The Dharmapala Palriling Hsinchu Institute of Buddhist Studies “Introducing the Light” Ceremony on Jan. 6, 2009, Guru Rinpoche’s day on the Tibetan Calendar

2009年元月6日佛像開光 仁波切暨貴賓剪綵慶祝
Rinpoches and honored guests cut the ribbon at the “Introducing the Light” ceremony on Jan. 6, 2009

公益關懷報導

公益關懷報導
Press Coverage of the Rinpoche’s Charity Work

Excellence Magazine Issue No. 314
We Care—Special Reports on Charity Events

Follow the Example of the Buddha Help People End Suffering and Obtain Joy
Tsulnam Rinpoche Shows Loving Care for Taiwan Aborigines in Remote Mountainous Regions
Author: Wei Jia-yi  Photos provided by: Palriling Hsinchu Institute of Buddhist Studies
尖石鄉公所（Jianshi Township Office）
Tsulnam Rinpoche and members of Palriling Hsinchu Institute of Buddhist Studies held an almsgiving event in Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County.

Tsulnam Rinpoche is not only dedicated to self-attainment but also the less privileged in society. Following the example of the Buddha to relieve others of suffering, he held an almsgiving event in Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County. Along with members of Palriling Hsinchu Institute of Buddhist Studies, he helped relieve those who suffered and offered them both spiritual support and material aids.

In the remote Kin lwan Settlement in Xiuluan Village in Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County, an 81-year-old lady in a wheelchair broke into a big smile at the sight of Tsulnam Rinpoche. To support the impoverished family, her son, though physically disabled, had to work away from home and leaves her alone at home during daytime, despite her need for company. Tsulnam Rinpoche gave her material help as well as hopes and blessings.

Tsulnam Rinpoche cares for the less privileged in society and follows the example of the Buddha to relieve their sufferings. He gives them material goods as well as hopes and blessings.

The Weather Cleared Up As If for the Almsgiving Event

On the day of the almsgiving event, the rain that had lasted for days showed no sign of stopping. In Hsinchu City, members of Palriling Hsinchu Institute of Buddhist Studies were worried that the bad weather condition might spoil the event. However, knowing how much it would mean to those in need, they set off with lots of material goods and headed for the remote mountainous regions in Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County. To their surprise and delight, the closer they came to their destination, which is located on steep slopes deep in the mountains, the better the weather became. It was as if the sky had been moved by their Buddhist compassion and cleared up for them.

The list of alms recipients had been discussed and decided by the President of Palriling Hsinchu Institute, Ms. Zeng Li-ying, and the head of the Department of Social Welfare at the Jianshi Township Office, Mr. Liu Jian-min. It was estimated that 63 families would receive the alms. This is the second almsgiving event the Institute has held in Jianshi Township, and the first event helped over 40 families in the township. The recipients consisted of aborigines from low-income households and/or those paralyzed, confined to bed, or debilitated because of old age. Tsulnam Rinpoche, along with members of Palriling Hsinchu Institute, visited every one of these households.

These aborigines were so impoverished that they barely had enough food and clothing. Therefore, Tsulnam Rinpoche and Palriling Hsinchu Institute brought them rice, salt, cooking oil, diapers, and other basic necessities. The Luo Family of the Naluo Settlement in Jinping Village was one of the recipient families. Poverty-stricken, they lived in a corrugated metal house as decrepit, dark, and dirty as an abandoned factory. They used to be sharecroppers with very unsteady income, and now they are stinky tofu vendors in the remote township of Jianshi, where few tourists ever visited and the stinky tofu business was not profitable at all.

Palriling Hsinchu Institute and Mr. Liu Jian-min also strove to help a family that had lost their home to a fire. They managed to provide the family with a new refrigerator, some cash assistance, and 180 kg of rice. As their house had been burned down and few medical resources are available in mountain regions, the six members of the family had to make do with the shabby medical office of Xiuluan Village. Despite the hardships they had encountered, their children were still played around happily. Members of Palriling Hsinchu Institute could not help but feel emotional as they thought about the fact that these innocent, vulnerable children don’t even have a place to live in. The help offered by Tsulnam Rinpoche and members of Palriling Hsinchu could not have been more timely! 

(Left) The Luo Family of Naluo Settlement in Jinping Village lived in a corrugated metal house as decrepit, dark, and dirty as an abandoned factory.

(Middle) Some aborigines were so impoverished that they barely had enough food and clothing. Therefore, Tsulnam Rinpoche and Palriling Hsinchu Institute brought them rice, salt, cooking oil, diapers, and other basic necessities.

(Right) A family had lost their home to a fire. Their house lies in ruins. The six members of the family had to make do with the shabby medical office of Xiuluan Village since few medical resources are available in mountain regions.

Along with the material aids, Tsulnam Rinpoche and Palriling Hsinchu brought hopes and blessings.

Tsulnam Rinpoche has founded Wisdom Compassion Elementary School in his hometown of Tibet for children who did not have the means to obtain an education, because he knows that education is the only way to emerge from poverty. With the experience he obtained in his hometown, Tsulnam Rinpoche encourages Taiwanese people to dedicate themselves to their own hometown too by helping and caring for one another.

The goods given to those in need in Jianshi Township by the Palriling Hsinchu Institute are all donated by the members of the Institute. Like-minded and benevolent, the members take delight in holding and contributing to charity and almsgiving events. If it is within their power, they hope to pay a visit to the aborigines in remote areas every six months so as to provide them with material aids. Tsulnam Rinpoche looks forward to the continuation of such charitable deeds and hopes to involve more benevolent people in charity and almsgiving events.

When a 93-year-old woman, who spoke only her native language, met Tsulnam Rinpoche and the members of Palriling Hsinchu Institute, she held hands with everyone, and her gratitude was beyond words. It was indisputable evidence of how much the event meant to her and how much she appreciated their benevolence.