Karmapa's Heart Project

karmapa's heart project

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Dear Friends of the Dharma, His Holiness Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, the Sixteenth Gyalwang Karmapa, first visited the United States in 1974. The response of westerners, touched by his extraordinary qualities and activities, was overwhelmingly positive. So many of them supplicated His Holiness to create a permanent presence in North America where students could learn about Tibetan Buddhism and practice it authentically, that His Holiness agreed to establish Karma Triyana Dharmachakra as his seat in the West. At that time, His Holiness drew a picture of what he envisioned for his gompa (monastery) and principal seat in the Western world. It included a central lhakang (shrine building) surrounded by a ta shak (residence for sangha) forming a courtyard between the two. This is an authentic Tibetan Buddhist design in the tradition of Tolung Tsurphu Monastery in Tibet and Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre in Sikkim, India, and a fitting design for the North American seat of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Since then, because of the blessings and inspiration of His Holiness Karmapa and through the kindness and generosity of many donors, volunteers, and friends like you, we have been able to complete the central temple and are now ready to finish the monastery by building the residence for sangha. Through this, we will fulfill our commitment to realize a permanent physical presence in North America from which the Buddha's teachings can be made available for the benefit of all. There can be no greater practice, no greater accumulation of merit, no greater generosity, and no greater means of accomplishment than to bring about true peace, happiness, and harmony for all the peoples of the world. We welcome all of your help in this noble undertaking. Yours in the Dharma, Bardor Tulku Rinpoche Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche

