Needs are so great

Hello again. Man, am I homesick. I am just one of those people that doesn't like to travel much. We are so blessed to live in the land of plenty. Today, this morning I have been working all morning in the numerous office. Yesterday I felt quite depressed as the need here in the manner is vast. But the nuns are very happy. The most important thing to them is our well being. They are very curious about Grass Valley, California, women in the US and what we know about them.

Yesterday I was feeling quite overwhelmed as I have become grossly aware of what a thin thread these Tibetans in exile operate from. Its one thing to do the work at Sierra Friends of Tibet - from our safe home in California. International support is the lifeblood of their survival here - (the support of the International Community that is). Without the help of the International community, I don't know what would happen to them.

On Monday, Geshe Donyoe (many may remember from the 1st Gaden Tour) came and picked us up. We have to be careful as we did not receive the special permit needed to visit this area so we are constantly ducking the local police. From here (the nunnery) which is in Camp #3, we walked to Camp #4. There we visit a small Kagyu monastery - a remnant anyway - and then the Tibetan Government's nursery school. To me it reminds me of the Jewish holocaust where the Eastern European Jews placed their children into the hands of strangers. Same here. The Tibetans will do anything to get their children out of Tibet. We stayed at the nursery school for quite some time. It was very emotional for me - as there was this one tiny child that would not let gp pf me. The Tibetan women caring for them came out of the incursion of 1959 and are holing on to the threads of their culture. I have video of the kids singing their little folk songs and bits of their national anthem.

From there we went to the community center which is an empty shack and a field made to look like a soccer field. They are trying to raise 20,000 rupees to paint the shack. National pride is very important to them. Then onto Geshe Donyoe's, home where his mom had fixed us lunch. Dahl, rice and greens. Geshe Donyoe's mom just sat spinning her prayer wheel all afternoon. From there we went to a sort of small hill where the Tibetans do fire puja every week. We walked all the back roads and paths of the camps - where you can really see what has happened here.

In the late 1960s, the Indian government leased this land 180 acres to the Tibetans in exile to form 9 refugee camps. The Indian government was quite generous giving one acre per Tibetan at that time and constructing government houses which consist of a room probably 12 x 12 feet for a family of 3-5. While I feel the Indian government has done alot, conditions were and still are quite tough. This is jungle land and in the late 60s the Tibetans had to do all the clearing to make the land habitable. It is surrounded by thick jungle. We have seen the monkeys, snakes, there are Tibets, and rogue elephants, etc. Now, 30 years later, the 9 camps or the Settlement is something reminiscent of a Gengis Khan camp. Its is extremely well thought out, the houses, while scantly built are immaculate inside. EVERYONE welcomes us. They share whatever little bit they have in a higher aesthetic form of hospitality. Everyone has a picture, alter or place for the Dalai Lama. The little paths and little gardens are beautiful. Although they have no trash removal and no sense of it. Outside the immaculate fences of their designated camp houses, the trash piles up everywhere. The tibetans themselves are fastidious people. The most important thing to them is their country and their children's education. All the children study very hard. You see them practicing and studying everywhere.

After Geshe Donhyoe' we then went to visit the old folks home. This was very sad to m. All these people came out of "old Tibet". This it nothing like our nursing homes. No smell or death or urine or ill conditions although many of the buildings are barely shacks. Rather everyone is stiing with their prayer wheel, Dalai Lama pictures in their hands, malas and. What a tragedy these people have seen. Many of them hoped to return to Tibet but now feel they may never see their home again. They light up when they tell you about the beauty, the magic and their home villages.

After visiting there we then met the Director of the Government hight school in the camp, The have vocational computer training but no teachers. Again we were asked if we can spend time there helping get their computers in shape. We have had the same request from the government office here so we will be going there for a day to do whatever we can with their computers in a day.

Good news, Geshe Dackung (wwhat I call the Sheriff of Gaden Forest) has just arrived with our permits! Now we cam move about the camps freely with no threat of the Indian police.

