Planting seeds at “the place where the Dharma is transmitted and realised”

Representatives from the Lhungtok Choekhorling Buddhist monastery near Pomaia, Italy, share their beautiful story.

On June 13, 2014, the Dalai Lama made a special visit to their land, named the project and planted the first four seeds on the property!

The history of the project
Lama Yeshe and Venerable Geshe Jampa Gyatso first thought of the construction of a monastery in the west when they were together at Kopan, (Nepal), in 1980. Their vision is now taking shape in Italy.

Due to the generosity and kindness of many, the Associazione Sangha Onlus was able to purchase 95 hectares near Pomaia, in Tuscany in 2007. The land includes an abandoned quarry. The monastery will be built on the rock according to the Tibetan tradition.

For the last 17 years, Ven. Massimo Stordi has held the responsibility for this project on behalf of the Sangha Onlus Association. He also coordinated the visit of the Dalai Lama in 2014.

We were told that the name Lung rtog chos ‘khor, given by the Dalai Lama means “the place where the Dharma is transmitted and realised.”

It was on this occasion that he planted the first seeds.

The project aims at the ecological restoration of the quarry and the preservation of the existing wildlife. The monastery will rise through the planting of shrubs and trees.

The planting will happen with the help of volunteers and with the collaboration of the European Federation for Soil Bioengineering (EFIB) and its members. This will happen under the coordination of Gianluigi Pirrera, who is responsible for the project.

Thank you for this beautiful story! May your monastery project be successful and flourish and may the Dalai Lama keep inspiring us.

Learn more about the project and how to support it on their website.
Dalai Lama photo credit: FilmPro

Below, two recent photos of the seeds the Dalai Lama planted: