Message by the VV Thrangu Rinpoche on the Qinghai Earthquake
Dear Friends,
I like to thank you all very much for being generous, compassionate and being ready to help in this difficult time. I have been receiving letters of condolences, mourning and asking about how to help. I like to request all of you to help in any form you can, by donating or helping to spread information, collecting donations for relief and rebuilding or saying prayers for deceased ones that they may born in the pure land of Amitabha, for strength, relief from fear and food and shelter for the left ones.
Here in Boudha, Kathmandu, all of us are saying aspiration prayers in front of Boudhanath Stupa, lighting lamps and collecting donations to send to Yushu. All the Sangha here are shocked and deeply saddened to hear the news about our dharma friends in Thrangu Monastery in Tibet and people of Yushu.
Once again I like to thank you all for your kind support in this difficult time. Your kind support for relief and rebuilding will be of great merits.
With appreciation,
Thrangu Rinpoche
www.rinpoche.com
Thrangu Monastery: A post-earthquake update and how to help by Michele Martin
Thrangu Monastery in Tibet was near the epicenter of the devastating quake of April 14. It was almost completely destroyed and many of the monks were killed or are missing. Over many years, the monastery had been rebuilt through the hard work of the monks and local people. They built and rebuilt many structures, including new temples, an institute for higher Buddhist studies, and traditional retreat center. The quake destroyed everything—all these plus the monks’ dwellings and the smaller temples as well. All that was left standing was one temple and a kitchen, and their condition is uncertain. The local village, which has supported the monastery for generations, was also devastated and thousands of people died or were injured.
The response in Tibet has been heartfelt and immediate. [Details, including links for how you can help and a personal note from Thrangu Rinpoche, after the jump.] Thousands of monks from monasteries belonging to all traditions have come to the area to help. The surviving monks from the monastery are saying prayers day and night for the dead and injured. On April 17th, with broken wood from the collapsed structures, many bodies of the lay people were cremated on the mountain near the monastery and those of the monks on the next day. Thrangu Rinpoche is sending twelve senior lamas, who head his centers around the world. They will help people and start the long process of rehabilitation and rebuilding.
At the great stupa in Boudhanath, Nepal, prayers were said by monks from all the Kagyu monasteries on the 15th and by Thrangu Rinpoche’s monks and nuns on the 16th. Pujas are continuing from early morning throughout the day, and on the 18th, the Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinle Dorje sponsored a day’s puja for all those who passed away. Students and centers from all over the world are organizing prayer services and collecting donations to help the relief efforts.
In speaking of the tragedy, Thrangu Rinpoche said that the monastery was devastated:
“Now there has been the terrible earthquake in Jyekundo, Qinghai, and these structures have all been ruined. Additionally, many monks have passed away in the earthquake. This is a great tragedy and a great obstacle. Please think of this and make good prayers on the behalf of all those who passed away. If you gather merit by helping with the relief and restoration, it will be helpful for the world in general and in particular prevent the Dharma from disappearing. It is important that the lineage of teaching and practice not wane: Without a lineage of teaching and practice, the Dharma would perish.”
The people and the monastery are in great need of help. Many are seriously injured, and all are homeless in the high altitude’s cold weather. Donating now will give them hope and make a big difference in their lives. The quickest way to help Thrangu Monastery is to donate directly to Lodro Nyima Rinpoche’s (Abbot of Thrangu Monastery) foundation account in Hong Kong. He can then withdraw funds directly from inside the disaster area. In particular, they desperately need rice and flour to feed the survivors. Here’s the wire transfer info:
Bank Name: The Bank of East Asia, Limited
Branch: Queen’s Road Central Branch
Account Name: Lodroe Nyima Charity Foundation Limited
Account No.: 015-187-25-00453-6
SWIFT Code: BEASHKHHBranch telephone No.: +852 2805-2206
Branch Address: Shop A-C, G/F. Wah Ying Cheong Central Building, 158-164 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong.
You can also make direct, tax-deductible donations to the efforts at Thrangu Monastery by going to the following websites:
Organized by Thrangu House, Oxford, U.K.
Accepts payment by cheque, bank draft, PayPal, and major credit cards.A US-based charity that supports Thrangu Monastery in Tibet as well as Thrangu Monastery in Nepal and related projects. Accepts online donations.
A registered Canadian Charity for the Very Venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche’s projects. Accepts online donations.
Accepts donation by check or bank draft. See their website for details.
Religious statues destroyed by the earthquake
Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche Speaks About the Earthquake
We have been blessed to have the wise perspective of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche who interrupted his recent teaching to discuss the destruction at Thrangu Monastery in Yushu, Tibet, due to the devastating earthquake. He talked about how in his lifetime Thrangu Monastery has been destroyed twice, except for the main shrine: the first time during the revolution, and this time much worse. He then told a story of how Thrangu monastery had been devastated 245 years ago by a major earthquake, and at that time also, only the main shrine was not destroyed.
Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche’s story of events centuries ago offers us a tremendous lesson in impermanence and the power of a true bodhisattva. Here is the story he told:
The Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche was away at Tsurphu Monastery, and left two of the principal Tulkus of Thrangu Monastery, Traleg Rinpoche and Tulku Lodro Nyima, to receive grain from the harvest to supply the monastery for the upcoming winter. Although this time it was Traleg Rinpoche’s turn to go, he decided instead to send Tulku Lodro Nyima. Then a few days later in a casual conversation, Traleg Rinpoche asked his attendant: “Which is better, one person dying, or 100 people?” The attendant said, “Only one person is better than one hundred people, of course.”
Tulku Lodro Nyima and his party arrived at a hilltop on the other side of a valley, overlooking the monastery when the earthquake struck. At the request of Traleg Rinpoche, a special puja was being held in the main shrine building, and all of the lamas participating survived. But Traleg Rinpoche was in his quarters, and did not survive.
Because of the destruction, monks went to Tsurphu to ask His Holiness, the 13th Karmapa, if they should move Thrangu monastery to a safer area. His Holiness said no, that the lineage had been maintained at that spot for a long time, and the main temple was still standing. Because of this, His Holiness named the monastery “Victorious from the Obstacles of the Four Elements.” He further stated there would be great Dharma coming from Thrangu Monastery, and not to move it.
Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche then compared the earthquake so long ago to this one, noting that again, the main shrine survived although there is some damage. He then touched all our hearts when he said that he would really like it if Thrangu Monastery could be rebuilt in the next few years, so that he can see it in this lifetime.
Because of the destruction, monks went to Tsurphu to ask His Holiness, the 13th Karmapa, if they should move Thrangu monastery to a safer area. His Holiness said no, that the lineage had been maintained at that spot for a long time, and the main temple was still standing. Because of this, His Holiness named the monastery “Victorious from the Obstacles of the Four Elements.” He further stated there would be great Dharma coming from Thrangu Monastery, and not to move it.
Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche then compared the earthquake so long ago to this one, noting that again, the main shrine survived although there is some damage. He then touched all our hearts when he said that he would really like it if Thrangu Monastery could be rebuilt in the next few years, so that he can see it in this lifetime.
* This is a copy of an article from kagyu.org.
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