Akong Tulku Memorial Soup Kitchen 2024
During his escape from Tibet, Akong Rinpoche almost died of starvation, and he made a promise that if he managed to survive, one of his activities would be to give food to whoever is hungry. True to his word, he launched projects to provide food to those in need in many countries around the world.
In 2006 some students of the 2nd Akong Tulku visited the Kagyu Monlam in Bodhgaya for the first time. They were inspired by the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, the magnificent Monlam gathering, the prayers of vast aspirations that resonate throughout our world: they were also struck by the poverty and suffering they witnessed on the streets of Bodhgaya. As they asked themselves, “What would Akong Rinpoche do if he was here?” the idea of offering food to the people of Bodhgaya was born.
With unwavering support and guidance from Lama Chodrak and his wonderful team, the Akong Tulku Memorial Soup Kitchen has continued to thrive and has become part of the humanitarian activity of the Kagyu Monlam known as Compassion in Action Projects.
Each day during the Monlam a team of cooks from Tergar Monastery has prepared rice, dahl and vegetables for the local people. Everyone is welcome. There are lots of children (who really love the oranges!), rickshaw drivers, men on polio bikes, people on sticks and crutches, elderly women, mums and babies, dads with their young children too. All who come are served by volunteers from all over the world who are happy to have the opportunity to express their aspirations to benefit others through Compassion in Action. Those who give and those who receive are all nourished by the experience of meeting in a spirit of friendship and respect.
This year the Soup Kitchen was blessed with a visit from Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. He was accompanied by Drupon Dechen Rinpoche, Shelri Tulku and Yulmo Tulku .
As soon as he arrived, Rinpoche got involved in helping to serve food, meeting people, touching hearts and minds with his open and joyful presence. The cooks were delighted to be able to serve the food they had cooked to Rinpoche and Bhikkhu Pragya Deep, the highly respected leader of the All-India Bhikkhu Sangha.
The Soup Kitchen is dedicated to the limitless compassionate activity of His Holiness Gyalwang Karmapa and all Kagyu Lineage holders. The project is supported by the Hart Knowe Trust in co-operation with the Kagyupa International Trust.
Vin Harris, co-founder of the Hart Knowe Trust, said:
“I am really pleased that this year my old friend Pim Willems from Netherlands was able to look after the volunteers. So many lives have been transformed by the kindness and wisdom of Akong Rinpoche. Helping others and working together feels like a wonderful way for his students and friends to maintain our connection with him through continuing his endless compassionate activity”.
