Varada Effort find new means in raising funds

It is hard to always asking for money from our friends with the limited connection we have, even the circle is increasing slowly day by day. So Varada Effort decided to try selling products from various regions (mainly from the Himalaya region) to not only help us in raising funds but also helping the folks in the mountain area where life is harsh. At the same time, we are introducing some exotic products to our people here. Hopefully we can start a social enterprise here or somewhere in this world to continue our effort in helping the needies.

So this July, with the permission of Tibetan Buddhist Centre in Singapore, during the Monlam Chemo in PMT, we have a small table selling tsampa bowls, Ladakhi hand crafted prayer tables and also a small range of oil mix with apricot oil from Ladakh for soothing the skin from sun and heat here.

With the amount we made, (even the crowd was not great) we deducted the costs and we split the profit into 3 ways: $100/- for TBC who graciously given us this space

                              $150/-for Ngari Institute in Ladakh for their help in procuring the products for us

                              Balance will be the seed capital for VE' s future sale

Our humble stall

Tsampa bowls

Prayer table 1

 

The apricot oil mix

Prayer table 2

 Then in late August, we are fortunate enough to have another small stall in Dharamasala during the Asia Teaching by His Holiness. This time we were selling semi-precious stone malas from India, saffron flowers from the Himalaya and also daily freshly made granola bars of chocolate, caramel and fruit taste by an Italian cehf residing in Dharamasala! According to the feedback the granola bars were fantastic in taste!!

We were very lucky as the crowd was big and we were able to raise the amounts that we have wanted.

 Also we do have our dear friends Ming Wen, Lee Nguan and Fangqi who have donated a base amount for TCV and some amount for the Buddhist Dialectics College before the sales. This really was like a booster shot to us! So together with those people who also have not only purchased from our stall but donated generously we managed to give the following amounts to the following 4 non profit organisations and people:-  

US$350 to Dalai Lama Trust to help those brilliant and needy students plus to defray some of their daily expenses

US$370 plus S$100 to TBC to help supplement some of the costs in organizing the yearly teaching

75,000rs to TCV as the Pocket Money Fund for their yearly winter program. This amount will enable 150 children to go out to the community to mix with them by either just simply having a holiday with a difference or helping in the local environment projects.

83,471rs to 23 students (monks, nuns and a few laypersons) from the Buddhist Dialectics who have completed their 7 years study in Prajnaparamita by the end of the year. They will be going onto a 2 months pilgrimage trip in Nepal and India. Hopefully with this amount they can have some better food in their journey if not helping them a little in their spare money as they are all not working people and have no source of income.

We like to say a big thank you to all, especially those friends from Singapore who had come for the teaching and the monks from the Buddhist Dialectics, who had spent their free time helping us with the stall. Also to Pauline who not only contributed her creations for the sale.

Without all of you, it would not have been a success!! Thank you again!

Helpers arranging our goods

The saffron flowers and fruit bars

Look at the crowd!

People are checking the products!

Busy counting money! Heeeee!

Some of the building projects done over the years

Year 2014 - Construction of Funeral Hall in East Bhutan

Donations were made to the nuns in a nearby nunnery to construct a funeral hall to benefit those who are going through a hard period of their lives. The weather and geographical conditions are harsh in this part of Bhutan.

 

Year 2015 - Opening the Dharma Door for all sentient beings

Donations were raised to fund the cost of constructing the main door and 4 side doors for the new prayer hall of Ngari Khangtsen in Sera Je Monastery in south India.

           

Year 2015 -  Furnishing Ngari Institute of Buddhist Dialectics Monks’ Hostel in Saboo, Ladakh, India

VE undertook the task of furnishing the 10 rooms which house 3 monks in each with a bed and table for each person.

         

AT LONG LAST WE MANAGED TO VISIT THIS PARADISE! 

I myself have been planning for this tour for a number of years but for some reason the time was not right. In the last quarter of 2015, after seeing so many projects were done in Ladakh and so many donors were involved, I made a resolution that I will bring some of these donors there to see for themselves what they have contributed. So an itinerary was planned and the route and coordination were all done while I was in Sera Je in December last year. This is the final outcome:-

Ladahk Tour 2016

A 10 days merit making journey organized by Varada Effort that starts before but ending on the second day of the auspicious month of Saga Dawa to the foothill of Himalayas. In this tour, we retrace the footsteps of the past Mahasidas and see how Buddhism has spread over the last thousand years.

Itinerary:-

Day 1 (April 29^th)

Morning flight AI 381 from Singapore to Delhi at 11:00, arriving in Delhi at 12:25. A museum tour to view the Buddha’s relic, then to Tibet House and dinner will be arranged before we come back to the airport in the night.

Day 2 (Apr 30^th)

Early morning flight AI 445 at 05:55 from Delhi arriving Leh at 07:25. Transfer to Padma Hotel and rest to acclimatize. Later in the afternoon, after ample rest, we can take a slow stroll to the market place to experience the Ladakhi way of life.

Day 3 (May 1^st)

After breakfast, proceed to Stok where the big Buddha site is. Along the way we will visit Stok Palace Museum. Puja for the visitors and walk around Stok village.  Proceed to Ngari Institute to stay in their guesthouse.

Day 4 (May 2^nd)

Visit Thiksey Monastery and Thagtok Monastery. Stay in Ngari Guesthouse and a cultural show will be featured in the night.

