An unexpected Fruitful Year for VE
2105 has ended nearly a month
ago and this is time for us to recap what we have done. We did not have too
many projects in mind to begin with but then opportunities just came and fell
on our laps. It is most heart-warming to note the numbers of keen supporters
for all these projects. Most of the projects went quite smoothly and hitting
the target in relatively short time. But even the tough going ones got sorted
out in the end and we managed even to go beyond the target. What a joy indeed!
We are deeply grateful for all your supports!! Rejoice in all your kind hearts.
Here are the summary of what
we managed to do in the year of 2015. For those who would like to view more
details and photos please refer to our separate blog on some of those events:-
1) Donating
the 5 doors (1 main door and 4 side doors) to the prayer hall in Ngari Khamtsen
in Sera Jeh Monastery in Bylakuppe.
This project
was brought to my attention when our dharma sister Yeng Yeng asked me if we are
interested in making some donations for the door of the new prayer hall that is
being built now. The reason for sponsoring a door rather than other fixtures,
as explained by Geshe Ngawang Yeshi is that; by building the door to a prayer
hall, we are providing a door way for all sentient beings to be able to access the
dharma. So it is very important to help those not as fortunate as us.
The donation
drive was highly successful that we managed to collect $6,388/- to construct
the main door plus another $2k+ donations from Yeng Yeng and her sister Ven
Chun Yin. Now, the prayer hall in the end, managed to build 4 additional side
doors.
When I was
there last December, the statues of the Buddha and Boddhisattvas have managed
to clear the custom of Nepal and they have all arrived in wooden crates waiting
to be installed after the altar and the marble flooring are been completed. The
doors were being carved by Nepali craftsmen at the moment. So only the door
frame was installed as we have seen from the photos that I have sent out via
email months ago.
Even with
the delay, it is anticipated that the whole hall will be completed by this
summer and I have left behind 2 boxes of the best ‘Blue Sky’ incense donated by
VE and donors, to be offered to the Buddha and Boddhisattvas during the opening
ceremony.
This prayer
hall is one that Zopa Rinpoche has generously sponsored US$100k to get it going
and I had the good fortune to try out one of their guestrooms on the second
floor when I was there. Beautiful view of the sunset and the open field from
the front and back balcony, with a debate area for the monks. Hopefully we can
create this opportunity to lead more sentient beings to the dharma.
2) Donating gold paint, gold foils plus cold gold for the
Big Buddha project in Stok.
This was
another unexpected project. When Gen Yeshi visited Singapore last year he
brought along the photos of the 71 ft Buddha statues in Stok. They were going
to the last phase of painting the Buddha.
Gold paints
(with 24k gold contents) were purchased and a lot of our dharma friends were
very keen on this opportunity to contribute, as it is hard to come by nowadays to
help in the construction of any kind of Buddha’s image or statue of this scale.
On top of that, everyone knows fully well the merit of constructing a Buddha’s
statue or painting any kind of image(s) of holy deities. Within a couple of
weeks $2,288/- was collected to subsidize the cost of the gold paint (which Gen
Yeshi managed to carry litres of paint all the way back to Ladakh).
Another
$1,156/- was collected to purchase pure gold foil (with the help of our dharma
sister Wendy) to be mixed into the paint for painting the murals on the wall in
the chamber underneath the Buddha statue. Again, these gold foils with
fantastic efforts of our dharma brother Sonam and Ladakhi brothers and sisters
(Ming Ley, Tashi Ley, and an unknown Geshe la, etc.), they arrived safely in
Stok on time for the craftsmen to finish the paint job inside.
Another
$608/- was also contributed to purchase “cold gold” from a Nepali craftsman
family to be used for the painting of the deities’ faces.
Though it
was like an international cross border adventure story but we were truly glad
that all these materials reached Stok on time and the paint work was finished
by mid-June 2015. We are looking forward to our organised tour to view this in coming
May before HHDL inaugurate the statue in August this year.
3)
Long Life
Puja for HHDL at Spituk Monastery in Ladakh
Last year
was the 80th birthday celebration of our dear beloved guru HHDL. We
sponsored the tea and bread during the day long chanting for the long life puja
with 1,000 offerings for the monks and general public on 24th May.