This morning we fixed the nuns scanner which will help them tremendously. They have no copier and can really use the scanner!!! All it needed was a USB connection. I am so grateful I bought that universal USB kit from Fryes. So far we have distributed and hooked up over 5 connections using that kit!!!


Got to run. Sorry for the typos but the power is off and I am now on UPS. Here are some more pics... Love to everyone!

Please pass this blog along and post your comments. It is thrilling to them to hear from everyone!

Sorry for the long delay

Hello everyone. So sorry for the long silence and all the typos etc. Everything here is a race against electricity. We have been at the nunnery now for several days. The new computer is running great and

the nuns are VERY excited to have their 2 new computers which I trust they will put to good use.

The nuns are very kind and sweet and practice very hard. By no means do they have the resources of the monastery. We are so lucky to be Americans.



Here are some pictures as I am again racing against the power. Tomorrow we return to Gaden for a week of teaching computer in the Shartse school. In that school they have 11 computers and no teacher.

Delivered nuns computers

Hi everyone. I have to write very quickly as it is always a race to beat the electricity cut off.
At this time I am in the Education Office with our friend Geshe Jangchup Choeden, fizing virus problems on his laptop.

Yesterday, the entire 2005 Tour, Chuni Rinpoche, Phuntso, Tengye, Geshe Kalsang, Menlo and I all piled into a maroon truck and they took us to Hubli where we bought the nuns computer. The monks were so helpful in fulfilling my long term dream. This adventure was reminiscent of some ancient tribal Himalayan adventure. Menlo and I were in the car with all these Tibetans, we didn't understand a word they said -but then again we ddn't have to.

Today, Phuntsho took us to the nunnery and we delivered the new computers... their long time dream!!! The pictures will say it all... and as soon a I can get them loaded into this blog I will.

Yesterday too we visited the Tibetan Doctor, and the existing diagnostic center. This hospital project is really important. I have the specifics and will place them up as soon as I can. What would be great is to find a hospital who would like to engage in a Sister-Hospital relationship here. There have been offers of donations of diagnostic equiptment, etc. but Cutoms & Duties precludes bringing most things into the country. Therefore funding would help these folks with their hospital the most.

For those of you there in NC and Grass Valley with the monks now, please share the information on this blog and please encourageeveryone to read this blog and post some comments. Because we have hosted som many Tours, there is an extreme connection with our home. Every monk on all 7 tours run down the list of wanting to know in detail how people are... i.e. "How is your mother, how is Joseph, Susan & David, Sandy?, Jacobsens?, April & Alysse, Adele, Glenda, nancy & Jean, Dieno & Jobekah.. Bill Lee, Sarah, Andrea, Ezra, etc. etc. They have never forgotten anone in our community, all the many people who have been kind to them.

One final note, yesterday we visited the administrative office. On the wall, the monastery has lovingly and carefully framed and laminated preciously all the letters, keys to the City, Mayoral invitations, etc. which the Tours have acquired. When I saw this I was overcome with emotion- because it demonstrated to me just how important our relationship is to these peopl. The connection they have to us is so precious to them. The money and support which comes their way is secondary to their motive. The is pristine clear to me.

Hospital Needs at Gaden Sharste

I have to write quick as the power goes off often. The Monks have taken VERY good care of us and love us all so much. I cannot convey enough what it is to live in such a special place as Nevada County. When I see the houses and buildings all of our good effort has contributed to, it makes the other things seem so small.

It was only twenty years ago that the Tibetans came here to this jungle. All the work they did here to create this little Shangrai-la they did themselves.

Today we toured the hospital and Tibetan doctor and also Geshe Sangye's school. Today we will travel to Hubil to pick up monks returning from Sera and there I will buy the nuns computer. We will also be purchasing a computer for the new hospital. As soon as I get time I will post pictures. Please hold it in your mind about the Gaden Hospital project - which is really crucial at this point.

