Ven. Thrangu Rinpoche (Founder, SMD School)
Losar Tashi Delek – Tibetan Buddhist New Year
We celebrated the Losar holiday from February 18th until the end of the month. For SMDers, the highlight was seeing Thrangu Rinpoche at the Thrangu Yangtse Monastery, a couple of hours away.
At any given time, we normally have above 100 children in residence at our school, but this year, since there are no COVID restrictions, there were only 50 children in the hostel, so we bundled everyone up and trundled off to see Rinpoche, make offerings and receive his blessing. Joy!
See our Losar Card here: Losar Greetings from SMD
Our Nyerpa (Monk Manager) Managed a New System to Conserve Water
Our school manager Lopen Palden Tashi
Though we had a little drizzle on February 26th, Nepal has had five months of drought, with little snowpack inthe mountains. Lack of rain has brought poor air quality and frequent, long power cuts – not enough water to drive the turbines. Water is growing increasingly scarce.
However, during the winter break, we were able to install a new, unified water system. The old pump/filtration system was wasting 50% of our water. (It has to be pumped to rooftop tanks so we have water pressure.) Conscious of the waste, our nyerpa (monk manager Palta) lobbied for the new system and supervised the installation from morning to night. Many thanks to friends in
Hong Kong who funded the new system. Learn more about the drought: Nepali Times
SMD Alumni Association
SMD Alumni Association is an association of graduates and former students from SMD. Based in the US, they’ve been helping the school for a long time. This year, they sent $3000 so we could replace the worn-out mattresses and the plywood that goes underneath. SMDers in Alabama, California, Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri & Texas donated.
Our Principal wrote, “…thank-you very much for always keeping SMD in your heart. Even though you are abroad, you all are our SMD family and will remain so forever.”
If You Are Coming From Hong Kong, Please Pick up Some Books at Thrangu Rinpoche’s Centre
A 10% is levied on all books published outside Nepal. We cannot afford them. Workaround: an enterprising sponsor in Singapore ordered books off our Wish List and sent them to Thrangu Vajrayana Buddhist Centre in Hong Kong.
If you are coming from HK, please stop by, pick up three or four books and up carry them for SMD as ‘gifts’. You will not be taxed if you carry a few. Honk Kong http://www.thranguhk.org/en/ Tel: (852) 2760 8381 info@thranguhk.org
L-R: Tsering Dolma Lama and Niraj Rai proudly showing their spiffy new jacket
Sowers’ Action Taiwan Brought New Jackets For Everyone
Tsering Dolma got a new jacket too. When we asked, she told us emphatically, “I got this jacket on the first day. I got this jacket in Nursery Class and this is my own jacket!” We checked. It’s got her Admission number on it. She is the littlest in school, and has the biggest personality!
Happy kids during Losar Holiday
Thrangu Rinpoche has foundations in Canada, Hong Kong, Germany, the US and the UK? Read more: https://rinpoche.com/
In Case You Missed It…
Winter Cleanup: In the winter, we do major cleanups and repairs. Everyone helps. Ghen Gyurme, one of our Hostel teachers supervises the crew.
Kids cleaning the school area
If You Are Coming To Nepal and Want to Bring Something, We Need: