Thanks for visiting our blog.
 Venerable Chopel |
My name is Chophel and I am one of the Monks from the Gaden Shartse Tour. We are traveling throughout the United States in our van bringing the blessings of the Dharma and raising funds for a medical clinic at our refugee camp in India. Along the way we are meeting thousands of wonderful friends and thought that it would be a good idea to create a blog to keep in touch as we move about the country. Right now I am back at the monastery in India while the tour has continued on to Northern California. This is meant to be an interactive site, so please feel free to contribute. The best way to view the entries is to click on the title of each post so it opens up to it’s own page. That way you can click through the pictures. There is a comment section under each post for your input. Also if you have pictures to contribute, you can email them to me at jchophel@gmail.com Please keep in mind that we don’t always have access to the internet and we have a pretty full schedule, so sometimes might take a little while for me to respond. |
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We hope that this will help us to keep and continue to build a community based upon compassion, tolerance, and healing. The current tour started in December, 2007 and will probably finish around June, 2009. The tours have been lead for 19 years by Venerable Lobsang Wangchuk. He has selflessly devoted the last 19 years of his life in service of the monastery and these tours have helped rebuild Gaden Shartse, feed and house the monks, and bring the precious Dharma to the United States.I joined the tour in July of 2008 to assist Venerable Lobsang and train to become the next tour leader. So, though they have been here much longer, the blog will start when I joined them on our visit to beautiful Yachats, Oregon. |
 Venerable Lobsang |
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Amazing Article about Venerable Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen
Hello Everyone. I just finished reading an amazing article about Venerable Geshe Gyeltsen’s passing in Mandala magazine written by Venerable Yarpel. This is a must read. Here is the link - The passing of Venerable Geshe Gyeltsen.
Gaden Shartse School Needs Your Help (click on title to open post)
Hello this is Jangchub Chophel. I am posting this on behalf of the monks here at the Gaden Shartse School. The monks here desperately need your help to complete 3 important projects at the school. These projects will greatly enhance their learning environment and make a real difference in their lives. With just a small, one-time donation of $10, $20, or $30 you can help make their dream a reality.
As you can see in the pictures posted in the gallery below, the monks study and work very hard despite the challenging conditions. Without complaint, and usually cheerfully, they sit on cushions in bare classrooms that are often over 90 degrees and still manage to excel in their studies.
The main project we are proposing is the construction of a shade roof on top of the school. This roof would significantly reduce the temperature in the classrooms. It would also provide a sheltered space during the rainy season for the monks to do their calligraphy class. The picture on the left is an example of a building with the type of shade roof we want to build (just click on it to make it bigger).
The second project is a power storage system for their computer lab. The monks have received donated computers to create this wonderful computer room. Unfortunately they cannot use them much of the time because of the random electrical supply here. The electricity here is only on during half the day and alternates between mornings and afternoons with constant, random outages. Our goal is to purchase a backup power system like this one pictured on the right. This type of system would allow the computers to operate even when the electricity is off and then regular classes could be scheduled.
The third project is to purchase new books. Every school needs books and our school is in desperate need for new ones. Not only are there not enough, many of the ones we do have are very worn and difficult to read.
The combined total of these 3 projects is about $10,000. If just 500 people were able to contribute $20 we could meet this goal. If you cannot afford $20, please consider a $10 donation – every little bit helps! If you able to contribute significantly more, all the better. It is a great cause!
Update - We have met our goal as of June 24th, 2009. Thank you all so much for your kindness.
All you need to do to make a donation is click on the donate button here on this page at gadenshartsetour.info. Using this button will automatically designate the donation for the school. All donations are tax deductable as Gaden Shartse Cultural Foundation is a registered 501c3 charity.
On behalf of the Principal, Venerable Geshe Sangye , and all the monks at the school, I thank you for your kindness and consideration. May you have much peace, happiness, and many blessings.
