Compassion in Action, Meditation in Action

96 Pages·2014·6.57 MB·English

SPECIAL FEATURES:
• Message from Well Wishers • Sambodhi Retreat Centre
• Int’l Festival of Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh • Global Family Home
• Milarepa Rock Cave • Home for the Elderly People
• Flood Relief Efforts • Sustainable Projects
Compassion in Action, Meditation in Action

O! Lord Buddha
PrayThee ermbo doimenft ofC comopasmsion apnd waisdosm,sion
Please accept our most reverential salutation at your lotus feet.
Kindly bestow your blessings on us to remain always…
A source of water for the thirsty
A source of food for the hungry
A source of healing for those who are ill
A source of light for those in darkness
A source of companionship for those who are lonely
A source of protection for those without protection
A source of help and friendship for all in need
A source of crutches to the broken limbs
A source of parental love and care for the orphans
A source of shelter to the homeless
A source of asylum for those who have no safe place
A source of warmth of real love and compassion
To those abandoned in coldness of war and hatred
May the Buddha be on our heads
May the Dhamma be in at our hearts and
May the Sangha be at our side to protect
And guide us always
May all enjoy real peace, real happiness,
And real harmony.
- Bhikkhu Sanghasena
6 Motto of MIMC
7 Note from the Editorial Board
spirituAlity
8 President’s Message
s 10 The Multifarious Humanitarian 50 Milarepa Rock Cave at Sambodhi
Activities Undertaken by MIMC Retreat Centre
11 Messages 51 Rock Garden
t 20 Devachan Campus 52 Healing Garden at the Sambodhi
22 Brief History Retreat Centre
23 The Founder of MIMC 53 Sambodhi Retreat Centre
n 56 Mahabodhi Int’l Meditation and Yoga
Centre, Changspa-Leh
57 Meditation Programs in Delhi,
Chandigarh and Jammu
58 Mahabodhi Int’l Meditation Centre,
e
Chandigarh
59 Mahabodhi Jetavana Monastery
60 Mahabodhi Nunnery
t
n
o
EVENTS
26 Buddhist-Muslim Conference 2010
27 International Seminar on Buddhism
C in Chandigarh
28 International Meditation and Yoga
Festival
29 The 1st International Festival of
Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh
31 The 2nd International Festival of
Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh 2013
32 Annual Events EduCAtion
33 Annual Karuna Day Celebration –
64 Mahabodhi Residential School
2014
68 Mahabodhi Boys and Girls Hostel
36 Sitagu Shanti Stupa
70 The Branch Schools
37 The Third Pole E-Base, MIMC
72 Mahabodhi Higher Education
Devachan
Program
38 Jammu Committee Reshuffle
73 Mahabodhi Padmaloka Girls Hostel,
39 Dhamma Tour of Ven. Sanghasena
Chandigarh
42 Visit by MIMC member to various
places of the world
44 Visitors to Devachan Campus
MAhAbodhi youth
wing
EMpowErMEnt of
84 Mahabodhi Youth Wing
woMEn
85 Basic Buddhism Course
74 Mahabodhi Women Literacy Project 85 Karuna Day Celebration
s
t
n
e
huMAnitAriAn
t SErVicES
sustAinAblE
76 Mahabodhi Home for the Elderly and
Destitute dEvElopMEnt projECt
n
77 Mahabodhi Visually Impaired Hostel 74 Eco-friendly Project
88 Self-reliance Project
88 Global Family Guest House
89 Mahabodhi Zita Norberg Studio
o
89 Mahabodhi Publication Office
C
MAitri/ChAritAblE
projECt
80 Flood Relief Project
gift to MiMC
82 Health Program
82 Mahabodhi Karuna Charitable 90 Sitagu World Peace Stupa
Hospital 93 Sponsorship Form
94 Representatives of MIMC Abroad
Motto of MiMC
• We endeavour to pay our highest homage to the Triple
Gem with utmost reverence and actively devote our
lives in propagating the messages of love, compassion
and wisdom as taught by the Buddha.
