2022 Year-End Appeal

Ayang Rinpoche Making A Summoning Mudra  
(Photo courtesy of Amitabha Foundation Hong Kong)

 

As you enjoy Holiday gift giving and time with family and friends, take a moment to remember how much you appreciate our most kind lama and how he embodies the loving kindness, compassion and wisdom you have come to treasure as a result of being introduced to the Buddha dharma. H.E. Chöje Ayang Rinpoche has brought the undeceiving truth of Dharma to thousands of fortunate practitioners, primarily through the practice of Phowa, the transference of consciousness to the enlightened state at the time of death.

 

Ayang Rinpoche has abandoned all selfish and personal aims to devote his life only to benefit others. Today, Rinpoche is responsible for nearly 400 monks, several monasteries in Tibet and India, the Amitabha Retreat Center in Nepal, a safe-childbirth program and clinic in Tibet, and ongoing projects to build temples and retreat centers in India.

 

All of these projects require considerable funding. Rinpoche has not been able to travel around the world for nearly three years–a time when he would ordinarily have received donations from his grateful students for bringing them precious Dharma teachings. By assisting a great Bodhisattva achieve his or her aims, we ourselves acquire great merit: a storehouse of goodness that will bless us in this and future lives.

 

We urge you at this time to do all you can to help Rinpoche complete the visionary Amitabha Temple Project in Bodhgaya. This temple is designed for one purpose alone: to provide a range of practical benefits, deep solace and powerful inspiration to all people – regardless of religious faith – who visit or see it. This is the best time for all his students to show their appreciation for Rinpoche’s extraordinary kindness and to support his vision for this Temple Project.

 

 

We encourage you to make a Year-End donation now so Rinpoche will have the funds he needs to complete this project.

 

 

With your Year-End donation, you may send in names for dedication. Names of donors and loved ones will be sent to the monastery to be included on a prayer list for the first 2023 puja in Bylakuppe.

 

You may send your contribution through the Amitabha Foundation in your own country, directly to the monastery’s account, or by donating online.

 

The Amitabha Foundation USA must receive offerings (online or by check to P.O. Box 2572, Aptos, California 95001) by December 31 at midnight (Pacific Time) to count as a tax-deductible donation in 2022. Donations are welcome any time.

Happy Saga Dawa Duchen

Mahabodhi Statue

Shakyamuni Statue at the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodhgaya

Monday, June 17th, is Saga Dawa Duchen, the holiest day in the Buddhist calendar, marking the days when the Buddha attained enlightenment and passed into parinirvana.

 

This is an especially auspicious day to practice and to make offerings to generate wisdom and merit. It is said that the effects of positive deeds are multiplied one million times.  If you are interested in supporting any of Ayang Rinpoche’s cultural and humanitarian projects at this time, you may make a US tax-deductible offering online below or by sending a check to Amitabha Foundation, P.O. Box 2572, Aptos, CA 95001, or by donating to your local Amitabha Foundation organization.




 

Safe Childbirth in Tibet – Year End Update

A New Tibetan Medicine Business to Support the Rima Clinic in Eastern Tibet


Midwife Yongzhi dispenses traditional Tibetan medicines in the clinic 

Doctor O Yul Tsering demonstrates his grinding machine, used to prepare traditional medicines

During our annual trip to Rima in August of 2018 we provided funding for salaries for the clinic staff and to purchase another year’s worth of clean Birthing Kits. We also worked with the clinic staff to develop a business plan, as they have been wanting to create a self-supporting medicine making business for several years. We were able to make significant progress this year, due to a small grant awarded by the Rowell Fund. This is helping to fulfill a promise we made in 2004 at the beginning of our Safe Childbirth project to His Holiness the Seventeen Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, who asked us to incorporate traditional medicines as we built and staffed a new clinic in this area.

Please help us continue our work providing health care and education in this rural Tibetan community, particularly to make childbirth safer for mothers and infants. Make a one-time or recurring donation today.


Safe Childbirth Donation




Safe Childbirth Sponsorship



Other ways to support the Amitabha Foundation and Ayang Rinpoche’s religious and humanitarian projects (contact info@amitabhafoundation.us for details):

(1)  Make a gift of stock.

(2)  List the Amitabha Foundation (EIN 95-4111288) as a beneficiary on your IRA, 401(k) or other retirement account, or in your will.

(3)  If you are over 70 ½ years old, request that your IRA administrator make your required minimum distribution to the Amitabha Foundation, and save on your taxes while benefitting our charitable activities.

(4) Visit our website to donate directly to Ayang Rinpoche’s monastery account.

Traditional herbal mixtures ready to grind; Finished herbal medicine; Dispensary; Clinic hallway

 

 

 

Tibet Healthcare Update

In Honor of Mother’s Day in the US — Save a Mother’s Life!

New Roof, Ayang Clinic in Rima Village, Eastern Tibet

The Amitabha Foundation has been involved in promoting health and education in Eastern Tibet since 2004. Our focus is Safe Home Childbirth, but while we have been improving birth outcomes, we have also been supporting the general health of all the nomads in the Rima Village and surrounding township areas. Click here for background on our project. In 2016 we were able to accomplish so much! Read our Trip Report from the visit to Rima in July, 2016. We will return to the area in August 2017 and need your help. This is what we accomplished last year; see below for our new plans:

  • Clinic roof replacement, exterior painting, and repair of interior water damage ($17,275)
  • 51 meter well at the clinic ($3,050)
  • New training program for three barefoot doctors apprenticing with clinic doctor
  • Training at Yushu County Hospital for two midwives
  • 100 Clean Birthing Kits ($4,000)
  • Stable infant vaccination program
  • 5-Year evaluation of Community Health Educator program

Villagers watch drilling in the clinic courtyard

Finding water at 51 meters

Clean Birthing Kit

Midwife Vaccinates a Baby at the Clinic

This year we need to raise $15,000 to pay salaries for 2 doctors, 3 medical trainees, 1 midwife and a new midwife trainee, and the head Community Health Educator. In addition, it will cost $6,000 for 150 birthing kits. The clinic staff has also asked us to raise funds to purchase grinding and rolling machines to make their own traditional Tibetan medicines. This is an excellent business idea to bring in much-needed income to the clinic and make it sustainable into the future. The head doctor has all the necessary knowledge and can train his apprentices to identify and harvest herbal compounds for the medicines. He has estimated it will cost $25-30,000 in initial start-up costs.

Many people and organizations have contributed to support our work in Tibet for the past 14 years. You can make a difference in the lives of these nomad families. A small investment can have a big impact on saving the lives of mothers and infants, and on the overall health of an entire community.

Support the clinic with a one-time donation


Tibet Clinic Sponsorship



 

Make a one-time donation in any amount




 

 

Make your gift longer-lasting with a recurring monthly donation


Monthly Sponsorship
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