The shade roof is under construction! (click on title to open post)
Exciting times at Gaden Shartse School. We have enough donations (most of which came from Judith) to construct one of the three projects - the shade roof. This roof will not only significantly reduce the stiffling heat in the classroom, but will also provide a place for the caligraphy class during the rainy season. The other day all of the students came together to pitch in and help get the building materials up to the roof . I was able to capture a little bit on video as well as snap some pictures. As you can see they work with a smile and a playful spirit. It was inspiring to watch them in action.
Keep in mind we are only halfway to our goal. We still need almost $5000 so please help get the word out. For more info see the “Gaden Shartse School Needs Your Help Post.” Thank you to all that helped to make this possible.
Bay Area - Posted by Mark and BicKieu (click on title to open post)
Gaden Tour visits the Bay Area - May 2 to May 11, 2009
The following outlines the schedule for the Venerable monks from Gaden Shartse during their stay with us here in our home. I hope this is of interest and adds some insight to those who regularly follow the tours activities. We have been truly blessed and very honored to be in their presence while they continue to spread the Buddha’s teachings. The week was filled with house blessings, healings, teachings, initiations, oral transmissions and visits to Buddhist Temples and also a Spiritual Center.
Saturday May 2nd:
The group arrived at our house around 4 PM after driving up from Long Beach. It’s always so nice to see everyone and it takes a little time to settle in and hear what has been happening with all the monks. We spent some time discussing Gesha-la Gyeltsons passing and the trip to India. We were truly amazed at the way the trip, ceremony and the blessed Geshe-la’s body remained in such a pure state. Also hearing of the way Geshe-la passed into the clear light. The auspicious sign of a double rainbow after three days of prayer and meditation as was evidenced in photos and reinforces our dedication and belief. Then, how well his body preserved over the long journey (70 hours) back to the monastery in the high heat. The relics left after his cremation, is an inspiration and precious sign to all of us. He was a true Buddhist Tibetan Master and a blessing to all of those whose life he touched. We pray for His quick return.
We were fortunate to have pizza delivered from one of BicKieu’s friends. Minh VO drove about thirty miles to deliver 10 pizzas to the group and then made a donation to Gaden Shartse. Pizza always makes us happy.
Then it was time for the work to start. The first night was a visit to a Vietnamese family. It’s an interesting house blessing because there was a series of blessings, starting back in 2006 when it was just bare ground. Then as the construction progressed the monks have come to bless the house at different stages of its progress and now it’s nearly completed. The home is beautiful and warm, just like the family who owns it. On this night, the monks slept in the home with the family.
Sunday May 3rd,
They did this house blessing in the morning and went to Tam Nguyen Vietnamese Temple for a Healing Ritual in the evening. (Pictures dated 5.3.09)
Monday May 4th,
There was a private healing at the house. That night there was the White Umbrella Puja at our place.
Tuesday May 5th,
Geshe-la Sonam arrived from Long Beach. We had the Tara Puja at our place in the evening.
Wednesday May 6th
The Heart Sutra Puja in the evening.
Thursday May 7th
House blessings in the morning and afternoon.
In the evening Geshe Sonam gave the Six Paramitas lecture at Unity Center in Walnut Creek. (Pictures Unity Center 5.7.09)
Friday, May 8th
Personal blessings and a house blessing in the morning and in the afternoon.
They left our place in Concord for the Compassion Vietnamese Temple in Hayward and did the Jangwa puja in the evening. Beginning their three day stay at The Compassion Temple in Hayward.
Saturday, May 9th
The group went back to The Tam Nguyen temple in Fremont to celebrate Vesak day (Buddha’s Birthday) in the morning. (Pictures Tam Nguyen dated 5.9.09)
House blessings in the afternoon and evening.
Sunday, May 10th
Vesak celebration at The Compassion Temple in the morning and Healing Ritual in the afternoon. (Pictures dated 5.10.09)
Monday, May 11th
There were three house blessings and healings before the group left for Grass Valley.
It was a successful tour in the Bay Area despite the difficult economic situation. Many of the individuals and families were very pleased with meeting the Venerable Monks and all spoke highly and respectfully of them.
