It’s GIVING TUESDAY. Can We Count on You?

Dear Friends of the Panchen Lama Tashi Lhunpo Project,

2020!  What a year, to say the least! How do you even characterize a year that is besieged with so much skepticism and incertitude? Yet despite this year of unprecedented crises, the Panchen Lama Tashi Lhunpo Monastery Project (PLTLP) celebrated many great transitions and firsts. My heart wells up with gratitude as I realize year after year how your support has kept us thriving. We are what we are today, because of you.

I would like to share these transitional changes.

1. Khensur Rinpoche went into a well deserved retirement this year. It’s a joy to see him relaxed, happily taking life at a slower pace after all the many years of traveling to raise funds in order to develop the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in India as per the request of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. PLTLP is honored to continue to support his legacy.

2.  A successful fundraising effort, the FIRST LOSAR RETREAT 2020, took place this year in February.  It was truly an experience of a lifetime and one that we hope will be the first of many enlightening retreats held at the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.

3. The transition of the PLTLP leadership also took place this year in September. I took over the reigns from the capable hands of Adrienne Moberly, who is staying on the Board. I feel grateful for this opportunity to continue her work.

4. We also welcomed 3 new capable members to the Board to fill vacant seats. I am happy and proud to have Mary Dautricourt as Vice Chair and Head of Communications, Holly Ross as Treasurer and Dana Ochstein join the team of an amazing group of volunteers.

Tashi Lhunpo Monastery has also accomplished many great initiatives this year. One truly outstanding achievement is the accreditation of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastic School by the National Institute of Open Schooling in September 2020.  This makes the Monastic School become the FIRST to be recognized by the Indian government as an accredited school for both monks and lay people. Congratulations to our new Abbot Zeekgyab Rinpoche for such a monumental undertaking!

Needless to say, all of these great works and initiatives were successful because of our collective effort and your financial support. As you know, you are receiving this letter on GIVING TUESDAY, a day in which we call for your help, a day when we tap on your spirit of love for the monks of Tashi Lhunpo in honor of their tireless dedication and incessant prayers day and night to help all of humanity. They have committed their entire lives to helping us incorporate human values in our lives. They teach us to embrace the idea of common humanity, especially during critical times such as now, when it is most needed. Through their deep understanding of human suffering, they are able to make countless sacrifices such as their daily Pujas (prayer sessions) which start at the break of dawn stretching for long hours…….

My dearest friends, I ask for your generous and heartfelt gift at the end of this year to help our beloved monks in their effort to help build a better world. Let us give them something in return. Your generous donation can make a huge difference in their lives and ultimately in ours.  You will earn immeasurable merits for your act of kindness and generosity. We welcome any amount large or small. Please DONATE HERE and use your donation as a tax-deductible item.

In parting, here is a quote from His Holiness the Dalai Lama

“Generosity is the most natural outward expression of an inner attitude of compassion and loving-kindness.”  

—— HH the 14th Dalai Lama

Please help us make this Giving Tuesday a successful one for the Panchen Lama Tashi Lhunpo Project.

With immense gratitude,

Joji Arellano-Santos

Chairman of the Board/Executive Director

Panchen Lama Tashi Lhunpo Project

(650) 714-3660

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