Upgraded Internet Stability for Lishu, Menri and Triten Norbutse

An Interview with Oliver Wirtz and Florian Bruckmann

For many years the internet connection at Lishu Institute near Dehradun, India was not reliable. But during the first online retreat from Lishu in December 2020, everything went smoothly. Ton Bisscheroux talked with Oliver Wirtz and Florian Bruckmann, both Ligmincha Germany board members, who were instrumental in making this work.

When did the idea come up to provide Lishu Institute with a stable internet connection?

Florian: In 2019, we had organized the European tour for Geshe Sherap Lodoe and Dr. Sangmo Yangri, the two Lishu teachers, and since then we have developed a joyful, warm relationship with them. In 2020, while the Covid pandemic raged across the world, teachings were offered online. We wanted to organize an online retreat with the Lishu teachers, but it proved to be a big challenge because the internet connection is not stable in India. And since we already had a lot of online retreats in 2020, we chose to do it in a different way. In three weekends occurring around Christmas and the New Year, in one and a half hour long sessions, we offered Spiritual Stories from Zhang Zhung, broadcast from Lishu Institute.  

This first online retreat was a good success. There were approximately 80 attendees, either participating or using the recordings due to the time zone differences. With 100 percent of the income from this retreat going to the Lishu teachers, it provided much needed support at Lishu due to the difficult times of Covid. We hope to see more Spiritual Stories in the future, but the latest offering with Lishu is an online Zoom retreat April 9–11 on Dream Yoga hosted by Ligmincha Finland.

Oliver: In September of last year we started with the preparations. First, we looked at the different options for stable internet connection. We chose the internet through satellite, which costs about 20 Euros (about 24 dollars) per month. Then there was the problem of power failures in India which was not something we are so familiar with in Europe. Geshe Sherap Lodoe had a solution for this problem: a power backup which would provide the power supply for several hours, if it was interrupted. From behind my computer in Germany, I searched and ordered the power backup on Amazon India and it was delivered with amazing speed in just three or four days later to Lishu. Sangmola and Geshela organized an electrician, who took care of the installation. We also provided Lishu with a laptop, webcam, and microphone.

Florian: Before we went online, Oliver and I gave Sangmo-la and Geshe-la help with a ‘media training,’ so they would feel comfortable in front of the camera. In this whole process, although everything did not work immediately the way it should, we had a lot of joy working together and trying out everything. A nice side effect is that Sangmola and Geshela are now able to participate in the monthly Full Moon practices, and other events. During the recent Losar celebration, when Geshe Sherap Lodoe was talking, there was a power failure and nobody noticed there was a problem because the power backup did its work.

Who paid for these investments?

Florian: We paid a total of about €1.000 (about $1,200 U.S. dollars), and used revenues that were collected in an auction for Lishu Institute that was held during the past European Summer Retreat in Germany.

Other sanghas heard what you did for Lishu. How did they respond?

Florian: Lourdes Hinojosa, from the Mexican sangha, asked us if we could supply Menri Monastery in India and Triten Norbutse Monastery in Nepal with such a power backup. His Holiness Lungtok Dawa Dhargyal Rinpoche, the 34th Menri Trizin, is regularly present at Ligmincha activities, and Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche gives many online retreats, and they also have had problems with the power supply during broadcasts. So Oliver asked both monasteries if they were interested in hearing about our experiences working with Lishu. Both were enthusiastic, and we started a private fundraising at gofundme.com. We posted it on our private Facebook page, and some people shared it, but we didn’t put it on the Ligmincha Facebook page.

Oliver: When I talked with Geshe Tsewang Ngodup, the General Secretary of Yungdrung Bön Monastic Centre, who we met during the visit of His Holiness to Berlin in 2019, he said it would be great to have one for His Holiness, and one for his office. These power backups can supply four or five appliances, not a whole house. Then, we also wanted to supply Triten Norbutse with two units. These power backup costs about € 250, so we wanted to raise € 1000. Within five days we raised € 1291.

Florian: The power backups for Menri were delivered at a collection point, very close to the place where they buy their vegetables, because Amazon does not deliver to the area where Menri is situated. After the monks collected them, they sent us photos. In Nepal, it is not so easy to buy through Amazon, so Oliver had to look for a dealer to deliver the power backups to Triten Norbutse. Tenzin Lodoe Lama, Personal Assistant to Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche, finally arranged everything with the dealer. And due to generous donations, we were able to offer a third power backup unit to Menri Monastery, that will be placed at the Office of His Eminence Pönlop Trinley Nyima Rinpoche.

Oliver: The pandemic led to a stronger connection with Lishu Institute. And even though a journey at this time to Lishu Institute is not possible, we now are able to benefit from the precious knowledge of the teachers at Lishu Institute because they can go online. And in the future when traveling will be possible again, it will be beneficial to have both in-person and online formats available for classes.

Learn more about Lishu Institute
Learn more about Menri Monastery
Learn more about Triten Norbutse