Dear fellow pilgrims,
What a year in 2012 for Nekorpa projects in Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. And we are excited to announce a new project in northern India for next year.
Please join us on our journey to protect and improve sacred landscapes in 2013, and beyond.
With your help, Nekorpa is entering our fourth year of work. We have built partnerships, started innovative programs and established a strong network of spiritual friends and supporters. And we hope you will continue to support the preservation of pilgrimage sites with a tax-deductible donation today.
What has Nekorpa been up to in 2012? And what are we planning for next year?
Nekorpa’s most ambition project of the last three years has been at Sri Pada—Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka. At the summit of Sri Pada, there is a “sacred footprint” in the rock. Buddhists hold it to be the footprint of the Buddha, Hindus that of Shiva, and in the Christian and Muslim traditions that of Adam. Nekorpa’s comprehensive plastic clean-up program has been on-going along the two principal pilgrimage routes and is integrated with school and environmental programs about ‘spiritual climbing.’ The pilgrimage guidebook for Sri Pada is scheduled for publication in 2013.
We continue to support the upkeep of the stupa-reliquary in far Eastern Tibet that was constructed to honor the life and teachings of Tertön Sogyal Lerab Lingpa, a 19th century mystic and meditation master. Nekorpa plans to publish a translation of a short biography of Tertön Sogyal and guidebook to the area in 2013.
Our collaboration in Bhutan with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) at Taksang Hermitage continues to get attention. This year, WWF published our ‘In the Lair of the Tiger’ article. We have continued our work with the Bhutanese government to protect the sacred mountain climb to the hermitage and to promote “green pilgrimage,” which has included planning of a brick pathway to combat erosion, promote proper sanitation, and publish a pilgrimage guidebook.
At the holy pilgrimage sites of Pharping, in Nepal, Nekorpa continued the community-wide Zero Waste campaign. Following a challenging first year of awareness- building and cleanup, the project received the donation of a plot of land for a recycling center and public toilets—which will be the focus of the project into 2013.
Nekorpa is looking forward to working in 2013 in the village of Sankassa in India, home to a pilgrimage site significant in the life of the Buddha. You can read more about the project here.
Please support Nekorpa so we can continue to protect pilgrimage places for spiritual pilgrims, practitioners, tradition holders, and indeed, the world.
Please consider making a donation, dedicating prayers, and making aspirations to benefit Nekorpa’s work. We thank you.
Over 90% of all donations are utilized directly for projects at sacred pilgrimage sites. We have no paid employees and rely on volunteer and in-kind support to carry out our mission. Nekorpa is a registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit in the US.
Namaste and prayers for peace along your pilgrimage!
Matteo Pistono & Josh Elmore
Founders, Nekorpa nekorpa.org
Nekorpa
1893 Country Road 68
Nederland, CO 80466