THE KARMAPA'S HEART PROJECT: Monastery Completion Message from Director of Development We have a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy for the new building! Congratulations to all who have contributed. No matter what you offered – an hour’s labor, a morning’s prayer, or a small or large donation – your contribution has brought us to this auspicious time in the life of KTD. We will be updating all the information below shortly, as we are in need of donations more than ever, so be sure to check back how you can help in the future. Or you can donate now by using any of the links below. Meanwhile, share the joy and excitement with us! Finally! We have finished the new building - an important step toward fulfilling His Holiness' original vision. Thank you all so much! CONSTRUCTION UPDATE – 6/01/2010 from Patrick Cliett, the Construction Manager: The new Monastery building is complete. We have a Certificate of Occupancy. Staff and guests are now residing in the new space. Next on the agenda is: √ The completion of the courtyard √ The demolition of the Meads Mountain House √ The creation of the expanded parking lot √ and landscaping When we have finished above, we will be able to acquire a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO), and lamas and staff will be able to move into the new building. In anticipation of getting the TCO, we are in process of moving in now. Mattresses and some furniture have already arrived, and staff is hustling to pack their belongings. Thangkas and plaques have been ordered for all the sponsored rooms, and for the offices and lama/staff sleeping rooms. As soon as we are settled, we will be ready for program participants. Finally, when you come to a program at KTD, you will be able to stay in a private room with its own bath, closet and windows looking out on a beautiful view of the forest, and if the room is sponsored, a beautiful thangka will be hanging on the wall. The plumbing will work! The heat will be even! Everywhere you look will be beauty - clean, new, inspiring. Your meals will be prepared in the new modern kitchen, and there will be plenty of seating room in the magnificent dining room, surrounded by windows looking out on the forest with the beautiful reservoir in the distance. Most beautiful of all, the new building will be an extension of the main Shrine Buildng, and you will feel the peace and joy that comes from just being in His Holiness’ home. Are you packing your bags? Almost there – we just need those final funds. HOW MUCH NEEDED? We now are considering the Milarepa Courtyard as necessary to be finished for the Monlam since this is where the tent will be to house the overflow of lamas and nuns from around the world who will be chanting the aspiration prayers for peace. After considering all the generous donations for the Milarepa Courtyard from the SAR project, there was a balance of approximately $100,000 needed, and we recently received a most generous donation of $10,000 toward that balance. The 10,000 square foot courtyard will be very beautiful with decorated sidewalks crisscrossing a grass interior, and there will be special permanent hooks to hold tents down safely. The Courtyard will not only be available for overflow at major teachings, but will be open to events such as lama dancing and Tibetan Arts presentations. Who knows? Maybe Milarepa himself will bless us with a special doha (song of realization). If you would like to contribute toward the Milarepa Courtyard, please click here. Your support is so appreciated. Another vital area that needs to be funded to be able to occupy the new building is the purchase of new linens – we are not bringing over any of the old linens from the white house. That fund is set at $7,000, and we have already received some small but welcomed donations. We originally had the idea of wish lists at local department stores, but that did not prove feasible. The quickest and most efficient way to provide linens is for KTD to directly purchase them in the colors, quality and amounts needed specifically for the sleeping/retreat rooms. Thanks very much for any help you can give to this fund. Click here to donate toward linens. How can you be part of this joyful time? Chose any of the ways below to donate whatever you can. All donations toward any of these projects go directly toward finishing His Holiness' home in time for Monlam and beyond. Can't afford much? That's OK - the most important thing is to be part of this very auspicious and meritorious undertaking. If you have donated previously, we offer our deepest gratitude to you. Come join us again! His Holiness' needs your support now more than ever. DONATION PROJECTS TOWARD FINISHING HIS HOLINESS' HOME: Donor Gifts | Sponsor a Room | Amitabha Statue Furnishings and Linens | Area of Greatest Need Besides donations toward the actual construction, there are other areas needing your kind attention. Want to help pay back the Construction Loan, either interest or principal? That would be extremely helpful to ensure KTD's financial stability. Consider making a pledge to the Jewel Hill Project. DONATION PROJECT TOWARD PAYING OFF THE LOAN (interest and principal): Jewel Hill (monthly pledge) His Holiness’ monastery very much needs donations toward Operations. The new 49,000 square foot building, though very efficient, will need your help to keep the lights on, the rooms toasty, staff healthy, and food bountiful. Choose one of the funds below to participate. DONATION PROJECTS TOWARD MAINTAINING HIS HOLINESS' HOME: Lama/Staff Health Insurance Fund | Flowers for the Shrine Room | Membership | Lamp Offerings | Area of Greatest Need Please click on the project in any of the areas above: Monastery Completion, Jewel Hill, or Monastery Maintenance, that speaks to your heart, or continue reading below for details and news. MONASTERY COMPLETION Donor Gifts! All suggested donation amounts for Donor Gifts have been permanently reduced to enable more Sangha to benefit from having these precious Dharma items in their home. There is one statue remaining that was blessed by His Holiness when he visited in May, 2008. There are also new, very beautiful thangkas and statues blessed and filled by Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche available for donation. Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche has been most generous adding items to the Donor Gifts from his own collection. (Don’t be surprised if you receive a little “gift” from Rinpoche along with any Dharma item you receive.) Calligraphy - To enable more Sangha to have these beautiful calligraphy by His Holiness in their homes, the suggested donation amounts have been permanently reduced. Many calligraphy have been taken, so please Contact us to find out which ones are still available. Layaway - Because of the current economic crisis, we are offering all Donor Gifts and Calligraphy available on layaway. Put 10% or whatever amount you can afford down, and pay as much as you want, whenever you want, within a year. This new plan will enable more Sangha members and Dharma friends to participate in finishing His Holiness’ home. To use Layaway, click on the Donate On-line link by the item you wish to reserve. Sponsor a Room We are in process of ordering the thangkas and plaques for each sponsored room. Click here for which rooms are still available for sponsorship. Also use that link to make a donation toward any deity room in the new building - each donation makes a difference in the timeliness of reaching our goal. NEW! Want to furnish a Sleeping/Retreat Room or a Manjushri Administrative office? Or provide linens for a Sleeping/Retreat room? We are in process of creating a wish list at a major retailer. Also, you can go to any store of your choice and purchase linens and ship them to KTD. We are also taking donations to put a small Shrine in each room, and a larger Shrine in Khenpo Ugyen's room. Help with the shrines, or furnishings and linens would expedite the move to new building, and be greatly appreciated. Contact Amrita for details of all of above. Area of Greatest Need - Many donors like the idea of just giving an amount and letting us put the donation where it is most needed. That is always appreciated. Click here Amitabha Project - The Amitabha Retreat brought many blessings to all who attended, and there are five 6” Amitabha statues remaining. Lay-away available. Click here to obtain one of these blessed statues. PAYING-OFF THE CONSTRUCTION LOAN Jewel Hill – Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche tells the story of how when His Holiness the 16th Karmapa first stood on top of Meads Mountain, he felt the Native American spiritual energy, and declared that this was where he wanted his North American seat to be built. Rinpoche himself saw the mountain behind the Shrine building like a great king and KTD resting in the King's lap, protected. Tenzin Chonyi, KTD President, also remembers His Holiness calling KTD, the "Jewel Hill." Indeed, KTD is a precious spiritual gem, radiating blessings to all who visit. It is for this reason we are calling the project to pay off the Construction Loan, "Jewel Hill." His Holiness has identified "paying off the loan" as a vital need for KTD, and has urged devotees who ask how to help him, to "give to KTD." Click here to donate or for more details about Jewel Hill. IMAGINE His Holiness’ original vision as he stood on the top of this mountain so many years ago. His insight was his dream…. he knew it would come true someday… and we are the implementers, the Sangha who in joy and humility are carrying out His vision to see it to its ultimate fruition. What a tremendous blessing! Come join us so the Jewel Hill of KTD can continue to shine the light of the Buddhadharma - bringing peace and joy to all beings throughout our weary world. Could we participate in a more deserving effort? THANK YOU so much for your past and continued support. Certainly, your merit is great. Because of your contributions, this magnificent building will be available for visitors from around the world to learn about the BuddhaDharma, and to be touched by His Holiness’ wisdom and compassion. It is always our blessing to serve your support of His Holiness’ activities for the benefit of all beings. With gratitude and joy in the Dharma, Amrita Amrita Nadi Osborne Director of Development Christopher Christopher Cameron Assistant Fundraiser Karma Triyana Dharmachakra 335 Meads Mtn Rd Woodstock, NY 12498 845-679-5906 x 38 development@kagyu.org “No gift that is given in good faith can be called small; its effect is so great.” ~The Buddha