Pathgate News
Pathgate Partnership Programme – Summary for 2009
The continuous support from the students and friends of Pathgate Institute in 2009 has ensured that the Pathgate Partnership Programme was able to maintain the sponsorship of a range of Dharma projects worldwide. Here is a brief summary of some of the projects.
One year after the completion of the first 3-storey building for the Ngagyur Nyingma University at the Namdroling Monastery in mid 2008, the construction of the second 3-storey building was completed and was opened for use on the 26th April 2009 by HH Karma Kuchen Rinpoche. The second building houses not only the new administrative offices of Ngagyur Nyingma University and the new large conference room, it also provides the new home for the computer department, editorial committee office, reception office, donation office, photo-copying room, book shop, general store, STD telephone centre and a modern canteen. Every room in the building has been furnished to a standard in accordance to its need and function. In addition to a batch of computers previously sponsored by Ven. Lama Dondrup Dorje, twenty-five brand-new flat screen computers have been procured for the computer department and the Rinchen Terzod Editorial Committee, through which Dharma texts are computerised into digital storage and publications of Dharma books and magazines are made.
During the hot spell of April 2009, the Namling Hospital at the Namdroling Monastery was inundated with patients suffering from symptoms of fevers, gastroenteritis, and diarrhoea, which raised serious concerns about the probable outbreak of typhoid. At the first instance of being aware of the situation, Ven. Lama Dondrup Dorje immediately offered to procure the necessary vaccines to implement a full scale vaccination program that covered every member of the Namdroling Monastery. Nearly 5000 vials of vaccine (Shantyph) were eventually used, which benefited not merely the entire ordained community of Namdroling Monastery but also members of the neighbouring Tibetan community. A new computer with a special program for the purpose of keeping an up-to-date register of patients was also procured for the staff of the hospital admission.
In view of the chronic shortage of water supplied to the Namling Hospital and the necessity to secure an uninterrupted water supply to maintain the functioning of the hospital, a new generator was offered by Ven. Lama Dondrup Dorje to the Namling hospital so that an alternative water supply could be sourced from an underground waterhole behind the hospital building. A new battery was also procured for the hospital to provide emergency electricity supply to the hospital during power cuts, which are common in India.
During the course of 2009, over 8000 thangkas that featured the late Holiness Penor Rinpoche were distributed to both the ordained and the lay communities around the world.
For those who wish to have a better understanding of the meaning of Tibetan prayers, nearly 2000 copies of ‘Wish-Granting Attainments - Namdroling Monastery Daily Prayer Book’,‘The Wish-Granting Tree of Enlightenment’ - the Prayer Book of the Annual Prayer Assembly of Ngagyur Tradition, and ‘The Stairway to the Pure Lands – prayers of the Palyul lineage’, were given to tulkus, khenpos, lamas and monks in India, Bhutan, Nepal and to foreign students who follow the Palyul Nyingma traditions. All three prayer books were edited by Ven. Lama Dondrup Dorje and published by Pathgate Institute in conjunction with the Ngagyur Nyingma University of the Namdroling Monastery for free distribution.
In response to a request made by the Drasang at Namdroling Monastery which is responsible for the logistic support in maintaining the smooth running of the monastery, a new tractor was procured to replace an older machine which could no longer perform the duty it was assigned to perform.
In the Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan, a plan to establish a Retreat Centre there has been quietly proceeding for over two years. Pathgate Institute first got involved in the project through a request made by Khenpo Sangay Wangdi three years earlier. In November 2009, the first phase of construction finally commenced in Paro. When completed, the retreat centre will have five separate retreat houses, a prayer hall and other supporting amenities.
The ongoing Pathgate Partnership Programme, which began in the 1990s in sponsoring education for young people, support for the elderly and medical services for the needy, continued throughout 2009 in India, Bhutan, Mongolia, Nepal, Bangladesh and Africa. In addition, sponsorship and specific support for a whole range of projects have also been extended to a great number of individuals from around the world. These and much more are merely a brief description of some of the compassionate activities supported by the Pathgate Partnership Programme. None of these could have been possible without the generous support from the students and friends of Pathgate Institute. If you wish to support the Pathgate Partnership Programme and become a Friend of Pathgate International, you may do so by clicking Make an Offering.