Tashi Lhunpo Monastery UK Trust

Tashi Lhunpo monks originally came to the United Kingdom under the auspices of the Tibet Foundation in 1999, when they toured for the first time with performances of their unique masked dance and music. They were also present at the inauguration of the Tibetan Peace Garden at the Imperial War Museum by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in May 1999.

Following this successful tour, the monastery decided to form their own organisation in the UK and the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery UK Trust was set up in 2003. In an audience granted by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Kelkhang Rinpoche and the Trust’s Administrator, Jane Rasch, His Holiness graciously accepted an invitation to be Patron of the Trust. As he said when asked whether he would agree to take up this role he said, ‘Of course! After all, I founded it! [Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Tibet]. In this way He expressed the unbroken line of support from the First Dalai Lama, Gedun Drup, who founded the monastery in 1447 in Tibet to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in the 20th Century.

Since 2003 when the charity was founded, the Trust has organised annual tours to the United Kingdom and Europe. Any income which is raised goes directly to support the monks in the monastery in India. Occasional visits have been organised by the Trust to take supporters and friends from the UK to Ladakh in India to experience a living Buddhist culture, and we hope that these will resume in the future.

The Trust also runs a sponsorship scheme, through which supporters can offer regular financial donations to go towards the day-to-day expenses of the entire community, at the same time as having a personal link with an individual monk. Because there are no administrative expenses taken from donations any amount, large or small, can be offered, and everything you give will go directly to support the education, health, food fund and general expenses of the monks.