Friday, April 30, 2010

Updates from Minam Rinpoche - Xining









(Rinpoche's sister who perished in the quake)
Hong Kong entertainment industry is concerned about Norling Library. Hong Kong Film Director, Alan Mak and actor Mo Shaocong spoke with Rinpoche on the future of the people in Yushu. Rinpoche stressed that the immediate needs of the homeless people, the orphans and prayers for the deceased must be addressed with utmost priority. Rinpoche so far has personally come out with 300,000 yuan (excluding funds that are being sent) to buy tents, 215 solar energy system and also the basic necessities as in food and water.

Rinpoche has taken on the responsibility of looking after 20 orphans and he intends to build an orphanage - “Norling Orphanage”. He hopes that charitable organizations will join hands in this project.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Yushu Earthquake - Before & After


BEFORE : Yushu town

AFTER : Yushu Town


BEFORE : Overlooking Jiegu through the Chortens of the Ga Kye Gu Monastery, a popular place of worship for Jiegu's Tibetan community

AFTER: Tibetan monks are helping with the relief efforts.


BEFORE: Gesar Square on Jiegu's main street


AFTER: Gesar Square is now being used as a quake relief camp for survivors.


BEFORE: Woman sitting outside the markets on Jiegu's main road amid Tibetan mastiffs collars displayed for sale on the motorcycle handles.

AFTER: A roadblock stops motorcyclists in Jiegu in anticipation of Hu Jintao's visit on April 18, 2010.
BEFORE: The winged horse symbolizes things beautiful and wild celebrated in the horse festivals of the Khampa for which this town is famous. This statue still stands but the buildings around this major intersection are mostly gone.

AFTER: The building still standing in the upper left hand corner of this photo can be seen in in the previous photo of the township.


BEFORE: Pilgrims would spin prayer wheels, click rossaries, recite mantras, and add stones carved with prayers as they circumambulate the Jiana Mani temple, also known as the world's largest Mani stone pile.

AFTER: The Mani stones still remain, but the atmosphere is decidedly different.


BEFORE: Kids take a break from holy circumambulations for a fairy floss break amidst painted mani stones.


AFTER: Hunger is now a problem for the children

Kilung Earthquake Relief 2010

This article is extracted from an email that I received in my mailbox this morning.

Thank you one and all!

The outpouring from around the world was tremendous. Kilung Rinpoche’s vision fulfilled: Our friends in the wide world did become one warm heart to help raise the hopes of the devastated people of Kyekudo for their future. We exceeded our goal! (see below)



Our team of Kilung monks, community members, and friends from China tirelessly brought Tibetan food and goods to Kyeku, distributing relief in three days to over 2,000 striken individuals, including Tibetans, Chinese, and Muslims. The milk products, tsampa, and tea were enough to feed each person for 12 days. We also gave out ceramic bowls, lighters, candles, water, teakettles, soap, and first aid supplies.

The recipients were more than thrilled to receive healthy Tibetan food. Many of them pleaded for extra packages for those who couldn’t leave their tents. There were many grateful reports that our trucks were the only going to the far corners of the encampment grounds, serving folks who had previously received fewer supplies and food than others in the camp. While there was some other tsampa being distributed in Kyeku, we heard there were no other milk products, and so ours were received with resounding joy. When other NGOs heard about our butter and cheese packages, they were inspired for the future.



See more compelling photos by team member Trindar Getse showing the process from packing up food in Dzachuka, to delivery to outstretched hands and hearts in Kyeku.

The day after the earthquake, as Kilung Rinpoche and i were conceiving this plan, we gulped at the thought of raising the $32,000 needed, wondering if enough donors would answer the call. But the emergency nature of the situation required us to take a leap of faith…and did you ever deliver! In one week, we not only made the goal, but exceeded it: Over $38,000 was sent or pledged. We just can’t thank you enough!

Some of the surplus money will make possible a second trip to Kyeku with additional tsampa (barley flour), already ordered and milled for us. Another buying trip is needed to Ganze for the small camping stoves on our original delivery list.

The Kilung Foundation is planning to extend the relief effort to needy Kyeku earthquake victims for the next two to three years. Government relief has provided tents, packaged food, water, and most recently, the start of electricity and temporary housing in the form of metal huts. But we know that individual families are still in need of much to get them over the hump until Kyeku has been put back together again.