Last night Phuntsho took us for dinner down in Camp #3 at a Tibetan "Restaurant" which is really an outbuilding where a darling Tibetan woman serves food and then we walked back. You have to see the pics to see what its all about.

Has anyone seen the series DEADWOOD? These camps look like that - many people are down trodden - its very sad. The monastery's are doing well and are beautiful Lotus flowers in these refuge camps.

Yesterday the nuns showed up and are SOOOOOOO excited about their computers!

Safe & Well at Gaden

Hi everyone.
Just to let you know we have arrived safe and well at the Gaden Monastery.

All the monks are so happy to hear about everyone in Grass Valley.

Yesterday we visited the hospital they just built. It is an empty building at this point as there are no funds for equipment and staffing the hospital. This is a project that needs alot of attention.

We'll be going over to the nunnery at the end of this week. Almost half the monks and nuns are just now returning from HH teachings. I'll be posting my pictures to the blog as soon as I get time.

Today, now I am working in the monastery office fixing the desktop. Please forward this to anyone interested.

While the monastery is very beautiful, the settlement - or camp is just that - a Refugee camp. There are 8 camps in the settlement. It is very tragic what has happened to these Tibetans. All they really care about is our well being and understanding of non violence and compassion.

This is a dualistic reality. On one hand it is very beautiful -all the monks and the monastery which has been recreated from the dust and destruction of what they took out of Tibet. On the other hand they are really hanging on by a thread. Very threatened...

Off to India to Teach Computers

No more excuses about not writing in this blog. Its been over one year since I have created any entries and many people are asking me what I have been doing.

This past year I have been focusing on an up and coming trip I have planned to India. Mundgod to be more specific, to meet my teachers and friends at the Gaden Monastery and also to help purchase computers for the Jangchub Choeling Nunnery.

This project has been in the works for more then 3 years and now I am less then 2 weeks away. The general goal of this project it to make a formal meeting with the Gaden Shartse Monastery -with whom I have worked with on their Sacred Earth and HEaling Arts of Tibet Tours since 2001. My companion Menlo and I will be staying as guests of the monastery for the first 1-2 weeks where I will offer my computer skills to the education department of the monastery, access their needs and formulate a plan of action in accordance with the monastery's desire to further their use and development in the applications of technology.

From there, we will go to the Jangchub Choeling Nunnery, whom I became acquainted with six years ago and have maintained e-contact with the administration and many of the nuns over the years. At the nunnery we will define their needs and then off to Hubli to purchase computers for their learning lab.

So this entry is the first of many I hope to post along the way of this project as it comes to life here. The ultimate goal of this project and visit is to eventually open a web portal between Sierra Friends of Tibet and the monastery and nunnery through Internet Satellite I hope to acquire throught my non profit Tibetech.org.

Please learn more about the nunneru project at www.tibetech.org .
Tahsi Delek:)

Anything worth doing is worth OVER doing...

The Gaden Monastic Tour hit Sacramento the first
of October for a Sand Mandala Construction and Dissolution in the Unitarian Church.

A few of them escaped up to us for an evening of revelry and of website review. Tibetech.org manages the site for the Tour and is looking at other ways to further support the Gaden Monastery and the Tour's. Their site www.gadensahrtsetour.org receives more traffic and feedback then any other thing we do. After dinner and reconnection with members of Sierra Friends of Tibet www.sierrafriendsoftibet.org we all went through the site and the myriad of inquiries and comments the site generates. It is so gratifying to receive so much positive feedback from the folks who have experienced the monks. Whereever these guys go - Bliss follows. Yes for all you skeptics... BLISS..! The only way to know for sure is to check them out...

Vegetarian from the Tibetan Government in Exile

No more apologies for not writing... although I did receive a nice email/comment encouraging me to keep going so here I am...

It has been a whirl wind Tibetan time around here. Frist of all Venerable Geshe Phelgye, member of the Tibetan Government in Exile (sounds like and oxy moron - how can you have a government in exile?) has been in town for the past week, giving lectures and talks.

