Wamlung Retreat HousesMany thanks once again on behalf of Minam Rinpoche for the speedy response to the call for contirbutions for repairs/construction to the main shrine hall of Wamlung Monastery. Minam Rinpoche is now able to purchase materials to do repairs to the damage of the shrine hall.
Thanks to :
Kenny Tham, Ho Gek Tin, Shannies, Guan Zi Zai Buddhist Society Klang, Tan Ynu Ting & Jenny Ong, Molly Chin & Family, Lim Hua Bi & Family, Richard Ng & PY Cheong, Ng Shu Yin & Ng Shu Ting, Bay Hee Choon (from Guan Zi Zai Klang), Mr & Mrs Yeoh Kian Jin, Phik Charng, Major Leow, Irene Liew, Pauline Woo, Paul Er, Ryan Sern Chia Chien, Brenda Foo, Linda Goh, Nada, Ho Lee Chin, Mr & Mrs Kang Chik Hua, Wei Wei (Guangzhou), Teh Lah Hoong, Tham Ming Wei, Carol Low Mei Lee, Lai Soon Woh, Eunise Ling Ya, Carmen Ling Na, Sandie Foo. Mr & Mrs Michael Lim and family. Lai Kok Hong & Kok Poh Wan & their families
Total amount collected as of 23 September 2009 : RM26,500.
This amount will be remitted to Rinpoche by the end of this week. Those who have pledged but have not paid, the money will be remitted in early October.
RM16,000 remitted to Rinpoche on 28 September 2009.
Brief history of Wamlung Monastery
Wamlung Do Ngakh Choekor Ling Monastery is situated in the village of Ka-xiong (district Nangchen) in Qinghai province (eastern Tibet). It is on a high plain 4,700 meters above sea level. The location is a beautiful area surrounded by snow-capped mountains and has remained visually unaffected by modern technology such as the proliferation of electrical towers, automobiles, etc… Except for a few solar generators, which were recently installed to supply power to the area, the landscape remains pristine and unchanged.
After spending a long time here in retreat, Gyalwang Dechen Dorje felt that this area was very special and holy. He discovered that the place was a hill which resembled a Buddha seated in meditative posture. Gyalwang Dechen Dorje found that he could build the monastery right in the Buddha’s hands, which were held in the meditation mudra. Nearby, a rock was found inscribed with the seed syllable WAM, which is the seed syllable of Vajrayogini and also an aspect of wisdom.
Because of the auspiciousness of these signs, Gyalwang Dechen Dorje decided to build a temple in this location. However, one problem remained to be solved: there was no water supply at this location. He decided to enter into retreat to solve the problem. During this retreat he made many offerings to the deities and one day water oozed out from the ground. It is believed that the appearance of this water was a terma, or hidden treasure. It was for these incredibly auspicious occurrences that the monastery was built in the hands of the Buddha, on a hill resembling the Buddha in meditative posture.
During the Cultural Revolution, the monastery was completely destroyed and the water, which had flowed freely stopped. The monastery was later rebuilt in 1989 and the water miraculously flowed again from the ground. A Drukpa Kagyu monastery for many generations, many great masters have been trained here, including the root lama of H.E. Adeu Rinpoche, Choekyong Namgyal. In the past it has been the home of about a hundred monks, and of Togden Rinpoche and Mipham Namgyal Rinpoche (Minam Rinpoche).
After his enthronement ceremony in Tashi Jong, in 1997, Minam Rinpoche returned to Wamlung Monastery to carry out his duties. Similarly, Togden Rinpoche returned to Wamlung Monastery after having been recognized in 2001. The construction of the main shrine hall and retreat quarters have been successfully completed at Wamlung Monastery. Minam Rinpoche had embarked on completing another project, which he started in 1999 when he offered to financially sponsor fifteen young monks who had no permanent living quarters, and built a Dharma Institute for them so that they could pursue their studies.
However , because of the monastery’s great distance from the local village, and the added costs incurred due to the necessary transportation of construction and materials and other goods from outlying areas, building cost for the proposed Dharma Institute would be 2-3 times higher than if the Institute were built in the nearest town. To lower the costs and make the Institute more accessible, and to accommodate the district with an adequate library, Rinpoche will build this Institute in the town area and relocate the young monks there to pursue their studies. (Norling Library was officially opened in July 2007)
In order to obtain a correct understanding of Dharma, it is necessary that students have access to a well-rounded religious education. Rinpoche thinks that it is very important to preserve the precious Dharma. Rinpoche also believes that it is vital that we understand Buddhism and not just practice with blind faith. Similarly, the library will be a proper place to preserve the Dharma and the culture.