• We uphold the humanistic, scientific, and non-sectarian
teachings of Buddhism based on right understanding.
• We practice the Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives
and share the merits of this practice with all beings.
• We welcome all people, irrespective of caste, creed,
religion or nationality to join us as honourable members
of our organisation, greeting them warmly on every
occasion.
• We practice the five Buddhist moral precepts and
meditation in our daily lives for the eradication of
ignorance and all defilements.
• We seize every opportunity to work for the welfare
and happiness of all beings through spiritual and
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humanitarian services.
• We respect all Buddhist traditions, and pledge to live
and work in unity for the peace and happiness of all.
• We respect all religions and the cultures of all nations,
and promote inter-religious and inter-cultural harmony
and peaceful co-existence.
• We strive to eradicate poverty and illiteracy wherever
it exists, particularly by providing holistic education for
children.
• We promote equality, fraternity, liberty, spirituality,
amity and unity in society.
• We are grateful to the Mother Earth, the water, trees
and animals and undertake not to consume more than
our actual needs. We pledge to protect and preserve the
natural environment for the benefit of all living beings.
• We propose and work for the creation of a Global
Family.
• We fully endorse the United Nation’s Millennium
Development Goals.
notE froM thE EditoriAl boArd
f
irst of all, many warm greetings from the Devachan Under the Sustainable Development Project, we are proud
family to all our sponsors, well wishers, members and to present all the initiatives and innovations in bringing
donors of MIMC. We are here with our latest edition of about the sustainable environmental development and
2014 Devachan magazine, which took sometime to get economic self-reliance project by introducing the latest
published due to some unforeseen circumstances. scientific and agricultural technology in the campus for
generating the long term economic and environmental
But never the less, we have managed to come up with this stability of the organization.
edition that includes all the major events and activities
since 2009 onwards. The format of this magazine has Under the Gifts to MIMC Section, we have included all the
been slightly changed this year to provide our valuable gifts received by MIMC from various organizations around
readers to have more accessibility with the comprehensive the world for the noble cause. We deeply appreciate the
informations under the various major headings and its valuable contributions and further favouring for your
sub-headings. generous cooperations.

For example under the Introduction section, we deal with Due to the limited space, we couldn’t able to summerised
the brief history of our Founder-President and the origin all the topics. Here we would like to take this opportunity
of the MIMC Institution along with its aims and objectives to thank each and every individual who rendered their
for our new well wishers and friends. unwavering support in times of need.
Then followed by the Events section which provide all the Although we have tried our best to cover every individuals,
major happenings during the last three years specially on but our sincere apology to those individuals if we have
the International Festival of Buddhist heritage of Ladakh failed to mention in our Magazine. We, therefore, solemnly
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which marked the rich and harmonious contributions of request to you not to take it to heart, as we really have
Ladakh’s Buddhist culture to india and to the world. deep consideration, love and concern for each and every
one of you.
Under Spirituality, we shared all the vibrant spiritual
actitivies that are so famous amongst our spiritual Last but not the least, we welcome and appreciate
aspirants specially that of Milarepa Rock Cave with its your valuable suggestion for this as well as for the
energetic presence in healing in the environment within upcoming future magazine, in the hope of creating better
and without. understanding and care with all of you along with the
smooth development of the institution.
Under Education, we have been successfully able to keep
up with the latest brilliant performances of our dear At last I would like to thank all the members of editorial
students in the Main as well as in its satellite schools board, Mr. Stanzin Gurmet and Mr. Tsering Dorjee who put
on their studies and that of the latest infrastructural their sincere effort to bring out the magazine. I also would
developments in the schools. like to thank Mr. Lim Teik Leong for his help in editing
some of our texts and Ms Su See Lim (Sujata) who has very
Under Humanitarian services, we have briefly illustrated kindly edited the entire text as well as final proof reading
on the general services meant for the upliftment of of the Magazine.
under-priviledged sections of our Ladakhi community and
specially on Home for elderly people and that of the Home With this, on behalf of the editorial board, I also wish a
for the Visually Impaired Children with their impressive very successful and prosperous 2014 to all our readers!
track record on their general studies.
