Foreign monks distribute blankets among the poor in Bodh Gaya

ANI, January 17, 2008

Bodh Gaya, Bihar (India) -- A group of foreign monks distributed nearly two thousand blankets among the poor and the needy during the ongoing ‘Buddha Mahotsava’ here.

The monks, coming from Singapore, Taiwan, Bangkok and Hong Kong, distributed the blankets to help the poor beat the chill.

Gunthuk Rinpochhe, a Buddhist monk from Singapore, said: “Bodh Gaya is a place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, so we found that it will be good if we provide needy people with blankets. They are suffering, as it is cold now and it will give them little warmth.”

The group aims to distribute blankets to at least 10,000 people in the region.

The blankets were distributed under the aegis of a self-help group, Atisha Kadampa Organisation Charitable Project.

The three-day long Buddhist festival ‘Buddha Mahotsava’ began in Bodh Gaya on Tuesday, where Lord Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment in the sixth century BC.

Thousands of Buddhist monks, devotees and scholars from across the globe have arrived here to take part in the annual event.

Apart from Bodh Gaya, pilgrims also visit places like Kushinagar, Rajgir and Kusambhi, which are believed to have figured in the life of Lord Buddha. All these places attract Buddhist pilgrims from South Asian countries.
The Buddhist Channel - Donate to Support Our Work



An Appeal

In deep gratitude for your support! We are half way to meeting our target (US$ 10,400 of US$ 18,000 already achieved)!

The Buddhist Channel is a dedicated group of "mindful communication practitioners" striving to make a positive impact on the Buddhist community. We deeply believe in the power of mindful journalism and are reaching out to you with a heartfelt request for your support. Your donation, no matter the size, can make a tangible difference in the lives of countless Buddhist monastics, local communities and other dedicated engaged workers. With your help, we make their stories known, and thereby opening up avenues for them to obtain sustainable support for their work.

Please indicate whether your support will be a donation or a loan. We will get back to you via email. We thank you in advance for providing us financial relieve. May the Buddha Dharma ever be your guide and protector.

Note: To date, we have received the following:

US$ 900 from Esa Myllykoski (donation)
US$ 9,500 from Lance Edwards/Kau Soo Kin (loan)

We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv

TOP