Geshe Phelgye is one of my favorite people. Definately descended from the Warrior Class. I drove him to Placerville about an hour and a half away where he gave a talk on Buddhism and Vegetarianism. Unfortunately I then became ill over the weekend with Strep or a cold, missing what I considered to be a most important talk...

"An insider's view of the Tibetan Governmetn in Exile and their practice of Non-Violence". I was so sorry I missed it and even worse, that I was not available to help Geshela further while here for a short visit.

After reflecting on his talk in Placerville, I have decided to eat even less meat then I do now. Geshela is a staunch believer in not eating meat - especially for Buddhists. In fact, he literally took on his monastery when he asked the Abbott to not serve meat in the monastery... a paradigm shift I am sure for the Tibetan Nomadic DNA ... most of which only had animal products to trade for survival. Check out Geshela's website at www.universalcompassion.org

I wish I could be of more service to Geshe Phelgye. He has a tough job with his foot in both worls... that of a monk and also that of a politician and special peace envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I really admire him.

Geshe Sangye's News...

Many may remember Venerable Geshe Sangye... he was my second Tibetan student on the computer... when he came to stay with us for six weeks a few summers ago. Geshe Sangye was the brilliant Sand Mandala master on the Tour with Gaden Lhopa Kangsten. He created the rarely done WHEEL OF LIFE sand mandala - which was more of a sand painting rather than a mandala.

Geshe Sangye has been one of my greatest inspirations and the first recipient of a brand new Dell Laptop which Tibetech.org donated to him - through the generosity of my dear sister and partner, mary Mary never contrary.

When Geshe Sangye came to stay a few summers ago we also discovered he had been the Teacher - for over 10 years- of the nun, Tenzin Yangdon with whom I work with at the Jangchub Choeling nunnery (a website we just completed http://www.jangchubchoelingnunnery.org). What is the chance of that happening???? I will never forget his face as he casually looked through my scrapbook, when he came upon that nun's picture...

As soon as Geshe Sangye settled into D&S's hospitality - the very first day, he presented me with his archaic laptop and asked me what was wrong with it... that is itself is a whole other story but here is the kicker, when I put the Tibetan conversion software on his machine - a program which converts the keyboard to Tibetan (but does not translate) he memorized all the keystokes in less than a week. That's over 100 keystroker. That is when the light bulb went ON for me regarding Tibetans and their understanding of the technology. Its innate.

Alot has happened since that time and recently we received this news from Geshela....

"These days I am busy with my regular duty in school,because I become new principal of Gaden Shartse university. It voted by whole monks of gaden shartse monks. It's been now two months. Actually,it will be for two years.

In our school there is more then 500 students. They are lower middle and higher education. Age from 6 to 25. There is about 40 teachers. And there is also two exam in year. One is half year exam and onother is annual exam.

Our main subject is- Philosophy,Tibetan grammer,history,and etc.also english and mathematics. There is many standards. Unlike other government primary school. It has about 17 class which has different name on each class. And our timing is from morning 8.30 am to evening 5.00 pm. Monday is our holiday instead of sunday. So, I got time to e-mail you on monday only.

Now our Lhopa khangtsen construction is coming on 3rd floor. Totally it is about 4th floor. One floor there is about 10 rooms and kitchen for every rooms. There is special rooms for our lama two tulku. Also there is library. I think it will finished within ten months.

Stay happy and be healthy with Many many love and regards......
Geshe Sanye, Gaden Lhopa Khangsten"

Thanks a Latte

No apologies this time for not blogging regularly. Lots of work to do. Recently we added a donation button to the Gaden Monks website - www.gadenshartsetour.org as well as the ability to Sponsor a monk right off the site. The light didn't actually go on until in the first few weeks 2 monks were sponsored immediately.