4)
Liberation
of goats and sheep in Chantang with special dedication for the long life of
HHDL for his 80th birthday
What a better birthday present to give to our guru where his compassion for all sentient being is so great and ever present? On 29th May, just as the roads were opened to Chantang area, we were so fortunate to have a group of monks from Spituk Monastery who were willing to travel by car for 12 hours to go to this disputed border of nomad area under the Himalayas to do liberation for us.
We were originally promised 40 goats and sheep to be released. But when the nomads heard about the merits were being dedicated for the long life of HH they all wanted to take part as well. So in the end more than 100 happy animals were liberated in one morning.
Due to the kindness of these monks, who did not want to take any offering money from us, we decided to treat the whole monastery to a dinner where they can share the joy created by their fellow members. It was a joyous occasion indeed for all!
5) Helping Pema Drolkar
A fresh graduate from TCV with an ambition to become a nurse. Pema has no relative to turn to for financial help when she found that after all the discounts and scholarship she had she is still short of money to pay for her fees and living expenses to do a degree course in nursing. She approached our teacher Geshe Dorji Damdul and was so lucky that several sponsors were willing to pledge for her entire education shortfall in fees. It was a quick and happy ending for all as she managed to get the money and started school in time all within a span of two weeks.
What a better birthday present to give to our guru where his compassion for all sentient being is so great and ever present? On 29th May, just as the roads were opened to Chantang area, we were so fortunate to have a group of monks from Spituk Monastery who were willing to travel by car for 12 hours to go to this disputed border of nomad area under the Himalayas to do liberation for us.
We were originally promised 40 goats and sheep to be released. But when the nomads heard about the merits were being dedicated for the long life of HH they all wanted to take part as well. So in the end more than 100 happy animals were liberated in one morning.
Due to the kindness of these monks, who did not want to take any offering money from us, we decided to treat the whole monastery to a dinner where they can share the joy created by their fellow members. It was a joyous occasion indeed for all!
5) Helping Pema Drolkar
A fresh graduate from TCV with an ambition to become a nurse. Pema has no relative to turn to for financial help when she found that after all the discounts and scholarship she had she is still short of money to pay for her fees and living expenses to do a degree course in nursing. She approached our teacher Geshe Dorji Damdul and was so lucky that several sponsors were willing to pledge for her entire education shortfall in fees. It was a quick and happy ending for all as she managed to get the money and started school in time all within a span of two weeks.
6)
TCV
Children Pocket Money Fund
VE has been
sponsoring the TCV winter program for a number of years to enable those
children who has no one to take them for the long winter holiday to go out of
the school and experience the world beyond the school walls. This year we
donated 65,000rs to TCV headquarter so that 130 children of all ages can have
500rs each as pocket money when they travel out for their holiday. The office
will update us later as to where these children has gone to.
7)
Furnishing
tables and beds for the 10 rooms in Ngari Institute Monks’ Hostel in Saboo
Ngari
Institute is a charitable organisation in Ladahk where children from broken
families are housed. Run by a committee head by Geshe Tsewang Dorje, the monks
together with lay helpers take care of the 40+ children and give them education
where it was not possible with one single parent or no parent to support them. Besides
the basic education they are also taught Buddhism at young age and simple
Buddhist rituals by the monks.
So when the
monks’ hostel building was completed (the cost was borne by German sponsors)
last September, I was surprised to hear that they cannot move in to stay as
they lack the money to furnish the rooms. So VE took on the responsibility of
raising money to buy beds and tables for the 30 monks who will be housed there
in the future. It was not an easy task, but 3 months later we managed to raise
S$7,530/- for them….a little more than the cost of tables and beds where they
can use the extra to purchase blankets and pillows. A happy ending after some
tough moments!
8)
Buying gas cylinders for Lingshed
residents
According to sister Amala, as told by Geshe
Ngawang Jangchup, Lingshed is a relatively poor area in Lhadakh. The village
people use mostly coal for keeping warm and cooking. In the long run they
suffer a lot of health hazard due to this…i.e. going blind, cancer etc. all
because of the long term inhalation and exposure to the fume. Therefore, Geshe
la has started a project, to supply each family with 2 gas cylinders, (instead
of burning coal) which will last them through the year to improve their state
of well-being. VE has made a modest contribution for 2 gas cylinders in the
project. Hopefully with sister Amala’s appeal to her friends, this project can
be fully realised soon and the people there can have
cleaner air to live in.
