May 2005
May 31, 2005NEW METHOD FOR REQUESTING TEXTS
Khyentse Foundation has set up a new method for requesting texts. To request either Rinpoche's Madhyamika Commentary or Ngöndro Manual: Advice on How To Practice, simply fill out the request form to receive the URL and instructions for downloading the texts in PDF format. These texts have recently been updated with minor edits. Both texts have beautiful new covers designed by KF Art Director Kelly Roberts. For the Ngöndro text, you will be asked for the name of the teacher from whom you received the Ngöndro transmission. The new Uttaratantra commentary and Chinese translations of the texts are currently being edited. Announcements will be made when they are ready for distribution.
May 30, 2005
KHYENTSE FOUNDATION MEETS US$2.8 MILLION GOAL
Thanks to our friends and supporters Khyentse Foundation reached a major milestone just before Tibetan New Year with the accomplishing our initial fundraising goal of US$2.8 million to establish the Endowment Fund for Monastic Education. The fund will now be able to provide ongoing support for 700 monks, nuns, and students in the various Khyentse institutes and monasteries in Tibet, India, and Bhutan. It was through the generosity of close to five hundred donors from over twenty countries, including eighty recurring donors in our Matching Funds Program, that we were able to achieve this vital objective.
In November of last year, His Holiness the Dalai Lama presided over the inauguration of the new Chökyi Lodrö College of Dialectics (CLCD) in Northern India. CLCD will receive much-needed operating support for its students, administration, and faculty from Khyentse Foundation. The Foundation also provided for the needs of Khyentse Rinpoche's institute in Tibet. The rigorous programs at these institutes are recognized for their ability to train scholars who are able, in turn, to make the Buddha's teachings available to many others, both in Asia and in the West.
During this past year, the Investment Committee, led by Chair Isabel Pedrosa, has worked hard to diversify our portfolio in an attempt to generate higher income while maintaining a prudent balance. In 2004, our portfolio generated a total average return of 11%, surpassing our expectations. (Please see Report from the Investment Committee for details.)
T&M KHYENTSE FOUNDATION BENEFIT: POST PARTY ROUNDUP
The benefit screenings and premiere parties for Travellers & Magicians that took place in five cities around the world this past January and February were a resounding success. Rinpoche attended all the events, continent hopping from screening to screening. We are so grateful to him for choosing the Foundation as the beneficiary of Travellers & Magicians and for crossing the globe to be at each event in person. We were well into our planning for the five events when the disastrous tsunami hit Southeast Asia. In light of the tragedy, we offered all proceeds of our London event to our sister organisation, Lotus Outreach , which supports women and children who are living in poverty. That event raised over £7,500 for Lotus Outreach, thanks to the support of Como Hotels and Resorts, which provided food, beverages, and the lovely setting of their Metropolitan Hotel. Como Hotels was also a co-sponsor of the New York City event, along with Newman's Own Organics and Absolute Asia. The sold-out screening at Chelsea West Cinemas was followed by a lively Q&A with Rinpoche and beat poet John Giorno, and a wonderful party at the gorgeous new Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art (a must-see for anyone going to New York City). David Hykes, who composed the haunting theme music for Travellers & Magicians, performed at the museum, as did Ryan Lee, who played the cello. Sydney's event at The Art Gallery of New South Wales was also a sold-out affair. Guests enjoyed drinks, Q&A, and an animated discussion between Rinpoche and Edmond Capon, the director of the gallery, about art and film. The screening was followed by an intimate dinner for 50 guests at Kylie Kwong's Restaurant in Surry Hills. The Halifax event drew the largest crowd; 525 people attended the screening, followed by a swanky party at the Lord Nelson Hotel, which has recently been restored to all its Georgian splendor. The reception was packed with friends and fans. Rinpoche received guests for an hour, and then made his way to the ballroom, where Michal the Girl sang several of her songs from the film and people danced until the wee hours. The final event took place in Vancouver with a packed theatre and an oversold reception at an artist co-op gallery. Artists donated 30 percent of the evening's sales to KF. A continuous slide show of Butsou Lai's photographs from the inauguration of Chökyi Lodrö College of Dialectics [see story below] rounded out the evening. "It was short and sweet, everybody was happy," said coordinator Amelia Chow. Thanks to all the sponsors, donors, and guests, and especially to the tireless volunteers who put so much heart and soul into these events. In total, over US$70,000 was raised, important connections were made, and Khyentse Foundation entered the mind stream of a whole new crowd of people. The film will be available on DVD at the end of the year. For more information, visit the web sites of Zeitgeist Films (USA), Capri Films (Canada), Enjoy Cinema (UK), and Melsa Films (Australia).
May 29, 2005
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE NAMED
With the completion of the first phase of the Endowment for Monastic Education, the Foundation is now directing its fund-raising efforts to establish the Scholarship Fund to meet the urgent need for financial support among Dharma students and practitioners. In anticipation of our strengthened funding capability, a KF Scholarship Committee was recently established to work out the scholarship policy and to develop distribution guidelines, award criteria, and application procedures. Members were nominated and invited by Rinpoche to serve on this important committee. We welcome this international group, whose members are charged with designing and operating an effective scholarship program that will benefit many students and practitioners: Florence Koh, Hong Kong (Coordinator)
Ann Marie Huck, Canada
Stuart MarFarlane, UK
Manoel Vidal, Brazil
Doris Wolter, Germany
May 28, 2005
NGÖDRUP JOINS INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
Khyentse Foundation welcomes our old friend Ngödrup to the Investment Committee. Ngödrup currently runs his own accountancy and tax service in London. Before moving to London, he headed the Trekking and Mountaineering Division of the Bhutan Department of Tourism. He also served as Under Secretary Khyentse Foundation welcomes our old friend Ngödrup to the Investment Committee. Ngödrup currently runs his own accountancy and tax service in London. Before moving to London, he headed the Trekking and Mountaineering Division of the Bhutan Department of Tourism. He also served as Under Secretary in the Ministry of Communication, Tourism, and Aviation. He studied hotel business administration in Munich, Germany from 1979 to 1981, and acquired his masters degree in marketing at the University of Surrey, Guildford, UK, in 1985. He retrained as an accountant and took his professional exams in 1992.
Ngödrup's family has close connections to the families of Rinpoche's father and mother. His parents were devout followers of Dudjom Rinpoche, Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, and Lama Sonam Zangpo. Having known Rinpoche for many years before, Ngödrup formally became his student in 1989.
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