About the Drepung Loseling monks
Scholars. Survivors. Our teachers.
The monks who will be visiting Laguna Beach for these four days May 30 - June 2 are refugees, survivors, scholars, and our community's generous teachers. Here is their back story.
The Chinese Communist takeover of Tibet in 1959 resulted in the destruction of all but a dozen of Tibet's 6,500 monasteries. Most of the monks were killed or imprisoned in the closure of Drepung. Approximately 250 of Loseling's monks managed to escape the holocaust. They were accepted as refugees in India, where they built a replica "Drepung Loseling in Exile" monastery on land generously donated by the Indian government in Karnataka State, southeast of Bombay. Here they worked to preserve their ancient traditions.
Over the years, many more young spiritual aspirants have fled Chinese-occupied Tibet and sought refuge in the monastery, helping to preserve traditional Tibetan culture. These are the monks you will meet: brave, intelligent, dignified, eager to share their knowledge and culture with us despite communication hurdles. The heart's goodness translates, and a smile is a language that breaches all language boundaries.
There are currently more than 3,000 monks who have found safety and education in the re-established Drepung Loseling Monastery. All donations to the monks help fuel the education and daily needs of the monks who carry on the Tibetan culture.
The Chinese Communist takeover of Tibet in 1959 resulted in the destruction of all but a dozen of Tibet's 6,500 monasteries. Most of the monks were killed or imprisoned in the closure of Drepung. Approximately 250 of Loseling's monks managed to escape the holocaust. They were accepted as refugees in India, where they built a replica "Drepung Loseling in Exile" monastery on land generously donated by the Indian government in Karnataka State, southeast of Bombay. Here they worked to preserve their ancient traditions.
Over the years, many more young spiritual aspirants have fled Chinese-occupied Tibet and sought refuge in the monastery, helping to preserve traditional Tibetan culture. These are the monks you will meet: brave, intelligent, dignified, eager to share their knowledge and culture with us despite communication hurdles. The heart's goodness translates, and a smile is a language that breaches all language boundaries.
There are currently more than 3,000 monks who have found safety and education in the re-established Drepung Loseling Monastery. All donations to the monks help fuel the education and daily needs of the monks who carry on the Tibetan culture.