Chief Editor : Ven. Nagasena
Under the Maitri Charity Project, we have included Compiled by: Mr. Tsedor, Mr. Stanzin Gurmet
information about all the related rehabilitation projects Photograph by: Ivonne Rocthig
under taken by MIMC during the devastating flash flood
of 2010 along with the support and help received from
various organizations around the world.
prEsidEnt’s MEssAgE
Dearest friends, supporters, and well-wishers of
MIMC, Leh, Ladakh.
f
irst of all, please accept many heart-felt greetings from Mahabodhi,
Devachan. We sincerely pray that this magazine finds each and every
one of you in the very best of your physical, mental and spiritual health.
We are certain that you will be delighted to have received this latest edition
of the Devachan magazine (Spring 2014), albeit quite some time after we
published our last edition in 2009. We hope you will rejoice in reading news
of the various progresses being made in spiritual and humanitarian projects
delivered by MIMC.
It has been a sincere wish of ours to publish this Devachan magazine
annually, to keep our friends, supporters, and well-wishers informed of what
is happening at Mahabodhi, Devachan. We know that many of you would
Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena
be keen on receiving it before now. Unfortunately, there have been many
unavoidable delays and unforeseen difficulties in publishing the magazine.
As well as the relatively high cost of printing and postage, we also have a
serious shortage of appropriately skilled people to work on producing such
a publication. We certainly feel very sorry for not being able to publish this
magazine more regularly.
8
I’m very happy that members of our staff, Ven. Nagasena, Mr. Stanzin
Gurmet and Mr. Tsering Dorjee, in spite of having very limited resources
at their disposal, have worked exceptionally hard to bring about this latest
edition of the Devachan magazine.
We are also deeply grateful to Upasaka Paramito and Mr. Lim Teik Leong
for their unreserved help in editing for this magazine and our appreciation
further goes to all those who directly or indirectly participated in providing
various articles in this magazine to make it complete and comprehensive.
So much has happened since the last issue of the Devachan magazine was
published. We have so much information to share with you - our friends and
supporters. It is simply impossible for us to include detailed information on
all our various activities and projects. We thought of providing such details,
but then this magazine would have been for too voluminous! Besides the
increasing cost of postages, we are also a little afraid that you might be
put-off by such a substantial publication!
It is certainly our sincere hope to maintain the continuity of the Devachan
magazine hereafter. Should you find the information contents in this
edition of the Devachan magazine are insufficient to meet your needs, we
ask for your forgiveness and understanding. We will certainly endeavour to
publish complete and comprehensive information on all MIMC activities
and projects in future issues.
We sincerely apologise for not being able to mention all the names of those
who have been associated with MIMC over the years and those who are still
associated with us, we simply do not have the space to mention you all in
person. We hope you won’t mind too much.
We hope you enjoy reading the magazine and that you will rejoice
wholeheartedly in the significant progress that is reported for the various
activities.
As many of you know, we humbly began our work in this windswept high
altitude desert (which is now known as the “Devachan” campus) in 1991.
Since then, thanks to your kindness, generosity, a continuous support and
best wishes, and the hard work of all our dedicated staff and members, it has
transformed into an oasis of peace and has become a vibrant hub for various
spiritual and humanitarian activities in the Himalayan region.
Today, the Devachan campus, which was once such a bleak and windswept
area of desert land - a desolate expanse closely resembling the surface of the
moon, has truly flowered, becoming an incredibly beautiful home for nearly
500 people.
Whenever an individual cultivates a new and revolutionary vision and mission,
they certainly have to face many challenges and obstacles. It is therefore no
wonder that MIMC also had to face such difficulties in its establishment and
development. In spite of these, we have remained clear and resolute in our
vision and mission: Compassion in Action, Meditation in Action.
