who we are
Lhungtok Choekhorling Monastery
Lhungtok Choekhorling Monastery is a community of about thirty monks and nuns, mostly Western, who have chosen to follow the practice of the Buddha's teaching, preserving its great spiritual and philosophical value, in harmony with contemporary and scientific thought.
As a monastic project, we rely on the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and our Abbot Khen Rinpoche Geshe Thubten Chonyi, appointed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Our reality is made up of two entities:
- la Sangha Foundation ETS dedicated to institutional and social relations that go beyond the religious aspect, is the owner of the 97 hectares of land on which our projects will be built; it is with this legal entity that the current and future assets have been secured, and with which donors are allowed to obtain the same tax benefits reserved for non-profit organizations,
andAssociazione Monastica Sangha Lhungtok Choekhorling, which contributes to the realization of the Monastery and regulates its monastic life. It is part of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) and the Italian Buddhist Union. Inspired and strongly desired by Venerable Geshe Ciampa Ghiatso in 2005 with an initial name of Associazione Sangha Onlus.
Both have as their main objective the creation of the first Buddhist monastery of the Tibetan tradition in Italy.
The purpose behind this project is to create an environment suitable for study, meditation and a lifestyle based on the Vinaya - the tradition that regulates the ethical and moral discipline of the ordained Sangha (those who have taken monastic vows), - as taught by Buddha Sakyamuni.
The realization of this project will allow monks and nuns to make their own the ethical, doctrinal and spiritual values of the Buddha's teaching, to be a valid support for the activities of the Lama Tzong Khapa Institute, of other Centers and to be an important and stable point of reference for the benefit of all sentient beings.
The name Lhungtok Choekorling was given to the Monastery by His Holiness the XNUMXth Dalai Lama of Tibet, Tenzin Gyatso. It means "place where the Dharma is transmitted and realized". The logo was designed by a Nepali painter Sonam Sherpa, under the supervision of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition
The FPMT is an organization whose purpose is to preserve and spread Mahayana Buddhism in the world, creating opportunities for listening, reflection, meditation and practice of the perfect teachings of the Buddha, in order to actualize and spread the Dharma among all sentient beings. We offer integrated education, which can transform people's minds and hearts to their fullest potential, for the benefit of all beings, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility and service. Our goal is to create harmonious contexts and help all beings to fully develop their potential for infinite wisdom and compassion. Our organization is based on the Buddhist tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa, as taught by our founders Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
The FPMT includes Dharma Centers, study groups, projects and services spread all over the world. For more information click on www.fpmt.org