Meeting with Nepal Buddhist Federation Representatives July 19 2009

Name	Designation	Contact number and Email
1. Norbu Sherpa	NBF Secretary Nginma Sang – Sect	9841663738/ nurbusherpa7@yahoo.com
2. Thubten Jikdol	NBF Gen. Secretary Kapan Gumpa – Sec	9841683794/ jikdol@yahoo.com
3. Khenpo Choki	Pullahari Monastery	980229964/ pullahari@jamgonkongtrul.org
4. Tashi Phuntsok	Dilyak Monastery Member – NBF	9841111438/ Tashi_p14@hotmail.com
5. Karma Samdup	SMD Vice principle Teacher (environment division head) – Thrangu Monastery	k_samdup37@yahoo.com 98510-33594;4470028
6. Karma Lama	Dilyak Gompa Monk	Ntcf2001@yahoo.com 4478091: 9841-202412
7. Kunchok Dorje	Thrangu Mons Thrangu Mon School environment teacher	9841-565306
9. Karma Jangchup	“	9841-744197
10. Karma Gedun	“	9841-90663
11. Ghana S Gurung	WWF Nepal	ghana.gurung@wwfnepa..org 98510-33839: 44345820 ext 044
12. Dekila Chungyalpa	WWF- US	dekila.chungyalpa@wwfus.org 001- 202-4685716
13. Diwakar Chapagain	WWF Nepal	diwakar.chapagain@wwfnepal.org 9851-100201: 4434970 ext 008
14. Karma Lhamo	Thrangu Tara Abbey	9841-209180
15. Phuntsok Dolma	“	9841-5474
16. Dawa Dolma	“	9841-524053
17. Karma Namgye
18. Karma Wangyur –	Karma Leksheyling Institute	9841-..: 4284471

Agenda:

Presentation by Dekila on the partnership initiatives with Kagyu monasteries in and Nepal.
Briefing by Ghana Gurung on activities of WWF Nepal
Develop understanding for partnership

Name	Designation	Contact number and Email
1. Norbu Sherpa	NBF Secretary Nginma Sang – Sect	9841663738/ nurbusherpa7@yahoo.com
2. Thubten Jikdol	NBF Gen. Secretary Kapan Gumpa – Sec	9841683794/ jikdol@yahoo.com
3. Khenpo Choki	Pullahari Monastery	980229964/ pullahari@jamgonkongtrul.org
4. Tashi Phuntsok	Dilyak Monastery Member – NBF	9841111438/ Tashi_p14@hotmail.com
5. Karma Samdup	SMD Vice principle Teacher (environment division head) – Thrangu Monastery	k_samdup37@yahoo.com 98510-33594;4470028
6. Karma Lama	Dilyak Gompa Monk	Ntcf2001@yahoo.com 4478091: 9841-202412
7. Kunchok Dorje	Thrangu Mons Thrangu Mon School environment teacher	9841-565306
9. Karma Jangchup	“	9841-744197
10. Karma Gedun	“	9841-90663
11. Ghana S Gurung	WWF Nepal	ghana.gurung@wwfnepa..org 98510-33839: 44345820 ext 044
12. Dekila Chungyalpa	WWF- US	dekila.chungyalpa@wwfus.org 001- 202-4685716
13. Diwakar Chapagain	WWF Nepal	diwakar.chapagain@wwfnepal.org 9851-100201: 4434970 ext 008
14. Karma Lhamo	Thrangu Tara Abbey	9841-209180
15. Phuntsok Dolma	“	9841-5474
16. Dawa Dolma	“	9841-524053
17. Karma Namgye
18. Karma Wangyur –	Karma Leksheyling Institute	9841-..: 4284471

Agenda:

Presentation by Dekila on the partnership initiatives with Kagyu monasteries in and Nepal.
Briefing by Ghana Gurung on activities of WWF Nepal
Develop understanding for partnership

Remarks by Monastery representatives:

Norbu:

· Interaction in Nepal after India is good beginning for partnership with monasteries.

Lamas/monasteries have not destroyed the environment but they have paid less attention. Gumpas are also not built on agricultural or productive land.
Deforestation and encroachment is taking place under political protection and Lamas are not involved in any of this act.
BUT – Buddhists need to be more aware of the environment, particularly climate change, waste management (e.g., plastic use/ban); and deforestation. Industrial countries are responsible for greenhouse gas emission and therefore should be pressurized behave responsibly (e.g., international tourist/trekkers are mostly literate not educated from environment protection point of view). We need to promote alternative energy use such as biogas and ban plastics. Buddha was born in Nepal but followers are not being born (we need to go to study in Bharanashi – India due to lack of Buddhist university in Nepal). Buddhists have been marginalized by the state. We are committed to protect the environment and partner with WWF.

