7/12/2010

If you have not checked out the website for a while, you are missing out on a lot of new additions. A few DGI members went to India and we have added a number of pictures and stories. We have information on the 2010 food drive, the visit to Drepung Gomang, and a very moving story from a Tibetan we met that was jailed in Tibet. Please take your time looking through the information as we have a number of links embedded due to all the good information we have. 

As part of our membership drive, we will be listing the names of members as we get them. we move a little slow, so please be patient. All DGI supporters will be listed in the "DGI supporter" section of the web page. If you do not want your name listed, please let us know. 

7/10/2010

7/12/2010

July 12, 2010

May 31, 2010

3/26/2010

Dear Friends,

As many of you are now aware, a massive earthquake of magnitude 6.9 hit the region of Kham in Eastern Tibet last Wednesday morning, April 14 causing heavy damage and loss of human lives. The epicenter was near the town of Kyegudo in Yulshul county, an area with heavy concentration of Tibetan populations. The whole town was razed to the ground, including schools and monasteries. As of this morning, over 10,000 people have either died or remain buried according to Tibetan sources. Those who survived are left homeless, often sleeping outside in the cold, or in tents temporarily set up by the Chinese army rescuers. Initial reports suggests upwards of 100,000 people are displaced by the earthquake and will have to be moved to safer areas as the town itself is completely destroyed .

In the wake of this unfortunate disaster, Tibetans and their friends across the world have mobilized to raise money for the victims and many organizations have sprung up to deal with the immediate needs of the people in Kyegu. Even though the Chinese government has taken the lead in rescue efforts and aid to the people, it seems much of it is for show and there is also a growing mistrust between Tibetans and Chinese, who for fear of political upheaval are removing the many monks there who have flocked to the area and were the most help in the initial stages. With urging from Drepung Gomang monastery in India, it’s sister organization in the US, Drepung Gomang Institute (DGI) in Louisville is collecting donations from it’s members, and reaching out to supporters and friends across the country who have known the monks from their various tours. Once they have a sizable pool, an organization working with the relief efforts in Kyegu will be picked to sent the money through , making sure that it will help those directly affected on the ground. Some of you may already have given to other organizations. But it will help if you are able to reach out to your friends and family and collect whatever you can to aid in this effort. Most importantly, DGI is hoping that the hosts and tour coordinators from last year will be able to email this letter to their many contacts. DGI is a non-profit religious organization and all donations are tax deductible. All contributions should be in check made to:

DGI

Memo: Earthquake relief fund

1578 Parsons Pl.

Louisville, KY-40205

Please be advised that we will be turning over the money we raise to an organization in the first week of May and so donations must be received by 5/7/10 in order to be counted in this effort. Once all donations are counted and turned over, we will post the amount from each location or area organization on our website, drepunggomanginstitute.org.

Again, on behalf of Drepung Monastery and DGI, we are making this appeal to our many friends and supporters. Any amount of donation will go a long way if we band together and also keep the many thousands of Tibetans who are struggling in Kyegu in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

With the greatest appreciation,

Tsundue, 2009 Tour driver and Translator

Lhakpa. DGI resident translator

We were fortunate enough to welcome Geshe Rapgyal for his first teaching Sunday. Geshe Rapgyal was picked by the monastery due to his academic accomplishment, he has obtained the Lingse level of the Geshe degree.There are four levels of Geshe degrees categorized under the set criteria of a Gelugpa university – Lharam, Tsokram, Rigram, and Lingse. To qualify for the monastic degree of Geshe, the student must undergo the vast and extensive traditional monastic studies on the five major treatises of Buddhist philosophical texts [The Perfection of Wisdom (as elaborated upon by Maitreya in the Abhisamayalamkara; Chandrakirti’s commentary on Nagarjuna’s root text on Madhyamaka; Dharmakirti’s Pramanavartika – Compendium on Valid Cognition; Vasubhandu’s Abhidharmakosha; and Vinaya – studies in monastic discipline].

At the end of the teaching Geshe Rapgyal stated his goal is to be able to teach in English by the end of the year, which we all hope he accomplishes!!! Geshe Sangay Gatso, Geshe-la to all of us, has obtained his green card and will likely visit India and Tibet sometime in the future, although no immediate plans have been made. He has assured us that he is coming back after taking a much deserved vacation!!!  As our new geshe gets settled, we will be working on future events. Please check back as we add more special events.