Happy New Year 2022
As this new year begins, we invite you to look back at the amazing and productive year we had in 2021. In the midst of many lockdowns in Nepal, SMD School was open briefly which allowed children and teachers to meet in person and to hold a graduation ceremony. Then the return to online learning was embraced and managed well by teachers and students alike. Everyone worked wholeheartedly at staying connected. The Abbey, SMD School and Monasteries all helped to provide food, clothing, medical supplies and other necessities to many communities and COVID Heroes were acknowledged. Losar, Monlam, Yarne and other teaching sessions continued safely with the help of live streaming to the individual monasteries. Three year retreats were completed at Sher Gompa (nuns) and Thrangu Sekar Retreat Center (monks) and new retreats begun. Tara Abbey and VVI had Shedra graduations and at SMDBS, classes for the grade school monks continued safely by breaking into small groups. Due to the lockdowns, SMD Seniors went ‘above and beyond’, staying an extra 6 months or more in their volunteer posts before it was safe to leave and new Seniors to take their places. The end of the year saw the launch of Thrangu Media and brought many children back on to the SMD campus. 2021 has shown the basic enthusiasm and adaptability of the “Thrangu Family” of which you are a very important part.