VENERABLE RINPOCHE’S LONG ASSOCIATION WITH MONGOLIA

In 1995, Venerable Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche accompanied His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on a visit to Mongolia. After the visit, His Holiness asked Venerable Rinpoche to teach and offer support to the Mongolian people, who were facing widespread poverty and hardship following the collapse of the Soviet Union. In response, Venerable Rinpoche committed himself to a dual mission: the spiritual revival of Tibetan Buddhism, Mongolia’s traditional religion, and humanitarian assistance to those most in need.

THE FOUNDING OF ASRAL NGO AND KUNCHAB JAMPA LING

Thirty years ago, two primary institutions were established as part of this vision:

  • Kunchab Jampa Ling Buddhist Centre, to support Buddhist study and spiritual practice.
  • Asral Charity NGO, to address the needs of impoverished families, particularly vulnerable women and children.

Asral NGO focuses on improving access to education, vocational skills training, and health and nutrition programmes—particularly for single mothers and their children. Among its key initiatives is the Hot Meal Project, which provides daily nutritious meals and holistic support to children in need.

Since 1995, Venerable Rinpoche has visited Mongolia annually, offering Buddhist teachings and engaging with local communities, including  prisons, orphanages, and schools.

HIGHLIGHTS OF VENERABLE RINPOCHE’S 2025 VISIT TO MONGOLIA

This year, Venerable Rinpoche arrived in Mongolia with his personal attendant, Younam, and student and friend, Heidi Blesi, from Switzerland. He was warmly received by:

  • Venerable Geshe Lharampa Ngawang Tsultrim, Dharma Teacher of Kunchab Jampa Ling Buddhist Centre
  • Board members of Asral NGO and Kunchab Jampa Ling Buddhist Centre: Ueli Minder, Ugaanna, Chimelham and Tuul
  • Mrs. Burmaa, Director of Asral NGO and Kunchab Jampa Ling
  • Long-standing students and supporters

At the Asral NGO/Kunchab Jampa Ling Buddhist Centre, students and friends gathered to welcome Venerable Rinpoche.

MONGOLIAN WELCOMES VENERABLE RINPOCHE

A Long-Life Prayer Ceremony and Mandala Offering were performed in his honour. Rinpoche delivered a brief teaching on how to live a meaningful life and expressed sincere gratitude to all individuals and organisations that have continued to support his work over the past three decades. A popular Mongolian online news platform interviewed Venerable Rinpoche for an article highlighting his life and humanitarian work in Mongolia, particularly over the last thirty years.

A WARM WELCOME IN GACHUURT

Asral NGO operates a centre in Gachuurt, a former Soviet-era commune 30 km north of Ulaanbaatar. The Centre plays a vital role in supporting the local community, with a particular focus on training residents in organic vegetable cultivation as a way of promoting self-sufficiency and sustainable livelihoods.

The Venerable Rinpoche and his team were warmly welcomed by local families. Many residents proudly displayed fresh produce cultivated through skills learned at the Centre and expressed heartfelt gratitude to Asral NGO for its ongoing support.

The local families gathered to receive blessings and prayers from Venerable Rinpoche, creating a day of spiritual and community unity.

NEW SOLAR PANELS IN GAACHUURT

Roisín Ní Ghairbhith, a long-standing friend and supporter of Venerable Rinpoche from Ireland, volunteered for a month earlier this year with Asral NGO. She successfully raised €7,704.72 to fund the installation of solar panels, which will provide a sustainable source of electricity for Asral’s organic vegetable cultivation and training programme. This funding also enabled the renovation of two worn-out polytunnels, improving the infrastructure needed for year-round training and production. Her efforts will make a meaningful and lasting impact on the Centre’s capacity to promote sustainable livelihoods and food security within the local community.

 

SUPPORT BY IRISH AID

With funding from the Irish Government through Irish Aid, Asral has made several infrastructure improvements in Gachuurt, including:

 

  • The renovation of the local kindergarten
  • The provision of two traditional gers (Mongolian tents) to accommodate the teaching of children of nomadic herders
  • The upgrade of the children’s hostel with new kitchen equipment, 60 beds and bedding, increasing enrolment capacity from 166 to 220
  • The modernisation of the local hospital’s kitchen facilities.

