Za Mongyal Yungdrung Ling would like to extend our best wishes and our prayers to everyone for this 2136th year of the earth ox that begins on February 25, 2009. In support of the wishes expressed by many Tibetan groups, we will not be holding any celebrations for Losar. We encourage you to light a candle and to take a moment to remember those who have died and to send your prayers to those who remain in the fight for freedom.

Monthy Gatherings 2009
A group of Bön practitioners meets every three to six weeks at various locations to practice. We chant ngöndro (preliminary practice) prayers in the style of Menri Monastery, and are working through Nyima Dakpa's book, Opening the Door to Bön. Meeting locations are rotated amongst Guelph, Toronto, and the Collingwood area. Our meetings are open to anyone who is a Bon practitioner. Please contact Deborah at 705.445.0160 for details.

Next Potluck & Prayers
TBA

Directors Needed!
We are currently in the process of putting together an application for not-for-profit and charity status and would like to invite applications for interested community members to join our board of directors. If you would like more information, please contact Deborah at 705.445.0160.

A Call For Donations!!
Sandia Douglas, of the New Mexico group, is our monastery correspondent out in the remote hills of Dehradun, India. Sandia has been making a trip to Kundol Rinpoche's monastery annually to help take care of those whom she affectionately calls "the Manduwala Twelve". Visit our photo gallery to see Sandia's photos of her time spent at the monastery.

The Latest Report From Sandia ~ October 2008
Our project goals are focused on meeting the needs of shelter, food and financial security. We continue to focus our efforts and funds on meeting the accomodation needs of the resident young monks. Thank you to all who have donated their time, finances, and resources.

Much has happened in the last year. We were received many generous gifts that make life here much more managable. A big thank you to Jeff from Sante Fe for his donation to Za Mongyal Yungdrung Ling. Ritz Meyer and family gifted a car for the monastery, a washing machine was given from our Taos, New Mexico friends, Rose and Andrea and I bought a sewing machine. With 12 boys and other monks living here there is always something in need of repair. Laurie Leitch from Santa Fe gave us a commercial fridge and Rinpoche's elder brother bought us an amazing new commercial stove for the new kitchen. Many people are helping to make Za Mongyal monastery projects possible. Some people sponser the young monks every year, others buy specific items or materials that we need. All of it is recieved gratefully and with the hope that the joy you give to us returns to you a thousand times over.

We have been waiting for the rains to clear so that the painters can finally come and complete the new dorm. Five of the rooms are completed and the new drapes are hung, with fans in place and new beds, all ready for the young monks. Dr. Marc Perry gifted the boys with brand new blankets and I bought new sheets for each bed.

The additional rooms are ready for interior and outside paint and the bathrooms are tiled and ready. The new boys bathrooms have 6 shower heads and three toliets. There is a guest bathroom with western toliet all tiled and ready. We will also be getting hot water for the guest bathroom so that when you come to visit you will be treated to real hot water!

Plans are underway to dedicate the new building with Nyima Dakpa Rinpoche as the special guest and then an all day celebration for the boys as they finally move to the new rooms this fall.

Finally, a very important part of meeting the needs of the resident monks at Za Mongyal Yungdrung Ling is to provide them with some financial security, to create a nest egg that they can fall back on when they need to. We would like to thank those who have already made contributions: Linda McGee, Marsha Wolf, Jim Bradbury, Doug Koch, Geshe Samdrup, and Simone Meyers.

If you are interested in helping out, give as little or as much as you would like - every contribution helps! If you have any questions about the building project or how to donate funds, email Sandia.

Thank you to everyone who has helped make this monastery come to life!

Yours in Bön,