Social Services

Repairs and improvements are needed and underway at Lawudo Retreat Centre, Nepal.

The Lawudo Retreat Centre, situated high in the Himalayan mountains of eastern Nepal, holds particular significance for FPMT. Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the reincarnation of the Lawudo Lama, Lama Kunzang Yeshe, who lived and practiced in Lawudo until his passing at age 81. The Lawudo Retreat Centre was built over several years and completed in 1972 under direction from Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The gompa was built so that young monks in the area could receive a good education with favorable conditions. Since that time, Rinpoche’s mother (who passed away in 1991), sister Anila Ngawang Samten, and brother Sangay Sherpa have cared for the Lawudo Lawudo Retreat Centre and welcomed pilgrims, retreatants and locals to this extremely blessed and remote place. 

Lawudo’s old gompa was severely damaged in the April 2015 earthquake.

The property suffered damage from the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks which struck in April 2015 and a considerable amount of repair and rebuilding has been needed in response. Additionally, other improvements and renovations have long been needed at the center and these projects are also being undertaken. For example, a new room is being built for Lama Zopa Rinpoche so when Rinpoche is visiting, he can be offered a proper accommodation complete with a bathroom.  The old gompa was also in need of renovation, and the mani prayer wheel house needed reconstruction. These improvements are underway as well. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s new room at Lawudo will be built on the ground floor and feature a built in bathroom.

The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund has been helping support the rebuilding and renovations needed at Lawudo, and there are still many repairs to be made. All are welcome to participate in the improvements needed on this very precious property. 

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

You can learn more about Lawudo Gompa and its history at Lawudo.com.

Some of the students of Sagarmatha Secondary School in Chailsa, Nepal.

For the past two years, Kopan Monastery has taken on the responsibility of supporting Sagarmatha Secondary School in Chailsa, Nepal. The school is located on what was once a Tibetan refugee camp and currently serves 120 young students. 

A foundation caring for Tibetan refugees, The Snow Lion Foundation, previously helped fund teacher salaries, caretaker salaries, education materials, office materials, extracurricular activities, and utilities; but this funding is no longer available to the school and the school was prepared to close. Parents of the children, who are ethnically Tibetan or Sherpa and come from meager means, requested Kopan to accept management of the school. Kopan had previously taken on management of Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery, and the Maitreya Children’s Home, a hostel for nearly fifty children. Understanding that education key for breaking the cycle of poverty, Kopan accepted the request to take on responsibility for the school as well. 

Two years ago, Kopan Monastery took on responsibility for Sagarmatha Secondary School.

While the school does receive some income from student registration and donations, the amount received is only enough to cover some operational expenses, maintenance, emergencies, and scholarships for highly gifted, special needs, and poor children. Private funding is needed for this school to operate. 

The Social Services Fund is very pleased to offer US$37,623 to this school to cover half of 2015’s shortfall expenses, and all of 2016’s. 

Sagarmatha Lower Secondary School is a government-registered school which means it is recognized by the Nepal government and can participate in nationwide exit exams. The school has to expand to best support students. Without expanding, children will have to go to boarding school in Kathmandu to finish their educations. This is prohibitively expensive for many local families and these children would simply have to drop out of school once their education at Sagarmatha Secondary School finishes. In 2016, grades 1-6 are accommodated. In 2017 this will classes will be offered through grade 7. Going forward, one grade per year will be added so the school can expand slowly. 

Please rejoice that this school is now funded through 2016. Access to quality education is extremely important for these young children’s future. Please consider helping us support this school in 2017. US$25,831 needs to be raised to cover this commitment next year. 

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. 

Rolwaling Monastery is the main monastery in Rolwaling, located in Nepal along the Tibetan border, and is a precious site of cultural and religious heritage for the area.

Earlier this year we reported that due to a donation from a generous benefactor, a substantial grant had been offered from the Social Services Fund to Rolwaling Monastery in Nepal, at the Tibet border, for the rebuilding of their gompa which was nearly destroyed in the 2015 earthquake. The buildings were already in poor condition (the gompa hadn’t been renovated since 1957), and the destruction of the earthquake proved too much for the structures to withstand. 

Laying the foundation for the new gompa.

For many in the surrounding community, the monastery gompa is more important than their own homes. It was reported that when assistance was offered to locals to help rebuild their houses following the earthquake, many locals became very emotional, making statements such as, “Please help us save the gompa, we don’t mind staying in open spaces or living in caves, but we can’t see our gompa in ruins.” This monastery is particularly precious to FPMT as Lama Zopa Rinpoche attended this monastery between the ages of 7-12.

