The Supreme Master Ching Hai
By Yunnan Province, China Relief Team (Originally in Chinese)
Winter arrived and snow covered Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, China. Many votaries from the prefecture were experiencing financial difficulties, and were short of basic necessities. Thus, the abbot of Yarchen Gar Monastery and the Head Coordinator of Nyingma Book Club asked our Association members and other kindhearted people to offer support to the votaries and to those less fortunate. Following Master’s loving example of helping those in need, our Association members from Yunnan Province, China, contributed a total of CNY 149,912 in funds, and visited Sichuan Province to bring aid in November 2015.
Yarchen Gar Monastery
On November 25, 2015, our Association members met with the abbot of the Yarchen Gar Monastery to learn about their needs. On November 26, we bought 20 tons of good quality pearl rice from the northeastern part of China. On the same day, the temple distributed a five-kilogram bag of rice to each votary. The abbot of Yarchen Gar Monastery expressed his gratitude on behalf of all votaries for the loving support. The contribution warmed their hearts. Previously in 2012, we also contributed a total of 20 tons of rice and flour to the Yarchen Gar Monastery. (Refer to Magazine No. 211 for more details; Yarchen Gar Monastery is also know as Yaqing Temple in Chinese)
Nyingma Book Club
On November 24, we visited the Head Coordinator of Nyingma Book Club, who adopted dozens of orphans and children from single-parent families. He spent eight years setting up 13 schools in Luhuo, Baiyü, Sêrtar and Sêrxü counties within the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture for children from nomadic families who were unable to afford tuition. When we were there, he was making warm clothes and special meditation capes for nearly 600 students. Our Association members immediately contributed CNY 10,000 to support his effort.
On November 26 and 27, we bought books and stationery for the students at the elementary schools. Those items included 59 Thangka books, 400 sets of language teaching materials, 400 sets of math teaching materials, notebooks, pencils, pencil sharpeners, erasers, 17 boxes (1,020 pieces) of mechanical pencils and 12 boxes of pencil leads. In addition, we bought 727 pairs of sports shoes for the students. All was given to the Head Coordinator of Nyingma Book Club, as well as CNY 1,000 to pay for a nun’s medical bill.
We are forever grateful to Master for being an example of how to walk the way of compassion, and for spreading love to every corner of the world.
Expenditures by The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association for Votaries and People in Need in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, China
| Description | Amount (CNY) | Receipts |
|---|---|---|
| Rice | 92,000 | A |
| Books and stationery | 13,522 | B |
| Sports shoes | 23,390 | C |
| Cash contribution (for clothes and medical fees) | 11,000 | D |
| Transportation fee for rice | 10,000 | E |
| Total | CNY 149,912 (US$23,427) |
The relief team paid for their own food and transportation expenses.
