HELP IN THE RENOVATION OF DAGPO DRATSANG
The WHISE Foundation aims to ensure that the special Dagpo Monastery continues to exist far into the future
and supports the much-needed renovation of the buildings and grounds.
DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE DAGPO MONASTERY
SUNDAY 1 DECEMBER • AMSTELVEEN
On Sunday 1 December the documentary will be shown in Villa Randwijck in Amstelveen 'Dagpo's Living Legacy, The Hidden Gem of Tibetan Traditions' about the special and ancient Tibetan Buddhist Dagpo monastery in Kais, India. In addition to the screening of this documentary, there are several activities that one can participate in.
Doors open: 10:30 am
Entrance: €10 (including coffee and tea)
The afternoon will conclude with a performance by the Tibetan singer Namgyal Lhamo.
Program
In addition to watching this beautiful documentary, you can follow an introduction to Tibetan Buddhism or participate in a guided meditation and/or singing bowl session. The program is set up in such a way that you can participate in multiple program components.
Link to the program:
Program December 1st
Scan the QR code or click on the link below to buy a ticket for this day:
https://www.ticketkantoor.nl/shop/dagpodratsang
Address: Community center Villa Randwijck
Catharina van Clevepark 10
1181 AT Amstelveen
Purpose and Mission
WHISE stands for Wisdom Housing In Sustainable Environment.
The WHISE Foundation (TWF) was founded in 2018 with the aim of:
1) To raise funds to address urgently needed structural strengthening and extensive repairs required to ensure the safety of the existing monastic buildings of Dagpo Shedrup Ling Monastery in Kaïs, Northern India. This location is not only very sensitive to seismic activity, but also suffers from drainage problems and is at risk of landslides and soil erosion.
2) Finding environmentally ecologically sustainable solutions for the necessary structural improvements and for the drainage problems of the site by collaborating with experts in the field of geology, architecture, engineering and sustainable housing.
3) Promoting and advancing the self-sufficiency of Dagpo Shedrup Ling Monastery and by extension surrounding local communities by relying upon local resources and labor as whenever possible.
4) To work to ensure the survival of Dagpo Shedrup Ling into the distant future to preserve its age-old, valuable traditions of Buddhist teachings.
Below you will find a video of flooding of the road on which the monastery is housed.
This gives a good picture of the threatening situation.
(Kais, July 2023)
Light
There is a lot of confusion and chaos in the world right now. In Buddhist monasteries people focus on developing wisdom and compassion, a counterforce to negative trends.
By lighting butter lamps in the Dagpo Monastery with a positive intention, you also contribute to a positive counterforce.
Butter lamp
To offer a butter lamp in Dagpo Dratsang you can donate 5 euros to bank account number NL92 ABNA 0833 8907 35 in the name of Stichting The WHISE Foundation, stating 'donation light'. We will inform the monastery how many butter lamps can be lit, for whom and with what intentions. You can send a message with the number of lights, name and intention (as concise as possible) to annemiekejansen2@upcmail.nl.
Your contribution will entirely benefit Dagpo Dratsang.
Urgent Appeal
Will you help to raise sufficient funds:
a) have a project plan drawn up by a team of geological and civil engineers, architects and other specialists.
This concerns:
- The realization of sustainable, safe monastic buildings that can withstand earthquakes and landslides in the Kullu Valley, in particular tackling weak foundations.
- Tackling the environmental problem by realizing clean waste incineration, a proper sewerage system and good drainage of the site.
- The realization of a safe school building for primary education, housing the medical post.
- Good heating and cooling in all buildings.
b) have the project plan executed in a sustainable manner in phases under the constant guidance of our Spiritual Director and Patron, Rev. Dagpo Rinpoche.
Background information
The original Buddhist monastery Dagpo Shedrup Ling was founded around 1400 and was located in southeastern Tibet.
In 1959 there were some 700 monks who followed the tradition of study, reflection and meditation and protected the precious systems of inner cultivation that had been developed over the centuries within the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions of Buddhism.
The communist Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959 forced many thousands of Tibetans, including monks, to flee Tibet for India and elsewhere. After decades of great difficulties and thanks to the unwavering support and guidance of Venerable Dagpo Rinpochee, the Dagpo Shedrup Ling Monastery was rebuilt in the Himalayan Kullu Valley in the northern Indian village of Kaïs. The monastery also has a primary school for young monks and a medical post that serves both the local community and the monks.
Dagpo Monastery’s core values are based on the Buddhist ethic of non-violence and the wish to be of benefit to all beings. Therefore, the monastery is committed to advancing education, health care and other aid within the local community however possible. For example, during the Covid pandemic monks of Dagpo Shedrup Ling organized, prepared and distributed hundreds of food packages for members of the local communities.
The monks have a good relationship with the local community. They support several local schools. With the medical post they offer affordable and high-quality care for poor villagers in this remote Himalayan area. This contributes to the development of the region.
Further background information
Temperatures in the Kullu Valley can reach lows to 4 degrees Celsius (high 30 sF) in the winter months. This may not seem so cold to those living in colder northern countries, but without modern heating systems it is extremely cold.
The identification of the structural problems with the foundations of the monastery building came about through requests from concerned donors to install heating systems for the monks who have to endure these cold Himalayan winters.
Thanks to a team of students from the Technical University in Delft, who visited the monastery, it was discovered that heating systems could not be installed safely. They noticed large cracks in the walls of several monastery buildings. The buildings themselves were found to be unsafe due to increasing structural damage to the foundations of the buildings. To ensure the safety and durability of the buildings, it is therefore vital to address the structural damage immediately.
How to proceed and how you can help?
A lot needs to be done. The latest research shows that the foundations of the buildings are on a soft top layer, causing the buildings to sink. These cracks will continue to increase. In the event of an earthquake, buildings can collapse within one minute! Improving the foundation of the buildings is of great necessity.
Drainage of the site, the school and the indoor medical post also have the highest priority. The sewerage system causes a lot of odor nuisance to the environment and needs to be adjusted.
In keeping with the traditions of Dagpo Shedrup Ling, we do not directly solicit donations. But donations are welcome. We also want people and organizations inspire you to devise and organize actions to raise money for good housing for the monastery. Coming up with and carrying out actions for others gives pleasure and provides wonderful contacts and experiences.
This gives generosity an extra dimension!
TOPICAL
Read the 2023 activity report here
Annual accounts 2023
Newsletter
The Whise Foundation publishes a quarterly newsletter. It describes all current developments.
