As you can see in the pictures posted in the gallery below, the monks study and work very hard despite the challenging conditions. Without complaint, and usually cheerfully, they sit on cushions in bare classrooms that are often over 90 degrees and still manage to excel in their studies.

The main project we are proposing is the construction of a shade roof on top of the school. This roof would significantly reduce the temperature in the classrooms. It would also provide a sheltered space during the rainy season for the monks to do their calligraphy class. The picture on the left is an example of a building with the type of shade roof we want to build (just click on it to make it bigger).

The second project is a power storage system for their computer lab. The monks have received donated computers to create this wonderful computer room. Unfortunately they cannot use them much of the time because of the random electrical supply here. The electricity here is only on during half the day and alternates between mornings and afternoons with constant, random outages. Our goal is to purchase a backup power system like this one pictured on the right. This type of system would allow the computers to operate even when the electricity is off and then regular classes could be scheduled.

The third project is to purchase new books. Every school needs books and our school is in desperate need for new ones. Not only are there not enough, many of the ones we do have are very worn and difficult to read.

The combined total of these 3 projects is about $10,000. If just 500 people were able to contribute $20 we could meet this goal. If you cannot afford $20, please consider a $10 donation – every little bit helps! If you able to contribute significantly more, all the better. It is a great cause!

Update – We have met our goal as of June 24th, 2009. Thank you all so much for your kindness.

On behalf of the Principal, Venerable Geshe Sangye , and all the monks at the school, I thank you for your kindness and consideration. May you have much peace, happiness, and many blessings.

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Keep in mind we are only halfway to our goal. We still need almost $5000 so please help get the word out. For more info see the “Gaden Shartse School Needs Your Help Post.”  Thank you to all that helped to make this possible.

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Hello everyone. Once again I only have a few moments of internet time. I promise I will update our visits to Washington, Slippery Rock, and all those others I still need to get to as soon as I get a day to sit down and get caught up. In the meantime I am committed to, at least, posting pictures as we travel. We arrived in upstate New York on November 1st and have been very busy with healings, blessings, and a Tara Puja. As always we are with wonderful and kind people that really create a healing environment for all those they come into contact with. I will post some of the pictures we have and will come back to tell you about our journey as time allows.

Here is an article about our talk at Willard Chapel – Monks on a Mission

Here is an article about our visit to the Montessori School of Syracuse – Monks share experiences.

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This was the first time the Gaden Monks have come to Gunnison. However I have a bit of a history here. I lived in Gunnison shortly after my daughter was born. We moved up here, living at Johnny Towner’s trailer park, during the winter of 1982/83. It was a tough economic time and we made a living cutting, splitting, and delivering firewood. What I always remembered though was how great the people were. We met so many people willing to lend a hand, share some conversation, and always it seemed with a smile. So even though we eventually had to move back to California to make a living, I have always hoped to return. So I really was happy to have this opportunity.

We met our organizer, Hannah, in Aspen Colorado. She was bold enough to take up the task of bringing us to Gunnison and quickly got Sherrill and Richard on board. Sherrill and Richard were kind enough to put us up in their house and soon had six monks on their hands.

Our visit to Gunnison was sponsored by the Sanctuary, Quarter-Circle Circle Ranch, and the Western State College Multicultural Center. We would also like to thank the Gunnison Art Center for allowing us to use their facility.

Our kick-off event was the film, Dalai Lama Renaissance, at the Gunnison Art Center and we had a nice turnout which allowed us to meet many members of the community. The next day we were out at the Farmer’s Market letting people know we were in town visiting. It is a great market and they even had live entertainment – a great country and rock singer with little children dancing in the grass. We met a lot of people while Hannah and Sherrill passed out fliers and got the word out. It worked well because that night we ran out of seats at the Art Center.

Another highlight of our trip was our visit out to Ann Bertschy’ ranch place for a house blessing. She has an incredible place filled with goats, sheep, rams, turkeys, a lama, dogs, cats, and all kinds of kids. She is also hosts the local 4-H group. The place was filled with family and friends (both human and animal) and everyone had a great time. I posted a lot of pictures from there including our Lama feeding the lama.

I have more to to write about, but always it seems limited internet access – hopefully soon =)

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This was our first trip to Moab and it was great. We met our kind benefactors, Colette and Tom, when we were in Yachats, Oregon. What started as an innocent question by Colette in Yachats turned into her taking on the task of organizing and sponsoring our trip to Moab. Apparently Colette has a reputation for helping those in need, from stray cats, dogs, a buffaloe, children, and now wandering monks. When she called her husband to tell him she is “bringing the monks home,” he replied, “of course you are.” As it turned out they did a great job and so many wonderful people came together to make our visit a memorable one.

I think I am going to call Moab the land of the healthy and hardy people. It seemed that everyone one there either rides, bikes, hikes, jogs, or eat organic and meditate. I was introduced to this healthy group by receiving vice-like, bone-crushing handshake from Tom (has to be one of the strongest 67 year olds I have ever met). Then there is Jose, king of the river guides, solid as a rock and peaceful as a dove. Jose of Griffith Expeditions and Karla of Canyonlands Field Institute even hosted us for a day of river rafting on the Colorado River (Westwater run). That was a sight, monks in shorts, ball caps, and sun glasses! Allyson was kind enough to take some pictures and I have them posted.

Marc, the master of the conch shell (he can hit some notes!), made this great video slide show of our visit. You can view it by clicking on this link -

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