The Re-Establishment of Shankh Khiid

Shankh Khiid is one of the oldest and most important monasteries in Mongolia.
The great Zanabazar founded this monastery in 1648 at the age of 13. He went to Tibet when he was 15 years old during the time of the great 5th Dalai Lama. The Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chogen , gave him the name of Jetsun Dhampa, and ordained him.

On his return he began to build monasteries, to teach and developed great skills as a sculptor and artist. Some of his work, which is exquisite, can still be seen in the museums and monasteries in Ulaanbaatar.

He was born into an ancient family, his father being the Khan of the area. It is said that he started to say prayers within the Gelugpa tradition without a tutor when he was very young. Originally he founded a ger temple, which moved with the nomadic community of the area before he went to Tibet.

Shank Khiid was a large debating monastery and many of the best scholars came there.
It covered a large area of land and in the complex there were eleven temples. The present temple, which is being restored, was one of them called Noyon Hamp. It was built originally between 1710 and 1790. There were many important images and paintings there at that time. There was a beautiful image of Vajrapani which Altan Khan had brought back from Tibet. On his visit Altan Khan said that he needed to bring the best monk back to Mongolia. However he thought the one chosen for him was too ugly in this life to come to Mongolia. It is said the monk did come in a future life as Zanabazar.
Shank Khiid was eventually destroyed between 1932 and 1937 during the communist purge. There was no system of registration at that time but it is estimated that there where approximately 1,500 Gelong monks, and 2,500 Getsul and Rabjung. The Gelong monks were all shot, Getsul and others were sent to labour camps for at least 10years. Young monks were taken away and made to work making boots.

In 1990 Mongolia became free to practise religion again. Some monks had secretly practised the teachings of the Buddha over the years and it was these old monks that now began to re-establish the monastery. At the beginning one old monk became Abbott, but he only lived for one year.

Shanks young Abbott, Ven. Burbsuren, has just spend two years in India studying at Drepung Gomang University and returned this summer (2005) to take over the running of the monastery again.
There is concern for the local population who have no work and the young people are leaving. This leaves the monastery even more isolated and short of funds and help. We had a meeting with the monastery committee to look at ways of funding for the monastery and of bringing some work into the local community.

He now has the awesome task of not only restoring the buildings, but of revitalising the teachings of the Buddha within this historic monastery.

The monastery is presently sponsored by local people, but it needs considerably more help if it is to survive.
Panchen Otrul Rinpoche has promised to give as much support as he can.

At present water is coming through the roof and the walls are deteriorating. Some of the original artefacts kept hidden over the years were given back to the monastery when the restoration started. Now because of the great poverty in the area, many have been stolen to be old in Ulaanbaatar.

The monks at present have to live outside the monastery. There is no hostel for them.
Money is urgently needed to stop the deterioration of the present building and also to build a hostel for the monks.

Although time cannot go backwards, it is important for the future of Mongolian people to regain some of their cultural and spiritual inheritance.
The monasteries and their Buddhist religion are very much a part of this.

At the request of the people of Shank Khiid,
we are appealing for donations to help with the physical rebuilding of the monastery.

Please contact us immediately if you can help.

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Hurjitt.

Hurjitt's young Abbott desperately needs $5,000 to put a roof on a rapidly deteriorating building which is half built and cannot now be completed through lack of money. He says the cost breakdown for the temple is 18million Tugrik (8million labour, 10million materials). He says he has raised 4 million. Panchen Otrul Rinpoche offered $5000 in the summer of 2005, which leaves
8 million Tugriks more to be obtained..

The $5000 would be enough to put the roof on for the winter, but the remainder of the temple would be unfinished until money is found.
Rinpoche wants his Asral Charityto go ahead and fund the roof and get it on before the winter - then it gives extra time to raise money for the interior.
He is a very dedicated young man and Rinpoche visits Hurjitt each year.

If you would like to help, please contact us.

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