The Tara Temple Project at Rinchen Choling
The Sakya Nunnery in Dehradun, India
The Khon family from which the Sakya
Lineage has descended is known by three special names. First, the “Celestial
Race” since the family is said to have descended from the Gods of the Clear
Realm Light who entered the human realm. Second, the “Family of Conquerors”
through subjugating the “rakshas” (or harmful spirits). And third, the Sakyapa
Lineage” since they established the Sakya Order. At the original Sakya
Monastery in Tibet, the palace of the present Sakya Trizin’s lineage was built
next to the Turquoise Tara Shrine. This is why the Khon family is also known as
the Tara Palace (or “Drolma Podrang”) lineage. Therefore building a Tara Temple
(or Shrine) at the Sakya Nunnery in India would be very fitting indeed.
In 1993, the first small group of
nuns from Tibet arrived in the refugee settlement at Dehradun. The numbers grew
quickly with a steady stream of new arrivals. The need for a permanent nunnery
at the Tibet Refugee settlement at Dehradun was both critical and paramount.
His Holiness Sakya Trizin responded to the crucial situation with the
establishment of the Sakya Nunnery in 1998, and gave it the name “Rinchen
Choling”. “Rinchen Choling” is the only Sakya Nunnery outside Tibet, and
accommodates 165 nuns ranging in age from 9 to 40. It also houses an additional
staff of 15 (both teaching and non-teaching).
Most of the nuns have escaped from
Tibet, travelling by foot through perilous conditions, having left behind
families and friends. It is impossible for them to return, or even to visit
Tibet. Others have come from Nepal, Bhutan and the neighbouring Himalayan
regions. Yet to all, the Sakya Nunnery is home, providing a welcoming and
nurturing environment to live; as well as food, clothing and shelter to study
and practise Buddha’s teachings. In addition, there are five teachers who
provide them instruction in Buddhist scriptures, Tibetan, Hindi, English and
Mathematics.
In their daily life, the nuns
perform rituals and prayers with the motivation to help all sentient beings.
Special pujas may be requested by individuals, for example to assist in
particular circumstances, as to alleviate personal difficulties, or to dispel
obstacles. The nuns in residence have continued their practices,
uninterruptedly, regardless of circumstances.
Presently the Sakya Nunnery is
functioning without a proper temple and shrine hall. Space allocated for a
dining hall is temporarily being used as a shrine room. The nuns eat outside on
the grounds, which can be quite cold in winter and hot in summer. There is a
great need for a dedicated space to be used exclusively for prayers and
practices.
The proposed Tara Temple would be
the first temple for a Sakya Nunnery outside Tibet. It is envisioned to have
three floors to provide ample space for the growing size of the nunnery. It
will fill the dire need for additional classrooms, and more appropriate
accommodation for the teaching staff. This will enable more nuns to be accepted
from the ever-increasing waiting list.
If you would like more information
about the nunnery, please see:
http://www.oocities.org/sg/sakyani_nuns/index.html
The present estimated building cost
for the Tara Temple is U$200,000.00. In order to raise this sum, several
co-ordinators has been appointed in various countries worldwide, in an attempt
to raise the necessary capital sum within three years. By visiting the
aforementioned website, one can learn more about the project.
The raising of the necessary funds
is based on the model of the 37 Heap Mandala Offering of the Universe, which
embodies 37 symbolic objects. Each “Object of the Mandala” merits a
corresponding donation. These can be sponsored individually or shared by a small group of friends. For
example, to raise the amount for the Wish Fulfilling Tree (a sum of US$
3,500.00 in total) that item’s sponsorship would be broken down as follows over
the three-year period: first year US$2,000.00, second year US$ 1,000.00 and
third year US$500. 00. The ratio is about 60%: 30%: 10% of the donation.
The construction of the temple can
only start when a minimum of 40% of the cost is available. This is why the
sponsorship of is higher in the first year and descends in the second and third
years. Since the cost of construction material is increasing so rapidly in
India, more funding is needed at the onset for the actual building to begin.
When Tara Temple is completed, it is intended that a large statue of Tara will be installed, surrounded by 1000 ceramic Tiles, each bearing the image of Tara (His Holiness has agreed to this). Each Tara Tile can also be sponsored. The cost for a single Tara Tile is US$ 100. Sponsorship of the main Tara Image and shrine is US$20,000.00.
