The Good Fortune Trust is aiming to help by raising awareness and funds to replace the ancient temple which is beyond practical repair. Any support will be gratefully accepted.

The problem
The main part of the building to be replaced is several hundred years old, built in the traditional way with the walls and flat roof made from packed earth. These traditional structures are strong but very problematic because if they are not maintained properly throughout the year, especially the roofs, they deteriorate rapidly and become difficult or impossible to fix.

Most of the temples around Kardze did not survive the Cultural Revolution. The temple at Khangmar was saved by the clever thinking of local villagers who requested permission to use it as a barn for their sheep and cattle. However, many years without maintenance caused the building to degenerate into a dangerous state: there were two upper storeys which collapsed onto what is now the roof. The walls of the remaining lower level are cracking under the weight and cannot be safely repaired.

The way forward
The monks agree that the best solution is to construct a new building nearby from more stable, modern materials which do not require constant, ongoing maintenance, such as concrete and timber, but the cost will be high. Kardze is quite isolated and building materials are expensive. The monks are a ready and willing work-force but engineers and skilled tradesmen are also required and unfortunately, unlike the monks’ families and other local Tibetans who happily support the monastery, they do not offer their services for free. Depending on various factors, the cost to replace the building could run to some hundreds of thousands of Australian dollars.

How you can help
Our plan is to start the big task of fundraising for the project while the management team at Khangmar Monastery begins the work of designing and costing the various stages of the building. It might take some years but eventually we hope to achieve the goal and fulfill Geshe Tashi Tsering’s wishes for his monastery ‘back home’. Any contribution towards accomplishing this goal will be greatly appreciated.

Donations may be made by cheque, money order, bank deposit or internet transfer.

• By cheque, made out to The Good Fortune Trust
  Post to PO Box 783, Nambour QLD 4560, Australia
• By direct deposit to the Good Fortune Trust bank account
  Bank — Westpac, Nambour branch
  BSB and account number — 034-204 259677

Dharma gifts now available (Jul 07)

Losar (Tibetan New Year) (Feb 07)

Ten-50 appeal (Oct 06)

"12-5 Sponsorship" Drive (May 06)

There's also news of Geshe Tashi Tsering on his website.