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 80^th 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 24^th May.

4)      Liberation of goats and sheep in Chantang with special dedication for the long life of HHDL for his 80^th 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 29^th 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. 

Helping Pema Drolkar

This July, VE, with help of our generous supporters, managed to subsidize one young Tibetan girl to succeed in her dreams for pursuing her studies as a nurse.

Perma Drolkar came to India like most of the Tibetan children, alone and have not much of support from a single parent farming family. She has finished her high school with TCV doing science as her main studies and this qualified her to be accepted to do a B.Sc Nursing course in Nitte Usha Institute of Nursing Sciences in Mangalore.

Her total expenditure needed for the first year is approximately Rs 130,500, which includes:-
(1) Her tuition fees of Rs 75,000 per year (after getting a discount of Rs 9,000 from the original amount of Rs 84,000 due to her background)
(2) Room rent of Rs 22,000 per year
(3) Mess charges of Rs 24,000 per year, and
(4) Extra university and application fees of Rs 3,500 (which is only payable for the first year)

Though she managed to get a scholarship of Rs 45,000 per year from TCV but she still needs to pay for her uniform and books. Therefore, there was still a balance of Rs 85,000 (approximately S$1,820) to be paid.

Through the swift action of a group of kind souls, Pema managed to get the balance of her money needed just one week before the school term started. It was a real joy for all of us and Geshe Dorji Damdul who has asked for our help. We thank the following donors who made this possible for Pema to start her first year in the Institute:-
1) Mrs. Shirley Hoe                     $400/-
2) Ms. Yik Choi Pheng                 $300/-

The following persons have pledged to give a yearly donation to the fees required:-

1) Ms. Wee Nee Ng                     $500/- per year for 4 years

2) Ms. Tham Khuan Heng           $250/- per year for 4 years

3) Mr. Waye Phan                        Balance amount that is required for the 4 years

 

We also received the following donation from the following group of supporters which will go into the accruing fees for Pema in her second year of study. They are:-

1) Swas Tan Teik Ee & family from Penang                     $100/-

2) Bhagya Jean Lau                                                            $50/-

3) Chiang Meau Chyou                                                      $5/-

4) Amala Chew Soo Chuah & family                                $200/- 

4.

                                              This is Pema Drolkar

  Pocket Money Fund for Winter program 2015

 

This year, Varada Effort has been lucky with the accumulation of various donations throughout the previous year and this year. We managed to send an amount of Rs. 65,000 to Tibetan Children Village to enable up to 130 students, who will be taking part in this year's winter program to receive a pocket money of Rs. 500 each.

 

We do hope these recipients will have an enjoyable and fruitful time despite of the fact that they do not have any family in India. We hope the communities who receive them will show the warmth of having someone near to spend their free time with and also the life that is outside of TCV.

 

A Special Thanks to All Who Helped to Make this Event A Success

Since I have mentioned that all the monks who have helped in the liberation did not accept any of our offering, we have decided to treat not only them but the entire Spituk monastery (the branch in Saboo) to a dinner they well deserved.

 

At the same time we also made an offering to the 30 monks there to partake in this great joy for all.

 

These are some of the photos that were sent to us by Geshe Ngawang Yeshi. They were performing the kunrik puja prior to the dinner. Undoubtedly all the donors are blessed one more time! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE LONG LIFE PUJA FOR HHDL'S 80th BIRTHDAY

On 24th May 2015 before the VE liberation 2015 took place, the Spituk Monastery in Ladakh was going to conduct a long life puja for High Holiness the Dalai Lama for his coming 80th birthday. Varada Effort have originally plan to set aside an amount to do long life puja for all the donors and our beloved guru as we have done two years ago.

Since this opportunity arise, Geshe Ngawang Yeshi was suggesting that we could sponsor some of the costs in the puja rather than to "book" a puja from our part. We of course happily agreed and we made an offering to all the monks and layperson who took part in the chanting for the day and also we provided tea and bread for their break.

The photos took some time to arrive due to their wifi problem and it is not easy to download pictures when the connection has been intermittent.

