Shangpa Foundation 2026
A Gift of Compassion: Supporting Kirtipur Hospital
20 July 2026 (Canada)
In July, Kirtipur Hospital, located below my temple, Kirtipur Gompa, reached out to me with an urgent request for a second-hand dialysis machine.
What touched me deeply was that dialysis at the hospital is provided free of charge to patients. They are asked to pay only a small fee for the tubing. For those who depend on regular dialysis simply to remain alive, this service can make the difference between life and death. Yet without a functioning machine, even free treatment cannot reach those who need it.
The hospital explained that the need was urgent. They had even placed an appeal in the local newspaper seeking financial support, but unfortunately, there was no response. The cost of a suitable second-hand dialysis machine was approximately NPR 1,800,000, or around SGD 15,000–18,000, depending on the exchange rate.
When I shared this need with my disciples, I was deeply moved by their generosity and compassion. Their response went beyond what I had hoped for, and more than the amount needed for the dialysis machine was raised within several hours. This generosity is a beautiful expression of dana paramita, the perfection of generosity. In the Buddhist path, giving is not simply about offering material things. It is an opportunity to lessen suffering, to cultivate compassion, and to remember our shared responsibility for the wellbeing of others.
20 August 2026 (Kathmandu, Nepal)
A month later, I personally visited Kirtipur Hospital to hand over the donations for the dialysis machine.
Because the generosity of my disciples exceeded the amount required for the machine, the surplus funds were also offered to the hospital's Burn Skin Foundation. The hospital has a Burns, Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery Department, with doctors specializing in the care and treatment of patients suffering from serious burns and related conditions.
During my visit, I was able to see the hospital and meet those involved in such important work. It was meaningful to hand over the donations personally and to know that the generosity of the community will support not only dialysis patients, but also those receiving care for burn injuries and requiring reconstructive treatment.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all my disciples and supporters who responded with such kindness. What began as a request for one dialysis machine became an offering of support to many people facing suffering and hardship.
May this act of generosity bring benefit to those in need. May the dialysis machine help sustain precious lives, may the support for burn care bring healing and dignity to those who suffer, and may the merit of everyone's generosity become a cause for greater compassion and wellbeing.
With compassion, we can serve to relieve the suffering of others, while also transforming ourselves through kindness, generosity, and selfless action.
Shangpa Rinpoche Shangpa Foundation
20 July 2026 (Canada)
In July, Kirtipur Hospital, located below my temple, Kirtipur Gompa, reached out to me with an urgent request for a second-hand dialysis machine.
What touched me deeply was that dialysis at the hospital is provided free of charge to patients. They are asked to pay only a small fee for the tubing. For those who depend on regular dialysis simply to remain alive, this service can make the difference between life and death. Yet without a functioning machine, even free treatment cannot reach those who need it.
The hospital explained that the need was urgent. They had even placed an appeal in the local newspaper seeking financial support, but unfortunately, there was no response. The cost of a suitable second-hand dialysis machine was approximately NPR 1,800,000, or around SGD 15,000–18,000, depending on the exchange rate.
When I shared this need with my disciples, I was deeply moved by their generosity and compassion. Their response went beyond what I had hoped for, and more than the amount needed for the dialysis machine was raised within several hours. This generosity is a beautiful expression of dana paramita, the perfection of generosity. In the Buddhist path, giving is not simply about offering material things. It is an opportunity to lessen suffering, to cultivate compassion, and to remember our shared responsibility for the wellbeing of others.
20 August 2026 (Kathmandu, Nepal)
A month later, I personally visited Kirtipur Hospital to hand over the donations for the dialysis machine.
Because the generosity of my disciples exceeded the amount required for the machine, the surplus funds were also offered to the hospital's Burn Skin Foundation. The hospital has a Burns, Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery Department, with doctors specializing in the care and treatment of patients suffering from serious burns and related conditions.
During my visit, I was able to see the hospital and meet those involved in such important work. It was meaningful to hand over the donations personally and to know that the generosity of the community will support not only dialysis patients, but also those receiving care for burn injuries and requiring reconstructive treatment.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all my disciples and supporters who responded with such kindness. What began as a request for one dialysis machine became an offering of support to many people facing suffering and hardship.
May this act of generosity bring benefit to those in need. May the dialysis machine help sustain precious lives, may the support for burn care bring healing and dignity to those who suffer, and may the merit of everyone's generosity become a cause for greater compassion and wellbeing.
With compassion, we can serve to relieve the suffering of others, while also transforming ourselves through kindness, generosity, and selfless action.
Shangpa Rinpoche Shangpa Foundation
