Monasteries

Gangchen Monastery in Tibet
Gangchen Monastery in Tibet

Gangchen Monastery in Tibet

Founded five centuries ago, the monastery of Gangchen in Central Tibet was once home to 350 monks: here were preserved the most ancient and profound spiritual, medical, artistic and handicraft traditions of Tibet. For the inhabitants of the area this monastery was a point of reference for their spiritual life, for medical care offered freely by the monk-doctors, for education and for concrete help in the most difficult and important moments of life.

The ancient Monastery, destroyed in 1959, was rebuilt in 1999-2000 thanks to funds raised by the Association. The heart of village life for Tibetans the rebuilding of the Monastery has given them an important sign of ethnic and cultural survival.

The building comprises of a large prayer hall, living quarters for the resident monks, kitchens, a retreat centre and a small clinic. The project also foresees a library and a laboratory for the preparation of traditional Tibetan medicines so the ancient healing traditions of Gangchen can be preserved for future generations.
There are 40 monks living and studying in the Monastery, including some children from the surrounding poverty stricken villages.

Tibetan Monasteries Project
Tibetan Monasteries Project

Tibetan Monasteries Project

The help of the Association reaches many Tibetan monasteries. The monastic institution has been for hundreds of years the heart of tradition and community for the Tibetan people. It is here, within the monastery walls, that precious medical, artistic and spiritual knowledge is kept and preserved: heritage for the whole of humanity.

Symbol of the Tibetan identity, many small monasteries have today been rebuilt, but they are very poor and only survive thanks to the donations they receive. These donations also allow them to give homes to young children who want to study. But they have little money to buy food, medicines, clothes, shoes, beds, covers, fuel or to carry out frequently needed repairs – necessary because of the extreme climate of Tibet and the precariousness of the buildings.

Many monasteries in Central Tibet ask and receive help from the Association for basic necessities, as well as to realize small sanitary or water structures, to rebuild parts of the monastery, to buy solar panels and so on. Gangchen Monastery has been completely rebuilt.

In the Monastery of Tashi Lumpo, today the largest in Tibet, where approximately 800 monks lived without running water or sanitation structures, the Association realized a number of wash areas and showers complete with hot water. The Clinic of this monastery receives help regularly.

Riwo Choling Monastery received financial help to realize a new hydraulic system to replace and entrench old pipes broken in different points. Sed Gyued Monastery is also under reconstruction.

Many other small monasteries receive help for their basic necessities, thanks also to the long distance adoption of monks. (see long distance adoptions) have also requested help.