Patron, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso
Photo courtesy of Charlotte Collins.
Ruth Finney Hayward, Ph.D., President and Executive Director of The PLTL Project, with Khen Rinpoche Lobzang Tsetan, Abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery (in exile).
Photo courtesy of Bob Hayward.
Khen Rinpoche Tsetan with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Santa Barbara, CA, May 2009.
Photo: Courtesy of Dennis Cordell.
Young monks at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery with image of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Dalai Lama's designated Panchen Lama.
Graphical representation of new Tashi Lhunpo Assembly/Prayer hall.
Photo: Courtesy of Ruth Hayward.
Khen Rinpoche Kachen Lobzang Tsetan, the abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, leads a procession at Losar in Bylakuppe, India.
Progress for Tashi Lhunpo in Exile—and an Invitation to Visit for Tibetan New Year Feb ’10, 2010
August 7, 2009
PLTL Board members and supporters with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Santa Barbara, May 2009, L to R: Priscilla Newton, Bob Hayward, Khen Rinpoche Lobzang Tsetan, HH the Dalai Lama, Ruth Hayward, Paula Fouce, Joseph Stephens, Catherine Josey.
Dear Supporters of The Panchen Lama – Tashi Lhunpo Project,
Altogether we have raised about $260,000 to benefit Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in exile: many thanks to each and all of you.
This is a request for your continuing support – and an invitation on behalf of the Monastery for up to 14 of you to visit there in Bylakuppe, S. India from Feb 10 – 14, 2010: you’ll witness the rituals that help bring in an auspicious Tibetan New Year. Khen Rinpoche Kachen Geshe Lobzang Tsetan will appear in most of the ceremonies in his role as Abbot. It is a very special privilege to have him as our host.
The Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in exile is located in the midst of the largest Tibetan refugee community in the world, so you will also see the living Tibetan culture in action when Tibetans join you for the monastery rituals.
First, more on the progress towards the construction of the Prayer Hall and its importance. The Dalai Lama, we learned from Khen Rinpoche, has himself given the equivalent of about $118,000 towards the construction of the Assembly/Prayer Hall and indicated that it would be auspicious to break ground this year, if possible.
The new Tashi Lhunpo Prayer Hall Committee at the monastery decided that they needed at least $660,000 on hand before they break ground. They are still about $280,000 short, so any help you can give now would be greatly appreciated. We also want to help commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the passing of the 10th Panchen Lama, and with hopes for the good future of the missing 11th Panchen Lama, Gedun Choekyi Nyima, whom the Dalai Lama recognized.
If construction of he Prayer/Assembly Hall can not begin this year, we will try, with your help to make next year our biggest fund-raising success yet.
2010 is also the 21st Birthday Year of the missing Panchen Lama. So please give some thought to events for next year when Khen Rinpoche will be back in the USA.
Meanwhile, there are two events coming up this year that may be of interest to you. First, December 30 in Dharamsala, monks from Tashi Lhunpo in exile will offer Long-life Prayers for His Holiness and in memory of the 10th Panchen Lama. We are in the process of getting more details, also about whether or not visitors are welcome and how many might be accommodated. Please let me know if you might wish to attend should the event be open. Email: info@thepltlproject.org This is, please note, the coldest time of year in Dharamsala.
In the south of India, however, where Tashi Lhunpo in exile is located, the winter is the most pleasant time to visit. To bring in the Tibetan New Year, Feb 14 this year, the monastery observes Gutor, two days of ritual, dances, prayers and then Losar, New Year Day, followed by a period of family celebrations.
The Monastery is inviting 15 supporters to join the events. More information is available, and registration – please let me know of your interest and I will communicate with the monastery when the group is complete - is first-come, first-accepted.
You may also wish to consider an optional post-trip to some Buddhist Pilgrimage sites in Bihar, we hope with Khen Rinpoche Kachen Geshe Lobzang Tsetan, as his schedule permits, from Feb 15 to 20 in India.
And for the fortunate few, there will be the possibility of an optional pre-trip to Kerala, depending on space available at some of the more isolated lodging, and your time.
Details about these emerging trips can be obtained by emailing: info@thepltlproject.org
If you or friends are able to contribute towards the ground-breaking for the new Tashi Lhunpo in exile Prayer / Assembly Hall, you have our extra thanks. Once you see the monastery situation yourself, I’m confident that you will be very deeply moved.
I hope to see you in India.
Thank you,
Ruth Finney Hayward
President and Executive Director
The Panchen Lama –Tashi Lhunpo Project, Inc.
Contributions can be made through PayPal on our website, or by sending a check to our P.O. Box 849, Montrose, CA 01021-0849
Images from PLTL Events in Spring 2009
Photo courtesy of Bob Hayward and Agape International Spiritual Center.
Michael Beckwith receives a katag from Khen Rinpoche Tsetan at Agape International Spiritual Center, April 2009.
Photo courtesy of Wayne Leeming.
Khen Rinpoche Tsetan greets participants at his teaching in Laguna Beach, CA, April 2009.
Photo courtesy of Emil Rudobeck.
PLTL Boardmember Michael Fitzpatrick plays cello at Malibu Strings event for Panchen Lama's 20th birthday, Malibu, CA, April 25, 2009.
Photo courtesy of Emil Rudobeck.
Sumit Kundu plays sarod at Malibu Strings event for Panchen Lama's 20th birthday, Malibu, CA, April 25, 2009.
Photo courtesy of Emil Rudobeck.
Eric Henderson plays guitar at Malibu Strings event for Panchen Lama's 20th birthday, Malibu, CA, April 25, 2009.
Photo courtesy of Sara Cross.
Ruth Hayward receives a blessing string from Buddhist monk at Malibu Strings event for Panchen Lama's 20th birthday, Malibu, CA, April 25, 2009.