Sambhota Tibetan School Cauvery Valley Project, Bylakuppe, India.

Since 2014, the Social Services Fund has been offering grants to Sambhota Tibetan School Cauvery Valley Project (formerly called Central School for Tibetans CVP), located in Bylakuppe, South India. The school was established in 1971 to serve the children of refugees living at Dickey Larsoe Tibetan Settlement. 

These grants are for nutritious supplemental foods for all 200+ elementary, middle, and secondary students age 6-16 who attend the school. The funds allow the school to provide a healthy diet to the students. We are pleased to have offered US$8,030 to the school this year and hope to continue to offer support for years to come. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche also sponsored the complete renovation of the school’s kitchen in 2013. 

The Social Services Fund now invests in eight schools in disadvantaged areas, particularly in India and Nepal where children of Tibetan, Nepali, Sherpa, and Indian heritage are in dire need of education. This is one way that FPMT invests in the future and helps break the cycle of poverty faced among these ethnicities. 

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. 

Sangha members, Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery, Kathmandu, Nepal, April 2019. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Medicine-Buddha-Peter-Iseli

According to Rinpoche’s observations, the following was determined to be the most beneficial:

• Extensive Medicine Buddha Puja offered five times by Shu Cho Khangtsen of Drepung Gomang Monastery, Kopan Monastery, and Gyuto Tantric College
• Guhyasamaja root text recited four times by Kopan Lama Gyupas
• Kshitigarbha Sutra recited one time by the nuns of Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery
• Sutra of Golden Light recited eight times by Sangha in the USA
• Arya Sanghata Sutra recited five by Sangha in the USA
• Vajra Cutter Sutra recited four times by Yangsi Rinpoche

This is an ongoing and consistent way that FPMT is helping to mitigate possible damage to living beings caused by disasters of the elements. Tremendous thanks to all who are donating to make this possible, and offering prayers to help fulfill Rinpoche’s request. 

You can learn more about the Protecting the Environment and Living Beings Fund, keep up on the latest news, or contribute with a donation. 

Students of Sangag Dechholing Gonpa School.

Sangag Dechholing Gonpa School in Taplejung, Nepal, was established in 2007 to serve the Buddhist community in the area. Seven teachers currently educate eighty students, starting at age 3-4. The curriculum is taught in English and Nepali and focuses on modern subjects such as math and science, while being grounded in Buddhist teachings and culture. 

Sangag Dechholing Gonpa School provides a modern as well as Buddhist education to the students.

In 2016, Ven. Thubten Jikdol, a Kopan monk, in conjunction with the  School Management Committee and the local community, decided to expand the school to benefit more students in a bigger way. To help actualize this, three generous families donated land to the school. In the future, they intend to use this land for the school, a hostel, and an elderly home. 

Students of Sangag Dechholing Gonpa School.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche was very inspired by the work of this school and donated US$53,874 through the Social Services Fund in support of their work. 

This is the seventh school providing education to children of Tibetan, Nepali, Sherpa, and Indian heritage to which the Social Services Fund has offered financial assistance.  

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. 

Residents of Doeguling Elderly Home during a recent visit from His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin.

Doeguling Tibetan Refugee Settlement in Mundgod, India, consists of seven monasteries, twenty schools (from nursery to secondary), two homes for the elderly, several modern hospitals, a Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute, and various activities such as farming and craftwork.

Residents of Doeguling Home for Elderly and Disabled.

Since 2016 the Social Services Fund has been supporting the Doeguling Home for Elderly and Disabled which cares for eighty-six elderly residents of the settlement, some of whom are monks and nuns. Many of these residents are HIV +, have cancer, psychiatric problems, diabetics, and/or chronic arthritis. Much of the annual expenses of the home are medical.

In 2019 we were very happy offer a grant in the amount of US$73,020 toward their corpus fund which pays some of their annual operating budget. The corpus fund in the future will fully support the operating costs of the home from interest. They still have a long way to go but are slowly building up this fund and we are delighted to support them in creating long-term and sustainable car for the elders.