Work on the main gompa is underway with the foundation now laid and the wall paintings secured. Relics, statues, and texts have all been moved to the new building. 

Rolwaling Sangag Choling is a community-centered monastery and its history spans about nine generations. It is the only monastery in the entire community of Sherpa Buddhists. Please rejoice in the rebuilding progress made possible by this generous grant from a kind benefactor. Restoring this monastery helps preserve the local culture and reestablish the monastery as a place for Buddhist practice and community.

The Social Services Fund also offered a grant to the monastery school to help with a youth hostel and repairs following the earthquake. 

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. 

Rabagayling Tibetan Settlement community gathering for a 100 million mani retreat in their new community hall, sponsored by the Social Services Fund.

The completed community hall at Rabagayling Tibetan Settlement in South India.

In July we reported that a new community hall at Rabagayling Tibetan Settlement in South India was completed. The Social Services Fund provided a grant for this new building which will be used by by 2,710 refugees. 

We are delighted to share that in August this community commenced a 100 Million Mani Retreat in the new building! One of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for FPMT is for 100,000 of these beneficial retreats to be completed. Rinpoche sent the following message to the community upon hearing about this retreat beginning:

“I was very happy to hear this news, this mani retreat is most needed, most important, not for only for the people attending  but for all  sentient beings, even the ants and slugs and all sentient beings. It is for peace and happiness and peerless happiness enlightenment -Sangye: the total cessation of all the obscurations and completion of all the realizations.”

Please rejoice in this incredible retreat undertaking. This new building was needed to accommodate the community engaging in group practices such as this, and we’re so pleased that they are quickly utilizing it for such auspicious activities. 

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. 

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. 
http://www.lawudo.com/About

Tara Home at Land of Medicine Buddha, Soquel, CA, USA.

Tara Home, located at Land of Medicine Buddha in Soquel, California, is a home for terminally ill people entering their last few months of life. Around-the-clock compassionate care is provided by trained volunteers.

Tara Home relies completely on donations to cover the monthly costs of rent, insurance, telephone, supplies, and paid caregivers when volunteers are not available. Care is prioritized for those who do not have family support, so procuring donations for needed care is essential.  

Residents of Tara Home are offered spiritual care as well as material care and comfort. Two large prayer wheels are located just outside the hospice so those in the home can easily access them, and resident Sangha offer prayers daily on location. This provides the residents with the ability to easily generate merit and receive blessings for their minds, even in the final stages of life when they may be physically weak and unable to exert much energy. 

Comfortable accommodation is provided at Tara Home for those in their final months of life.

The Social Services Fund recently offered a grant to Tara Home, to assist in their compassionate ongoing work. Please rejoice in this most essential work being done to care for those who need kindness and support as they pass on from this life. 

All are welcome to donate directly to Tara Home. 

The Social Services Fund was established to help children, the elderly, sick and the very poor by offering grants for schools, hospices, health clinics, soup kitchens, elderly homes, orphanages and much more.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche blessing the animals of JAST in Thimbu.

Jangsa Animal Saving Trust (JAST), established in 2000 in Bhutan, is a non-profit charity founded on Buddhist principles of animal activism. JAST currently cares for hundreds of animals across ten provinces. Bulls, yaks, sheep, pigs, goats, ducks, dogs, and fish are saved from terrible conditions and death and then given proper care and nursing, and exposure to Buddhist teachers and ordained Sangha helping to create a a positive mental imprint on the animals to meet the Dharma in the future. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently visited one of these rescue houses in Thimbu where 60 dogs and 11 large pigs are taken care of. Rinpoche blessed the animals with mantras and prayers and also offered US$5,000 to JAST for their ongoing work. The sanctuary was set up with small dog houses and a large grassy area for exercise and play. Please enjoy this short video of Rinpoche blessing the dogs. 

During this visit Rinpoche commented, “Saving even one animal can create good karma for all sentient beings but Jangsa has saved thousand and thousands. The work of Jangsa is even greater than that of the powerful leaders of America or Russia. So please keep it up!” 

JAST members rescuing the distraught dogs from the side of the road.

In June, JAST responded to a report that sacks of more than 100 dogs were thrown along a highway close to Thimphu. Twenty of the dogs were dead when JAST arrived and the others were weak, injured, traumatized, and aggressive from the stress. Most of these dogs will be permanently moved to the Jangsa Animal Shelter in Serbithang, Thimphu. This service to these animals, who have been shown unbelievable cruelty, is incredible precious and kind. 

