Last March, when Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche visited the Yolmo site, he stood with compass in hand, envisioning a campus where 600 children from the Himalayan region would one day learn and grow. He imagined vibrant courtyards, peaceful classrooms, and gardens where children could explore, reflect, and flourish. Beyond bricks and walls, Rinpoche envisioned a space where awareness, compassion, and joy would be woven into every aspect of daily life.
This February, that vision touched the earth. On 16 February, a Riwo Sangchö puja was performed at the Yolmo campus project site, marking a spiritually significant beginning to the next phase of construction. At Rinpoche’s kind recommendation, Lama Tsering Dendup was bestowed the honor of leading the puja, officiating the ceremony with reverence and wisdom. Traditionally offered at the beginning of new endeavors, Riwo Sangchö is a ritual of smoke, offerings, and prayer designed to clear obstacles, invite harmony, and bless the work ahead.
The day carried special significance. Falling on an Earth-Water day (Sa-Chu) in the lunar calendar, it symbolized stability and adaptability, qualities essential for both the physical foundations of the school and the growth of young minds. In the Tibetan tradition, Earth provides steadiness while Water allows flexibility and flow, making it a perfectly auspicious day to begin a project meant to nurture and inspire.
The ritual itself was a vivid experience of mindfulness and intention. Through cleansing offerings and ceremonial ground-breaking, the construction site was honored and consecrated. Monks’ chants resonated across the crisp mountain air, juniper smoke curled skyward, and hands were folded in prayer. Every gesture, every chant, reflected respect for the land and the purpose it will serve.
Friends from Yongey Foundation and Tergar Retreats joined to witness the ceremony, their presence adding warmth and community to the sacred space. Conversations were hushed, small smiles passed between friends, and the mindful attention of everyone present amplified the serene energy of the day. The event concluded with a symbolic ground-breaking performed by Lama Dendup, the contractor, and the construction director, a tangible step from prayer to practice.
To our patrons, supporters, and well-wishers, we offer heartfelt thanks, your support is helping lay foundations that are both physical and spiritual. Before classrooms rise, intention has been set. Before children arrive, the land has been honored. The seeds of this school, planted through Rinpoche’s vision and nurtured by our collective care, have taken root.
From sacred smoke to solid stone, the journey has begun. A few ladybugs lingered on the site, tiny messengers of luck and blessings for the year ahead, reminding us that even the smallest beings can be part of this auspicious beginning.
