HCF Newsletter 12/14/2021

Himalayan Children’s Fund News Dear Friends, We have quite a bit of news this month ~ of the pleasant variety!

The Annual Thrangu Tsedrup was held in person this year. Nuns and monks participated together at Namo Buddha as in previous years, with only a small number of lay students. This was followed by the annual Lama retreat, a bestowal of degree certi cates for nuns, an enthronement of Khenpos and other activities.

SMD is currently welcoming the rst lay students back on campus again and studies continue unimpeded at VVI and Pullahari.

Thrangu Media has just released a beautiful video in honor of Thrangu Rinpoche lmed by Karma Changchup Gurung. Lyrics were written by Khenpo Sherab Phuntsok and sung by Tsering Yangdon Pinky. You can view it here on YouTube.

Happy Birthday Thrangu Rinpoche!

Tara Abbey glows with lights and butter lamps both inside and out, as the nuns join in the 3 days of prayers for Thrangu Rinpoche’s birthday offered by all the monasteries.

Hover and click for video.

ce equipment. The manager, Karma Sonam, has provided an estimate for a 100 voltage stabilizer: $4,000.00 USD with tax included.

Please help us provide the monastery with a new and strong voltage stabilizer!

To donate by check or online designate: Lumbini

BIRTHDAY MESSAGE FOR THRANGU RINPOCHE COMPOSED BY HH GYALWANG KARMAPA Translated from the Tibetan by Khenpo David Karma Choephel On the occasion of our great spiritual friend Kyabje Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche turning ninety, I would like to express my prayer and aspiration that he may live a healthy life even longer than a mountain’s.

There is a sutra that says, “He has built the boat of dharma, beaten the drum of dharma, blown the conch of dharma, raised the banner of dharma, blocked the seeds of samsara, taught the nature of nirvana, cut off the wrong paths, taught the correct path, reversed bad karmas, and correctly taught the

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Himalayan Children’s Fund P. O. Box 15644, Beverly Hills, CA 90209 USA 310.395.6616 himalayanchildrensfund.org fi

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December 14, 2021

THRANGU TASHI YANGTSE MONASTERY ~ NAMO BUDDHA

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The 15th annual Thrangu Tsedrup Puja was sponsored by Thrangu Lhaksam Tsokpa USA, an organization of former monks and nuns of Thrangu monasteries living in the USA, many of whom were in attendance. From November 20th through the 26th, the great Amitayus Sadhana was of ciated by Ven. Tulku Damchö Rinpoche, Ven. Chöje Lama Wangchuk Topden, and attended by more than 500 of Thrangu Monastery’s sangha of monks and nuns.

During the week, Rinpoche established 4 monks as Khenpo and presented Lopan (M.Phil.) and Ka Rabjam (M.A) Certi cates to all 13 graduates of Thrangu Thoisam Dhargye Ling Shedra (Tara Abbey Shedra) who completed their studies in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

TARA ABBEY Old and faded prayers books have been reprinted by Tara Abbey for the nuns and also donated to monks at the branch school, Lumbini and Boudha monasteries. The printing was made possible by general donations for the abbey through HCF. Many thanks to our Tara Abbey donors!

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Himalayan Children’s Fund P. O. Box 15644, Beverly Hills, CA 90209 USA 310.395.6616 himalayanchildrensfund.org

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VAJRA VIDYA INSTITUTE

Except for a bit of common cold, the monks at VVI have been staying well. All age eligible monks have received the Indian COVID-19 vaccine and the grounds are still closed to visitors. The VVI guest house is used as an in rmary when someone is not well and that keeps colds from passing quickly through the dorms of the young monks.

Repairs (which will take a few months) have begun on the fountain in front of the monastery with the replacement of the dragon sculpture. We have photos and video of the ceremony along with video of the young monks reciting prayers, an oral test and the Rigchen (typology of reasons) Shedra class debating ~ courtesy of Khenpo Gendun and Karma Sopa Tsewang.

Hover and click for videos.

Hover and click for videos.

SHREE MANGAL DVIP BOARDING SCHOOL 32 boarding students and 14 day students have settled into life at SMD after spending a week in isolation and completing physical health examinations and placement testing.

Parents met with the school principal for instruction and completed admission forms with the help of SMD Seniors. On December 11th the Class 10 students were called back to school. They will also quarantine for a week before resuming classes on the 19th. The next group to return will be Class 1 and, if things go well and there are no more lockdowns, the children will continue to be called back to SMD slowly - one class at a time.

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Himalayan Children’s Fund P. O. Box 15644, Beverly Hills, CA 90209 USA 310.395.6616 himalayanchildrensfund.org