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Finding Joy through Serving a Buddhist Monastery in Mongolia
Written by UPF-Mongolia
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Cleaning, painting, and planting trees at Mongolia’s principal center of Buddhist learning attracted hundreds of volunteers for Global Peace Festival-Mongolia’s “Service Party Day” on April 27, 2008.
Organizers are sponsoring service days once a month to contribute to the development and prosperity of the country, stimulate people to work for the public good, keep the environment clean, and help young people experience the joy of offering selfless service. The setting fit the purpose of the "service party day" in Ulaanbaatar, since the Gandan Monastery’s Tibetan name, Gandantegchinlen, means "Great Place of Complete Joy.”
The day opened with the national anthem and prayers offered by monks from the monastery. The CEO of the Khan Bank, Peter Morrow, shared his reflections about the project, followed by performances by D. Odsuren and B. Khongor from the “Khalil” group. Miss University Mongolia 2007, G. Erdenechime, sang the National Long Song.
Speakers and performers participated in the tree-planting, along with honored guests: the head monks of the central Gandan Temple; top Asian model D. Bolormaa; the state-honored actor and actress P. Tserendagva and family; Mister University Mongolia 2006. B. Enkhbayar; the head of the Production Department of the Mongolian National Broadcaster, Ch. Battsengel; and the head of the Corporate Customer Department of the Mongol Post Bank, O. Erdenejargal and family.
Participants divided into three groups and worked in the Central Gandantemple, Badma Yoga Temple, and Bakula Renbuuchi Betub Temple. Substantial work was accomplished. In the course of the project 10 tons of garbage were removed, 108 trees planted, and 2 kilometers of fences washed and painted. People were appointed to take care of the trees, because newly-planted trees need constant care in Mongolia’s harsh steppe climate.
Interactive games and music rounded out the day, with lively performances by “End of Zone” and the hip hop group “Restoration.” Participants were invited to reflect on the experience of the day. "The development of a nation starts with small initiatives and cooperative projects," one person commented.
Ulaanbaatar was founded in 1639 as a Buddhist monastery center, and Tibetan Buddhism is the predominant religion practiced in Mongolia. The Gandan monastery was established in 1835 by the Fifth Jebtsundamba, then Mongolia's highest reincarnated lama. It became the principal center of Buddhist learning in Mongolia. Restored after 1990, the Tibetan-style building features a 26.5-meter-high statue of Migjid Janraisig, a bodhisattva also known as Avalokitesvara. There are more than 150 monks in residence.
The first “Service Party Day” involved cleaning the banks of the river flowing through the city; volunteers focused on the section of the river from the US Embassy to the Lion Bridge. An additional cleaning project took place in Darkhan, in northern Mongolia.
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