In 1976, the renowned Tibetan lama and meditation master, Namkha Drimed
Rabjam Rinpoche, stayed in retreat at the Asura Cave in Pharping, Nepal
- one of the most sacred "power places" in the Tibetan Buddhist
tradition. The visions that he experienced at this pilgrimage site on
the edges of the Kathmandu Valley led to the founding of The New Treasures
Project and Rigon Tashi Choeling Monastery which is situated amidst Pharping's
lush, forested hills. Along with a profound monastic tradition, the Tantric
practices of the Ripa lineage - of which H.E. Namkha Drimed Rinpoche is
the supreme holder - emphasize the integration of spirituality with everyday
life and the "heroic" ideal of the Nakpa or Nakma, the householder
yogi/yogini. As a whole, the New Treasures Project seeks to disseminate
the visionary teachings of H.E. Namkha Drimed Rinpoche to share the fruits
of his realization, and to establish a foundation for spiritual development
uniquely adapted to these current times.
The area of Pharping is as sacred to practitioners of Vajrayana Buddhism
as Bodhgaya is to Buddhism as a whole, for it was here that Padmasambhava,
the 8th century Tantric sage, achieved enlightenment. For centuries Pharping
has been a center for spiritual practice and, besides the two caves where
Padmasambhava and his consort Shakyadevi meditated, the area boasts many
monasteries, temples, and residences of revered Tibetan masters. The rocks
surrounding the caves continue to manifest an extraordinary phenomenon
called rangjung, in which sacred forms arise spontaneously from
the living rock due to the intensity of spiritual energy that pervades
this area. The site for the monastery is situated below high forested
hills which are held to be mystically formed in the shape of the Eight
Auspicious Symbols highly regarded among Tibetan Buddhists.
Nepal as a whole is significant to the Ripa lineage as Namkha Drimed
Rinpoche's grandfather - the great yogi and treasure revealer Shakya Shri
- was instrumental in restoring and revitalizing Kathmandu Valley's most
important Buddhist shrines earlier in this century. Furthermore, Nepal
is the birthplace of Sakyamuni, the historical Buddha, whose blessings
have persisted for more than 2,500 years.
The unveiling of the monastery plan at the Rigon
Tashi Choeling
groundbreaking ceremony.
The central edifice of the New Treasures Project is a gilt-roofed monastery,
constructed in accordance with Namkha Drimed Rinpoche's visions. It is
designed as a residential retreat and study center for monks, nuns, and
lay persons. Preserving and disseminating the teachings of Tantric Buddhism,
the monastery will accommodate up to 150 monks and nuns and provide space
for the study of Buddhist philosophy and traditional sciences such as
astrology, thangka painting, and Tibetan medicine. At the heart of the
New Treasures curriculum, however, are the intellectual foundations of
Buddhist Tantra and the liberative techniques which lead to spiritual
enlightenment. Meditation and ritual practices will be performed in a
central shrine hall with images of Sakyamuni Buddha, Padmasambhava, and
numerous Tantric deities. Namkha Drimed Rinpoche and Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche
will conduct yearly retreats at Rigon Tashi Choeling focusing on advanced
meditations derived from Namkha Rinpoche's own cycle of visions and revelations.
The New Treasures Project will also provide its resident monks and nuns
with practical training in English language and computer skills. A charitable
medical clinic based on herbal formulations prepared specifically at Rigon
Tashi Choeling will provide health care for residents and surrounding
villages. Food, lodging, and skill development will be provided for recent
refugees from Tibet.
The main property is a multi-level piece of land surrounded by large
green hills which are recognized to be mystically formed in the shape
of the Eight Auspicious Symbols highly regarded amongst Tibetan Buddhists.
This land is within an hour's walking distance of the famous Asura Cave,
the precious power place recognized to be where the Buddhist master Padmasambhava
(Guru Rinpoche) accomplished Vajrakilaya.