After couple of decades from its inception, I am now glad to witness the
coming of second generation of MIMC taking responsibilities in holding some
of the key significant positions at Devachan and thereby shouldering many of
the tasks in managing its numerous social activities. Such developments are
the real source of encouragement in furthering our social work and the source
9
of inspiration for the younger generation to take active participation in the
society.
This beautiful campus would not have come into being without your goodwill
and generous support over the years. So, we take this precious and rare
opportunity to thank everyone associated with Mahabodhi, past, present and
future, and in whatever ways. For all of you who have enabled us to achieve
this together.
In 2010, Ladakh experienced devastating floods, which killed hundreds of
people and destroyed thousands of homes and many villages. The Devachan
campus was also not spared from this natural disaster, but, yet again, so many
of our very dear friends and supporters have so kindly and so very generously
extended their support to our flood relief programs.
I, on behalf of all beneficiaries of this organization, as well as on my own
behalf, would like to express my heartfelt thanks and deepest gratitude to all
those of you who have extended your kind help and support to MIMC over the
years.
Your continued support of MIMC is enabling us to bring relief, joy and a palpable
sense of personal dignity to so many, who have discovered a real sanctuary
within the safe and supportive environment of the Devachan campus.
May the fragrance of pure love spread everywhere!
May all beings be happy and well!
With a most profound gratitude and the deepest affection to you all.
Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena
Founder President, MIMC
the Multifarious humanitarian Activities
undertaken by MiMC
 Mahabodhi Meditation Program  Mahabodhi Right Livelihood Enterprise
Dedicated to physical and mental health, social harmony, world A step towards self-reliance and self sustenance
peace and ultimate truth realization
 Mahabodhi Eco Resort Camp
 Mahabodhi Jetavana Monastery To live in harmony with nature
Dedicated to providing education and monastic training of
young monks  Mahabodhi Milarepa Meditation and Trekking Camps
Dedicated to spiritual life with nature
 Mahabodhi Residential High School and Mahabodhi
Boys and Girls Hostels  Mahabodhi Educational Programs ~ a holistic
Dedicated to holistic education and providing home for the education movement
deprived children
Dedicated to eradication of illiteracy and poverty
 Mahabodhi Karuna Charitable Hospital
 Mahabodhi Tingmosgang Branch School
Dedicated to the welfare of the ailing masses
Dedicated to advance of education for rural children
 Mahabodhi School and Hostel Project for Blind
 Mahabodhi Bodhkharbu Branch School
Dedicated to visually handicapped children to unfold their
Dedicated to providing educational opportunities to deprived
human potential
and neglected rural children
 Mahabodhi Home for the Aged and Destitute
 Mahabodhi Padmaloka Girls Hostel
Devoted for care and respect to the elderly and destitute
10 Dedicated to higher studies of the talented students
 Mahabodhi Adult Women Literacy Project
 Mahabodhi Handicap Rehabilitation Project
Dedicated towards empowerment of women and capacity
Dedicated for rehabilitation of the physically and mentally
building of women
handicapped
 Mahabodhi Environmental Project
 Proposed project to erect 75ft Lord Buddha statue on
Dedicated toward afforestation and nature conservation
the Mahabodhi Hillock
Dedicated to world peace
 Mahabodhi Interfaith Program
Dedicated to inter-religious harmony and co-existence
 Mahabodhi Global Family Home (Guest House)
Dedicated to creating a global family
 Mahabodhi Phandeyling Nunnery
Dedicated to upliftment of the nuns and women
 Mahabodhi Zita & Norberg Studio
Dedicated to promote harmony through music and videos
 Mahabodhi Mobile Health Clinic
Dedicated to health care of the communities of remote and  Mahabodhi Publication House
inaccessible areas
Dedicated to disseminate love and compassion through
publication
 Mahabodhi Maitri Charity Program
Dedicated to emergency relief programs  Mahabodhi Metropolitan Branch
Dedicated to the seekers of truth in Delhi, Chandigarh & Jammu
 Mahabodhi Youth Wing
Dedicated towards character building of youth