Padmasambava
Sponsor a Senior

The purpose of the Senior Sponsorship charity program is to provide for the basic necessities of extremely destitute elderly Tibetans that live in exile in the Tibetan Refugee Camp in Mainpat, India.

These seniors are unable to provide for themselves due to illness, old age or mental disabilities.

ACT 4 TIBET's Padmasambava sponsorship program makes sure they are able to have food daily, and the minimum necessary for their survival.

$29 a month to help a senior... less than $1/day for all their needs.

All donations to ACT 4 TIBET Padmasambava Project is given to the Tibetan Seniors and used toward medical care, medicine, drinking water, food, and clothing.

We thank you for your generosity and kindness towards all sentient beings. Your contribution makes it possible for ACT 4 TIBET to continue to assist the people of the Tibetan Refugee campin Mainpat, India.

Your sponsorship is beautifully reflected for every person in the camp as all donations are combined to assist all.

These contributions are used to sustain lifes basic necessities of food and shelter. As you know, the cost of basic needs like food, clothing and medical supplies never go away. We hope for your continued support in the future. We encourage all ACT 4 TIBET sponsors to establish a connection with their sponsor through letter writing, pictures, or gifts. The value of personal connection with these Tibetan people is unparalleled. Again, we thank you for your sponsorship and look forward to your continued support.

Padmasambava

Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum

Padmasambhava was a historical teacher who converted Tibet to Buddhism. He was a renowned scholar, meditator, and magician, and his mantra suggests his rich and diverse nature.

Om Ah Hum, as weve seen, have no conceptual meaning. Often theyre associated with body, speech, and mind respectively (i.e. the whole of ones being. So theres a suggestion that we are saluting the qualities that Padmasambhava represents with all of our hearts (and minds, and bodies).

Vajrameans thunderbolt, and represents the energy of the enlightened mind. It can also mean diamond. The implication is that the diamond/thunderbolt can cut through anything. The diamond is the indestructible object, while the thunderbolt is the unstoppable force. The vajra also stands for compassion. While it may seem odd to have such a masculine object representing compassion, this makes sense in esoteric Buddhism because compassion is active, and therefore aligned with this masculine symbol. (The term masculine does not of course imply that compassion is limited to males!)

Guru, of course, means a wise teacher. It comes from a root word,garu, which means weighty. So you can think of the guru as one who is a weighty teacher. Padmasambhava is so highly regarded in Tibetan Buddhism that he is often referred to as the second Buddha.

Padmameans lotus, calling to mind the purity of the enlightened mind, because the lotus flower, although growing in muddy water, is completely stainless. In the same way the enlightened mind is surrounded by the greed, hatred, and delusion that is found in the world, and yet remains untouched by it. The lotus therefore represents wisdom. Again, while westerners would tend to assume that the flower represents compassion, the receptive nature of the flower gives it a feminine status in esoteric Buddhism, and to the lotus is aligned with the feminine quality of wisdom. And once again, there is no implication that wisdom is in any way limited to those who are female. The words masculine and feminine here are used in a technical sense thats completely unrelated to biology.

AndSiddhimeans accomplishment or supernatural powers, suggesting the way in which those who are enlightened can act wisely, but in ways that we cant necessarily understand. Padmasambhava is a magical figure, and in his biography there are many miracles and tussles with supernatural beings.

Please take a moment to watch the video where Lama Tulku Karma Rinpoche goes around Mainpat and introduces the families and elderly people in dire need of our help.

Meet the Seniors

* Click mugshots to see larger photos

1. Chawla, Born in 1935
NEEDS A SPONSOR

2. Tseche, Born in 1941
S: Michele & Richard Palmer

3. Aka, Born in 1930
Sponsor: Paul Sellier

4. Lhamtso, Born in 1924
Sponsor: Joann Rogers

5. Mingmar, Born in 1940
NEEDS A SPONSOR

6. Dhoring, Born in 1922
NEEDS A SPONSOR

7. Dakpa Born in 1922
NEEDS A SPONSOR

8. Dolcahp, Born in 1932
NEEDS A SPONSOR

9. Ringzen Lhamo, Born in 1919
Sponsor: Daniel Pingani

10. Sonam Choeky, Born in 1919
Sponsor: Daniel Pingani

11. Abu Karpo, Born in 1964
NEEDS A SPONSOR

12. Tseyang, Born in 1955
NEEDS A SPONSOR

13. Thupten Dhundup, Born in 1938
NEEDS A SPONSOR

14. Yangchen, Born in 1936
NEEDS A SPONSOR

15. Tsering Wangmo, Born in 1933
NEEDS A SPONSOR

16. Orgen, Born in 1964
NEEDS A SPONSOR

17. Karma Choying, Born in 1980
Camp Animal-Care Giver
NEEDS A SPONSOR

18. Kunchok Tsering, Age 53
NEEDS A SPONSOR

19. Ani Passang, Age: 85
NEEDS A SPONSOR

20.Bocha, Age 73
NEEDS A SPONSOR

21. Pasang-Gyalmo
NEEDS A SPONSOR

22. Jampa Rinchen, Age 90
S: Lite It Up, Robert Singer

23. Norbu, Age 86
NEEDS A SPONSOR

24. Pasang-Chonzom, Age-96
NEEDS A SPONSOR

25. Pasang-Dolma, Age 52
NEEDS A SPONSOR

26. Pema-Chonzom, Age 70
NEEDS A SPONSOR

27. Kyima, Age 76
NEEDS A SPONSOR

28. Lhakpa-Dolma, Age 45
NEEDS A SPONSOR

29. Lobsang-Choedon, Age 66
NEEDS A SPONSOR

30. Amdo Lama
NEEDS A SPONSOR

31. Gonpo, 62
NEEDS A SPONSOR

Letters from India

Hello, Tashi delek.

I hope that every body is fine with your work. I am Lhamtso, to whom you had sent the sponsorship money. I want to let you know that Rinpoche had recently gave me the amount you sent. I am warmly thanking from my heart for the amount you sent to me.

Received from India in March, 2011

• Read the Thank You Letters from Seniors

• Letter from Thupten Dhundup, Dec. 2009

Sponsor a Senior

Subscribe for automatic monthly, quarterly on yearly payments. Write the name of the senior you would like to sponsor.

MONTHLY: $29 a month

TRIMENSUAL: $87 every 3 months

YEARLY: $348 a year

Open Contribution

Thank you so much for your generosity!
Your help is very much appreciated!