Current projects
Lhodrak Karchu Monastery: Bhutan
The monastery of Lhodrak Karchu, situated in the valley of the Bumthang in northeast Bhutan, was been founded by Namkhaï Nyingpo Rinpoche. Namkhaï Nyingpo Rinpoche was recognized at a very young age by His Holiness the Dalaï Lama and the 16th Karmapa, as the reincarnation of a Tibetan lama whose spiritual lineage dates back to the nearest disciples of the great Master Padmasambhava (9th century A.C.E.). Namkhaï Nyingpo Rinpoche was a close student of His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, one of the main lineage holders and considered one of the greatest Tibetan masters of the 20th century. By recommendation of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, the construction of the monastery was launched in 1984. Since then, it has developed considerably, now sheltering more than two hundred monks, children and young adults.
After time, the monastery has had to respond to the increasing number of requests for admission, as it became the center of an extensive preservation effort and revitalization of Tibetan culture. The monastic institute of higher learning, where young adults study philosophy in depth for a period of nine years, has also become one of the most renowned schools in Bhutan. However, due to insufficient space and the number of monks that reside there, it is difficult to cover the operating expenses. The monks principally come from Bhutan, but from many other Himalayan countries as well, including Tibet.
Current Status
Siddhartha is striving to make progress with the support of Lhodrak Karchu gompa. Namkhaï Nyingpo Rinpoche, who visited Dordogne in the winter of 2005, explained that the essential investments into the monastery were financed using loans given by the Bhutanese government, and that the rising interest rate has made it difficult to pay back. In addition to this financial load, there are also the general expenses that increase with the number of the monks admitted to the monastery. Rinpoche explained sadly that he does not have the heart to refuse the pleading requests for entry into the monastery and they are urgently in need of support.
The sponsorship program assures a stable income for the care of the children, which in present times, proves to be essential. So far, the number of sponsorships received has not met with the enormous need. In particular, there are approximately twenty young monks whose situation is particularly delicate. Siddhartha hopes that by promoting awareness about the children of Lhodrak Karchu monastery that people will feel inspired to help our efforts to resolve the difficulty they are experiencing.
Siddhartha projects overview »
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