The Summit Dharma Center is not just about meditation and retreats--we are also about putting forth positive
effort to benefit others. The Dalai Lama himself has stated that Buddhists have a great deal to learn from other
traditions, particularly the Christian tradition, which has a long history of charitable projects that help others
in need. Ringu Tulku Rinpoche and Gen-la Chokyi Dhakpa are committed to that spirit of giving and have founded several projects to help groups
that are in great need.
The Gaden Monastery
The pictures you see are from our affiliate monastery in Bhutan – Gaden Monastery. The project that we undertaking here is extremely holy and beneficial. Currently there are 34 monks there – including two recognized Tulkus or incarnate lamas. The main Khenpo or Abbot is highly respected in the area and you will see a picture of him in the file. The local people are very engaged and willing to assist in this project.
It is still traditional in this area, as it was in Tibet, to offer one of your children to the monastery. These monks and nuns are quite special as they will all be trained as translators of Buddhist texts from Tibetan to English. As monastics, they will be trained with this specific purpose in mind, as well as receiving a traditional monastic education. The reason why this is such a holy project is that almost ninety eight percent of our Canon – the Kangyur and Tengyur have yet to be translated – in other words
the majority of the Buddha’s word and commentaries by the Great Masters are not yet available in English.
This is why this monastery is so critically important in the very near future!
Traditionally, authentic Dharma has always been transmitted in this manner throughout Asia – through the accurate translation and sponsorship of Dharma texts. These translators frequently have also become great teachers through their adaptive skill of understanding Dharma in multiple languages. These monks will be trained extensively in both English and Tibetan. If you are interested in teaching English to the monks in Bhutan this can be arranged, or if you would simply like to visit the monastery, this can also be arranged. It would be very helpful if a few of you who are interested in teaching the monks would take a few months worth of ESL (English as a second language teaching courses). By doing this you would be helping to spread Dharma everywhere for countless generations.
This is a long-term project which will take a few years to start seeing the fruit of our labor. I have asked for 108 young monks and nuns to train and then to begin working in translation teams as is traditional. Within a few months of my request, a third of this was already accomplished and the remaining monks will arrive over the course of the next two years. If you are able we also need sponsorship for these monks. $24 a month will cover their food and educational expenditures for each monk or nun. You may commit to one or more monks, nuns, or Tulku’s for as long as you wish.
These monks will be joining us each year in Sikkim for the one month retreat in a true East meets West practice relationship and environment. We will also need computers (preferably laptops) for each of these monks – the software they require has already been sponsored. The computers do not need to be new and any outreach to find these computers would be most welcome. Currently the monastery, which is located in Eastern Bhutan is quite impoverished, and while there is no need to make anything extravagant, if you would like to provide a little extra to help build a room or two that would be wonderful. Just email Dave or Beth and let them know that that is what the donation is for. Currently there are 4-5 monks in very small rooms. In other words, they would very much benefit from any assistance.
Finally, if any of these monks should ever decide that they do no longer wish to remain in the monastery they will have received valuable training in English, computer training, and in translating – so they will always have a sustainable future – this is something very unusual in Eastern Bhutan – a very impoverished section of the country. In this way, we are truly improving the lives of the people in this area regardless of whether they continue on the Buddhist path or not.
Thank you for kind consideration in this holy undertaking of spreading lasting peace and Dharma in a language that the majority of the world is quickly being able to understand.
With Love and Blessings,
Gen-la Chokyi Dhakpa
Other projects:
The Rigul Project
