The Search for a New Home

Soon, with the influx of refugees, the Monastery reached full capacity. Because it was in a restricted zone it was difficult to move the monks around to different Centers. It was concluded that a new home for Gyuto was needed; one that would be much bigger to accommodate the needs of a growing population of monks and with a more accessible location.

His Holiness was consulted and he suggested looking in Nepal. Ven. Jampa participated in the search in Nepal and over a period of months many possible sites were reviewed. However the Nepalese Communist Party was growing in influence and they did not welcome a Tibetan Monastery in Nepal and newly arrived Tibetans were not comfortable being in an area which was potentially unstable and possibly under communist control. With this information, His Holiness then suggested the Darjeeling and Kalimpong areas. However, good land was either not available or the parcels of land were too small for the needs of the new monastery. His Holiness suggested that Gyuto look for a location to suit their own purpose. At this time a wealthy Japanese publisher, Mr. Kitamura, who had sponsored work on Gyurmey Monastery, indicated he might be willing to offer sponsorship to Gyuto. At a meeting in Delhi he was told that it would take 10 million Indian Rupees to build the new Monastery. Later, from Japan, Mr. Kitamura called to say he had raised 50 million but that the sponsors wanted to see the site.

Gyuto quickly decided to find land in the Dharamsala area to be close to His Holiness's residence and the Japanese sponsors approved the location. His Holiness sent his attendant to look at the land as he could not see it from his residence with his binoculars. By 1996 the principle buildings were complete and His Holiness consecrated the new Gyuto Monastery with many of the sponsors in attendance. Due to a downswing in the Japanese economy the sponsors could not fund the completion of the Monastery and so the dormitories, clinics, kitchens, and guest houses were left incomplete. As a result of many donations and the Gyuto monks going on tour, slowly the funds were raised and slowly the Monastery has been brought to near completion. It is expected that the great move of the monks from their Monastery in Bomdila to Dharamsala will occur in 2004.

Of special note is that since his arrival in India in 2000, His Holiness the Karmapa has been in residence at the Gyuto Monastery in the Ramoche Temple.