Tibetan Heritage Gala

You are cordially invited to the ninth annual Tibetan Heritage Gala to benefit communities affiliated with the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The event will be held at 6pm on Saturday, March 8th, at The Union League Cafe in New Haven.

A portion of this year's offerings are being directed to Gonjang Monastery, a community of 100 monks located on the outskirts of Gangtok, Sikkim. The monastery has established an on-site health clinic for monks, which Gonjang Rinpoche envisions opening to laypeople in the surrounding countryside. The region is poor, and a trip to the main hospital (plus prescriptions) costs twice the average monthly salary. Gonjang Rinpoche's intention is to staff the clinic with a full-time nurse and doctor (currently on site 2 days per week) in order to offer free consultations, medicines, and vaccinations to the local population.

The clinic also has 2 beds that can be used to provide hospital care. Gonjang Rinpoche would like to expand to 5 or 6, so that those requiring acute care or overnight observation could remain at the monastery. The hospital also will require sterilization and minor surgical equipment, supplies (bandages, linens), intravenous fluids, antibiotics, x-ray facilities, and a vehicle for transporting patients needing emergency care.

Finally, Gonjang Rinpoche foresees delivering health services directly to those living in the isolated mountain terrain hours from Gangtok. His intention is for a team of heath care practitioners from the monastery to conduct regular free clinics in the countryside, so that those who cannot make the arduous and expensive journey to the city will have access to basic healthcare.