These initiatives have significantly improved the educational and living conditions for children and families in the area, reflecting Asral NGO’s long-term commitment to rural community development in Mongolia.

 

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Venerable Rinpoche and the team visited several families living in the shanty areas of Ulaanbaatar, where conditions are extremely difficult. These families are among the recipients of the humanitarian aid provided by Asral NGO. Many households are led by single parents, who often have limited or no access to stable income or healthcare. Several family members are suffering from serious illnesses and urgently require basic services, including food, medical care, and safe shelter. The visit served as a powerful reminder of the ongoing need for targeted, compassionate support to reduce extreme poverty and hardship in these vulnerable communities.

 

VISIT BY ESTEEMED SPIRITUAL LEADERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Venerable Telo Rinpoche and Venerable Thuksay Rinpoche, both esteemed spiritual leaders based in Mongolia, visited Asral NGO to pay their respects and convey their sincere support and appreciation for Venerable Rinpoche’s thirty years of dedicated spiritual guidance and humanitarian service to the people of Mongolia. Both Rinpoches expressed deep admiration for his unwavering commitment to the revival of Buddhist values and the uplifting of vulnerable communities across the country.

DISTRICT GOVERNOR’S OFFICE WELCOME

The newly appointed Governor and staff of District No. 9 formally received Venerable Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche at their newly constructed administrative office. The Governor expressed heartfelt gratitude to Venerable Rinpoche for his decades of continuous support for vulnerable members of the community, particularly women and children.

In response, Venerable Rinpoche expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome and gave a brief overview of the humanitarian and spiritual activities carried out by Asral NGO across Mongolia. He urged the Governor and district authorities to work closely with Asral to address the urgent needs of the most disadvantaged communities.

The visit ended with Venerable Rinpoche offering prayers and blessings to the Governor and all members of the district administration in acknowledgement of their service to the community.

ASRAL COLLABORATION WITH MEDICAL CENTRE

Venerable Rinpoche visited the local medical clinic serving the shanty areas of District No. 9, where he was warmly received by Dr. Burmaa, the clinic’s director, along with medical staff, patients, and community members. The clinic is also housed in the newly built administrative office.

Asral NGO has maintained a long-standing partnership with the clinic, collaborating on various initiatives to improve public health for vulnerable populations. These include providing medical equipment to the clinic, conducting health workshops, and organising educational sessions at the Asral Centre, focusing on promoting healthy, safe, and hygienic living practices.

Dr. Burmaa gave a brief report highlighting the significant role Asral NGO has played in supporting the clinic’s mission to provide accessible and improved healthcare services to the economically disadvantaged community. The population of the shanty area has grown significantly, increasing from 6000 to nearly 9000 residents in recent years. Data from the local medical clinic indicates that around 30 per cent of newborns in the district are diagnosed with neurological and brain-related conditions, including autism, epilepsy, and other disorders.

Dr. Burmaa expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Venerable Rinpoche and Asral NGO for their ongoing cooperation and unwavering support over the years.

Venerable Rinpoche, in turn, thanked Dr. Burmaa and her team for their dedicated collaboration with Asral, reaffirming his commitment to supporting the clinic’s vital work. He encouraged the staff to continue their efforts in public health education and service delivery. The visit concluded with Venerable Rinpoche offering prayers and blessings to the clinic’s staff, patients, and members of the local community.

UPCOMING FUNDRAISING CONCERT

Hurd Rock Band, one of Mongolia’s most renowned and celebrated bands, together with several distinguished Mongolian artists, has graciously offered to organise a fundraising concert in honour of the 30th anniversary of Venerable Rinpoche’s visit to Mongolia. This special event, entitled “Compassionate Heart,” will take place at the Independence Palace Hall in Ulaanbaatar on 25 August 2025, commencing at 5:00 PM.

The concert is both a tribute to Venerable Rinpoche’s three decades of spiritual and humanitarian service in Mongolia and a charitable initiative to support his ongoing work. All proceeds from the concert will be donated to Asral Charity, which has been working under Venerable Rinpoche’s guidance since 1995 to serve vulnerable individuals and communities across Mongolia.

PEOPLE CONTINUE TO VISIT

Venerable Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche continues to graciously receive devotees and well-wishers at Asral/Kunchab Jampa Ling Centre on a daily basis, offering spiritual guidance, blessings, and prayers with unwavering compassion and dedication.