The Baudha Arghaon Sadan is now registered organization, which is recognized by the government. Within it’s 15 Ropanis of land, it has a monastery with a resident Lama and several novice Lamas who are versed in the ways of the Nyingma tradition. It has a thousand life-members and about the same number of ordinary members. Decision for running the Sadan are made by the committee of eleven who are elected every two years from the members.
The role of the Sadan has now becomes even more important in the Gurung community. Sincere efforts have been made to make it the community center for Gurung and many followers of the Nyingma tradition of Buddhism. The Sadan has grown from providing rooms for conducting funeral rites to actually conducting orientation programs in Buddhism and religious ceremonies from baptism to funerals. In addition to this, it also offers retreat for lay person as well as Lamas.
In its efforts to maintain the Gurung tradition and culture, the organization is starting a school to produce highly motivates and dedicated Lamas of the Nyingma tradition. These Lamas will be made aware of the importance of the ‘Dharma’ and of the ‘Community’ that supports them. They will be taught Tibetan and Nepali with English as an optional subject at the more advanced stages. Preparations to house a dozen novices are already underway.
To improve and build on its solid foundations, the organization plan to build a multipurpose conference room with a library containing ample reading in Nepali, Tibetan and English. They also hope to provide more retreat facilities for Lamas and build a modern funeral pyre. Finally, in order to preserve the origin of the Gurung community for the younger generations to come, the organization plan to have a ‘tribal temple’ that will house the history of the origins of the Gurung community.
Persons interested in helping the ‘Sadan’ in its endeavor to make ‘Dharma’ as an integral part of social activities, could contact the organization for more information.
Mission
The mission of this social and Buddhist institution is three folds:
- To provide the cremation facilities including the facilities to carry out the after death ceremony which is laborious known as arghoun(pai) or tuhnda chyambar.
- To educate the monks in the Tibetan language as well as in the modern Nepali education through our own schooling system in Nyingma Buddhist tradition in order to provide lamas within the country in general and for the indigenous buddhist community in particular.
- Extend and renovate the existing monastery which is not only too small but in poor condition structurally in order to accommodate more lay people for the puja.
Vision
To maintain the Gurung tradition and the culture henceforth motivate the younger generation to learn Buddhist way of life in the context of modern and fast changing society by running workshops and teachings so that they can learn to live happily, peaceful and in harmony in the community they live regardless of their cast, creed and the faith that they believe in.