Please rejoice in the ongoing support to this elderly home which supports vulnerable Tibetans in Mundgod. Tremendous thanks to all who donate to this beneficial fund, making grants like this possible. 

FPMT Charitable Projects is honored to support the homes of the eldest and destitute Tibetan refugees. Please consider supporting the Social Services Fund.

The Community of Rabgayling Tibetan Settlement utilizing the hall sponsored by the Social Services Fund.

In 2015 a grant was offered from the Social Services Fund to Rabgayling Tibetan Settlement in Hunsur, India to build a community hall. The settlement is now actively utilizing this space for pujas, prayers, public talks, retreats, community events, workshops, and training of Tibetan language and culture.

This settlement, situated on 2,000 acres was established in 1971. 1,615 acres were designated for the cultivation of crops and 385 acres were intended for the villages, hospitals, schools and monasteries. The settlement began with 2,060 Tibetan refuges and the population has since increased to nearly 3,000. 

Community members enjoying a meal together in the settlement community hall.

Recently the settlement offered Lama Zopa Rinpoche a list of all the prayers which have so far been completed in the sponsored community hall.

We invite you to rejoice in all of these repetitions of very precious prayers and mantras, made possible by a grant from the Social Services Fund:

• Prayers to the Twenty-one Taras:  21,760 times
• OM MANI PADME HUM: 22,389,000 times
• Kings of Prayers: 340 times
• Barche Lamsel and Sampa Lhundup: 510 times
• 18 Arahat Prayer: 170 times
• Prayer for the Flourishing of the Nonsectarian Teachings of the Buddha: 170 times
• Prayer from the Bodhisattva’s Guide to Life: 170 times
• Sukhavati Prayer: 170 times
• Prayer to Chenrezig: 170 times
• His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Long Life Prayer: 2,210 times
• Prayer of the Words of Truth: 2,210 times

Community halls such as this are essential for the preservation of Tibetan heritage, particularly on a settlement made up of nearly 3,000 Tibetans. Please join us in rejoicing!

You are welcome to donate any amount to the Social Services Fund to help ensure that beneficial grants such as this are able to be offered in the future.

Students of Ngari Institute enjoying a meal.

The Social Services Fund has been supporting the school children and staff of Ngari Institute in Ladakh, India, since 2014. This year, a grant for US$26,682.61 was offered to cover the costs of daily meals for eighty-three students and staff members.

Ngari Institute is located in the Himalayan Kingdom of Ladakh in a small village called Saboo. The mission of this school is to empower and educate the poor and needy remote-area students by providing a combined learning of both modern scientific knowledge and ancient Buddhist wisdom.

The students receiving a lesson at Ngari Institute.

The students, who come from different parts of Ladakh and the border of Tibet, stay in a hostel while attending the school. Ngari Institute is taking care of all the students’ daily needs, offering free room, board, tuition, books, clothing allowances, and access to medical care.

Supporting schools is one way FPMT invests in the future and helps break the cycle of poverty in disadvantaged areas, particularly in India and Nepal where children of Tibetan, Nepali, Sherpa, and Indian heritage are in dire need of education. 

If you are inspired by grants such as this, you are welcome to contribute to the Social Service Fund and help ensure that work like this can continue. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Ven. Sangpo Sherpa liberating goats, Maratika Caves, Nepal.

In 2016 Lama Zopa Rinpoche saved three goats that were destined to be killed in Maratika, Nepal. The goats were blessed and offered animal liberation practice which includes various mantras, beneficial prayers, tying blessed red cloth around their necks, and several dedication prayers. Since then, another goat has been been liberated in dedication of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s long life. The goats are cared for by Poojari, who has been looking after liberated goats for high lamas for many years and was formerly the caretaker of Maratika Cave. The animals live in town, go out to pasture during the day, and are often seen at the cave.  They are fed well, get medical attention when needed, and prayers are done for them. 

