Light of Dharma - Jamgon Kongtrul IIIrd Memorial Home 16

Light of Dharma

Page 16 Jamgon Kongtrul IIIrd Memorial Home
A project of Paramita Charitable Trust of India

Jamgon Kongtrul IIIrd Memorial Home
8th Mile, Lower Bridle Road, P.O. Kalimpong
Distt. Darjeeling, West Bengal 734301, India
Phone: +91 3552 255681

In 1987, when the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche first visited Lava, a remote village in the rural outskirts of Kalimpong sub-division, he was extremely moved by the destitute and homeless he met there, especially the elderly among them. Some were over 70 years old, eking a living from breaking stones for road construction. They suffered from poor health, poverty and despair. This experience inspired Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche to found a home where such elderly people could be cared for, and receive nutritious meals, health care, clothing and social support.
After searching for a suitable location, Kalimpong was selected because of its amiable weather and the presence of diagnostic and medical centres. The Home was opened in December 1995.

Jamgon Kongtrul IIIrd Memorial Home

In 1997, the Home started to admit children. It began in an unexpected way when three siblings who had been abandoned by their blind father were brought to the Home for temporary shelter. They were very distraught when they arrived but with the attention they received from the elderly residents, they soon settled down. Their presence lifted the spirits of the elderly and enhanced the atmosphere at the Home. It became apparent that the relationship between the elderly and the children was mutually beneficial.
The Home is open to destitute people of all races, castes, and creeds and respect for each other's beliefs and customs is emphasised. Although it is a Buddhist organisation, and the shrine room is reflective of Buddhism, the residents are encouraged to pray and pursue their personal religious beliefs. The quality of life at the Home is gauged by the contentment of its residents. All the Home's staff are also residents and there is a conscious effort to avoid being institutional. In fact, a warm family atmosphere exists at the Home.

Jamgon Kongtrul IIIrd Memorial Home

   The children attend the Jamgon Kongtrul IIIrd Memorial School and the few who are visually impaired attend the Salvation Army's Mary Scott's School for the Blind. At the Home, the children are guided and tutored by a resident nun.
   Once, when asked about his vision of the Home he was planning to establish, the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche said that it would be a place where "minds must turn" (to a peaceful way).
   Today there are 36 elderly and 32 children at the Home. The Home is currently expanding its facilities and there would be 14 more places available for the elderly by the end of 2004.
   The vision expressed by Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche has guided the establishment and running of the Home until today.

Continues

Activities To Benefit The Needy
Jamgon Kongtrul IIIrd Memorial School
Jamgon Kongtrul IIIrd Memorial Health Care Centre
Treatable Blindness Programs
Jamgon Kongtrul Eye Centre
Community Projects

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