Day 5 (May 3^rd)

Visit Hemis Monastery and HHDL’s palace. Stay in Ngari Guesthouse. 

Day 6 (May 4^th)

In the morning a short teaching by Geshe la to explain the significance of the coming Saga Dawa and the kind of meritorious practices that one can do during this one month period, followed by guided meditation by Geshe la before we pay a visit to Ladakhi family home and have a taste of how typical Ladakhi food is like. **A visit to the Tibetan Children Village and followed by shopping in town for those who like to buy some local souvenirs.

Day 7 (May 5^th)

Drive westward towards Lamayuru Monastery. Visit Likir Monastery and Alchi Monastery along the way. Overnight stay near Lamayuru, staying in Hotel Moonland Lamayuru or its equivalent.

Day 8 (May 6^th)

Visit Lamayuru Monastery and on the way back, visit Rizong Monastery. Return to stay in Ngari Guesthouse.

Day 9 (May 7^th)

Proceed to Spituk Monastery and if possible join them for puja to mark this auspicious first day of Saga Dawa. Circumambulation round the Shanti Stupa. Return to Ngari Institute Guesthouse in late afternoon. Farewell party the Ladakhi way will be held by the host. Not only the children from the Institute will perform for us, we can also join in the song and dance with them. Rest in Guesthouse and get ready to leave for airport the next morning.

Day 10 (May 8^th)

Take morning flight AI 446 at 11:00 from Leh to Delhi, arriving at 12:35. Evening at 22:00 will board AI 380 to come back to home sweet home. Arriving the next morning (9^th May) at 06:20.

** We may change the visit to TCV to the day before as it is in the same area of HHDL’s palace. I will discuss the timing after liaising with Gen Yeshi and their secretary of TCV to see whichever is more convenient for both. 

So 10 of us went for the above tour and a good time was had by all. These are some of the photos that we had:-

A stop at Tibet House in Delhi to meet Geshe Dorji while we wait for our next early morning departure:-

Welcome at the Leh airport by our dear monks from Ngari Institute:-                                                 

A lunch after we checked into our hotel to acclimatize for a day:-

                                      

Now going to the place that we have been longing for:-

A whole day Puja done for all the sponsors in the making of the Big Buddha in Stok;-

Sweets offered to all after refilling the oil of the giant lamp and smoke puja outside the Big Buddha:-         

Sorting out the gift packs for the children of Ngari Institute:-

The older childtren of Ngari Institute in their TCV school uniform:-                                                      

A visit to TCV Leh to see the little ones leaning dancing and singing:-

We are just meditating next to the cave where Guru Rinpoche Padmasambava practised there:-

Little Potala Thiksey Monastery:-

 A beautiful gigantic statute of Maitreya that stretches over three floors:-

The night party begins with gifts given to the children of Ngari Institute:-                                          

We all put not only our names onto our pencil box set but also our aspiration into the little notebook:-

Local cultural show put up by our host to welcome us:-                                                                   

Children sitting outside Norling Guesthouse to get ready to enjoy the show as well:-

A visit to our beloved guru's summer palace, which looks a little like Norbulingka in Tibet:-    

Teaching and Q&A with Geshe la to clarify some doubts on Buddhist practice:-

Each of us get to plant an apple tree in front of the monks' hostel. We will definitely have to come back to see the fruits of our labour and love:-

Now for our own aspirations and clearing of obstacles. May these giant prayer flags send our the blessings to the sentient beings and may they be well and happy:-                                                  

It's time to say goodbye and we will meet again. Thank you for your songs and dances for us. We all have enjoyed each other's company tremendously. By the   time we next meet I am sure all of you       will be much taller. But meantime some nice cream cakes for the children, which to them is a rare    treat:-                                                                                                                                                     

Gen Yeshi thank you for being a wonderful host and gave us all a memorable time. Beautiful               mountains and rivers; we will miss you all. Hopefully we can come back again soon.                                                                                      

A project that we did not anticipated but glad that we are part of the making of this 71feet Buddha

More than two years ago I saw photos of the making of the big Buddha statue in Stok. A group of us was admiring from afar. I was just following the progress made by the villagers...how they help either physically or providing transportation for the materials or even simple as cooking or providing food for the workers...A great team indeed without asking for anything in return.They toiled during the brief summer months and work indoor during the harsh winter.

A magnificent sight in the mountain overlooking the valley

Then one of our friends asked if we can donate gold or gold paint for this Buddha after seeing the crown was casked with gold bar donated by someone from Singapore. Also we ca see that the alms bowl was in place.

It all went very fast and 24k gold paints were purchased and shipped to Ladakh and pure gold foils were purchased from China and hand carried to project sites and so were the cold gold purchased from Nepal all arrived in time for the completion of the painting within 3 months last year.

                                       

This May 10 of us were lucky to be able to travel to Ladakh to look at this statue that we have been waiting to see and also offer 2 sets of vertical lotus lights and 1 set of horizontal lotus lights to the main altar.. Just two weeks before we left we were told that the giant lamp outside the Buddha statue needs refilling of oil. Within 2 days we gathered enough money for buying oil for the next 2 years and we were lucky to be able to take part in the topping up ceremony while we were there. This Buddha has been consecrated by HHDL on 8 Aug 2016. The rest of the buildings i.e. the front groud,  the library, the staying quarters as well as the car park down the hill will be on going until whatever in the blueprint is completed. Hopefully the next time we go there it will be more user friendly.