The Animal Liberation Fund offered a grant of US$1,090 this year in support of these goats and continued support will be offered for the duration of the goats’ lives. 

Animal liberation practice is an incredible practice for anyone who has illnesses or is experiencing life obstacles. FPMT Education Services makes available many resources for those wishing to engage in this practice. 

Please rejoice in the ongoing support to these animals who were not only saved from death, but are continually being blessed and cared for so that positive imprints are made in their minds, contributing to a more fortunate rebirth. 

All are welcome to contribute to the Animal Liberation Fund to help ensure that our work sponsoring animal liberations around the world continues. 

His Holiness the Dalai Lama meeting an 82 year old Tibetan lady during Lam teachings in South India, 2015.

In recent years, due to the kindness of benefactors, the FPMT Social Services Fund has been able to offer support to elderly homes in India caring for Tibetans of advanced age who have no access to other means of support. Offering these grants to elderly homes is one way to help repay the kindness and bravery of the Tibetan people. There are many Tibetan elders in the exile community who have either been rendered destitute or whose families are not capable of taking care of them due to dire circumstances. In 2019 we were so happy to offer grants to five elderly homes and directly benefit to 370 elders.

In total, US$287,085.23 was offered in 2019.

This is the fourth year that FPMT has been offering substantial support to elderly homes in India. Without these homes, many elderly first-wave Tibetan refugees have very little prospect of accommodation or support as many are without families of their own.

We invite you to rejoice in some details about each of the homes we supported in 2019.

Jampaling Elder’s Home, Dharamsala.

Jampaling Elder’s Home, Dharamsala
Providing care to 124 destitute elders, this home offers accommodation, medication, monthly pocket money, and supplemental nutrition. The residents normally wake up at 5 a.m. and are served fresh tea and then set out on their morning walk then congregate at the prayer hall at 6 a.m. to perform daily prayers for about an hour before breakfast. Until lunch they spend leisure time reciting prayers and circumambulating the temple and large prayer wheel as well as engage in chores they enjoy such as clean and planting beautiful flowers around the home. We provided a grant for the shortfall of this home’s annual operating budget.

Lugsam Samduling Home for the Aged and Disabled, Bylakuppe.

Lugsam Samduling Home for the Aged and Disabled, Bylakuppe
This home has 36 elders including one resident who is 96 years of age. This year we provided a grant for the shortfall of annual operating budget for 2018 and 2019, plus new cushions and chairs and curtains needed on the premises.

Residents of Mundgod Home for the Elderly and Disabled, Mundgod.

Mundgod Home for the Elderly and Disabled, Mundgod
This home has 86 elders, some of which are HIV +, have cancer, psychiatric problems, diabetics, and/or chronic arthritis. A lot of the annual expenses are medical. This year we offered a grant toward their corpus fund which pays some of their annual operating budget. They are fundraising for this fund so that in the future it will fully support the operating costs of the home from the interest. We also offered another grant toward annual expenses, that they were not able to cover.

Residents of Hunsur Old Aged Home, Hunsur, Gurupura.

Hunsur Old Aged Home, Hunsur, Gurupura
This home provides accommodation for 20 elders, the eldest is 94 years old. This year we offered a grant toward this home’s annual operating budget shortfall.

Residents of Dhondenling Old Age Home, Kollegal.

Dhondenling Old Age Home, Kollegal
30 residents ranging in age from 59-96 receive care at this home. A grant was offered this year which went toward food, medical expenses, gas, staff expenses, and pocket money for the elders.

Tremendous thanks to all who make these grants to those in dire need possible by offering support to the Social Services Fund.

Since 2015 we have offered $819,671.76 directly to support Tibetan elder homes and communities in India

FPMT Charitable Projects is honored to support the homes of the eldest and destitute Tibetan refugees. Please consider supporting the Social Services Fund.