Khamdogar is an ancient community of practitioners founded by Ringdzin Changchub Dorje, the master of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, in the early 1900s.

Ringdzin Changcub Dorje, a Dzogchen master and a famous Terton (discoverer of treasures) lived in this place with his family working as a doctor and transmitted his Teachings in a completely informal manner without creating monasteries or religious structures.

Over the years monks and lay people came together around him in order to receive his Teachings and practice, creating a lay community to which each person contributed his or her work.

Near Khamdogar, in an area called Dedrol, there is a cave in which Atha Lhamo, the daughter of Master Changchub Dorje, lived and practiced. After a long period of inactivity due to the Cultural Revolution, the nuns have managed to build a small nunnery and take up their spiritual activities again. At the moment there are 66 nuns who live in retreat for long periods without contact with the outer world.

 

PRESENT DAYS

At present, because of the difficult situation in Tibet, the entire complex of Khamdogar is in ruins and the local people live in conditions of extreme poverty.

Concerned about this situation, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu asked to help this community in order to preserve the Teachings transmitted by his Master:

"Khamdogar is the residence of my main Teacher Rigdzin Changchub Dorje. I hope that at Khamdogar there will be a good college of Practice and another small college of study, because these will be very important for maintaining the knowledge transmitted by the Master Changchub Dorje. I would like to ask the Dzogchen Community of Tsegyalgar to take care and sponsor these projects so they become real."

ASIA America is collaborating with Tsegyalgar, doing fundraising for this project.

Activities

1) Building a small study and practice college.
Estimated cost $65,945USD.
2) Construction of an aqueduct.
Estimated cost $51,290USD.
3) Restoration of the old temple where the Chorten of Rigdzin Changchub Dorje is preserved.
Estimated cost $58,620USD.
4) Restoration of the printing house and the Chortens built by Rigdzin Changchub Dorje.
Estimated cost $51,290USD.

The total cost of these works is $227,150USD.

The objective is to raise these funds as soon as possible and start construction work by spring 2008.

Long Distance Sponsorship of the Nuns.

The project to provide ongoing, annual support for the 66 nuns who live in retreat at Dedrol Gompa, has begun.

The objective is to contribute to maintaining support for all 66 nuns in 2008.

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Donate

You can contribute with a donation to the construction work, for which fund-raising has already begun.

Become a sponsor and support a nun.

With only $250USD per year ($21/month) you can provide food, basic medical assistance, educational materials and everything necessary for a nun to have a decent life and meet basic needs.

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