KF-India
KF is making special efforts to revive the Buddhist heritage in India, the source of the great river of Buddhism—the place where Shakyamuni Buddha was born, achieved enlightenment, and taught for 45 years before passing into parinirvana. In line with Rinpoche’s wish to expand the Foundation’s support for new projects in India, and to facilitate present activities, KF-India was incorporated by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in October 2011, held its first board meeting in Bodhgaya in October 2012, and received tax exempt status in November 2012.
“There are few places in this world where all Buddhists come together under one umbrella—from the pilgrim who offers orchids fresh from Thailand to the Tibetan who has journeyed by bus or train from the Himalayas with a mandala offering of turquoise and coral or the westerner who meditates under the sacred Bodhi Tree. They all share a common commitment to understanding and deepening their relationship to this sacred place — the Mahabodhi Mahavihara, the great Temple at Bodhgaya.” — Richard Dixey, associate director of the Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International and an advisor to Khyentse Foundation
India Projects
Light of Buddhadharma Foundation
Khyentse Foundation has been supporting the Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International (LBDFI) in its mission to revitalize the Buddhadharma in its motherland of India. One of its primary activities is the annual Tiptaka International Chanting Ceremony in Bodhgaya. Theravadin monks travel to Bodhgaya to chant sutras from the Pali canon. Grants from Khyentse Foundation have supported the international travel of monks who gave Dharma talks at the ceremony and the printing of the Dhammapada that was distributed in Nagpur and Delhi and other Tipitaka Chanting ceremonies sponsored by LBDFI that take place throughout India.
Youth Buddhist Society
YBS is a volunteer, nongovernmental, nonsectarian, nonprofit, and nonpolitical people’s development movement based on engaged Buddhism. Established in 1986 in Sankisa, Uttar Pradesh, India, YBS has brought about grassroots initiatives, involvement, and development of mind among thousands of villagers in India. KF-India grants have supported a variety of YBS projects.
DKCLI Medical Camp
By Nisheeta Jagatani
Since its inauguration in 2006, Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö Institute (DKCLI) has become an integral part of the surrounding communities. The institute is located in the foothills of the beautiful Dhauladhar range of the Himalayan mountains in Himachal Pradesh, close to the town of Chauntra. The Tibetan settlement near Chauntra houses two Tibetan schools and a home for the elderly. Several other small villages surround Chauntra; the primary occupation of the villagers is agriculture.
DKCLI has an on-campus medical clinic, supported by KF-India, with a full time nurse and visiting doctors who are on site twice a week. The clinic serves the primary and preventive health care needs of the monks and nearby villagers. An average of 657 visitors come each month with a variety of ailments such as colds, flu, and gastric and respiratory problems. They are also invited to an annual dental camp held at the clinic for the monks’ dental health and hygiene. The clinic has recently invested in a computer and system to properly document and maintain patient records. From November 11 to 17, 2013, KF-India organized a free medical camp at the institute for the second consecutive year. Free consultation and medicines were provided to a total of 488 patients suffering from ailments such as influenza, colds, diarrhea, and asthma. “Based on the success of Khyentse Foundation’s medical week held last year, many villagers returned this year,” said Dr. Abhishek Sharma, the doctor in charge. “This year we saw more children, women, and senior citizen patients.”
As the word spread, groups of elderly Tibetans from the neighboring villages as well as students from TCV School Chauntra took advantage of the medical camp. Several villagers traveled quite a long distance to seek treatment. “I heard that you are giving us good quality medicines,” said Ashok Ram, a rural farmer. “That is why I took a bus with my grandson to treat him here. He is 5 years old and is suffering from a dry cough.” Because the medical camp has proven to be very beneficial to the Indian and Tibetan communities, KF-India intends to continue funding the initiative in the coming years. Related Story: Update on DKCLI Clinic
Pune University Partnership

KF-India Team
Deepa Thakur, Board Member
Rajiv Sharma, Board Member
Suresh Jindal, Advisor
Raji Ramanan, Advisor
Prashant Varma, Advisor
Isabel Pedrosa, KF Liaison
Pema Wangchuk, India Liaison