Dear Friends,

I would like to share some news from the past two months.

First of all, thank you very much for all the support that is being given to the Swift Return Fund. It is only possible with the participation of all the Sangha.

Stupa

We have started the construction of the Stupa. The parts of marble are being made with a local stone called marmo di palissandro. Together with Drubchen Rinpoche, Geshe Lobsang Phuntsog, Geshe Jangchub Gyaltsen, ven. Tenzin and ven. Thubten, I have recently been to bless the stones and to give a special blessing to the stone artists, as is traditionally done when making a stupa or statue.

Stupa vase, carved from one solid piece of stone

Stupa steps of the four sides

Blessing ceremony with Lama Michel Rinpoche and (from right to left):
Drubchen Rinpoche, ven. Tenzin, Geshe Jangchub Gyaltsen, Geshe Lobsang Phuntsog
and ven. Thubten

Whenever building on new land, it is very important to make certain prayers and ceremonies to create harmony with the beings of nature living in the ground called nagas and SaDag (Land Lords). This is especially important when building a temple or a stupa. On the 16th of October, we successfully conducted the SaDag DoThig ceremony and thus asked permission to use the land and created harmony with the forces of nature.

SaDag DoThig ceremony preparations

SaDag DoThig ceremony preparations

To complete the above-mentioned ceremony, we made twenty treasure vases called ས་བཅུས་བུམ་པ། sachu bumpa to offer to the Nagas and SaDag. These vases were filled with many substances such as medicine, stones, earth and water from holy places around the world, precious objects and special mantras. After three days of meditation to bless the vases, they were placed in the ground, thus completing the ceremony.

Three-day meditation to bless the treasure vases

Treasure vase (sachu bumpa) offerings

Drubchen Rinpoche during the sachu bumpa (treasure vase) blessing ceremony

Placing the treasure vases in the ground

Placing the treasure vases in the ground

On the 22nd of October, we received the permit from the municipality of Bee to build the Stupa.

On the 4th of November, from the Regional Office of Health and Sanitation (Direzione Sanità ASL Regionale), we received the final permit to bring the holy body of Rinpoche to be placed in the Stupa in Albagnano. On the same day, the construction work of the Stupa foundation began. 

The intention is to complete the Stupa for the beginning of December.

Excavation for the Stupa foundation

The base for the foundation of the Stupa

Helping the local Hospital of Verbania

Hospital rooms

On the 14th of October, we started construction to create the two patient rooms with variable air pressure for the Castelli Hospital of Verbania. The main air treatment unit has been placed; the pipes for cold and hot water and part of the air ducts have also been made.

We are pushing hard to finish the rooms quickly to help the hospital in this difficult moment of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both rooms should be finished on the 23rd of November.

European Buddhist Union (EBU)

One of Lama Gangchen Rinpoche's last requests was for our Sangha to be represented in the European Buddhist Union (EBU). On the 26th of September, the Kunpen Lama Gangchen officially entered the EBU, representing our Sangha and our lineage as per Rinpoche’s wish. http://europeanbuddhism.org/

Swift return artistic mural by artist 2501

Rinpoche's longtime friend, disciple and sponsor Franco Ceccarelli, along with his son Jacopo Cecarrelli, made a special tribute to Rinpoche. In Via Marco Polo, Milan, where Lama Gangchen Rinpoche lived for many years and where the Kunpen Lama Gangchen Centre is located, street artist Jacopo, alias 2051, created a beautiful painting of the infinite knot of love and interdependence dedicated to Rinpoche's swift return. https://rb.gy/8aygpc

Maxi knot of love and interdependence by 2501

Jacopo also made a beautiful mural in Albagnano representing the Stupa Mandala of Borobudur.

Borobudur representation in Albagnano by 2501

Borobudur representation in Albagnano by 2501

Swift Return Fund

The only way to make these projects become reality is with the support of all the Sangha.

It is our responsibility, as Rinpoche’s disciples, to create the correct causes and conditions for His swift return.

For that reason, we have created the Swift Return Fund that will be used exclusively to finance these projects. 

As Rinpoche often reminded us: “Together we can.”

To participate, please donate to:

By Bank Transfer:

Name: Kunpen Lama Gangchen

IBAN: IT62V0306909606100000161078

Swift: BCITITMM

Bank: Banca Intesa San Paolo, Ag. 55000- FILIALA ACCENTRATA TER S

Piazza Paolo Ferrari, 10 – 20121 Milano

ABI: 03069

CAB: 09606

Purpose of the transfer: swift return

By credit card:

Click on the following link:

http://bit.ly/swiftreturn

You can specify a specific project or make a general donation to the Swift Return Projects.

I am very grateful for all the support of each one of you from the Sangha. It is truly beautiful to see our unity and common effort.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at lama@gangchen.it or lamamichel@kunpen.it

Thank you very much,

With love,

In the Dharma,

Lama Michel Rinpoche