Amarbayasgalant Monastery
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| The main prayer hall of
Amarbayasgalant. All photos courtesy of
Zeev Rozen and the Amar Mur Centre. |
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Amarbayasgalant
monastery is considered to be the second most important
monastery in Outer Mongolia – traditionally the retreat
place of the "Dalai Lamas" of the Mongolian people, the
Bogd Khaans or Jetsun Dampas. It is located in the beautiful
Iven Gol River valley on the foot of Burenkhan mountain
in Baruunburen som of Selenge province. The monastery was
established by order of Manchurian emperor Enkh-Amgalan
Khan, to cherish and give respect to H.H. the First Bogd
Khaan, Undur Geghen Zanabazar: his skills, wisdom, intellect
and accomplishments. After searching for a suitable place,
the construction works of the monastery called "Amarbayasgalant",
a palace for God's meditation, began in the year of red
horse 1726, and was completed in the year of red dragon,
1736. Out of deep respect the monastery was then offered
to the Undur Geghen. In part destroyed during the seventy
years of communist rule: the repression saw the destruction
of huge numbers of rare religious relics, books, sutras,
thangkas and Buddhas that had been collected for 200 years
as well as the loss of thousands of lives. In the last decade
since the fall of communism, there has been a concentrated
effort by diverse sources to help re-establish this landmark
in Mongolia's cultural memory and rich Buddhist heritage.
Vision
Following Ven. Zasep
Rinpoche's initial Fall 2003 visit to Mongolia and his meeting
with this monastic community, Gaden Relief launched its
"Mongolia Project" with the aim to help revitalize the country's
awakening Buddhist culture. In particular, the Mongolia
Project seeks to aid Amarbayasgalant's ordained and lay
community with their many needs and goals in spreading the
Buddhadharma: whether this be servicing Amarbayasgalant's
infrastructure, rebuilding its sister monastery in Delgertsogt,
the Gobi or supporting various Buddhist cultural programs.
Mission
Gaden Relief's Mongolia
Project takes its inspiration and direction from Zasep Rinpoche
who is in close contact with Amarbayasgalant's young abbot,
Ven. Zava Damdin Rinpoche. The Project works hand in hand
with Amarbayasgalant's outreach center, "Amar Mur", in the
nation's capital, Ulaan Baatar. A registered charity, Amar
Mur serves the community at large through a variety of social
and spiritual programs. Through this activity, it allows
the monastery to have a living presence in the city, despite
its own remote and pastoral setting. With Amar Mur's professional
staff and Gaden Relief's own volunteers working on the same
objectives, there is a seamless fit between the two organizations
that assures that funds find their given target in a most
efficient and professional manner. Future visits to Mongolia
by our staff are being planned that Gaden Relief be in a
better position to be able to assess needs and survey ongoing
work that aid be appropriately tailored and new projects
hatched as the demand arises.
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| The monastery in wintertime. |
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Contribution
At
present, Mongolia Project is focusing its efforts on raising
funds for the restoration of Amarbayasgalant's infrastructure.
Recently we built a new potable
water system for the monks in the monastery's courtyard.
Amarbayasgalant's old well was destroyed years ago by Soviet
forces. Having no well, the monks had to walk over two kilometres
to get water from a field stream. Building a proper water
system assures not only proper hygiene but it will also
give the monks a degree of sufficiency by allowing them
to garden: right now they have to shop in Darkhan city,
an hour and a half drive away. Nearby communities
also will be a focus of the Mongolia Project: a community
needs assessment in the areas of local primary health care
and education is planned. Adhering to
principles of sustainability, we believe that Amarbayasgalant
can once again become one of Mongolia's great centres of
Buddhist arts and faith. Please help Mongolia Project's
efforts with your tax-deductable donation.
More information
If
you have questions or comments, please contact the Mongolia
Project Coordinator Matthew
Richards. To read more about the Mongolia Project
and Amarbayasgalant see: the announcement
on formation of the Mongolia Project; Project Coordinator
Matthew Richards' account of
the history, people and sites of Amarbaysgalant and area;
Zasep Rinpoche's account
of his factfinding mission to Amarbayasgalant and Mongolia.
For more pictures see the Mongolia Project photo
gallery. And don't
miss the amazing Tsam dance
performed at Amarbayasgalant Monastery!
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| Amarbayasgalant's Sangha
of young monks. Abbot, Ven. Zava Damdin
Rinpoche stands in the rear row, in the
middle. |
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