The Association
Project to support the Sherpa monastary Thame
in Solu Khumbu / Nepal
The Association Tenzin Dorje Sherpa e.V. was in March 2009 from Tenzin Dorje Sherpa, Kerstin Blumenschein and some friends in Munich founded. The association mainly serves this, the Monks of the Nyingma monastery above the village of Thame (4000m) in the Nepalese Khumbu region (Mt. Everest Region) support with regular meals and promote their education.
The Nyingma monastery (Gompa) of Thame, Dechen Chökhor Ling (“Dharma Wheel of Great Bliss”) It is located in the Khumbu / Nepal. It is about 200 altitude metres above the village of Thame (3.800m) on the southern valley of the Sumdur mountain (5377m) under a very high, rocky cliff with many meaningful signs.
The monastery was built in 17. Century of Rolpe Dorje, which was equipped with extraordinary powers, founded. (Details in dem Buch „Dharma Wheel of Great Bliss“, Vajra Publications, 2008)
The monastery was built in 17. Century of Rolpe Dorje, which was equipped with extraordinary powers, founded. (Details in dem Buch „Dharma Wheel of Great Bliss“, Vajra Publications, 2008)
Am 31. December 2009 The Thame Gompa project started with an opening ceremony with the currently 30 Monks, some visitors from the Khumbu area, Nawang Lobsang Rinpoche, the successor of Thame Rinpoche, and Tenzin. The ceremony went very well and harmoniously, it was snowing even that day, which is a sign of happiness there.
Warm meals and good education
since 1. January 2010 the monks are given three hot meals a day. In the year 2011 six young monks found a new home in the Thames monastery. They receive elementary school education and monastic Buddhist-philosophical education. In the beginning it was the task of the older monks to train the boys.
In the year 2012 luckily we found a qualified teacher for the monks. In the same year five more children entered the monastery. Im mai 2012 visited Tenzin with friends
Kathrin and Jürgen Ludwig the monastery and they produced a short film, to document the positive changes in the monastery. It was also possible, to provide the monks with new winter jackets and warm socks, to renovate the rooms, to procure a large tent for special events and to contribute to the renovation of a stupa.
We are looking for a good teacher
In the year 2013 The living area of the Thame Gompa community became so scarce with the growth of a total of eleven monks, that there are no more suitable premises for the main llama, the teacher and for special guests. For this reason, the community asked us to help, demolish the old dilapidated house behind the monastery kitchen and build a completely new house. Der Thame Gompa e.V. was able to grant start-up financing for this measure. At the end of the same year, however, the teacher left the monastery and the senior monks are again responsible for the education of the boys, until a new teacher is found.
In the year 2014 Tenzin traveled to Kathmandu, to meet Lama Nawang Lobsang Rinpoche and manager Nawang Chogyab. The main focus was on the training of young monks. The best possible education for the monks is very important to Tenzin and he wishes, that a suitable qualified teacher is found again, who stays longer and is ready, to take on the simple conditions and the often harsh climate of this area.
The return of the Thame Rinpoche
In November 2014 became the reincarnation of Thame Rinpoche, the on 31. October 2009 had died, officially confirmed.
The boy named Sonam Phuntsog is 4 Years old and spent his early childhood with his parents in Jorsale, a small village below Namche Bazar. Am 2. February 2015 Sonam Phuntsog received his first ordination in Maratika, a famous Padmasambava pilgrimage site in Solu. Now he lives in the Thama Monastery and begins his monastic education.
More support is welcome!
We would be very happy to have more members and sponsors, so that our project becomes more stable. Since the monks grew, the food and the effort involved has become more expensive. For this reason the manager of Thame Gompa asked us, to increase the meal budget. Der Thame Gompa e.V. therefore gave in ten percent more of the budget 2014.
Tenzin's story with Thame and Thame Rinpoche
Tenzin Dorje Sherpa grew up in Thame as the last child of a nomad family with four sisters and one brother. The father died of tuberculosis when Tenzin was not even one year old. His mother worked very hard. She raised the six children alone, worked in the fields, herded sheep and yaks. She was a very kind mother.
