The most recent cycle of Three Year Retreats at Sopa Choling began in August 2004 when Groups E and F received empowerments from Venerable Kenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. Each group will be in retreat for 30 months over a five-year period. During those months the practice schedule is 11- 12 hours per day, with no days off.
It is a tradition that people who cannot do retreat themselves share the merit by offering financial support to the retreatants. A few of the people in Groups E and F are currently fundraising for the $25,000 needed to complete this retreat. If you would like to contribute to this worthy cause, please send your donation to "Group E/F retreat fund", c/o Gampo Abbey. The money received in this fund will be offered to the retreatants who need it. This is a tax deductible donation.
We are pleased to announce the creation of the Kier Craig annual scholarship. An anonymous donor has commited to providing an annual donation to the scholarship which will be used to assist Sopa Choling retreatants who are in need of financial assistance.
If you know of someone in particular who needs support, you are welcome to send money to that person individually, though this kind of donation is not tax deductible.
The names of retreat benefactors are kept in the Sopa Choling Shrine Room and are included in the retreat mandala and in some specific practices. But the most precious gift is the atmosphere of gratitude and appreciation that our patrons create during this rigorous training period. |