The dogs who lived through the traumatic ordeal were hungry, injured, and traumatized. Here they enjoy a meal.

Bulls under the care of JAST receiving blessings from Sangha.

Please rejoice in the compassionate activity of Jangsa Animal Saving Trust. These animals have no one to rely on and through this organization they are given care, attention, and Dharma imprints. 

The US$5,000 grant was made possible through the Animal Liberation Fund, and all are encouraged to donate directly to JAST, to help them continue this most valuable work. 

The 2,710 refugees of Rabagayling Tibetan Settlement were in need of a community space for members to practice and meet together.

Earlier this year we reported that a grant had been offered to Rabagayling Tibetan Settlement in South India for the building of a new community hall to be used by 2,710 refugees. 

Please rejoice that that construction on this building has been completed and members of the settlement will begin 100 million mani retreats there soon. 

The new community hall will be able to accommodate the members of Rabagayling Tibetan Settlement.

Due to a grant from the Social Services Fund, this new community hall will provide community space for the Rabagayling Tibetan Settlement.

Members of the elderly home at Rabagayling Tibetan Settlement are offered food through a grant from the Social Services Fund.

The new building will serve this Tibetan community for years to come and will be used for holding retreats as well as official functions, workshops, and training in Tibetan language and culture, which is critical for the preservation of the Tibetan heritage.

This settlement also has an elder care home. The Social Services Fund provides a grant for three nourishing meals daily for the twenty elderly Tibetan residents and four staff. Funding for 2016 was recently sent and the wish is to be able to offer this support each year. 

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. 

Over 1,000 homeless dogs are cared for at Auntie Mee Fah’s Dogs’ Shelter in Malaysia.

While in Malaysia recently Lama Zopa Rinpoche heard about a dog shelter, Auntie Mee Fah’s Dogs’ Shelter, which is caring for over 1,000 at-risk dogs with food and shelter. Rinpoche very much wanted to visit the shelter to bless the animals, but falling short on time, students from Losang Dragpa Center (LDC) visited on Rinpoche’s behalf, blessing the dogs with mantras and also putting up Namgyälma mantras in every dog cage.

LDC members blessing the shelter dogs on Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s behalf.

Rinpoche also committed to offer six month’s worth of food for the dogs. When hearing this, LDC took on the responsibility to try to raise as much of this offering as they could, to support Rinpoche’s generous gesture. LDC was able to quickly raise US$7,824 and Rinpoche offered the remaining US$1,800 needed for the dogs’ food. 

A tremendous amount of food is needed to keep so many dogs healthy. Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered the cost of food for six months.

These dogs are homeless animals with no one to care for them. It is clear how happy they are to have their basic needs met at this shelter, and are now given the chance to make a connection with the Dharma!

Without support from this shelter, these dogs would surely die or live in miserable conditions on the street.

In a letter to the the students of LDC, in response to them raising the majority of money needed for the six months of food for the dogs, Rinpoche said, “Thank you very, very much — a billion, zillion, trillion times, to all the students and all the friends, especially for your inspiration. Please give everyone my billion, zillion, trillion, (on and on) thanks for the support to the dogs and to the lady (running the shelter).” 

Dogs, like every living being, just want happiness and don’t wish to suffer. This dog shelter is helping give the dogs their basic needs and exposing them to Dharma.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered the following quote from Buddha to the shelter management:

Any sentient being, who during the period of my teachings,
Makes charity well (even if the material is the size of a hair) for 80,000 eons
There will be great result of great enjoyment.
No pain, no disease, and enjoyment of happiness
Like that, one will be enriched with the desirable things.
At the end you can actually achieve the result, the peerless cessation and completion (enlightenment).
After hearing that there is the great result — who  wouldn’t want to collect merit?

Happy dogs making new friends at their home.

Please rejoice in this offering of food for six months for these precious animals and in LDC’s generous effort to raise the majority of this offering, all in support of Rinpoche’s wish to benefit these dogs. 

You are welcome to offer any amount to the Animal Liberation Fund so that offerings such as this can continue. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has given extensive advice on how to benefit animals. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche visiting Lugsung Samdupling Tibetan Settlement in Bylakuppe.

Due to the kindness of a generous benefactor, FPMT has been able to invest more resources into taking care of the elderly Tibetans living in India, many of whom fled Tibet starting in 1959.

In 1950 His Holiness assumed full political leadership of Tibet after the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) invasion of the eastern province of Kham. While the Chinese believe that Tibet has been part of China since the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Tibetans have maintained an independent identity and systems of governance separate from China for over a millennium. The Tibetan government which was in place when the PLA invaded, was founded in 1642 by the Great Fifth Dalai Lama.

