Chanteloube projects
Study & practice scholarships
Support for three-year retreatants
The intensive retreat in Dordogne (see Songtsen: location) offers Western students a special opportunity to explore the Buddhist teachings in depth, in the three year cycle of study, contemplation and meditation, expounded according to the teachings of different traditions, and in particular the Nyingma tradition. During the three-year retreat, the retreatants receive training in all the stages of practise, concluding with practices associated with the Great Perfection stage.
Students nearing the end of the long cycle of study and meditation, such as the three-year retreats, are often unable to find the financial resources to cover the rest of the course. As it is traditionally considered most important to complete the cycle without interruption, the organization frequently needs to extend loans to or sponsorships for students in difficulty. ACEC would like to be able to support students who have the motivation and necessary qualities to successfully follow these study cycles but who lack the material resources.
Support for other students & practitioners
In addition to the three year retreat, Songtsen’s philosophy is to make all seminars and teachings available to anyone interested, regardless of their ability to make a contribution. The recommended cost of all programmes is to cover basic event expenses. As with all Songtsen’s activities, these events are non-profit. In the case where event expenses are successfully covered, then any remaining proceeds are strictly used for charity purposes, and are forwarded to Songtsen's most urgent projects.
The study & practice fund
ACEC endeavors to support students who wish to attend Songtsen’s retreats, seminars and programmes or who wish to undertake intensive studies, but who lack the material means to do so. For this reason, ACEC has created the study & practice grants fund to enable students to attend seminars, teachings, and retreats, who would otherwise not have the means to do so. Donations towards this fund will help to cover basic event / retreat expenses, such as the costs of the teaching hall or tent, maintenance of the retreat facilities, administrative requirements, the travel expenses of invited teachers, or expenses and tuition costs of students undertaking other intensive studies, such as at Tibet University in Lhasa.
Chanteloube is hoping to raise funds in order to support more students and practitioners who are restricted by economic concerns. The study & practice scholarships will help to ensure that the Dharma is available to all those wishing to deepen their knowledge, experience, and understanding. Support will be granted based on necessity, as well as the students' dedication, regardless of nationality or ethnic background.
The cost of a grant for the three-year retreat in 2007, for example, would be 350 € per month, to include food, lodging, heating, tuition and subscription to a medical insurance plan. However, there is no minimum donation or sponsorship towards the three-year retreats and any amount is valuable and greatly appreciated. A study grant can also be awarded to a particular individual, such as a friend who is undertaking a retreat or study program.
If you would like to help to make a contribution towards the study grant fund, you can also make an online donation and specify your designated donation choice. For more information see Songsen's section on how you can get involved.
The benefits of sponsoring study & practice
There are many profound benefits to helping Dharma practitioners, whether nuns, monks, lay practitioners, Tibetan or western. It has been said by Padmasambhava, as well as Milarepa, that the benefactors of Dharma practitioners receive the same merit as the practitioners they support. Our three-year retreat facility would not be possible without the generous and kind help of sponsors. Furthermore, as Buddhism is still relatively new in the West and is swiftly flourishing, it is vital that the authentic teachings and lineage be preserved. As increasing numbers of Western students have the opportunity to experience a traditional three-year retreat or to engage in intensive Buddhist studies, this helps to ensure the authentic establishment of Buddhism to the West and sows the seeds for Western students to be able to contribute to the preservation and genuine transmission of the Dharma.
May the merit of such virtue multiply ceaselessly and help create the cause of happiness for each and every living being!
Helpful links:
- How you can get involved
- About donations
- How your contribution helps
- Designated donation ideas
- International charity status
Please contact us for more information.