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| In 1994, Migyur Dorje Lama, a Tibetan refugee born in Nepal, came to Australia to start a business dealing in jewellery and handicrafts made by his friends and family. This not only allowed his own family to benefit, but also increased the markets available to other Tibetan refugees, both in India and Nepal, helping them to do what Tibetan refugee communities throughout the world excel at - being self-sufficient. Obviously, the more he sold, the greater the benefit that flowed to these communities. He chose Canberra, Australia's beautiful Capital City, as his place of residence as his elder brother Lama Choedak was here. |
| Lama Choedak has undertaken a 3 year retreat sponsored by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and is one of the principle students of His Holiness' tutor, His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche. The high regard with which His Eminence is held throughout the Buddhist world is evidenced in the photograph on the Home Page of this site where he is seen seated with the heads of 3 of Tibetan Buddhism's major branches - their Holiness' the 17th Karmapa, the 41st Sakya Trizin, and the 14th Dalai Lama. Lama Choedak was recently pronounced Lochen Thupten Choedak Rinpoche by His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, and is probably the best Tibetan-English translator in the world today and it is indeed an honour to have him here in Canberra. A link to his Centre's site is on the LINKS page of this site. |
| Migmar and his son Ngawang |
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| In mid-2001, Migmar-la decided to move to Canada, to more easily reunite with his family in a Western country. I have no doubt that he will soon be in business again in Canada, but before he left Australia, he entrusted his business to me to carry on his ideals. My suppliers include individuals in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet (where I travelled extensively in 1995), and the Tibetan Government-in-exile through His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Charitable Trust Handicraft Exports. At every step, I try to support individuals and small traders in refugee communities, and keep my prices to a minimum in order to move more of their products, and be of greater benefit to them. I also act as a distributor of information here in Canberra, through my regular market stall at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston on Sundays - for the Tibetan cause, Lama Choedak's Centre, and the Tibetan Government-in-exile through the Office of Tibet. I hope to develope more contacts with individual traders within Tibet and also sponsor the education of Tibetan children with profits from this business. If I can be of any assistance to you, with jewellery and handicrafts, or just information on this fascinating land, culture, and people, please do not hesitate to Email me. If I do not have what you want on hand, I will do my best to get it for you at a reasonable price. All prices listed throughout this site are in AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS. Postage will be at at Australia Post rates plus packaging. The cost will depend on your location. Please advise me of your address when ordering so that I can give you a firm quote on the final cost. Save money and order more than one item to save on postage!!! A universal currency converter is available as a link on the Home Page for your convenience. The first number next to each item's description is its' ITEM NUMBER. Please quote this when ordering. INSURANCE can be added at Australia Post rates, which are: $3 + $2 for every $100 (or part thereof) of value. Please note that this is an optional service and will be at the buyers expense. Let me know if you want insurance when ordering and add this cost to the final price. I accept cash in most currencies (sent at the buyers risk), Australia Post money orders, or you can pay online at www.paypal.com. Finally, if you have any suggestions as to how I can improve either this site, or my service to you, I'd love to hear from you. Don't forget to sign my guestbook!!!! Tashi Delek - Kinley Rapgye |