About the Kilung Foundation
The Kilung Foundation brings humanitarian aid to Dzachuka in east Tibet while answering the call for Buddhist teachings in the West. The vision of Kilung Jigme Rinpoche has been to help rebuild and strengthen Kilung community through locally initiated projects, with the original focus of rebuilding Kilung Monastery. Revitalization of both secular and sacred aspects of life has been a guiding principle because in Tibet the vitality of each supports the flourishing of the other.• Kilung Foundation was established in 1998 as a non-profit in Washington State. As a 501c3 organization, all donations are tax-deductible. • In 2004 a branch of Kilung Foundation was registered in Denmark by Danish supporters. • See the Foundation’s listing at GuideStar, a non-profit information service. • As part of the Foundation's mission of bringing Buddhism to the West, Pema Kilaya |
With Kilung Rinpoche at its head, the Foundation has been in the unique position of ensuring that its projects are truly initiated by local people. Rinpoche works with tribal leaders and local officials to identify, prioritize, develop, and manage the projects.
The first of the Foundation’s projects was to rebuild Kilung Monastery’s shedra, or, monastic college, completed in 2003 . Its consecration was held in 2004, a grand celebration for Kilung community which hosted a thousand monastics, lamas, and lay practitioners from the region. The Foundation was the major sponsor for this Great Prayer Festival which also saw the formal enthronement of Kilung Jigme Rinpoche.
Another early Kilung project was building the Dzachu Bridge, which was completed in 2004 with major help from the local county. The bridge solved a severe problem faced by hundreds of nomad families of crossing the daunting Dzachu River at least twice a year with their large herds. Hundreds of livestock and sometimes nomads lost their lives fording the river each year. Erecting the bridge has encouraged the people of Dzachuka to maintain their way of life.
Ponru School For Nomad Children began as a joint project with the Bridge Fund, a non-profit, which, in 2001, provided the funds for building construction. Operating costs were provided through Kilung Foundation donors and individual sponsorships for the 31 students who boarded at the school. The students received a six-year education, graduating in 2007. Half the students are continuing their education at Sershul Middle School. A second school was begun in 2006 for children of Kilung community.
The complete renovation of Kilung Monastery’s 17th century temple has been a long-term project with special importance: It is one of the few standing pre-revolution temples in Kham. Replacing the traditional sod roof with tile in 2007 was the first hurdle to permanently protecting the sacred building. As of 2008, the structural renovation is nearly complete, with interior Buddhist frescoes and thangkhas yet to come.
Other monastery projects have included:
- Homes for Kilung monks. Fourteen cabins were completed in 2007, with another four in 2008, providing permanent homes for around 38 monks.
- Kilung monks, lamas, and nuns have received support from individual sponsors since 2005.
- The shedra seminary program has been formally educating Kilung monks since 2005.
- The monastery’s dogs have been fed, dewormed, and neutered with support from Kilung Foundation’s Little Mountain Dog Project.
Kilung Foundation responded to the snow disaster of 2008 by raising money for animal feed, food for devastated families, and a pilot program to bring back the ancient practice of harvesting wild grass for winter fodder. Livestock replacement, as part of this program, is still being sought.
Two new projects are underway:
- Demonstration Tibetan architecture home/center, combined with green technology, in Sershul town. It will serve as a center for Kilung Monastery and Foundation activities in the town, with spaces for Buddhist teachings, guesthouse, library, shop, and offices.
- Medical clinic at Kilung Monastery which will serve the three-tribe area of Kilung-Gemang-Gegong. This is a joint project with the local health department.
Projects for the future:
- Repair of the first Kilung Rinpoche’s stupa at Mura Mani Wall
- Stupas at Kilung Monastery—one very large and eight medium-sized stupas.
- Mountain retreat center for long-term retreatants
- Sponsors for elderly practitioners of Kilung community
The new Kilung Foundation logo encircles the Tibetan word “Ki” –short for Kilung. This word signifies a winged, bird-like being, a garuda, or flying. It’s shorthand for kilaya, the Tibetan ritual three-sided phurba, or dagger. These are also associated with the deity Vajrakilaya. The two spheres next to the word indicate its sacred quality. Kilung Jigme Rinpoche was the calligrapher.