A secondary piece of land is located high on a hillside, 45 minutes'
walk from the main property. This second land was purchased for the purposes
of developing a secluded retreat area for Buddhist retreatants.
The project includes:
BUDDHIST MONASTERY
Four-story Buddhist monastery including Temple of Gesar
In addition to yearly retreats conducted by the Ripa masters, Namkha
Drimed Rinpoche and Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche, supporters of the New Treasures
Project will be welcome to study and practice at Rigon Tashi Choeling
Monastery throughout the year. Accommodations will be available at the
monastery's guest house. A secluded retreat center an hour's walk into
the mountains will allow for even more intensive practice. Members can
actually sponsor the building of a retreat cabin and own it until the
time of their death when it would become property of Rigon Tashi Choeling.
The New Treasures Retreat Center is situated near the top of a mountain
ridge and has commanding views of the Himalayan peaks as well as sweeping
vistas towards the great plains of northern India.
The New Treasures project is primarily sponsored by Ripa Ladrang Foundation,
a nonprofit organization based in White Plains, New York. The Ripa Ladrang
board has elected to make this project their primary fundraising effort
during the years 1999-2002 in order to ensure the completion of this vital
Buddhist monastery and retreat center in Nepal. They have developed a
$2 Million "restricted fund" for raising funds for this important
project and have named their fund the New Treasures Sponsorship Fund.
The project has been organized into three primary phases:
Phase 1:
Preliminary phase included fundraising with a goal of $250,000
to cover initial analysis, engineering studies, architectural
plans, secondary land purchases, groundbreaking ceremonies and events,
and initial construction supply purchases. The fundraising goal was exceeded
by Ripa Ladrang Foundation, reaching $302,500 by the October 13, 1999
deadline.
Phase 2 (Oct. 1999 thru Dec. 31, 2000):
Phase 2 included development of final plans, final engineering and soil
reports, and start of actual construction of the Monastery on the primary
land.
Funds raised in Phase 2 totaled $252,728.
Construction began in June 2000 and is now underway with over 100 workers
on site every day building the Monastery.
The project is going to be extremely grand and magnificent (please see
the New Treasures Photo Journal
on this web site for pictorial representation of progress to date).
The monastery was redesigned many times over before H.E. Namkha Drimed
Rinpoche was satisfied that it would fulfill his sacred vision for this
Buddhist project.
The Ripa masters even sent their architect on a tour of India's holy
places so that he would better understand how to design and implement
the Terton's vision for this place.
When all the conditions were right, when the design was perfected, work
began.
And it is now moving along quickly, with much gratitude to His Eminence's
western students' generosity and kindness.
It is hoped that the project will be completed by the end of year 2002,
with a grand opening in 2003 at the date and time the Terton sees to be
most auspicious.
However, much of this will depend on whether or not all of the required
funds can be raised.
A dedicated Fundraising Committee is working hard to raise all of the
rest of the funds needed for timely completion of the New Treasures project.
Phase 3 (Jan. 1, 2001 - Dec. 31, 2002):
Phase 3 includes completion of construction of the Monastery as well
as construction of the classroom, kitchen & dining facility, Ripa
Guest House and retreat facilities, as well as purchasing the vehicles
needed for operation of the monastery.
Final design touches to the Monastery and other buildings, including
landscaping, interior furnishings, brocades, banners, flags, statues,
signs and custom artwork, as well as special ritual configurations needed
by a major Buddhist monastery and retreat center also are needed in order
to reach final completion.
The top Bhutanese sculptors have been retained for sculpting the great
statues for the Ripa Monastery in Pharping.
The statues will not be of metals but will be sculpted in the Tibetan
traditional style of clay to assure the finest detail and quality.
Five huge statues will be placed in the Main Hall of Buddha, Padmasambhava,
Chenrezig, as well as wrathful deities Hiyagriva and Dorje Drolod.
There will also be large statues in the Temple of Gesar of Lord Gesar
himself as well as the goddess of compassion Tara.
The completion of the New Treasures project will be finalized by a major
Opening Ceremony.