But at long last! It did arrived and must say the place is really magnificent and the sight of the prayer flags in the opening is simply breath taking.

It is a set of pictures worth waiting for. Hope we can have the good fortune to visit the monastery one day.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Pictures of the liberation

Did we chose the lucky ones?

Hopefully these children will grow up fully appreciate the meaning of giving life

These will be my contribution

Another household counting their contribution

 

Must say they are a well behaved lot

The entire 103 herd

The valley where they graze

We are under the blue sky on the other side of Himalaya

Looks like the job is done

Heading home

Their lives have been saved but not left alone to survive. They are still being taken care of by the nomads for life

We are very grateful for all these wonderful pictures taken by Geshe Ngawang Yeshi that gives us a good idea of what went on even we were not there to take part in the whole even. Hopefully next year we can be there.

 

 

 

 

Our Liberation was a big success! 103 animals freed!

It was a long journey headed by Geshe (Dr.) Ngawang Yeshi. The 5 monks left Leh early in the morning of 28th May. Luckily the road was smooth and good. They arrived at the Chushul nomad village in Chantang in the same evening after an 8 hours car journey. Puja was performed after that and meeting was held with the nomads.

 

We were promised with only 40 sheep and goats originally and we were not able to add on more even more people was hoping to join this program after we have hit the quota and closed all registration one week after the news was announced.

 

This is due to the fact that there is no telephone network over there. So any form of communication has to be physically present to talk to them. The time was too pressed to send another person to go there as normal buses only travel to that area once a week.

 

In the end we dared not take in any extra donors as we were afraid that we may not be able to fulfil the order and that will be very bad on our part. Hopefully, those disappointed this time round will sign up as soon as we put up the announcement next year. We will also try to increase the number of animals since we know the demand is great.  

 

But the greatest surprise came after the meeting with the nomads! When they heard that we were doing this to save life and dedicating the merits to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, they all wanted to join in the program as well. As we did not provided enough for the extra cost of the animals but we had well provided for the journey back and forth and various expenditure for the monks, in case they get stuck on the road due to weather condition, Geshe Yeshi had made an on the spot decision for arriving at an acceptable cost for all the 103 animals with a 1 to 3 goat and sheep mix combination. Therefore the nomads will bear the balance of the cost and they have become our co-sponsors!! It was a truly win win situation for all and a happy ending for a good deed.

 

So the next morning all the nomads, started to get their animals ready for the ceremony. The animals were marked, blessed and also a blue ribbon were tied on their head to celebrate the beginning of their new lives!

 

You will be able to enjoy the photos attached to see what kind of environment the animals will be living for the rest of their lives. I am sure you feel happy for them too. 

 

Our gratitude to the following who made this possible:

1) Geshe Yeshi's coordination that we managed to do this meritorious deed in the month of Sagadawa. His bargaining with the car driver for the transport cost and packing of food for the journey to save time and money.

2) Ven. Dondup who took the trouble to travel to the nomad area for us on his own expense to determine the number of animals to be liberated.

3) The rest of the 3 monks who absolutely refused to accept our offering to them. They said they are just too happy to be able to take part in this.

4)The all mighty above who oversaw the weather condition and road condition to make this liberation such a smooth one. In fact, the week before they left and few days after they got back it snowed. So we are truly very blessed.

Last but not least, your fervent support for this event.

 

As most of you would have received my previous email and know that we did use part of your contribution to sponsor the long life puja that was performed in Spituk Monastery on the 24th of May. May your good deeds bring you good health and wealth and more important, peace and love to this earth.

In order to show our gratitude to the monks concerned, we have arranged for a thank you dinner for the monastery where they come from and made offering to the 30 monks there so they can share this joy with us.




Our dedicated monks taking a break on the road

Enjoying the pre-packed food 

Recce the site

 

Some of the lucky chosen ones

 

These are my contribution

 

Another lot to be freed

 

Blessing given to the animals

 

Waiting for their turn to be marked

 

Nomads joined in to help

 

More are lining up
 

We are those lucky chosen ones





 

Aren't we all looking very pretty with the blue ribbon?