Dear Friend of Wangdrak Rinpoche and Gebchak Nunnery,
Wangdrak Rinpoche and the nuns of Gebchak send their greetings and heartfelt gratitude for your support of their life dedicated to peace and compassion.
I have received many inquiries asking after Rinpoche, the nuns, and the earthquake orphans, and so here is a timely e-update in the season’s spirit of goodwill. After all – much of this positive news is due to your kind generosity – generosity of finance, in kind/or heart connection!
The Gebchak nuns:
The nuns are well, except for seven diagnosed with TB or liver problems. These nuns are undergoing treatment and their health is improving. The rest of the Gebchak nuns are about to finish their two-month long drubchen (a very intense and powerful retreat) and are preparing for the ceremony in which they display their accomplishment of “Tummo” (inner heat). Gebchak Nunnery is unique on many fronts – the fact that a huge number of women in this community have mastered this practice places them in the highest regard among dedicated Tibetan Buddhist meditators across the globe. On January 20th they will be tested in a traditional manner – they will walk around the temple wearing wet sheets and drying them with their bodies’ heat produced as they meditate. Keeping in mind that the temperatures are about minus 22 F (-30 C), this is a remarkable feat. The value of this meditation is evident in the nunsʼ compassion and profound wisdom, and why they are committed to intense spiritual practice for their entire lives.
New temple:
The current temple structure is about to fall apart and is dangerous. As Gebchak is the largest nunnery of its kind in the world, it is essential the nuns have a communal hall.
Good news – the groundbreaking for the new temple is scheduled for April 2011. Given the construction infrastructure in such a remote area, the costs are exorbitant. Funds are limited so the new temple can only be a very basic structure. Rinpoche intends to make a few trips to Xining to buy materials such as cement with whatever money is donated by kind disciples and friends (like you) for this purpose.
Yushu earthquake aftermath:
Yushu County is still a mass of tents – not a pleasant reality for the bitter Tibetan winter. News of the earthquake aftermath has mostly disappeared from our mainstream media, and yet the tragedy of this quake will continue to impact the region for a long time. Rinpoche has taken responsibility for over 30 children left orphaned from the quake, all of whom are safely accommodated through the freezing winter. Six of the youngest ones (aged 3-5) have moved to nomad areas where they are being cared for by either their own relatives or Rinpoche’s relatives. The 27 school-aged orphans have remained in the tent city of Jyekundo, the seat of Yushu County. Currently, they are on school holidays over the winter. The children have been divided into two groups, and in turn these groups have been assigned to two other larger orphan groups, totaling 60 kids per group! In order to maintain a nurturing and caring environment about five monks oversee each of the larger groups. Rinpoche’s own appointed helper cooks for the children.
This is the winter plan and because of your generous support, Rinpoche has provided the food and winter clothes for the 30 plus orphans under his direct care. All these said arrangements are approved by the governing authorities.
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Wangdrak Rinpoche is the bastion of untiring compassionate energy and we pray you will continue to support his activities. Very importantly, these projects are all within Tibet – and that’s an exciting connection! If you wish, please consider making a donation, no matter how small, online here. Through this secure online form it is easy to offer a general amount or to allocate specifically to the Gebchak nuns, their new temple, or the earthquake orphans.
For those in the USA, your contribution is fully tax-deductible.
Wangdrak Rinpoche and the Gebchak nuns offer their prayers to you, rejoicing in your meritorious actions for the benefit of all!
Warmest wishes and blessings to you and your loved ones for the holiday season.
USA coordinator – on behalf of Wangdrak Rinpoche and Gebchak Nunnery, East Tibet.
