Building Bridges of Goodness Staying Connected Through Prayer and Action Founded by Tarthang Tulku, Directed by Tsering Palmo Gellek |
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SINI international volunteers leaving Sarnath for an 800 kilometer drive to Delhi! |
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Dear Friend, It has been only a week since we left SINI, and only a few days ago we boarded an evacuation flight coordinated by the US Embassy in Delhi, which brought us to San Francisco. We are back at Ratna Ling, where we are safe and appreciating the arrangements made for us to be quarantined for three weeks in cabins. At SINI, India Our heart is still with our resident monks who are continuing to stay on campus due to the extended countrywide lockdown. In this time of uncertainty, of restrictions and suffering in our local community in Sarnath, and around the globe, there is a lot to learn from monks who have lived in monastic settings most of their lives. Starting in mid-March, SINI remained closed to the public, and all of us began sheltering in place. The monks stayed very focused on their work for the Kagyur Karchag Project, on their English studies, during morning prayers, and in regular ceremonies. We were reminded of the importance and power of continuous prayers, especially in this situation of global, local, and personal suffering. Additional ceremonies and fire pujas were celebrated, including special prayers of purification. |
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A few days ago, Tarthang Rinpoche urged us to pray together. In a rare letter to the public, he gave us four mantras “to bring peace, healing, and freedom from fear.” It has been a tremendous privilege to be with our resident monks, to experience wisdom in action, and to feel protected by the power of the Dharma. Resisting and holding on to fear seemed so clearly nothing more than a mere concept, so why cling to it? There is so much for us personally and for the world to learn from monastic life. |
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At SINI we’ve taken all precautions and prepared provisions. We stocked up food, medicine, paper, and printer cartridges. And we serviced air conditioners so that the monks can continue their work and studies over the next months, when the temperature in Sarnath regularly climbs beyond 40 Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit)! |
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Our first annual Kagyur Karchag Encyclopedia Project workshop held on February 15th, BEFORE social distancing. |
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We are committed to the continuation of the Global Kagyur Karchag Encyclopedia Project. For over fifty years, Tarthang Rinpoche, has supported the publications of the Dharma and helped to distribute millions of texts. These sacred texts have reached the altars and libraries of thousands of places throughout the Himalayas and Tibet. Under his heartfelt guidance and steadfast vision, he along with the most senior lamas from all four schools, have encouraged us to begin this historic project. This groundbreaking work has received blessings and support from high lamas of all Buddhist traditions. Our goal is to create an encyclopedia of the Buddha’s words by providing a brief summary of each of the texts found within the Kagyur and to provide supplementary historical information that will give vivid details of the amazing efforts made in receiving the Buddha’s teachings and transmission. The Sutra summaries are generally between 3-7 pages long including the traditional "five auspicious circumstances: teacher, disciple, patron, place, and time", as well as some new very important short introductions meant to encourage the general readers (especially lay people) to take interest in the Kagyur. We anticipate that the encyclopedia of the Kagyur will most likely be around 6-9 volumes. Over the next six months the diverse editorial team (now close to 40 members located throughout India!) will continue to write summaries of the Sutra texts. Starting probably in the fall of 2020, we will begin a deep and thorough editing process. In the future we plan to translate the encyclopedia into English, Chinese, and Hindi. |
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The English for Dharma Purposes Program has given learned Khenpos and Lopons (teachers and ritual masters) of all Tibetan Buddhist schools a unique opportunity to study English in an intercultural environment. Students have learned from international artists, scholars, scientists, and Western lay practitioners and vice versa! Since our yearly Summer English program in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh cannot take place as planned, students will stay at SINI over the summer. In addition, our lead English teacher, Eden Merrit, has now set up classes online for our students in one-on-one tutoring sessions with English teachers. |
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Our heart is with our staff, who have been staying in their homes following the countrywide lockdown. We are committed to continue to pay their salary and provide them with food essentials, like rice and dal. Our heart is also with the larger community of people in Sarnath: the rickshaw families, souvenir salespeople, street food vendors, and day laborers who, overnight, all found themselves without the ability to earn an income. A second extension of the lockdown has just been announced, and the social pain will persist long after the lockdown ends. The picture for the very poor was dismal before; now it is truly heart-wrenching. |
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How to Donate to the Programs All donations are US tax deductible and may be given online to our PayPal account (click on this link to go directly to the account). We hope our work inspires you to do as much as you can to help your community or one far away. If you have questions and would like to know more about our programs, please contact us at sinibridge.programs@gmail.com. |
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Wherever you may be in this moment, we hope you feel our connectedness and the blessings of the Buddha Dharma. With appreciation, Tsering Gellek, Director Renate Marx, Associate Program Coordinator |
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