Education for the approximately fifty apprentice monks at the shedra continues throughout most of the year. Most of these young men live in the shedra complex. A khenpo is in charge of their classes.
School recently resumed for the local lay children with about 150 girls and boys attending at present. (This is the time of year where it is possible to offer schooling for the lay children without conflicting with official policies regarding government schools.) The program takes place seven days a week and will continue until Losar (Tibetan New Year). The children are fed daily at the shedra. This program relies entirely on support provided through the Konchok Foundation.
Children studying in the Education Program
Now that the shedra complex has been in use for several years, with the current principal use being the education of youngsters, it is experiencing some wear. It was necessary to replace a number of broken windows this year. Work was also done on the front gate of the complex this year and some decorative roof ornaments were added.
Shedra Complex in late 2013
In order to finish and consecrate the shedra, the artwork and the electrical and plumbing systems need to be completed in the building complex. It remains the monastery’s plan to have the shedra provide advanced dharma programs for adults, as well as to continue the ongoing educational programs for children. The monastery is also working toward the completion of its new main lhakang (shrine hall) building (which has been paid for, so far, by the government).
As a reminder, Surmang Dutsi Til monastery is located at 12,500 feet altitude in a remote rural, very low income, area of Kham, Tibet (Qinghai Province, China). The principal livelihood for the local people is raising livestock, especially yaks.
Apprentice monks studying in the shedra complex
Konchok Foundation continues to provide a modest level of support to Trungpa XII Rinpoche, to the monks on retreat at Surmang’s Dorje Khyung Dzong and Dechen Choling retreat centers, and to Karma Senge Rinpoche for his programs at Wenchen and Kyere. Much of this support is donor-directed.
Donations: Konchok Foundation has no endowment and is only able to provide funding for projects in Tibet to the extent that gifts are provided by generous donors. You may provide support by credit card or check, either one-time or recurring, either unrestricted or donor designated, here. Information about available gifts to donors can be seen here. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent provided by U.S. and Canadian law. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at ginnylipson@gmail.com
Financial: Thank you very much to the approximately two hundred and fifty donors who have provided gifts so far this year. Almost all of this money goes to Tibet. With no paid staff and no rented office, Konchok Foundation’s overhead continues to be minimal, representing less than 5% of total donations in 2013.
