Thank You 2020 & 2021
Drikung Dharma Surya Center (DDSC) and all of us wish you our most sincere “Tashi Delek” with abundant blessings of peace, happiness, and love in the New Lunar and Losar Year of the Tiger 2022. DDSC continues to work tirelessly to fulfill the aspiration and vision of His Holiness the 37th Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and His Eminence the 8th Garchen Rinpoche, serving as the “Sun of the Dharma” to benefit all Buddhists and everyone from various originalities, from all walks of life, from all walks of faith and tradition in the USA Nation’s Capital of America area and beyond. Our heartfelt thanks to all of you for the unconditional support in so many ways.
In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic since 2020, though DDSC remains temporarily closed for everyone’s safety, protection, and well-being, we strive to allow the temple to open for public access on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the established law and regulation of Federal and local Virginia government. DDSC is the place where not only many different nationalities and ethnic groups come together, including Tibetan, Vietnamese, Mongolian, Chinese, Korean, Nepalese, Indian, Americans, and so on, but also from different religions and traditional lineages. There have been visitors at DDSC literally almost every day for the past 2 years. Under the leadership of Khenpo Samdup and spiritual guidance of Garchen Rinpoche, DDSC continuously engages in non-stop online Dharma teaching and practice events via virtual Zoom to keep us connected in prayer, practice, and love and to bring benefits for all the sangha in the world. In collaboration with Garchen Buddhist Institute, other sister Dharma centers, and religious organizations, DDSC offers online weekday (Monday to Friday) and weekend (Saturday – Sunday) Dharma programs, such as deity practices, meditation, teachings, and empowerments with group discussions, as well as Buddhism 101, Garchen Children’s Practice for Kids Ages 5-12+, and Tai Chi practice. We have held various virtual and on-site prayers during holy Sakadawa month to pray particularly for the lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic; we have organized the 3rd and 4th Annual Guru Rinpoche Bhum Tsok with Capital Area Tibetan Association for 100,000 Accumulation Merit Offering dedicated to the long-life of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, all Holy Masters and all beings for the benefit of World Peace; we have collaborated with the Vietnamese sangha for celebration of Vesak 2021 & International Buddhist Day with His Holiness Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang and the worldwide sangha; we have hosted a special event of Green Tara with Jhado Rinpoche and the Washington D.C. Mongolian Buddhist community at the temple; and more activities to name. The seed of all happiness in this world is bodhicitta, and this is the intention of DDSC.
Recently, the local Vietnamese Eagle Scouts (and parents) have taken on and completed a big project to replace the deteriorated wooden walkways with concrete entrances at DDSC, including fundraising to cover all the costs of the project for the temple. The inspirational part is the cross-religious project – by Christian and Buddhist (Theravada/Mahayana) boys and families for the Buddhist (Vajrayana) temple, as it reflects their multi-religious families, their strong family bonds, and their mature nonsectarian-ness. We were so overwhelmed at this wonderful religious camaraderie. Garchen Rinpoche has said, “It doesn’t matter whether one calls oneself a Buddhist or not a Buddhist. The Dharma is love. When you see how your love touches others, it will become your happiness to give your happiness away.” This work accomplishment is indeed a testament to the meaning of Rinpoche’s teaching.
With the support of His Holiness Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang and Garchen Rinpoche, we have also received the official VISA approvals from U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) for two (2) ordained monastics from the Drikung Kagyu lineage to come and serve at DDSC temple to fulfill its envisioned aspiration in the furtherance of BuddhaDharma in the West. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, their arrival has been delayed as we are still awaiting the U.S. Consulate in New Delhi, India to process the paperwork there. Last but not least, we have completed our DDSC website revamp with numerous online resource offerings. Please check it out at https://drikungdharmasurya.org and kindly let us know if it can be improved for more benefits.
DDSC has been able to do and accomplish all that in the past 2 years because we have the support from many wonderful individuals like you with donated funds, time, energy, space, and volunteer workforce. As the DDSC temple still owes a private loan of $192,000.00 USD for mortgage debt, we humbly request your assistance to help us pay off this debt. Please visit the DDSC website at https://drikungdharmasurya.org/donation. All donations are 100% tax deductible under 501(c)(3) IRS Code. Each one of you, near and far, has been a valuable member of the Drikung Dharma Surya family, and an integral part of its growth and success. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
With love and deepest gratitude,
Quang Bui – On the Behalf of Board of Directors, Drikung Dharma Surya Center
