DRUPA DRONG RECONSTRUCTION
Reconstructing Drupa Drong
RECONSTRUCTING HERITAGE
Drupa Drong is a Buddhist monastery and meditation retreat center deep in the Himalayas of northern Nepal. For many centuries, people from far and wide have traveled here to practice Tibetan Buddhism with insightful teachers.
After ending a decade-long civil war, Nepal was struck with a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2015. Around 9,000 people across the country lost their lives, scores of cultural sites were ruined, and most of Drupa Drong's facilities were destroyed. Through our partners at the Helambu Project, we are helping to raise the necessary funds to rebuild Drupa Drong so future generations can learn and meditate on this peaceful mountainside, as has been done for thousands of years.
"If Drupa Drong is rebuilt, it will give more people the opportunity to develop themselves, through practice, to be good people."
Llama Sherab
DRUPA DRONG
Drupadrong is a traditional retreat center practicing a Tibetan form of Buddhism. It is located just above the rural village of Tarkhegyang in Helambu – a region just 80 km North East of of capital of Kathmandu. Yolmo, the local name of Helambu region, is legend to be a sacred valley where Buddhist Bodhisattvas such as Milarepa and Guru Rinpoche are believed to have visited, blessed, and practiced. Today, Buddhist practitioners from all over the world travel here to conduct meditation retreats spanning from weeks to multiple years, continuing a tradition of introspection that originated with the historical Buddha two and a half thousand years ago.
Practitioners live very simple lives in the mountain and live off less than $30 a month and keep to very rigorous schedules – meditating around 12 hours a day. This particular center is of the Nyingma tradition, the most wide-spread form of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal, and is home to many accomplished practitioners – hence the name “Village of Accomplishment,” or Drupa Drong.
The retreat center accepts anyone who would like to practice, regardless of age, race, gender or religious background.
PRACTITIONER PROFILES
ANI YANGCHEN DOLMA
Ani Yangchen Dolma, also known as Iwi, is 93 years old and from Tarkeyghayang, Nepal. After her husband passed away, she became interested in practicing Buddhism. She has been at Drupa Drong more than 25 years.
PEMA YUDRON
Pema, also known as “Khadro La” (consort of master) is 62 years old and from Tarkeyghayang, Nepal. She is the wife of the master and head teacher at Drupa Drong, Meme Rinpoche. She has been practicing since she was a teenager.
ANI PEMA DOLMA
Ani is 35 years old and from Dhankuta in Nepal. She has been studying Buddhism for 15 years. She is currently practicing at a preliminary level.
GET INVOLVED
There are several ways you can help
DONATE
Your support is important to our work at the Helambu Project. Donations are tax deductible in the United States. 92% of the funds will go directly to Meme Rimpoche, the retreat Master of Drupa Drong, to be used on various reconstruction projects related to Drupa Drong, including constructing new retreat houses, meditation spaces, and other basic facilities. The remaining funds will cover the fees of PayPal and our fiscal sponsor, PC Foundation, for arranging the payments.
CONTACT US
Get in touch with us and our partners at the Helambu Project to learn more about our work and how you can get involved.
http://helambuproject.org/heritage/
978-460-1413