All sponsors will be included in the
prayers and dedications made by the nuns at Rinchen Choling.
For the Fundraising of Tara Temple (Sakya Nunnery)
|
|
Mandala
Offering |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1st yr
|
2nd yr |
3rd yr
|
|
|
Sponsors |
% |
U$ |
offering U$ |
offering U$ |
offering U$ |
|
1 |
Mount Sumeru |
15 |
30 000 |
16000 |
11000 |
3000 |
|
2 |
Sun |
7,5 |
15 000 |
8000 |
5500 |
1500 |
|
3 |
Moon |
7,5 |
15 000 |
8000 |
5500 |
1500 |
|
4 |
East Continent |
3,75 |
7500 |
4500 |
2000 |
1000 |
|
5 |
South Continent
|
3,75 |
7500 |
4500 |
2000 |
1000 |
|
6 |
West Continent |
3,75 |
7500 |
4500 |
2000 |
1000 |
|
7 |
North Continent |
3,75 |
7500 |
4500 |
2000 |
1000 |
|
8 |
1st island Deha |
2,5 |
5000 |
3000 |
1500 |
500 |
|
9 |
2nd island Vedeha |
2,5 |
5000 |
3000 |
1500 |
500 |
|
10 |
3rd island Camara |
2,5 |
5000 |
3000 |
1500 |
500 |
|
11 |
4th island Apara-Camara |
2,5 |
5000 |
3000 |
1500 |
500 |
|
12 |
5th island Shatha |
2,5 |
5000 |
3000 |
1500 |
500 |
|
13 |
6th island Uttara-Mantrina |
2,5 |
5000 |
3000 |
1500 |
500 |
|
14 |
7th island Kurava |
2,5 |
5000 |
3000 |
1500 |
500 |
|
15 |
8th island Kaurava |
2,5 |
5000 |
3000 |
1500 |
500 |
|
16 |
Treasure Mountains |
1,75 |
3500 |
2000 |
1000 |
500 |
|
17 |
Wish-fulfilling Trees |
1,75 |
3500 |
2000 |
1000 |
500 |
|
18 |
Wish-fulfilling Cows |
1,75 |
3500 |
2000 |
1000 |
500 |
|
19 |
Unploughed Harvests |
1,75 |
3500 |
2000 |
1000 |
500 |
|
20 |
Precious Wheels |
1,5 |
3000 |
1600 |
900 |
500 |
|
21 |
Precious Jewels |
1,5 |
3000 |
1600 |
900 |
500 |
|
22 |
Precious Queens |
1,5 |
3000 |
1600 |
900 |
500 |
|
23 |
Precious Ministers |
1,5 |
3000 |
1600 |
900 |
500 |
|
24 |
Precious Elephants |
1,5 |
3000 |
1600 |
900 |
500 |
|
25 |
Precious Excellent Horses |
1,5 |
3000 |
1600 |
900 |
500 |
|
26 |
Precious Generals |
1,5 |
3000 |
1600 |
900 |
500 |
|
27 |
Vases of great Treasure
|
1,5 |
3000 |
1600 |
900 |
500 |
|
28 |
Goddesses of Beauty |
1,05 |
2100 |
1300 |
500 |
300 |
|
29 |
Goddesses of Garlands |
1,05 |
2100 |
1300 |
500 |
300 |
|
30 |
Goddesses of Song |
1,05 |
2100 |
1300 |
500 |
300 |
|
31 |
Goddesses of Dance |
1,05 |
2100 |
1300 |
500 |
300 |
|
32 |
Goddesses of Incense |
1,05 |
2100 |
1300 |
500 |
300 |
|
33 |
Goddesses of Flowers |
1,05 |
2100 |
1300 |
500 |
300 |
|
34 |
Goddesses of Lamps |
1,05 |
2100 |
1300 |
500 |
300 |
|
35 |
Goddesses of Perfume |
1,05 |
2100 |
1300 |
500 |
300 |
|
36 |
Precious Umbrellas |
1 |
2000 |
1200 |
500 |
300 |
|
37 |
Banners of Victory
|
1 |
2000 |
1200 |
500 |
300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
94,4% |
188800 |
107600 |
58200 |
23000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note : Items in orange
have been sponsored |
|
|
57,0% |
29,8% |
12,2% |
Gabriela Reichert, Co-ordinator for Europe
Tel 0033 (0)6 09 77 29 85
Email : Gabriela.r@wanadoo.fr