ensure the appropriate use of the donations. Reports on these annual travels are part of Lotus Direkthilfe tax declaration which we have to undergo every three years.
The monastery’s foundation stone was laid in 1987 in the vicinity of the Great Stupa of Swayambhunat. Since then Ven. Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche and Ven. Tenga Rinpoche offer young people an education based on Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
By sponsoring a monk, you help to secure this education and to cover the living expenses, which most families are not able to do.
Becoming a sponsor, you have to decide to sponsor on a general purpose or on a sponsorship which is connected to one of the lamas of Benchen monastery. A sponsorship for a certain monk gives you the possibility to get in contact with him. If you choose to do so, you will receive his name, and you can keep in touch via post or electronic communication. At present, the monastery supports more than 300 monks and the number is still growing. In achieving this, Benchen monastery depends solely on donations. Lotus Direkthilfe administers sponsorships for the monastary and its monks.
In 2002 a primary school was established in Benchen Phuntsok Dargeling. Since then the young monks can obtain some classical western education. The education includes maths as well as basic health training or social studies. The lamas learning Tibetan, Nepalese and English language.
By supporting Benchen Clear Light Meditation Centre you provide the means to support the traditional three years’ retreat, which qualifies a monk to become a Lama (teacher). The project was initiated in 1996 and the centre was built in Pharping, in the vicinity of Kathmandu. Meanwhile the first group of monks finished their three-years-retreat in 2002. Since then the three-year-retreats are performed continuously at Benchen Clear Light.
The Benchen Free Clinic also requires support. Established in 1994, the Free Clinic was an inatiative of Venerable Tenga Rinpoche to ensure the medical care not only of the monastery’s monks but also of the local community. Other monasteries in Kathmandu make use of the Clinic’s services, as well. Treatment of the Free Clinic is free of charge. In 2002 a branch of the Free Clinic was started next to the Clear Light in Pharping.
In order to support these activities of Benchen Phunktsok Dargyeling Monastery in Kathmandu you may forward your donation through Lotus Direkthilfe e.V.
Lotus Direkthilfe e.V.
Contact:
Odenthaler Str. 112
D-51069 Köln
Germany
e-mail:
Bank Details
Acc-name: Lotus Direkthilfe e.V.
Bank: Commerzbank Köln
IBAN: DE74 3704 0044 0510 4880 00
BIC: COBADEFFXXX