| About
Tilokpur Nuns' new Monastery |
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to programme outline |
In
1962 Mrs. Bedi, Bhikshuni Karma Khechok Palmo, founded
a monastery for nuns in the Indian village of Tilokpur
near Dharamsala. She offered the monastery to H.H. the
16th Karmapa. As H.H. lived in Sikkim, he requested
Jamgon Tai Situ Rinpoche, abbot of Palpung Sherab Ling,
to take care of Tilokpur monastery for him. Tai Situ
Rinpoche kindly agreed and since 1978 has been spiritual
director to the nuns there. The monastery was built
to house 50 nuns, but there are almost 90 nuns living
there. Some time ago the nuns approached Tai Situ Rinpoche
and requested him to help them build a new complex to
facilitate the existing nuns as well as the many others
who are waiting to join. It was planned that the new
monastery have living accommodation for 200 nuns, a
temple, a college and guest house at a cost of 850,000
US$.
Rinpoche kindly provided the nuns with a sponsor Algiene
Amrita who has very generously donated most of the 650,000
US$ raised to date. Mr. Tsai of Taiwan and Ms. Jessica
Chian Chian of Singapore have also contributed greatly
to the project. To raise funds the nuns also traveled
to Taiwan, where the people there responded with great
interest and generosity.
The project is almost complete. What remains unfinished
is one wing of the nuns' living quarters, as well as
the painting, decorating and furnishing of the whole
complex.
With the view to raising some of the 200,000 US$ needed,
the nuns decided to run this fundraising event and requested
His Holiness to help. His Holiness very kindly agreed
to participate.
Tilokpur is famous as a sacred place where the great
Indian realized master and mahasiddha Tilopa lived.
Tilopa's cave is located near the monastery. The monastery
also houses Tilopa's sacred sesame seed grinder. |
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