Our plan: To provide essential, nutritious milk products from Dzachuka to 50 Kyeku families for the next two to three years. We will do this in a sustainable way: by buying 100 yaks, grazing them on land provided by Kilung Monastery, cared for by several Kilung nomad families.* Milk products will be trucked over to Kyeku twice a year, and delivered to the 50 families that our monastery team has identified as most needy, with the advice of Kyeku community leaders and elders.

How you can help: Sponsor a Kyeku Family for $36/month for two years.

This will buy the two yaks (dri) needed for each family. 48 sponsors are needed, because Kilung Foundation has already sponsored two families with surplus money. Sponsors are needed by May 30 to purchase 100 yaks before start of the summer milking season. First delivery to Kyeku: mid-summer 2010!

To sponsor:
1. Send a check to Kilung Foundation, PO Box 622, Langley, WA 98260, or,
2. Go to our website to use your credit card, including automatic donations, or,
3. Email us for more information, including about automatic bank payments.

All donations tax-deductible. We will send tax receipts.

In addition to helping the earthquake families, our plan will benefit Kilung community in several ways — by helping to restock the yak population which still hasn’t completely recovered from the snowstorm of 2008; by encouraging the traditional Tibetan way of life; after Kyeku families are on their feet again, the milk products will go to Kilung community and monastery; and as backup resource for future emergencies in the area.

Deep gratitude to everyone, for the myriad of ways that you have made a difference for the people of Kyeku in time of dire need.
Sincerely,
Diane Berger
Kilung Foundation
Whidbey Island, Washington

*Note: Milk products coming from the high grasslands of Dzachuka, where Kilung is located, are famous for being extra-nutritious and rich. The yaks there graze on an amazing amalgum of fragrant medicinal and flowering herbs at an altitude of 14,000 feet. Kyeku, on the other hand, is located at 12,000 feet, in a different climate and growing zone. Bringing the cheese, butter, milk, and yogurt from Dzachuka is a high-essence and nourishing gift indeed!

http://www.kilung.org/
Letters on the Kilung website: Kilung Earthquake Relief Appeal .
On Facebook: Kilung Foundation Earthquake Relief Effort on FACEBOOK

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Minam Rinpoche's Pledge

The quake came, showed its vicious strength and left. It left many homes devastated, claimed many lives and created many orphans. It will never be the same again for all the Yushu-ians.

Today Minam Rinpoche is in Xining town, a 12-15 hour drive from Yushu. He has gone there to withdraw the funds that has been sent by Ms Seetoh from Johore Bahru and myself. He leaves for homeless home in Yushu tomorrow.

He suddenly found himself as a "father" to 20 orphaned children. He has pledged to take them under his wing, providing them accommodation, food, education, personal needs, care and whatever their needs may be. Rinpoche himself now has no roof over his head and is living in tents alongside with his fellow mates. Does your heart cringe?

Rinpoche intends to distribute the money he received to the people of Yushu so as to enable them to buy food, clothing, necessities. Money will also be spent to do pujas for those who perished. Rinpoche said it is very important that pujas be held for the deceased.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

RHB Bank, Damansara Jaya Branch - Thank You For Helping The Yushu Earthquake Victims


Yesterday (19 April) morning I was at RHB Bank, Damansara Jaya to send the first batch of money to Minam Rinpoche for the Yushu Earthquake victims. Since Rinpoche has requested that I send by Western Union, I enquired on the commission that the bank charges and found that it was too exhorbitantly high. For RM20,000 the charge is around RM880 so for RM40,000 I will have to pay RM1700 plus. They advised me to send by TT which will take 2 days to reach.

I filled in the necessary forms and submitted it to the person attending to me. In less than 10 minutes everything was done. Left the bank with the carbon copy of the TT form. Whilst in the car, I took out the carbon copy form and tears filled my eyes. RHB has given me a special rate. Because of that the people of Yushu will have more money. Thank you RHB Bank !!!!!!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Yushu Earthquake -Darkness, the darkest hour


Everyday as night falls I go about like a zombie. My heart aches and reaches the people in Yushu as they prepare for another bitter cold night. Our friends in Yushu are brazing the cold at night and here as we lay in bed, we turn on our air conditioner and at the same time cuddle up in our warm duvet. Isn't that an irony?

