Search Buddhist Channel
400-year-old Buddhist monastery gets over million dollar government grant
By Peter Todd Alex, New Kerala, Sept 14, 2005
Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh (India) -- The 400-year-old Galden Namgyel Lhatse Buddhist monastery in Arunachal Pradesh will soon get a facelift with the state government allocating a 1.16 million dollar grant for its restoration.
<< The Galden Namgyel Lhatse Buddhist monastery
The monastery is believed to be amongst the oldest in the world, and till now, has been surviving on generous grants from locals and philanthropists. Part of the money given has been used to build a school within its precincts.
“Earlier, we did not have any school here. The school only began in 1997. There was no facility and infrastructure for education, the Centre has given us a lot of help and now lot of Lamas started coming here. Study is free here besides the food as good,” says T. Gonfa, the head of the monastery’s school.
Monks and Lamas were often forced to double up as plumbers and masons to repair dilapidating sections of the ancient structure. It affected their charity work, ranging from tending to the sick to walking miles into jungles to teach tribal children.
Most of the grant has been placed in a fixed deposit bank account, and the interest generated, is used for the monastry’s upkeep.
At 3,400 metres (approx. 10,000 feet) above sea-level, this magnificent structure distinct for its enormous yellow roof and white walls, has elaborately painted wooden windows and is dotted by prayer flags fluttering in the chilly winds.
Its famous attraction, however, is the three-storeyed Dukhang or assembly hall, which has 26-feet high gilded image of Buddha.
The monastery’s library is stacked with some of the rarest manuscripts, images and ‘Tankas’ (traditional paintings) is talked about world over by historians and scholars. It being able to conserve the prize collections has been one of the biggest high points for the monks.
“We have been really benefited. Since then, we were able to establish the community kitchen. The Government actually gave us a corpus fund for our expenses so that the Lamas did not have any problems. Now they could get more time to study and meditate,” says Reverend Tengye Rinpoche, the head of the monastery.
According to Buddhist legend, Mera Lama saw the site of the Tawang Monastery in a dream, which had a celestial white horse leading him to this remote landscape.
It is believed that the monastery, which took 40 years to complete, was built solely by volunteers and material donated by the villagers.
Buddhist AI Chat Bot NORBU!
(Neural Omniscient Robotic-Being for Buddhist Understanding)
For Malaysians
who wants to donate in MYR, please use the following account:Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB
Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.
Dear Friends in the Dharma,
We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.
Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:
One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.
How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.
For Malaysians
who wants to donate in MYR, please use the following account:Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB
Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.
Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.
Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.
Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.
Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.
Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!
May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,
With deepest gratitude,
Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team
Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau
We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.
If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv