history
of the monastery
A place where monks and nuns can live in accordance with the discipline and ethics taught by Buddha Sakyamuni, to receive teachings, study, progress in practice and keep the Buddhist tradition alive.
the time line
1979
Where to found a monastery
From the stories of the first Italian monks it is recalled that Lama Yeshe had asked His Holiness the Dalai Lama where it was most beneficial to build a monastery in the West. His Holiness replied that Italy was the most suitable country in consideration of the natural propensity of Italians to respect religious traditions.
Our spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche recalls that Lama Yeshe and Geshe Ciampa Ghiatso, when both lived at the monastery of Kopan (Nepal), discussed the need to build a Buddhist monastery in Europe. When Geshe Ciampa Ghiatso arrived in Pomaia on November 30, 1980 he had this idea in mind and over time has followed the various attempts to build a monastery in Italy. A few years after his arrival, the International Mahayana Institute (IMI) was founded for this purpose. The first president of the Italian Buddhist Union was a monk of IMI.
Geshe Ciampa Ghiatso was the teacher who in Pomaia constantly looked after the monastic community and strongly encouraged the construction of the monastery, as well as conferring ordinations and teaching on the monastic discipline.
2004
Think of a monastery
One day, speaking of the Sangha who lived at the Institute, Geshe Jampa Gyatso clearly listed the many problems that monks and nuns had to face in order to respect the rules of Vinaya (discipline) and keep vows.
At that point in the conversation he was asked to think of a male and female monastery in order to meet the needs of the entire ordained Sangha. Geshe-la, for a moment remained motionless and then lit up with light and opened to a pleased smile. He ruled: It will have to arise close to the Institute because the Sangha will have to continue its close relationship of collaboration to the Dharma activities of the Center. So the mayors of Santa Luce and Castellina Marittima were contacted to see if we could count on their help to find the most suitable land.
Naturally, the first choice was in the municipality of Santa Luce, precisely because it had to be as close as possible to the Institute.
In August 2004 Geshe-la was at the Sera Jey monastery in southern India with Ven. Thubten Tsognyi and speaking of the idea of the monastery and the name to be given to the association, he decided on the name Sangha " short and easy to remember ".
A year later the Sangha non-profit association was officially established.
2006
possible site for the monastery
With the establishment of the Sangha Onlus association, the search for the possible site for the monastery began: the investigations involved many areas in the municipality of Santa Luce and in particular in Pomaia, but also in the neighboring municipalities. When the searches did not give the desired result, Sicily was also taken into consideration.
One day they showed us the land of Poggio la Penna, a disused quarry on a hill in Pomaia and it was love at first sight. Geshe Ciampa Ghiatso when he saw it said: "This place reminds me of my Tibet" - embracing a breathtaking view with his eyes and stamped the ground with his foot stating: "It is a beautiful place, very beautiful and solid, the temple must be south oriented "
When Geshe Ciampa Ghiatso met Lama Zopa in Sarnath in India at the end of 2006 he spoke to him about the project and Rinpoche reminded him that it was his idea and that of Lama Yeshe. At the same time, negotiations with the owners for the acquisition of the land went on.
In 2007 we signed the compromise for the purchase of the first hectares and presented a feasibility study to the municipality of Santa Luce. A little over a month later we met in person the Dalai Lama who was in Hamburg for some teachings and we explained the project to him.
2007 ends with a very sad event for all of us, Gesce Ciampa Ghiatso leaves his body and an unbridgeable void, still today.
2008
The name of the monastery
On the death of our precious abbot Geshe Jampa Gyatso, our guide Lama Zopa Rinpoche becomes, albeit extremely busy and from a distance, our main contact. At the beginning of 2008, meeting him in India, we ask him to take care of us and our project. Rinpoche from our very first steps encourages us, as an association, to be part of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition “because it would have been of great benefit”.
In June 2008 from Dharamsala, India, the seat of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's residence, at the request of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, we received a letter with the seal of the Dalai Lama and the name of the monastery "Lhungtok Choekhorling". Finally at the beginning of July 2008 our spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche went up to the hill where he gave some teachings and blessed the place… under a starry sky.
2014
Blessing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
It is the year of the Dalai Lama's visit to the hill. On June 13, the day of the Sakadawa when the Buddha's enlightenment is celebrated, His Holiness visits and blesses the land where the monastery will be built. Since then, every year, on the same day, we have celebrated this historic event with a puja.
For us it represented a huge organizational effort but it was a success thanks above all to the enthusiastic effort of all the volunteers. It was chosen to open participation to all residents of our municipality in order to allow them direct contact with His Holiness. In the presence of Lamas, monks, nuns, authorities and many friends, a total of about 800 people, His Holiness gave a speech on the importance of study and recited the Heart Sutra. We remember with pleasure Lama Zopa Rinpoche who, coming out of the tent, at the end of the event, meeting our eyes, raised the thumb of his hand with a big smile, expressing his satisfaction.
2021
approval of the plan
From the first feasibility study of the project presented to the Municipality of Santa Luce in 2007, several years pass in which everything remains stalled. Finally in 2016 the new municipal administration gets underway recognizing the importance of the monastery.
Already in 2017 a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Tuscany Region, the Municipality of Santa Luce, the Lama Tzong Khapa Institute and our Sangha Onlus association, underlining the importance of a unique spiritual center in the territory. In 2019 we officially enter the FPMT and in 2020 the Italian Buddhist Union. After many meetings in the Region, Province and Municipality, the project can be presented and at the end of April 2021 the Municipality of Santa Luce approves the detailed plan. On July 6, coinciding with the birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the final project of the temple is delivered, which Lama Zopa Rinpoche advised to build first. Now we just have to wait for the building permit and proceed with the fundraising, suspended in all these years pending the definitive concession.