Many people have responded to this urgent cry but many are still nonchalant to this situation. It is made more sorrowful when you hear friends talking about this unfortunate event as a great conversational topic and disdaining others of their empathy for the people of Yushu.

I can no longer be a judge of who is what, as I wrap myself in spreading the plight of the Yushu-ians.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Yushu Earthquake


I received an early morning call from a friend asking me to check if Minam Rinpoche is OK. I called and called and with each failed call, I trembled. I knew that with the earthquake, telecommunication will be disrupted but my fingers kept pressing the call sign on the mobile. I did not give up, I persisted. Through my muddled mind a little spark emerged. I searched for Rinpoche's Xining center and with splattering and very broken Chinese I bombarded Yang Lau Sir with loads of questions and I only needed him to tell me Rinpoche is OK. In that moment I found myself understanding the Chinese language - that Rinpoche is safe in Chengdu. I broke down, I wept, I sobbed, I cried.

Half an hour later I was on the line with Rinpoche. He informed that he is actually in Shanghai and not Chengdu (anywhere it does not matter). He is making arrangement to go back to Yushu tomorrow and is not sure if it can be done as flights are fully booked and the airport in Yushu is not passable to traffic. Two members of his family perished. Other than that he has no other news of anyone else or his library or monastery.

I launched a "Yushu Earthquake Fund" on Facebook. The response I got was really immense. People across the globe who did not even know I existed before came forward with words of kindness and in monetary contributions. Throughout the whole day I was a little fragile. The faces of the Tibetan people in Yushu, the scenic town embraced by mountains all round, the Yak Square where Tibetan men and women gather to sell their wares and for the daily gossips were video played in my mind. Children with rosy red cheeks and 'dragon' mucus running down their nostrils. Tashi Deleks filled the air. Will it be the same again when I next visit?

For names of contributors please go to Norling Library

Friday, April 9, 2010

Tserkarmo Monastery


Thursday, April 8, 2010

The Universal Laws


Law Of Abundance
In this universe there is no scarcity. Every element that exists will always exist. There is no limit to the resources of the human mind and soul. Only humankind creates lack.
Law Of Infinity
Everything exists in infinity, therefore what you need can be created with your thoughts without taking from others. What you manifest may come from dimensions of time and space that you cannot perceive of at present.

Law Of Limitations
There is no such thing as a limited income, only a limited outlook. Abundance comes in many forms and by several unexpected means.

Law Of Vacuum
The Universe abhors a vacuum. Whenever you make a space, it will create a motion to flow inwards. Make room for abundance and put out positive attractive thoughts.

Law Of Giving
To receive abundance, you must first be prepared to be generous but with wisdom.
Law Of Receiving
In order to receive, you must open yourself to the bounty of the universe. You must also allow others to make way for abundance in their own lives by giving to you.

Law Of Tithing
In giving something away, you create room in your life for new abundance to flow in. Give away your time, energy, knowledge out of unconditional love to create a space for abundance to return to you.

Enjoy!

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Herkimer Diamond

Herkimer bracelet with inclusions (carbon)
Facilitating soul retrieval and core soul healing, Herkimer Diamond creates a powerful soul shield when journeying or undertaking spiritual work and is a powerful attunement crystal. It stimulates metaphysical abilities, linking into guidance from higher dimensions and promotes dream recall. Accessing past life information so that you recognise blockages or resistance to your spiritual growth, Herkimer gently releases and transforms, bringingyour soul's purpose to the force and activating the light body. Herkimer Diamond is one of the strongest crystals for clearing electromagnetic pollution or radioactivity. Herkimer Diamond is a high vibration stone and is the happiest stone in the mineral kingdom

Amber

SOLD
Strictly speaking, amber is not a crystal, being tree resin that solidified and became fossilised. With strong connections to the earth, it is a grounding stone for higher energies. A powerful healer and cleanser that draws dis-ease from the body and assists tissue revitalisation, amber cleans the environment and chakras. It absorbs negative energies and transmutes them into positive forces that assist the body to heal itself. This stone provides a protective shield to prevent healers on client's pain and protects against psychic vampirism.