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

On March 10, 1959, Tibetans in Lhasa believed His Holiness to be in danger of capture by the Chinese military. In response, people in Lhasa rose up against the Chinese, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilian Tibetans and the destruction of the Sera, Ganden and Drepung Monasteries. Within days of the uprising, His Holiness secretly left Lhasa and escaped to the safety of India and about 80,000 Tibetans followed. Over the past fifty years, approximately 150,000 Tibetans have found refuge in India. Of the early refugees still living, all are elderly and some without care and support from family, due to having fled Tibet and their families. 

Over the last six months FPMT Charitable Projects has assessed the needs of older Tibetan refugees and found four residential facilities in need of support. To date, a total of US$135,996 has been offered in grants to help these homes carry out their work.

Jampaling Elder’s Home, Dharamsala
Jampaling Elder’s Home, situated in Dharamshala, is about 15 minutes walking distance from the main temple of His Holiness the Dalai Lama with many prayer wheels lining the way. The resident elders are able to attend all the teachings of His Holiness at the main temple. This home was set up to look after the elders who are scattered in different Tibetan settlement without appropriate facilities and also for destitute ex-army members without any family. It also houses elderly who are unable to earn a living due to old age and who have no one to rely on. This facility provides food, shelter and medical services to residents. 

Modest accommodation for elderly Tibetan refugees in Dharamsala.

156 residents (30 of whom are ordained) and 13 staff members reside in this home. The facility was offered a US$19,887 grant to hire an additional caretaker, make repairs to the facility, build a recreation/community room, accommodate special dietary needs, and provide pocket money for residents.

Lugsung Samdupling Home for the Aged and Disabled in Bylakuppe
A US$40,927 grant was offered to this facility that is home to 46 people. This grant will cover the shortfall of the home’s operating expenses and provide resources for a new waste management initiative.

The residents occupy extremely humble accommodation.

Antique equipment is used at this home which has very little means to operate properly.

The kitchen facility.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited this home and spent time with the elderly residents who are living in extremely modest conditions, many with health issues due to the advanced age. 

Mundgod Home for the Elderly and Disabled
A US$15,043 grant was offered to this home made up of 103 people. This facility will use the funds to meet the expenses of its operating budget. This home serves the elderly who have no family or who have children who are also destitute and unable to provide any support to them. One kitchen and three cooks provide food for all of the residents.

One block of the Mundgod home requires round-the-clock care for the residents.

Images of His Holiness the Dalai Lama can be found throughout these homes providing comfort and blessings to the elderly Tibetan residents.

One block of this facility has residents who are in need of round-the-clock care due to mental and physical deterioration. This facility was in dire need of funds as many donors have suspended support in recent years due to, according to the home’s management, “the financial crisis in world economy.” 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering prayer and blessings for the residents of Hunsur Old Aged Home.

Hunsur Old Aged Home, Gurupura
A US$60,139 grant was offered to this 20-resident home. The grant will be used for the cost of running this facility, particularly the costs of food, and the construction of five additional rooms.

A simple but nourishing meal provided at Hunsur Old Aged Home.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited this home and was able to bless the community living there as well as assess the accommodations and need for support. 

Elderly residents of Jampaling Elder’s Home in Dharamsala.

Without such homes, many elderly first-wave Tibetan refugees have very little prospect of accommodation or support as many are without families of their own. Offering support in this way is one way that FPMT can help repay the kindness and bravery of the Tibetan people. Lama Zopa Rinpoche avows the profound importance of His Holiness, the Dharma Kings, Shantarakshita, Padmasambhava and the Tibetan people in general. He has said that, because of them, the “sun of Tibetan Buddhism has now risen in the West.”

The courage and bravery of Tibetan refugees is unfathomable. As they live their final years, FPMT is committed to provide support for those who are not able to care for themselves or have no families to offer any assistance.

We’re eager to provide similar support to Tibetan refugees in Nepal. We’ve already started the process of assessing their needs.

Elderly residents of Lugsung Samdupling Home for the Aged and Disabled.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has encouraged us not to only address residents’ physical needs, but also their spiritual ones. With this in mind, we’ve already started to determine where and when we’ll be able to construct holy objects such as stupas and prayer wheels.

FPMT Charitable Projects is honored to support the homes of the eldest and destitute Tibetan refugees. You can show your support by making a donation to the Social Services Fund. 

FPMT is committed to assisting Tibetan communities in need. You can read about recent support to a Tibetan settlement for refugees in South India including a grant toward a new community center and food for an elderly home. 

