Who stands behind the project?
H.H. 17th GJALWA KARMAPA TRINLEY THAJE DORDŽE
Gyalwa Karmapa is the main representative of Tibetan Buddhism of the Karma Kagyu lineage. 17. Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, whose name can be translated as "the unlimited and unchanging activity of the Buddha," was born in Lhasa, Tibet, in 1983, and currently lives in New Delhi, India.
He is the spiritual leader of more than 900 monasteries, institutions and centers around the world, including the NALA Endowment Fund and the newly established KKPL Endowment Fund. 17. The Karmapa has thousands of disciples. Since 1999, he has regularly traveled and taught in South Asia, Europe, Russia and North America. Under his leadership, Kagyu Monlam is also held annually in Bodhgaya, India, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, where thousands of practitioners gather for several days and recite desires for the good of all beings.
The Karmapa conveys the Buddha's teachings in a style that is fresh, modern, and full of humor. He also uses modern technologies and social media and his activity has a huge impact even among young people.
The Karma Kungha Padkar Ling Endowment Fund (Joyful Garden of the White Lotus) bears the name chosen by JS 17. Gyalwa Karmapa. Dharma activities and healing according to the principles of traditional Tibetan medicine will be connected here.
MANIWA SHERAB GYALTSEN RINPOCHE
Venerable Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche is a highly respected and highly realized lama of the Karma Kagyu lineage. He was born in 1950 in Nepal and studied under the direct guidance of the 16th Karmapa.
He runs monasteries and monastic schools for boys and girls – Dhagpo Sheydrub Ling and Karma Ngedhon Osal Choekhorling – and a retreat meditation center in Pharping. He has been caring for orphans and children from poor families almost all his life. He has published many texts and under his guidance, many stupas (traditional Buddhist structures) have been erected which now stand in Nepal and Europe.
He is one of the few Buddhist teachers to hold the title of Maniwa, used for the masters of the practice of the Buddha of Compassion (bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Tib. Chenrezig) who have inspired beings to recite at least one billion OM MANI PEME HUNG mantras. Along with the 17th Karmapa, he is the spiritual authority of the NALA and KKPL foundations.
TENZIN GURUNG
Ani Tenzin was born in Kathmandu . However her origin is from Manang. Ani la was fully ordained nun by Sherab Gyalcchen Rinpoche in 1995 at Hasantar nunnery. Since 2005 she started to work as rinpoche's assistant. She has been very trustworthy for rinpoche la, and as assistant she manages yearly planning schedule according to instruction of rinpoche la. Her main role is defined as general secretary of the rinpoche, who is willing to dedicate her life to serve rinpoche to maintain rinpoche's long and healthy life, by taking care of him. We appreciate from the core of our heart the work, the effort and the determination she has been dedicating tirelessly to our rinpoche's family ( NALA & HASANTAR).
PETR HODAN
CO-FOUNDER OF THENALA & KKPL ENDOWMENT FUNDS
"The decision to put our activity into this huge project has its roots in a time many years ago. It was then that my beloved wife and I first began to think that it would be very useful for many people to transfer some of the wonderful experiences from the "East" to the "West". And as time passed, the great teacher and our head Lama, Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche, began to support us more and more intensively in the idea of creating a piece of "magical Tibet" in the Czech Republic.
The KKPL project is great not only in its construction scope, but especially in its importance, mission and responsibility that everything will function in the future according to the purest tradition and teachings that have been passed on in an unbroken and pure lineage since the time of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni.
Inspired daily by my precious and charming wife, my wonderful friends in the sangha and the blessings of our precious teachers, I believe that we will accomplish this task and that here in the Czech Republic, mere dozens of minutes from Prague, a place where all good things will be possible will come into being.
VLASTA HODANOVÁ
CO-FOUNDER OF THE
NALA & KKPL ENDOWMENT FUNDS
"I feel very grateful. Grateful that all the steps of my life, all the lows and highs, the obstacles and blessings, the karmic bonds, the whole great Buddhist Sangha - and most of all my beautiful family - have given me the opportunity to grow and understand. An opportunity to understand compassion and love. And the best opportunity to share them ...
This has given me an abundance, both physical and mental, to do truly meaningful things. Meeting dear Lama Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche and H.H. the 17th Karmapa only deepened my devotion and desire to work for the Dharma - and to help people heal body, speech and mind through Tibetan medicine and its perfect methods.
All this is now beginning to manifest, in this KKPL project. I am happy to be a part of it all... "