Thrangu Monastery Canada, located in Richmond, British Columbia, is the first traditional Tibetan Monastery in the Pacific Northwest.
It teaches in the Buddhist tradition that one needs to accumulate both merit and wisdom in order to generate the auspicious circumstances for realization. For many centuries, the vast knowledge of the Kagyu Lineage has been preserved and propagated in many monasteries throughout the world. The monasteries have served as a refuge for study and practice, undisturbed by worldly concerns. In this way, monasteries serve as a means to accumulate wisdom.
Beginning in the 1970s, the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje and many other great masters have traveled and turned the Wheel of Dharma. Because of this, the Dharma has newly spread to and flourished in many countries, especially in North America. In 2003, the Thrangu Tulku Karma Lodrö Ringluk Maseng sent the Venerable Lama Pema Tsewang to Canada to establish a Dharma center promoting the Buddhist teachings.
Canada is a peace-loving country where many different peoples and religions co-exist harmoniously. In particular, British Columbia is a beautiful region with a moderate climate. By establishing a monastery here, a center for the sacred Buddhist Dharma, which tourists and local residents can visit, both religious and non- religious people alike can enjoy relaxing in its peaceful environment, creating good habits for the future.
For many years, students in North America have requested Rinpoche to build a monastery. Now, the seeds of these aspirations have taken root and begun to blossom. In Richmond, donations of land and funds have built an extraordinary monastery and provided the sangha with a wonderful place to practice, quarters for monks, retreat facilities and teaching facilities. The new Thrangu Monastery will serve as Rinpoche’s seat in North America. Here, Rinpoche can continue his teaching activities in the West. Here, students can come to study and practice under his direction in a traditional monastic setting.
Ms Eva Lau Wai Ken and Ms Margaret Lee Pui Man are the main sponsors of the Thrangu Monastery. They have made great contributions out of magnanimity and generosity, and other faithful sponsors have also given donations. The jewel on top of the main Buddha statue in the shrine was filled with sacred substances and mantras happened to be at nine o’clock on the ninth day of the ninth month, September, 2009—an auspicious and unintentional confluence of four nines.
We pray that through this power, the Thrangu Monastery may help spread the genuine Dharma in many lands, thus quelling the misfortunes of epidemics, famine and war in this world and helping peace, education, and prosperity to flourish.