At this time, the fundraising goal for Phase 3 is approximately $1,450,000.
Total Fundraising Goals
TOTAL FUNDRAISING GOAL FOR THE 'NEW TREASURES' PROJECT FROM BEGINNING
TO END IS $2,750,000.
The 'New Treasures' project is being developed under the direct vision
and supervision of the Ripa lineage Buddhist masters - His
Eminence Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche, Terton, his son Gyetrul
Jigme Rinpoche, as well as the young tulku Lhunpo Tulku Rinpoche.
The New Treasures compassionate project was conceived by H.E. Namkha
Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche, a Terton for our age, who is the regent of Padmasambhava
in the world. This project is to be developed as his new teaching "seat"
emphasizing Buddhist teachings based on his current visions or terma discoveries.
The project includes a Buddhist monastery where approximately 100 to 120
monks and nuns will reside and study, but also will include residential,
retreat and study environments for laypersons studying with the Ripa masters.
Also His Eminence is the mind emanation of Gesar, the great warrior king
of Tibet, and thus a substantial emphasis on Gesar teachings will be centered
here at the New Treasures site.
The main property for the New Treasures project was purchased in 1997.
Seed money of $100,000 was donated by a Taiwanese student. A Swiss student
of Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche donated 100,000 Swiss Francs for constructing
the Service / Kitchen building which has now been built and for portions
of stone wall development for the area. Certain other existing parts of
the project were developed with Namkha Drimed Rinpoche's personal monies.
The separate tract of land for the retreat area - located 40 minutes from
the monastery site - was purchased from the initial $50,000 donated by
Ripa Ladrang Foundation.
In May of 2000, another parcel of land for the Monastery was purchased
- the piece adjacent to the existing monastery parcel so that now the
property for the monastery project is much larger than the original acreage.
This permitted the expansion of the size and placement of the Monastery
from its original concept.
The New Treasures Project began in 1997, supported primarily by H.E.
Namkha Rinpoche's Western students and The Ripa Ladrang Foundation, a
non-profit religious corporation founded by Namkha Rinpoche and Jigme
Rinpoche which supports and propogates the practice and study of Tibetan
Buddhism. Construction of the monastery began in June 2000 and is currently
underway with 100 workers on site everyday. Depending on the availability
of funds, work should be completed by December, 2002 with an official
opening in 2003.
There are many ways that one can participate in the New Treasures Project.
As mentioned above, one can purchase a retreat cabin in Nepal that will
be available throughout one's life as a context in which to deepen one's
spiritual practice.
Charitable donations can be made in exchange for rituals performed on
one's behalf by Rigon Tashi Choeling's monks to achieve changes in one's
life's circumstances. Donations can also be made in request of divinations
regarding everything from business ventures to spiritual practice. In
accordance with the Buddhist tradition of dana, tax-exempt contributions
towards this visionary project can simply be made for their own merit.
For those who are unable to make financial contributions, volunteers
are also welcome to come to the center at Pharping to teach English language
and to help in other aspects of the project. As Namkha Drimed Rinpoche
said; "Giving is like a drop of water in a vast ocean of merit which
gives rise to clouds of wisdom and brings forth a rain of blessings cooling
the heat of misery and pain while nourishing the seed of Enlightenment
in every being."
How to Make Donations / Offerings for the New
Monastery Project
Your donations and pledges are vital to the fundraising goals for the
completion of this important Buddhist Center envisioned by His Eminence.
If you wish to pledge an amount for the Year 2001 and/or Year 2002, please
simply e-mail Ripa Ladrang Foundation at ripa_ladrang@hotmail.com
indicating the amount you wish to pledge and the dates you anticipate
you would be fulfilling those pledges.
Or if you wish to send a donation, it will be gratefully received into
the New Treasures Sponsorship Fund. Simply send it to Ripa Ladrang Foundation,
333 Mamaroneck Avenue, #203, White Plains, NY 10605 and mark your check
or money order "New Treasures Sponsorship Fund".
