Top: Sakyong Mipham throws lungta cards.

Left: Chakrasamvara (wheel of supreme bliss) lama dancer at Surmang. Photo by Khenpo Tsering Gyurme.

SURMANG SHEDRA

2005 CONSTRUCTION SEASON WRAPS UP

Second building season successfully completed.    Khenpo Tsering Gyurme of Surmang has just returned to North America, bringing with him news and photographs of the 2005 construction efforts at the Surmang shedra.

"Major progress was made this year," reports Khenpo Tsering.   "The walls and roofs of the monks' living quarters were completed.   The shrine rooms to the right and left of the main lhakang had their first floor completed along with parts of the second floor.   The wall surrounding the entire shedra had its structure finished."   He added, "this puts us in a position to complete the basic construction next year (not including the painting or other finishing work), if enough money is available."

Among the other construction accomplishments for the year: large amounts of decorative cast concrete detail was incorporated into the building structure, as can be seen from the photograph below.   Metal concrete forms were purchased, especially for the decorative concrete columns, replacing wooden forms that were not reusable. A substantial amount of dirt was moved to prepare for a khora (circumambulation) path around the outside and to raise the level of the interior courtyard.     Windows for the shedra were ordered.

If you are in a position to make a donation now to Konchok Foundation, it will be a great help as we prepare for the pivotal 2006 construction season.   Please go to the Donations page for more information.  

Konchok Foundation operates with minimal overhead, relying on volunteers.   Therefore, we are able to forward the great majority of the funds we receive to Tibet.

Funding report.   An outpouring of generosity from more than 700 donors made the 2005 shedra construction possible.   More than $180,000 has been raised thus far in 2005.

The Boston Marathon run by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche last April, which he dedicated to the Surmang shedra, was instrumental in raising support.   Additionally, a portion of the fundraising from the Sakyong's New York Marathon in November is being given to Surmang.   Receptions in Boston, Boulder, and Chicago, the annual Konchok art auction in Boulder, and a marathon by a sangha member in Chicago all helped bring in donations for the shedra.   Many thanks to all those who helped, either as volunteers or as donors, including Bob and Lindy King, who spent much of the summer assisting at Surmang.

2006 Plans.   If sufficient donations are available, 2006 will be a key year in the shedra construction, transforming a building site into a structurally complete complex.   The contractor is scheduled to finish the basic construction on the building complex, including the central lhakang (main shine room).   Although the buildings will not yet be ready for occupancy at that point, the focus will then be able to shift to finishing work, furnishings, and preparations for the startup of classes.

Windows and doors.   One of the major initiatives in 2006 will be installation of good quality aluminum double glazed windows.   The window frames will be coated in a dark gold color.   Some 800 square meters of windows, many of them open-able, will be fabricated onsite and installed by the window manufacturer.   (It is not practicable to transport the windows already assembled across the extremely primitive roads to Surmang.)   All doors, which will be wooden, are also scheduled to be installed in 2006, if sufficient funds are available.

Support.   If you are interested in becoming involved as a volunteer for Konchok, please email Ginny Lipson:   ginnylipson@comcast.net .

If you are able to provide financial support, credit card donations can be made on-line at our Donations page   There is also information on the page about making a donation by check in either the U.S. or Canada.   Thank you!