December News
A big thank you for 2024
Appeal success - for 147
Thank you hugely to all those who supported our appeal to enable 150 Order members in India attend the 2025 International Convention at Bodhgaya in January.
Donations almost exactly matched the need and we have now sent the funds to India for 147 Order member places - the final number who requested financial support.
The International Convention in India every 8 years enables Order members living there to meet those from around the world, creating and developing friendships across continents and enhancing the unity of the Order. For many this will be, without exaggeration, a once in a lifetime opportunity.
THANK YOU!
Can you help us reach the last target of the year?
Singhadharma
Last month we appealed for your support to raise £5,000 as a retreat fund for Singhadharma, who is the only Order member living in Patagonia-Argentina - so nowhere near a retreat centre. £5,000 might sounds a lot but it translates to just a few retreats or Order gatherings, because it’s so expensive for her to travel. Singhadharma works full time as a teacher but with inflation rates of around 30% in Argentina, her salary is nowhere near enough to buy a flight out of the country.
The Abhayaratna Trust supports international travel in exceptional circumstances, and because Singhadharma is so far away from sangha, this is one of those exceptions.
Her preceptor, Paramachitta, writes, ‘She is a bit of a heroine really and will hugely benefit from attending in-person retreats and Order gatherings (as will others from meeting her). Given her situation, financial support is necessary to make this happen. So I wholeheartedly support this appeal.’
With your help, we have already raised £2,700, so in this last appeal of 2024 we are asking for your help to raise the remaining £2,300, that she can draw on to get to Mexico and further afield to meet and practice with other Order members.
To help Singhadharma, please donate here if you bank in the UK, or here to donate securely if you bank elsewhere. Thank you.
A retreat for Order members aged 65+
The majority of Triratna Order members are now aged over 60. A retreat initiated by the Abhayaratna Trust in collaboration with Adhisthana, exclusively for Order members aged 65 and over, is a valuable opportunity to explore Dharma practice in the midst of ageing. With reference to the Dasadhamma Sutta, the retreat will focus on questions such as, how do we maintain an effective Dharma life, or how do we continue contributing to the Sangha and the Order/Movement with the challenges that ageing can present?
Book early for in-person places as there are limited spaces. If finances are a concern and you would like to come on the retreat, do apply for a grant - including travel - from the Abhayaratna Trust. Email taradakini@abhayaratnatrust.org. You can find more information and book on the retreat here - including online places.
We have a new platform for donations
We are now using a new platform called Stripe for donations from outside the UK. Stripe still gives you the means to donate with PayPal, but it will also accept debit and credit card payments, and other options such as Apple Pay. In particular Stripe will make it easier to donate to the Abhayaratna Trust for those banking outside the UK.
As well as offering more payment options it also allows us to receive payments in New Zealand Dollars, Mexican Dollars and Indian Rupees, which was not possible before.
Follow this link to donate to our Worldwide Fund, if you bank outside the UK.
Grants to keep you warm this winter
Taradakini writes: ‘Once again we are offering winter fuel grants for those in the Northern Hemisphere who might be feeling the chill. If you have less than £10,000 of savings (or less than £15,000 if you’re 65+), you are welcome to get in touch if you are worried about affording your fuel bill.’
Applying is a simple process - email taradakini@abhayaratnatrust.org or follow the link here to fill out a living cost form online.
Communications Support: jinavamsa@abhayaratnatrust.org - for your questions, ideas and feedback.