Thupten:

Nepal Buddhist Federation has plan of action and priorities for environment protection

As Kagyu parampa (sampradaya) we need to campaign to scale up the nature conservation issues in four paramparadays (major Buddhist sects) and bring other religious groups. Environment is our life support system
Our Actions:

- Use prasad (Tshok) – with no/less use of plastics

- Educate in environment, particularly greening the monastic environment

- Held consultations on Climate Change impact on environment in partnership with Janpan Buddhist Economic Forum in Lumbini and Kathmandu with aim to bring climate change awareness among the Buddhists/lamas.

- Plan to hold at least five national and one international conferences in “Buddhism and Environment”. We lack fund/resources to organize such events and therefore would like to partner with WWF and other like minded institutions.

- Educate, train and implement no plastic use, forestation, waste management. To implement these actions the key persons at monasteries are “changzo (head admin/secretary) and Nyerpa (logistical head).

- Promote Buddhism in form of Culture/Philosophy not as a religion.

Khenpo Choki:

- Support the remarks made by two earlier speakers

- Committed to implement 108 environment protection actions called by Karmapa.

- People scare of monastery deities rather the laws and rules in many places due to cultural faith (eg protection forest).

- Taking care of environment is not a new but the challenge is growing as we start living in growing cities. The biggest challenge is political transition

- Kapan people cut tree for fuel wood for subsistence but do not plant.

- This age is era of plastics therefore it should ban/minimize it and WWF can help us to manage garbage (e.g., not to burn but recycle and compost).

- Rain water harvest technology can be implemented in the monasteries

Dekila –NBF to be called for October India meeting which will also focus on rain water harvest.

Karma Namgyal:

- Plastics use is managed well in Rumtek monastery Sikkim. We can learn from Rumtek and also implement solid waste compost.

- Need to pressure government for better waste management

Karma Wangyur:

– Kitchen waste is easy to manage through composting but plastic is hard to manage. I am implementing the 108 environment actions called by Karmapa and band plastic us in the monastery

– We need to promote plant three trees if we cut one tree

– Lamas should lead by example by demonstrating environmentally responsible behaviors

– All Rhino poachers and traders are mostly protected by political leaders therefore we need to find ways to influence such protection

– We need establish Buddhist University to promote Buddhism teaching. The state has marginalized Buddhists.

Karma Samdup, Namo Buddha

- Wildlife protection to be supported ; Environment protection is must and the work of WWF is appreciated

- 1998 on wards, Tree plantation has started in Namo Buddha monastery. Mediation centers need good environment.

- Our school has over 100 students with “save environment club” to bring environmental awareness. Our guru always teaches the importance of environment and we conduct clean up campaign and use compost bins, separate waste (degradable, non-biodegradation, composting – three plastic bins installed in school and monastery).

- We are implementing 108 environment actions called by Karmapa, and committed continue environment conservation work called by high Gurus as the venerable Gurus energize us to move forward.

- Our government always says yes to actions we call but hardly implement (good in paper/speech but poor in implementation), and therefore we need to take lead. We should celebrate environment day and other events as national day.

- We need to ban plastics use even though it is difficult to enforce. “Garera nahune ra hidera napugne thau chaina”or threre is nothing we can not do and no place we can’t reach if we are committed.

- Since most of the monks (most of the monasteries don’t serve meat) are now turned into geveterian, we should campaign for “vegetarian lifestyle” which will help to protect all forms of animals including domestic animals. With teaching from Guru, I have given up eating meat since 1998 - Long live Guru

Tashi:

· We have planted trees but we help from WWF which kind of trees to be planted from conservation values. We need to plant trees that can store water, produce more oxygen and invite wildlife, specially birds.

Karma Gendun:

- We are implementing 108 actions called by Karmapa

- Each parampara has teaching which should include environment issues

- NBF should take leadership role to deal with environmental issues at monistic level (dress should reflect Buddhist philosophy), national and internal level. We are committed to follow the guidance of NBF.

Karma Shymphen – Karma Legsheling

- NBF can pressure government to support the conservation work of monasteries, so each monastery and individual monks can become environmentally responsible examples. We have already made efforts to implement 108 actions called by Karmapa.

- We don’t have land to plant trees but started planting trees in government land or others areas which allowed us to plant trees

- We have planted trees and conduct clean up camps in Swoyambhu and Namo Buddha

Karma Rapgay – Dabsang Gonpa

- We are committed to implement the 108 environment actions called by Karmapa

Understanding Developed/Decisions made:

NBF could take leadership role to deal with environmental issues at monistic level
Environmental actions (water, forest, waste and wildlife issues; 108 actions called by Karmapa) can be implement and monitored in Monasteries by Gumpa sub-committees
Campaign to turn Buddhist monks into vegetarian and push for greater coverage among the followers through teaching of Gurus and events
Organize national and international conferences on Buddhism and environment, and climate change impacts. Hold international workshop in Lumbini.
NBF representative to participate in October meeting to be held in India - Rain water harvesting.
Monasteries need technical support for greening the monasteries and install rain water harvesting system
WWF help monasteries to identify seedling/trees that have greater water storage and oxygen releasing capacity, and could attract wildlife, e.g., birds.