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Kopan Sangha distributing emergency aid to those in need during COVID-19 crisis in Nepal. Photo courtesy of Kopan Monastery Facebook page.
Immediately following the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal in 2015, the monks and nuns of Kopan Monastery and Nunnery (which were badly damaged by the quake) sprang into action by establishing Kopan Helping Hands to help those in need with supplies of emergency aid, including much needed clean water, food, clothing, and tarpaulins.
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the same spirit of charity has resurfaced with the revival of Kopan Helping Hands, now serving those in need due to the lockdown. In the first phase, Kopan Helping Hands distributed 30 kilograms (66 pounds) of rice, 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) of lentils, 2 liters (2 quarts) of vegetable oil, and 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of salt to almost 500 local families over a period of three days. This was done in collaboration with the district government, which identified and registered the families in need of help. District officials and local representatives were present at the distribution to ensure only registered families were given the food and everyone abided by safe social distancing guidelines. A group of strong and enthusiastic Kopan monks, wearing face masks and gloves, supervised the distribution and loaded the heavy bags of rice onto people’s shoulders, while handing them a bag filled with lentils, oil, and salt.
However, this first distribution was only just the beginning. Lama Zopa Rinpoche met with the senior monks of Kopan to encourage them to seek out the families most in need. Therefore, Kopan is working with the local government to identify even more families in need and in the coming week the monks plan to package and distribute food to as many as 400 families. In addition, Kopan is working with trusted local contacts to identify elderly people living by themselves and families without any means of support in the Upper Solu Khumbu area of Nepal. Food will likely be distributed to them through the local shops, which are fortunately well stocked as the lockdown coincided with the beginning of the busy trekking season.
Individuals lined up to receive aid from Kopan Helping Hands. Photo courtesy of Kopan Monastery Facebook page.
In Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent teachings at Kopan Monastery, he emphasized the importance of charity, quoting the Arya Sanghata Sutra:
Anyone who makes charity even the size of a hair
To sentient beings during my teachings
Will for eighty thousand eons have
Much wealth and also much comfort.
They will have a healthy body
And enjoy happiness.
They will achieve whatever power they wish.
At the end, they will achieve enlightenment, the great result.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche meeting with Kopan senior Sangha. From left to right: Khen Rinpoche Chonyi, Losang Namgyal Rinpoche , Gen Tenpa Choden, Gen Tharchin, Geshe Ngawang Sangye, Geshe Losang Sherab (Umdze-la), Ven. Tenzin Choden, Gen Thubten Kunkyen, Gen Thubten Jangchub. Photo by Ven. Tenzin Tsomo.
At the meeting with the senior monks, Rinpoche spoke about how important it is for monks and nuns to engage in social activities that directly relieve the suffering of sentient beings. However, in addition to the immediate benefit, Rinpoche emphasized that by seeing monks and nuns do activities for their benefit, people will develop faith in them and this will plant the seed of liberation in their minds and cause them in future lives to meet the Dharma and the Sangha.
Please rejoice in this incredible effort of generosity on the part the Sangha at Kopan. Rejoicing in the generosity of others is an easy and powerful way to participate in acts of charity and, as Lama Zopa Rinpoche so often says, it also creates “limitless skies of merit.”
The funds for the food have so far come from many generous sponsors in Singapore and the United States. To get involved in this charitable work, offer your support here.
Find more advice and video teachings by Lama Zopa Rinpoche from Kopan Monastery during the COVID-19 crisis and also links to videos in translation, transcripts, MP3s, and more:
https://fpmt.org/fpmt/announcements/resources-for-coronavirus-pandemic/advice-from-lama-zopa-rinpoche-for-coronavirus/