The Venerable Choje Lama Namse requests our help in the restoration of his monastery in Nag Chen Tibet. Tong Nag is home to over one hundred monks and is where Rinpoche spent a three year retreat.
This project is owned by Karma Sonam Darye Ling.
Tong Nag
Retreat Centre Reconstruction
Background
Tong Nag Lha Chen is a monastery located in Eastern Tibet, It
has been in existence for over 150 years. Tong Nag continues
to provide and preserve the Dharma and Tibetan language for
many surrounding towns and villages. It is home to over one
hundred monks. Secluded from the main monastery is a retreat
center for 15 monks, who carry out traditional three retreats, as
many times as they wish. The retreat centre has communal
dining hall, prayer hall, kitchen and washrooms. There is also
a secluded courtyard where the monks can get fresh air and
exercise, while maintaining their privacy. Both Lama Namse
Rinpoche and Lama Tenzinla come from Tong Nag.
The Problems
The Original wooden pillars
The Building for the
retreat centre is crumbling and
needs to rebuilt.
The prayer hall and other structural frames are crumbling (see images).
The original pillars
are a century old and have
weakened over time. This has
resulted in the need for additional support pillars
Traditional Design
Temples are built from local materials such as mud, salt, wood and
stone. The design is very basic, four walls, many wooden pillars,
and a very heavy roof of stone, wood, salt and mud. This layering
technique is used to water proof the roof. All the walls are load
bearing, and are cracking due to added pressure from the weaken-
ing pillars. Water seeps through the cracks, destroying ancient wall
paintings.
Work to be done (Solution)
Since most of the paintings are already washed away and walls
are unable to be restored, it is more economical to tear the old
centre down and rebuild. This provides us with the a chance to
make improvements such as:
- Prayer hall needs more natural light.
- A larger dining hall
- Better sound proofing
- Higher sanitation standards
We intend to use local materials, and a 'know-how' labour force.
This way local Tibetans will benefit in employment and improve the
relationship with the monastery.
Costs
The total cost of rebuilding the retreat centre is estimated to be
US$30,000.
Your help in completing this project is greatly appreciated
Please contact Tenzin tenzin@ksdl.org for more information
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