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Diverse actions in Kathmandu

KHCP in Kathmandu/Nepal - Nov. 2008

We feel it is necessary to remind you that travelling costs can not be reimbursed. This is also the case for all helpers.
All activities are voluntary and all donations go 100% directly and personally to Karmapa’s monks and nuns in Asia.
Should we make a profit from the photo and film projects, the money will also go into Karmapa’s project.

Stupa Swayambhu

Day 1:

Immediately after our arrival our friends from the Diamondway centre picked us up at the airport.

The centre is situated directly at the base of Swayambhu, not far from Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche’s Manang gompa.

DW-Center in Swayambhu/Kathmandu

We went to see Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche the very same day. There we met him in his gompa practicing Nyungnay (*).

As Rinpoche would not be allowed to speak the next day, we met that same evening to talk about on-going projects,
i.e. among other things the planned film night with his Manang people in his gompa.
We already asked Rinpoche in Hungary for advice on what kind of silk to buy for Karmapa’s throne in our EuropeCenter. He had already arranged everything for which we thank him dearly. We’ll report on the details later.

(*) Note to Nyungnay:
Ani Tenzin has explained this fasten practice to us.
It is a meditation on the Thousand-armed Eleven-headed Chenresig. There are 16 days divided into eight parts of two days each. On the first day there is eating, talking and the singing of Puja. On the second day there is neither of these. Instead it’s meditating, accumulating mantras and lots of prostrations with Rinpoche.

Serving of meals in Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche’s Manang gompa

Note to Diamondway centre:
Last year Anna Bach and her husband Lhakpa refurnished this very noble house with loving care.
On January 27th 2009 Lama Ole is going to visit the centre. Sherab Gyaltsen has already blessed it.

Anna and Lhakpa are running numerous idealistic projects – over the last few years they have rebuilt the dilapidated gompa near Samar in the “Upper Mustang”.
They are organising young people from Europe here to teach children English at Lopön Tsechu Rinpoche’s monastery. Anyone who is interested can just contact us.

We also all know Anna Bach from her Medicine Buddha retreats.

Boudha-Stupa decorated for the enthronement day

Day 2:

It was early when we started for Boudha. Ani Tenzin was waiting for us there.
Today the enthronement of the young Urgyen Tulku Rinpoche takes place in the Nyingma monastery (founded by the 16th Karmapa).

Urgyen Tulku Rinpoche arrives

The canvas has yet to be sewn

Day 3:

Today we go to the Manang gompa.
There are various preparations for the big film night during the morning.

Flower offerings with Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche on the last day of the Nyungnay fasten practice.

1,200 Manang people joined by Rinpoche watched the film about their Mani-Puja in February 2008 right after the flower offerings.
After that we showed another film about the building of the Stupa in Becske with Rinpoche and Lama Ole.
Coincidentally our friends from Hungary were also in the gompa – they have probably brought Rinpoche’s luggage from his European tour.
Finally we showed the documentary about Rinpoche’s visit to Schwarzenberg in 2006 with Hannah. They were delighted – none of them expected so much Buddhist activity in Europe. Lama Ole’s commitment to the building of the Stupa caused a big applause.
It has come to our attention that Lama Ole will be giving a lecture at the same place in January 2009.

Rinpoche and all the others

watch in fascination our film "building of the Stupa in Becske"

After that there is a Nyungnay blessing by Rinpoche

Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche is welcomed

Day 4 (by the way):

We’re going up the adjacent mountain with Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche. Rinpoche was so kind and took us with him as photographers.
Here at "Pal Nges Dön Ösel Ling" – a Nyingma/Kagyu monastery – the festivities for the enthronement of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche are proceeding. The highest Rinpoches of both lineages gathered together.

"Pal Nges Dön Ösel Ling" in festive garments

Sogyal Rinpoche with young Tulku and family

The young Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche smiles

Amitabha buddha at the stupa

Day 5:
Visit of our Mahavihar in Swayambhu – this place belongs to our KHCProject.
We met the discipline master Karma Trinlay as well as Karma Lama, the headmaster of the school.
The following was agreed upon:

Ding hall and class room of the school will be repainted
a current picture of Karmapa is to be acquired
the first-aid kit has to be restocked
Pemba will take a first-aid course
and all are in agreement that we need an English-teacher. If interested please contact us.
A larger donation made it possible to hire a tailor and buy a new wardrobe for the 45 monks

Lopön Tsechu Rinpoche´s Gompa at the Stupa

Note:
It was here that in 1968, i.e. exactly 40 years ago, Lama Ole and his wife Hannah Nydahl met the 16th Karmapa.
Congratulations and happy anniversary to 40 years of Diamondway Buddhism in the West.

Umze Jygdor - 2.nd left

Day 6:

As we had no electricity yesterday, we have brought our beamer today. The programme consisted of lots of Karmapa in Europe, the building of the stupa in Hungary and several of our short KHCP-films.
We had a special guest in the audience – Umze Jygdor, the 86-year old singing instructor of the 16th Karmapa. He was very pleased now to see the 17th Karmapa in action. They were also amazed about our new Europecenter, and many still remember Lama Ole.

Stupa Becske/Hungary in the Mahavihar Swayambuh (by film)

With Karma Thinley and the tailor looking for the right materials

Day 7:

Once again to Boudha to find a suitable tailor for our monks.
We also have to go to the Tibetan pharmacy to get the desired medicine for Mayom and Mipham Rinpoche.
We are also looking for a beautiful ‘Green Tara’ statue for our Diamondway retreat place in Hohwacht/ Germany.

At the tailor at Boudha

Day 8:

The tailor we hired is taking measure – soon there will be new robes for our 45 monks on Swayambuh. On the way we also met some friends from France. Lama Gelek came just in time to translate for us from the Tibetan.
Today, the last day of our visit to Kathmandu, a few quick things to do in preparation for the 28-hour bus drive to Bodhgaya. Ani Tenzin is so kind and organises the transport of about a cubic metre of Tibetan medicine (organised here by Anna Bach in the Diamondway centre) for our medical camp at the Kagyue Mönlam.

Foot offerings at the Boudha

Money take over for the new, warm robes

Day 9:

Departure for Bodhgaya to the Kagyue Mönlam, taking a bus.
Karmapa, Sharmapa and many Rinpoches and Lamas of our lineage will make wishes in front of the Bodhi stupa from December 1st to 7th.
More in the next report.

Note:
All those who are interested in the Mönlam verses, can find a downloadable pdf document on our DOWNLOADSITE

What is Mönlam?
Mönlam means to make good wishes for the benefit of all beings, the more the more powerful the wishes, especially under the Bodhi tree. Enjoy!

Prospects of our visit to Kathmandu:

here in Kathmandu we have had increased activity at the Mahavihar for three years
the deep connection and cooperation with Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche and his people are great
we want to ask Karmapa whether we should extend the Healthcare project to Rinpoche’s schools. And we would be grateful for your donations to support this.

We dearly thank all those who participated for a great week!
Special thanks to the Diamondway centre which took care for us so well.

Pia and Peter Cerveny – Karmapa’s Healthcare Project