The Lawudo Retreat Centre sustained substantial damage following the April 2015 earthquake and aftershocks.

The Lawudo Retreat Centre, situated high in the Himalayan mountains of eastern Nepal, holds particular significance for FPMT. Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the reincarnation of the Lawudo Lama, Lama Kunzang Yeshe, who lived and practiced in Lawudo until his passing at age 81. The Lawudo Retreat Centre was built over several years and completed in 1972 under direction from Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The gompa was built so that young monks in the area could receive a good education with favorable conditions. Since that time, Rinpoche’s mother (who passed away in 1991), sister Anila Ngawang Samten, and brother Sangay Sherpa have cared for the Lawudo Lawudo Retreat Centre and welcomed pilgrims, retreatants and locals to this extremely blessed and remote place. 

The property suffered damage from the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks which struck in April 2015 and renovations were needed quickly so that those living in Lawudo would have protection from the monsoon season. Fortunately, the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund was able to quickly offer US$50,000 to begin the rebuilding process. From that grant, approximately 90% of the work was completed but a few major projects remained unfinished due to lack of funds. The remaining work was estimated to cost US$36,000 and included renovation to the west side of the main gompa, rebuilding of two houses, and the renovation of a third. 

Due to a US$20,000 donation from benefactors in Singapore and a US$16,000 grant from the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, hopefully this essential work can now be completed. 

Sangay Sherpa, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s brother, is the director of the center and is overseeing the repairs and rebuilding and submitting progress reports and updates.

Damage done to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birth home.

Help is still needed for renovation and repairs throughout Nepal as the region does not yet have its basic infrastructure back to normal. Your donations to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund will allow for more grants to be distributed as needed. To date, an incredible US$835,719.77 has been distributed from this fund. All areas which have received support are monitored to make sure that the resources are being properly utilized and that ongoing needs are accounted for.

It is a high priority for FPMT to continue to offer direct support in this way to the people of Nepal. Tremendous thanks to all who have contributed to these efforts and please rejoice that rebuilding from this substantial damage is underway. 

All are invited 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. 
http://www.lawudo.com/About

Lama Zopa Rinpoche as a young student. Rinpoche attended Rolwaling Sangag Choling as a child.

Thanks to the kindness of a generous benefactor who provided a grant, the Social Services Fund was able to recently offer US$173,599 to Rolwaling Sangag Choling Monastery for the rebuilding of their gompa.  Rolwaling Monastery is the main monastery in Rolwaling, located in Nepal along the Tibetan border, and is a precious site of cultural and religious heritage for the area. This monastery is particularly precious to FPMT as Lama Zopa Rinpoche attended this monastery between the ages of 7-12. Supporting this monastery is one way to help repay the monastery’s kindness for looking after and offering education to  Rinpoche as a child. There are currently fifteen young monks studying at this monastery. 

Rolwaling Sangag Choling is a community-centered monastery and its history spans about nine generations. It is the only monastery in the entire community of Sherpa Buddhists. The current gompa is approximately 150 years old and is richly painted with many holy statues and scripture. This gompa is the sole place in the area where daily prayers, offerings, pujas, retreats, Buddhist teachings, death and dying services, and community events for lay students and ordained Sangha (which can serve up to 300 people at once) are offered. The gompa was already not in good condition (having not been renovated since 1957) but the 2015 earthquake nearly destroyed what was there. For many in the local community, this gompa is more important than their own homes. It was reported that when assistance was offered to locals to help rebuild their houses following the earthquake, many locals became very emotional, saying things like, “Please help us save the gompa, we don’t mind staying in open spaces or living in caves, but we can’t see our gompa in ruins.” Restoring the gompa is extremely important to this community. 

The Rolwaling gompa, which had not been restored since 1957, was severely damaged due to the 2015 earthquake.

The Buddhist relics and imagery will be preserved in the rebuilding of the gompa.

During the reconstruction, all the relics and historically important materials will be reused so that the gompa can receive this important update without losing its original identity. 

Kopan monk Geshe Jinpa is from Rolwaling and will be responsible for making sure the renovations are done well and will be responsible for overseeing the financial side of this project. 

Please rejoice in this offering made possible by this generous grant. The rebuilding of this gompa helps preserve the local culture and reestablish the monastery as a place for Buddhist practice and community. Additionally, as this monastery helped to care for and educate Lama Zopa Rinpoche as a child, this grant helps repay the kindness of our precious spiritual director. 

The Social Services Fund also offered a grant to the monastery school to help with a youth hostel and repairs following the earthquake. 

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.