10% of all sessions in May goes to QUAKE RELIEF

I’d like to pass on news via the Marpa Foundation concerning the nunneries in Nepal.

As we all are aware a 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal on April 25th and a new earthquake, measured at 7.3-magnitude, hit Nepal on May 12th. It happened near Everest.

There are aftershocks now. In Kathmandu some few buildings, which had cracks from the last earthquake, have collapsed.

 

BBC news already report about people having been killed and injured, according to the official sources.

We are relieved to know that Khenpo Rinpoche, his nuns, and their families are safe, but terribly sadden by the great loss of life and suffering that has resulted for so many. Thousands people in Nepal have lost their lives or those of their loved ones and friends. Many thousands more have lost their homes, are hurt or sick. Many historic temples and buildings are gone. It really is a shocking time.

Although it is hard to get news right now, we’ve been able to gather some in the last few days and will share what we know here and on Khenpo Rinpoche’s website (ktgrinpoche.org).

None of the nuns or their families have died, but many of the nuns’ family members are injured, some are in hospital. Many of them have lost their homes and everything. We’re still trying to find out more about that and how we can help.

During the first days, there were numerous aftershocks and the nuns were staying outside, day and night. Khenpo Rinpoche has been staying mostly in the downstairs dining room, only going out into the courtyard during the aftershocks since it’s very hot in the sun. As soon as the ban on going indoors is lifted, which may even be today, Tsepak Dorje (Rinpoche’s general secretary) will be able to inspect the buildings and give us a report on the structural damage.

The report from the Yolmo retreat facility is that the nun’s retreat house and shrine room are destroyed, and the recently built retreat house for Rinpoche’s international students will need repairs. We still don’t know about Rinpoche’s retreat house there.

Yolmo

The Yolmo community badly needs help. Tsepak will go there as soon as possible, maybe in the next day or two. Transportation is hard to get, but once he is there, he can see how we can help the villagers who live around the cave and near Rinpoche’s retreat center. We will do our best to get them any immediate help we can and then start work on rebuilding their homes before the monsoon rains.

The community is very grateful for all the prayers, love, and support you have been sending and they thank everyone for thinking of them and of the Yolmo community. Khenpo Rinpoche and his nuns have been in Yolmo for a long time, and helping the community in this time of such great need is really important.

 

As a reminder, those who wish to contribute to the Tek Chok Ling community, as well as help Yolmo community relief, can donate to Marpa Foundation‘s Tek Chok Ling Earthquake Fund or Marpa Poland‘s MahaKaruna for Nepal.

THE NUNNERIES

February 2014 I had the good fortune to be at the 80th Birthday of Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche in Kathmandu, Nepal. I was so moved by the program of Buddhist study and practice he’s created for the nuns at Tek Chok Ling, one of his monestaries. It is sponsorship that makes their path there possible. The nuns are intelligent, charming, inquisitive women of all ages that would benefit greatly from your support through the Marpa Foundation Take a look at the program and consider sponsoring a nun here!

Posted on September 3, 2014 in Uncategorized

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