The Kagyu Monlam brings people together from many different countries to listen to Buddhist teachings and make prayers that resonate throughout the world. In accordance with the wishes of His Holiness Gyalwang Karmapa, the Kagyu Monlam also supports an ever increasing number of Compassion in Action Projects. One such project is the Akong Tulku Rinpoche Memorial Soup Kitchen which for many years has been offering nutritious hot food to the people of Bodhgaya. The seeds of Kindness and Compassion are within all of us and the Soup Kitchen provides an opportunity for these innate positive qualities to flourish.
A team of cooks from Tergar Monastery has set up a small kitchen at the All India Bikkhu Sangha Centre and each day they prepare enough rice, dahl and vegetables to feed around 400 people. Everyone is welcome. There are lots of kids from all different backgrounds, rickshaw drivers, the men on the polio bikes, quite a few people on sticks and crutches, elderly women, mums and babies, some dads with their young children too. They are served by volunteers from countries including France, Germany, Scotland, England, America, Tibet, India, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Peru, Lithuania and Taiwan. We are sharing more than food. Those who give and those who receive are all nourished by the experience of meeting in a spirit of friendship.
On the 5th February 2020 the Soup Kitchen was blessed with a visit from Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. He was greeted by the leader of the All India Bikkhu Centre, Bikkhu Pragya Deep. Rinpoche also took time to talk with the cooks and volunteers and there was an opportunity for photographs before he had to leave for the next appointment in his busy schedule.
The Akong Tulku Rinpoche Memorial Soup Kitchen is organised by the Hart Knowe Trust in co-operation with the Kagyupa International Monlam Trust. Thanks to the support and guidance of Lama Choedrak so many people are fortunate to be able to participate in the Compassion in Action Projects at the Kagyu Monlam as we all do our best to fulfil the vast aspirations of His Holiness Gyalwang Karmapa.