Thanks so much to the people sponsoring these monks. $20/month - that's the equivalent of giving up one latte a week for myself - can make a tremendous difference in the life of a Tibetan Refugee living in Nepal or India. Yep, that's all that stands between me and dental care, eye glasses, food, clothing and shelter for a Tibetan refugee. One Latte a week.

The Gaden Tour is doing very well and we are building quite a list of those wishing to stay connected to the monks. This will enable us to notify folks of the Tours progress and travels. I spoke to my friend Tenzin yesterday and the advancement in his English was astounding. We actually had a conversation. The monks are so happy!!! Here is a picture of Tenzin - who worked the door with me at the Tours last events here in Grass Valley. A Comedian by nature... now at least I can understand what is so funny to him!

Over 3 months - K & P

Well, its been over 3 months since I have had time to write. So much has happened and I know I should have been making these entries as I go along but hey... That's why I do activist work... There are no rules and its all good. Because so much has happened since the last I am diggin into my memory here.... I'll start with the Tibetan Refugee kids.

Let's see where to begin. There are some Tibetan students we all know. They were first brought here by a remarkable woman in the work who managed to gain scholarships for these Tibetan kids living in a camp in Nepal. These kids are descendents of the Khampas and come from a very poor camp in the hills of Nepal. The camp is in trouble - and conditions continue to deteriorate. These kids have experienced abuse in one form or another... Especially being Tibetans - hence their asylum.

They first started coming to the U.S. during high school - say ninth grade, through the commitment of one woman who worked tirelessly on their behalf - Bless her. The kids are now in their 20s. Their Asylum was a big relief to everyone who has known them over the years. All the surrogate mothers and fathers. Imagine your son or daughter go to live in another country - where the possibility is very good you may never see them again... or putting your kid into the care of stranges. Especially for the Tibetans - where family/clan means so much more then we know here in the U.S.

After receiging asylum, two of the kids came here to stay for a few weeks. These kids had to make a very tough choice. Either apply for asylum - and lose their college schlorships as International Students - or risk the chance of not applying for political asylum. Because of the increased tension and other things happening in Nepal... the kids chose asylum - which they received.

Two of the kids came here to stay, while they figured out what to do next. I'll call them K & P. They were both 20 years old and had finished 3 years of college towards their degrees. They married each other- which may have been a long-standing agreement of the families. I don't know and Tibetans typically don't discuss personal business. My friend Nawang is from the Khampa warrior class and she tells me its is very important the Khampas marry Khampas.

P was ready to go to work right away. She and I went down to the local temporary agency and filled out the paper work so that she could begin to pick up temp work. P is very shy, yet extremely smart. She has had good work experience as well. The temp agency did not know what a "Political Asylee" is and never heard of Tibet. They were not very interested and not very helpful. It was clear to me we would need to help P get relaxed and extroverted enough to tell folks of her skills talents and abilities with confidence. Although this agency advertises it will help with Resume's, accessing job skilles, etc., they weren't helpful at all - we would have to do it ourselves.

Mary Agar - who is a teacher, editorial expert with Tibetech.org helped P & K prepare their resumes. They also went to CALJOBS, an extension of the EDD who were very helpful to them.
The folks who so generously offered the kids a place to land, David & Susan, also took the kids to the Federal office to learn what assistance they may obtain as refugees.

Our friend the Doctor put P to work for a week - doing some filing in his office. This was good for her. It broke the ice. Then the local cafe, one with a big Buddha in the garden, offered to give P a job. So she gained some work there. After a few weeks, the kids figured out it was time to move along and begin their life in the US... P went to Minnesota to be with her Uncle and three cousins. All girls her age. K went to New York to be with his family. Though they are married, they planned to go to their families and work for a while until they figured it out...

March 10th and more

Well, its has been quite some time since I sat down to write up some notes. Last week I went to a March 10th Walk in San Francisco, with the Tibetan Community in Exile. I did have the opportunity to sit for a little while with Nawang, who will be getting the computer from us when Sandy and I take it down... soon. Perhaps Joseph will join us.

