Venerable Thupten Rinpoche’s temple, school and health clinic project in the Himalayan village of Dirang, India has been blessed by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama and named Thupsung Dhargye Ling meaning, “Place of Flourishing of the Buddha’s Speech”.
Thupsung Dhargye Ling, a non-sectarian Tibetan Buddhist temple, school and health clinic in Dirang, India will bring opportunities for culture, literacy and health to local people of all ages. Thupsung Dhargye Ling will also cultivate a community of monastics to serve the surrounding villages and perpetuate sacred religious traditions.
The Place
Dirang is located in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India on the southern face of the Himalayas. This area was historically a region of Tibet, but became a territory of India in 1959. Since then, many Tibetan refugees have relocated in the vicinity of Dirang.
As restrictions to religious freedom in Tibet curtail the flourishing of Tibetan Buddhism in its homeland, authentic reservoirs for Tibetan cultural and religious traditions become ever more imperative. Thupsung Dhargye Ling will be a hub of Tibetan culture and Buddhist learning in the eastern Himalayas of India, much as Dharamsala is to the west. map
The People
The indigenous people of Dirang are of Tibetan origin. 15,000 people from 21 villages in the Dirang vicinity will benefit from Thupsung Dhargye Ling temple, school and clinic.
Why This Project?
Thupsung Dhargye Ling will uphold, protect and perpetuate Tibetan Buddhist traditions and culture in exile and raise standards of literacy and health. Tibetan laypeople very often do not have access to the Buddha’s teachings, but through Thupten Rinpoche's far-reaching vision, this project will directly serve laypeople in the community as well as monastics, creating a strong foundation for future generations.