News Archive

The Children’s educational program at Surmang is starting its winter 2016-2017 program this month. Last year more than 150 children participated; a similar number is expected this year. Donors to the Konchok Foundation provide all of the support necessary for this program, including food for the children and teachers, teacher

Many centuries ago, the land for Surmang Dutsi Til monastery in eastern Tibet was donated by a local landowner, Adro Shelubum. He and his heirs also gave his castle, situated at a very special location, the top of the “hill of amrita” (dutsi til) on the monastery grounds. Ever since,

For the past thirteen years, Ginny Lipson has been Konchok Foundation’s administrative anchor, handling most of the day-to-day details for the organization. Every donation to Konchok Foundation has been deposited and/or recorded by her. Most of the supporters of Surmang have had contact with her at one time or another,

The annual winter program for local children at the Surmang shedra starts each year in late November or early December and ordinarily concludes at Losar (Tibetan New Year). This year, for the first time, the program was extended past Losar, concluding on February 29. This year’s children’s program was the

Chöseng Trungpa Rinpoche, the abbot of Surmang Dutsi Til monastery, has decided to postpone the consecration and grand opening ceremony for the monastery’s shedra (monastic college) and new lhakang (shrine hall) until the summer of 2017.

A grand opening and consecration is planned for summer 2016 for both the new shedra (monastic college) at Surmang Dutsi Til monastery and the new lhakang (shrine hall), rebuilt in the wake of the 2010 Jyekundo earthquake. Although the new shedra at Surmang Dutsi Til monastery has already been in

Thanks to all of our Konchok Foundation donors for your contributions since we announced the matching grant campaign, particularly an anonymous friend of Surmang who donated $78,000. We are so grateful to the Pema Chödrön Foundation who made this matching grant of $150,000 available to the Konchok Foundation. Our goal

The Chakrasamvara dance is a celebratory occasion that annually gathers up to a thousand local people at Surmang to watch the festivities over three days. Since 2009, the Twelfth Trungpa, Chökyi Senge Rinpoche, has led off the dance, and more than forty monks participated this year in its performance. The

The Konchok Foundation is delighted to welcome our new Board Members, appointed by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Our new board members include: Chuck Lief, President of Naropa University Jessie Litven, Shambhala International Jon Ransohoff, Bay Area Shambhalian Mark Curtin, Rusung for Albuquerque Shambhala Center Thanks to each of them for stepping

For Losar, the Tibetan new year, the winter session of the Children’s Education Program at the Surmang Shedra ended with a festive graduation and awards ceremony. The Surmang Shedra will hold another session for children after the new year celebrations wind down. These sessions of the Children’s Education Program are