When Tenzin was five years old, he went to his uncle in the Thames monastery. His uncle was a popular monk and well respected for his wisdom. Tenzin lived with him in a small hut and received his basic education like reading, Write, Memorize texts and prayers etc. by him. Even though the uncle looked after Tenzin so well, the little one tore, tender boy with his traditional ruby-red coat often from the monastery. He ran lightning fast and barefoot to his mother and siblings, which he missed very much, down to Thame.
Thame Rinpoche was three years older than Tenzin. As soon as his teacher left the house, little Rinpoche called to Tenzin, to play with him. The connection to Thame Gompa and Rinpoche began at this young age. In time, Tenzin experienced the extremely harsh conditions of this monastery life.
When Tenzin was nine years old, his uncle gave him the choice, either go to Tengboche in a Nyingma monastery or to Lawudo in a Gelugpa monastery, to become a monk and get a good education. Tenzin chose Lawudo, because the monastery was newly founded and there were more boys his age there. The monks stayed in Lawudo from March to October and spent the rest of the time in the well-known Kopan monastery near Boudanath near Kathmandu. The conditions in the winter months were tough and difficult in the mountains. With regard to the young monks, one later stayed in Kopan all year round, where Tenzin stayed for nine years.
Via Dharamsala to Munich
He then traveled to Dharamsala, to participate in a three-month Vajrasattva retreat. After the exam, it was clear to Tenzin, that it was time, take off his monk's robes and start a new life. Tenzin was director of the Tushita Meditation Center in Dharamsala for nine years. In the year 1991 he came to Munich and worked for eight years in a large hotel as a housekeeping supervisor. In April 1999 then he opened the book- and art trading Himalayan art and has been running the business ever since. He has been living now 21 Years with his partner Kerstin in Munich.
The little monks in Thame
Thame Rinpoche was three years older than Tenzin. As soon as his teacher left the house, little Rinpoche called to Tenzin, to play with him. The connection to Thame Gompa and Rinpoche began at this young age. In time, Tenzin experienced the extremely harsh conditions of this monastery life.
When Tenzin was nine years old, his uncle gave him the choice, either go to Tengboche in a Nyingma monastery or to Lawudo in a Gelugpa monastery, to become a monk and get a good education. Tenzin chose Lawudo, because the monastery was newly founded and there were more boys his age there. The monks stayed in Lawudo from March to October and spent the rest of the time in the well-known Kopan monastery near Boudanath near Kathmandu. The conditions in the winter months were tough and difficult in the mountains. With regard to the young monks, one later stayed in Kopan all year round, where Tenzin stayed for nine years.
The circle closes with the association Tenzin Dorje Sherpa e.V..
In the year 2007 Thame Rinpoche and Tenzin got in touch again and the two met 2008 for the first time in a very long time. Thame Rinpoche pleaded with Tenzin, Support the Thame Gompa community with regular meals and better education. Tenzin was very touched by this and immediately felt responsible, to comply with the request as soon as possible. So he founded in the year 2009 with some friends the Thame Gompa e.V. - and hopefully the story will go on for a long time with the help of many kind people …
If you feel addressed, there is the possibility, Become a member of our non-profit association and thus contribute to a long-term solution for this monastery. The sponsors can also tell the monks about their wishes and concerns, which they would like to include in their prayers.
These sponsors of the project may convey their wishes to the monks, who will include these in recitations and dedicated prayers.
The annual contribution for a membership
1. grade 180.00 €
2. grade 100.00€
3. grade 50.00€
Donations of any amount for one off payments are certainly highly welcome and received with greatest thanks as well!
Membership subscriptions are tax-deductible; we will issue donation receipts.
Many thanks for your interest and I’m looking forward to hear from you!
With kind regards and Tashi Delek
Tenzin Dorje Sherpa
Address of society:
Tenzin Dorje Sherpa e.V.
Schellingstr. 36
80799 Munich
info@tenzin-dorje-sherpa.com
www.kunst-des-himalaya.com
Tel: 0049 (0) 89 33088220
Fax: 0049 (0)89 33088221
Bank details:
Tenzin Dorje Sherpa e.V.
Bank: Stadtsparkasse Munich
Who No.: 1000 768 786 PAGE: 701 500 00
WERE GOING: DE58 7015 0000 1000 7687 86
BIC: SSKMDEMM
