March 30, 2010
Rinpoche's first trip to the United States has been a huge success. This historic teaching tour and relic exhibition began at Nalanda West in Seattle. Rinpoche then appeared at Orgyen Dorje Den, in Alameda. Teachings and empowerments followed at L'hundrup Choling Center in Los Angeles, several events at Vairotsana Foundation, teachings at Yeshe Khorlo in Crestone, CO. Next Rinpoche appeared in New Mexico, at Pema Khandro Ling, Santa Fe. An empowerment and exhibition was then given in El Paso, TX. Rinpoche's final week in the US was spent in Palm Springs and Los Angeles. On March 27, Rinpoche gave a Vajrakilaya Empowerment at Golden Bridge Yoga Center in Hollywood. Rinpoche departed Los Angeles on the US on March 30.
Those who attended his programs and who spent time with him were touched with the deep, clear wisdom of this gifted teacher. His warmth and charm never failed to make friends everywhere he went.
We very much hope that he will return to the US soon!
Please visit Rinpoche's Facebook Page to see many photographs of this historic first visit.
January 2010
Due to visa issues the trip that we had planned for Rinpoche's first teaching tour of the USA had to be postponed. After much time and energy spent on the visa process (Thank you Kathleen-la!!) we are very happy to announce that Lhalung Sungtrul Rinpoche, his attendant Lopen Karma, and Choki Dorji are arriving in Seattle on 3 Februrary 2010!!
Teachings are scheduled for Seattle, the Bay Area, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, New York, Texas, and Colorado! Please see the 2010 USA Tour page for more information.
October 2008
We’re presently hard at work preparing plans for Sungtrul Rinpoche, Lopen Karma and their translator Choki Dorji to visit the USA in February of 2009. Preliminary plans are for visits and blessings to be given in Seattle, San Francisco, Colorado and Los Angeles.
Please see the 2009 USA Tour page for more information and updates. Help is urgently needed to finance travel, hosting and driving. Please contact us if you are able to help.
5 August 2008
Sungtrul Rinpoche and Lopen Tseten have decided to move its first class of young monks to the new school today with a grand ceremony and consecration coinciding with the special date (The first Sermon of Buddha).
July 2008
Friend of Tamshing, Choki Dorji, met with the monks and Sungtrul Rinpoche to discuss plans for Rinpoche’s visit and to see the latest work at Kongchogsum. He was also privileged to witness the “Drubchen” ceremony, a grand blessing for all sentient beings, held at Kurjey Lhakang. Sungtrul Rinpoche, Thuksey Rinpoche and Gangtey Tulku, (the speech, mind and body incarnations of Pema Lingpa) gave this special 10 day ceremony.
June 2008
The Konchogsum new building is nearly completed now. More than 90% of the building shell has been completed. At this point plumbing, wiring and traditional painting are continuing apace. Wall plastering and flooring have yet to be completed. Estimates are for one more month of work!
Sungtrul Rinpoche’s trip to Hong Kong in December was instrumental in raising awareness and funds for the work. Even so, it has been necessary for the monks to borrow funds from shopkeepers to continue the work and procure supplies.
February 2008
A new Friend from San Francisco, Mike Reyes visited Bhutan and Tamshing and was moved by the temple and construction project at Konchogsum. See Mike’s pictures at right and see how much work has been done in the past five months. A special thanks to Mike for his fundraising work!
September 2007
Tamshing Tsechu (yearly dance festival) was held. Ian Challis & David Roos are privileged to be able to witness the dance from the new viewing building and meet many new potential donors who are moved by the ceremonies. Meetings with the Lopen Tseten, Lopen Kharma and other monks of Tamshing to discuss progress and current needs for continuation of the Konchogsum school project.
We visited the site and are absolutely amazed to see the progress that has taken place with the limited donations received so far. It is safe to say that not a single Ngultrum goes to waste! See the photos to see the huge amount accomplished in under nine months.
We were also privileged to meet Sungtrul Rinpoche and learn more about his plans and talk in more depth about the possibility of his first USA visit. Friends of Tamshing Jane Uitti and Frances Uitti met Rinpoche in October and renewed the invitation! Stay tuned!
9 January 2007
A sizable donation is received for the Konchogsum School Project and a transfer through the Bhutan Foundation is initiated.
Although the transfer was quite slow in being effected, good news is received from Dr. Bruce Bunting, president of the Bhutan Foundation. The Bhutan Foundation will be moving to new offices in Washington DC and will have its first office in Thimphu. Also a new web presence is launched for the Bhutan Foundation. Transfer time and service will be much improved from now on.
29 October 2006
Ian and David are honored to spend time with Lama Tseten, Lopen Karma and many other monks. A tour of the impressive new building is inspiring and really shows how far the monks of Tamshing can make every dollar go! David and Ian enjoy a delightful lunch with the monks and we all discuss ideas for helping Tamshing become more self-supporting. Ideas arise for increasing on-site donations, income generating projects such as a guide book, and the possibility of a US teaching tour.
22-23 October 2006
Friends of Tamshing's Ian Challis and David Roos are honored to be guests of the Venerable Lhalung Sungtrul Rinpoche of Tamshing at his Dramitse Monastery seat. Sungtrul Rinpoche explains his plans to expand and strengthen Tamshing by building a new Buddhist school on the nearby affiliated site of Konchogsum. Please read more about this very special project here. Friends of Tamshing invite Rinpoche to consider visiting the United States.
27 September 2006
More donations are raised and collected and forwarded to Tamshing to help the work continue on the new structure.
29 June 2006
This auspicious day is chosen for the official groundbreaking of the new multi-purpose building which will contain new living quarters, a classroom, tailor shop, storage room and a beautiful new dance-viewing and meeting room.
10 March 2006
Our first sizable donation is received and forwarded to Tamshing via the Bhutan Foundation.
10 February 2006
Friends of Tamshing is officially launched on the web! Stay tuned...
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