UPDATE NOVEMBER 2010:
As far as I know this particular appeal is now over as the devastation caused by the landslides has been cleared up, but still I would like to mention that Ven. Sanghasena is involved in on-going good works amongst the Ladakhi people, and this is a good temple to support.
It seems that many Malaysians are selflessly giving of their time and expertise to help Bhante Sanghasena and we get very good reports back about the activities there.
The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said on Wednesday Aug. 11 that the world needs to pay serious attention to the impact of Global Warming and look at it as the biggest environmental issue.
Talking to ANI at Amritsar, the Dalai Lama expressed his deep condolences to the people who died due to the cloudburst and subsequent landslide in Leh, as he said: “All that has happened in Leh is very very sad. These are all natural disasters. What we can do is pray for the victims and also offer condolences to the surviving family members and give donations for their rehabilitation.”
– Source: Sify News
The following is an appeal being made by Bhikkhu Sanghasena, who is well-known for his humanitarian work in Ladakh. The news reports seem to be only covering Pakistan, but other countries have been badly affected. if you are able to help, please follow up the links below.
Dear Friends of the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre,
This is the greatest human tragedy in the history of Ladakh. The beautiful and peaceful land has been reduced to a dreadful graveyard and ground of debris. The relief committee of Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre under the aegis of its President has committed to extend our helping hand to the most deserving and worst affected families of the recent unprecedented flash flood. The Government of India, State government and other agencies including the army and paramilitary forces, are providing basic requirement in the form of food, clothing, temporary shelter in the form of tents, medicines etc. Immediate needs therefore are taken care of and we now need to focus on the long-term rehabilitation and rebuilding of the displaced families.
As service to the community being one of our important objectives, earlier also we participated in such emergency relief projects and rehabilitation programmes in the Gujarat Earthquake in the year 2001, Kashmir earthquake in the year 2005 and the flood in Ladakh in the year 2006 where we helped with construction of houses and livelihood means in the affected villages. We feel that the most useful and the urgency, is to construct houses or shelter to most affected families prior to the winter sets in. All the relief work will be carried out with consultation of the local government authorities in the areas beyond Mahabodhi. This time also whatever little service we can offer, is our sincere wish.
Besides reconstruction of the affected infrastructure of our own organization, we wish to help other affected areas too. The Old Aged Home, girls hostel, hospital and plantation and agricultural land at the Mahabodhi campus, have been affected for which our Engineers are assessing the damage and preparing an estimate which will be sent to you soon in due course of time.
It would indeed be great virtue and merit if our benevolent well wishers intends to send contributions. Please specify the purpose for which the contribution is made that is either for restoration of MIMC please mention as Flood Relief Project in Mahabodhi or for reconstruction of houses of flood affected areas of Ladakh as Flood Relief Project in Ladakh. Foreign friends may kindly send to our bank account with CITIBANK, New Delhi as follows:
Name of the Bank: CITIBANK, NA,
Account No: 0-412501-004
Beneficiary Name:
Mahabodhi International Meditation CentreBank address:
Jeevan Bharti Building,
124, Connought Circus,
New Delhi- 110 001.
Swift Code – CITIINBXF.C.R.A. # 152710017
Indian friends may send to our local account as below:Name of account: Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre
Account Number: 10942164077
Name of the bank: Sate Bank of India
Bank address: State Bank of India,
P.O. Leh, Ladakh (J&K) 194 101
Branch code: 1365
RTGS Code: SBIN0001365
Swift code# : SBININBBA280I, on behalf of all the staff, members and residents of the old age home, School and hostel for the visually-Impaired children, boys and girls hostels, monastery and nunnery of the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre and the people of Ladakh and my own behalf, would like to express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude for your generous support at this time of grave crisis and human tragedy.
For pictures of the flood disaster, please visit our website at www.mahabodhi-ladakh.org and for further information kindly contact at gyamsa_retreat@yahoo.com mobile 0091-990 690 20 25 and 0091-94191 78667.
With kind regards,
Yours in the service of humanity,
Bhikkhu Sanghasena
Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre
Devachan, P.O. Box # 22, Leh – Ladakh 194101, INDIA
Ph: +91-1982-264372 Mobile: +91-9906902025, +91-9419178667
www.mahabodhi-ladakh.org
| Also while we are thinking of Ladakh, please remember to send mettā to Angie Lee, Lee Ah Yem and Tan Guat Gnoh who died nearly one year ago (August 25th), after going to Ladakh to help the MIMC. May their rebirth have been a happy one, and may they once again come into contact with the Dhamma! |
I have copied these photographs from various reports:
