March 21-25, 2009 – Sarnath
His Holiness Gyalwang Karmapa chaired the First Conference on Environmental Protection for Kagyu Monasteries and Centres, held at Vajra Vidhya Institute in Saranath, March 21st -25th, 2009. Representatives from 26 monasteries and nunneries in India, Nepal and Bhutan attended the conference. Deki Chungyalpa was the conference facilitator.
His Holiness was presented with the original painting which was reproduced as the cover HHK’s new Environmental Guidelines booklet. After that, His Holiness made an address explaining the importance and the goals of the conference as well as the relationship between the environment and Buddhism. His Holiness’ address was followed by an address by Khenchen Yongzin Thrangu Rinpoche.
The main goals of the conference are:
- To train senior monks from Kagyu monasteries on environmental issues in the Himalayan and the Tibetan plateau.
- To develop environmental activities addressing these issues that monasteries could implement.
- To develop preliminary work-plan for these projects and set up a process.
