In 1959, because of the increasingly oppressive Communist occupation of Tibet, Khensur Rinpoche followed the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, HH Dalai Lama, into India. In a period of a few short years, over 6,000 monasteries in Tibet were destroyed, including Sera Monastery, one of the most famous and largest in Tibet at that time. Many thousands of monks and nuns were imprisoned, suffering extreme torture in an attempt by communist dictators to annihilate Buddhism and its followers. As the genocide of Tibetans continues to this very day, some still manage to escape and find a haven in the re-established Sera Monastery in Southern India.
This sponsorship scheme was originally established to help support monks at Sera, and also their relative nuns or lay Tibetans (mostly children) who live nearby in camps, or in Jungchub Choeling Nunnery (about 200 kilometers away) in India. Today the scheme sponsors monks, nuns and lay Tibetans in India, as well as Nun at Nyagye Nunnery in Tibet and students at Gyalten Charity School in Tibet.
“Your assistance enables us to maintain our traditions in the monastic system, and bring the message of peace and love to all sentient beings.” – Khensur Kangur Rinpoche
The scheme supports monks, nuns and lay Tibetans living in India, students at Gyalten Charity School and nuns at Nyagye Nunnery in Tibet.
Summary of the Scheme
- Sponsors pay $10.00 (Au) a month.
- The recipient receives the entire $10.00.
- Nothing is kept back for expenses.
- The scheme is administered by volunteers.
- Receipts are issued yearly for all payments.
- Recipients sign for their contribution.
- Records are audited annually
- The scheme is based in Adelaide, Australia.
- Sponsors and recipients can correspond.
- There are nearly 450 monks, nuns and school children awaiting sponsorship.
The scheme currently has sponsors from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, India, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain, South Korea, Japan, Canada, Malaysia, Sweden, Kuala Lumpur and USA.