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Kopan monks delivering supplies to families in need in the Kathmandu area, Nepal, 30 April 2015. Photo courtesy Kopan Apso on Facebook.
30 April 2015, 10 p.m. Kathmandu time
From Ven. Roger:
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teaching was in the gompa due to the rain. Rinpoche taught that the earthquake fear is similar to what we create in Chöd, and that the earthquake came from karma and from our self-cherishing mind. Rinpoche also taught, when someone gets angry at us, we should think this is from our self-cherishing attitude, otherwise we put the blame outside on others; whatever bad things happen to us we should put the blame on our self-cherishing attitude, instead of pointing the finger outside at others. Usually we make friends with our self-grasping and self-cherishing mind and it becomes very hard like stone, Rinpoche said. The three jewels come from sentient beings, all the Buddha came from all the sentient beings.
We are sleeping outside in tents, according to Rinpoche’s observation that this is safer. Day seems OK, but at night, there is still some danger of another aftershock. You still feel minor aftershocks and many people are still nervous. Some shops started to open today which is good because people can buy food.
We received reports and photos from Lawudo Gompa and Retreat Centre today that the quake did do some major damage to the retreat cabins, library and dining area.
Kopan monks loading supplies on to truck for distribution, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 30, 2015. Photo courtesy of Kopan Apso Facebook page.
Kopan monks delivered rice and some essentials to local hospitals there were running out of food. [You can read more about the monks tireless work on FPMT.org.]
We have a plane leaving tomorrow loaded with tent material for Thame. Then we have rented a big Russian helicopter to bring food up to Thame. But it’s in a queue, so the helicopter cannot go immediately — there is quite a delay.
Rinpoche is right now doing the Eight Prayers to Benefit the Dead [which you can find on FPMT.org] with the Kopan monks. Every evening Rinpoche with monks do prayers for the dead and sick and injured
Ganden Yiga Chozing Buddhist Meditation Centre, the FPMT center in Pokhara, Nepal, is the only FPMT center or project in Nepal to not receive any damage. All others have serious damage.
Our Nepal Earthquake Support Fund will be used to assist with rebuilding as well as helping with initial emergency needs. Thank you everyone for your kind donations so far to the fund! We are already using it with the US$50,000 of aid going to Thame. You can make a donation at: https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/
Some of the supplies Charok Lama is coordinating for relief efforts in Solu Khumu, Nepal
Rinpoche, through the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, has also offered $30,000 to Charok Lama Sherpa, who is coordinating another $50,000 of aid to be taken up to the Solu Khumbu region close to Lawudo. Charok Lama is also from this area and will be traveling soon from Sera Je Monastery in India, where he is studying, to Nepal.
For the latest updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page:
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/
To learn more and offer support to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund visit:
https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/
For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see:
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/
You can receive an email daily digest of news from FPMT.org, including our updates from Nepal, by signing up at this address:
https://fpmt.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=97e3ebb09472d09e0e699efd3&id=b248a1a45e
More information, photos and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found onRinpoche’s webpage. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche via email, sign up to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.