I am really happy to be bringing a computer to Nawang. She is a hard working woman and her Mom lives in India. Nawang use a computer at work so I hope having a computer at home will be helpful. She has some very good ideas and I hope to be working with her in the future somehow. We'll start by getting her home system going... I have decided to put XP on the system for her instead of Windows 2000 as I think its going to be less problematic. I forgot to ask her if she uses the TCRC or Sambhodta.

Up a steep hill

Well its been a month or so since I have posted a blog. After the Gaden Monastic visit there was a great deal of catch up work to do -starting with my personal life. Now back on track with a newsletter for Sierra Friends of Tibet -to publish this week.

Recently Joseph and I have attended a Bay area meeting of Tibet Support Groups and with the Tibetan community in exile, as they begin to prepare for the March 10th Walk to commemorate Tibetan Uprising Day. I was there with Joseph on behalf of Sierra Friends of Tibet (www.sierrafriendsoftibet.org) as I believe it is not appropriate to mix the politics with the mission of Tibetech.org. This is indeed a ridiculous statement - people are dying, how could I not address the politics. However it comes back down to my work with Bob Marley, and the questions I raise which is, "how do I create the most amount of "good" with the time I have to do it in?". Sierra Friends of Tibet is a different organization, although most of the communications -especially in the cyber arena, is done by the same folks, so as long as it .

Anyway, when we were at the Tibet Justice Center in Berkeley, there were 9 people there. 3 of us Westerners and the other 6 Tibetans exiled here in the U.S. These people, who were instant family, were so appreciable of any help they can get in preserving their dying culture. The office had tell tale signs of dead and dying computer equipment lying around, I again reaffirmed its absolutely necessary to continue on this path. These people work hard, very hard, and probably for little if any money. Maximizing resources, especially technology, could facilitate their work efforts ten fold.

With that said, I have a couple of projects swimming out there. More to come...

Nawang Gets her computer

Just thought I would share this to those of you who have supported Tibetech and the work we are seeking to do. Andrea is not this woman's "sponsor" per say. We met Nawang on a March 10th walk years ago and Andrea has befriended her...
We resolved to get her a computer but did not know how that was going to transpire. I committed to getting her a computer by June. I know she is in Oakland by herself and all her family is in India. The same day Andrea and I hatched our plan I was walking down the street and I saw a sign on a business for a computer system for $175... so I checked it out. For $175
I picked up a complete Dell Desktop System, Pentium3, 80GB Hard drive with Windows 2000...
Read on...

January, 2005
Dear Melanie,
My name is Nawang C_______. I am a Tibetan Refugee and I live in Oakland, CA. I received an email from my friend Andrea Sedin that you have chosen to donate a computer to me. I am speechless!!! I feel I am a very fortunate person at this time to be writing to your organization. Words are not enough to describe how lucky I feel and how blessed I am to be receiving this gift from your organization. From what I learned from my friend Andrea your organization is a non profit organization that helps Tibetan cause as well as Tibetans. I have heard of many such organizations who offer help or assist Tibetans in general. I for one, never thought I would be benefiting from any of this. Personally I am grateful to your organization as well as all the other organization that is working for Tibetan causes and helping needy Tibetan people. I am sure with this gift from Tibetech I will be able to achieve something positive. It would be my contact to outside world which is now more open than the horizon itself hope to make very good use of it. I can keep in touch with my family and friends who are all scattered around the world as refugees would. I can find out about Tibetans all around the world. I would like to thank you and your organization for making this dream of mine come true. I hope you realize that I will ever remain grateful to your organization for the generous gift.
I can not wait to receive it!!
Thanking you and Tashi Delek,
Sincerely,
Nawang.

Journal entries, news and finding from the front

This has been a busy month or should I say a busy year for us at Tibetech.org and a few projects are shaping up and we are happy to have been of good service in the previous months.