From the first step of the Boudhanath stupa one can see the Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling also called the White Monastery. The monastery was severely damaged during the devastating earthquakes of 2014. It is the biggest monastery of Kathmandu but now the main building is waiting for demolition. A new Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling temple will be built. Supporting the rebuilding of the heart of the monastery complex is now one of the projects of the Tashi Delek Society.

In general life in the monasteries is similar to as before the earthquakes, although there is now much greater restrictions in relation to available room space. There are more children in Ka Nying monastery than ever, many of them orphans or half orphans from destroyed villages in the mountains.

Traditionally children are accepted in Tibetan monasteries from the age of seven years, usually by their own will or decision of the parents. Today this is different, monasteries also are serving as orphanages, children’s homes and boarding schools. The „children monks“ live like normal children; they run around, play, laugh, sometimes get dirty, and they learn in school to read and write and train their minds.

The projects:

In the main monastery Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling there live approximately 400 monks, many of which are children and young novices. Every young monk makes an effort to qualify as a skilled student at the monastic university. Apart from fulfilling the basic needs of food, clothing, medical supplies and study materials, the Tashi Delek Society strives to support these high expectations by contributing towards qualitative teaching facilities.

Our nunnery Nagi Gompa situated on the Shivapury mountain near Kathmandu was formerly a monastic retreat place. This changed in the face of the rapidly growing number of children and young novices to a regular type of monastery with school and higher studies being offered there. The number of nunneries are underrepresented in exile, therefore the support of the nuns is a very important concern of the Tashi Delek Society.

Project „Happy End“: The retreat monastery Asura Gompa overlooking the village of Parping near Kathmandu provides a place for old monks and nuns to spend the end of their lives and prepare for death in good care. It is an essential feature in an intact culture and especially in the Tibetan Buddhist culture to attach importance not only on a good life but also on a good way of dying.

Shenpen: The word shenpen means „working for all“, compassionate acting for the wellbeing of all sentient beings. Originally designed for medical care (“Shenpen Mobile Health Project”) this project expanded especially after the catastrophic earthquake to other social activities that provides assistance for earthquake-victims. Monks, nuns and helpers carry out these activities.