See what a difference you’ve made
How your money is helping in India
At the start of the Covid pandemic in India we launched a modest £5,000 fundraiser to send cash to Order members there to pay for medical care, food, rent and living costs, because many of our Order lost their livelihoods at that time. We raised just over £200,000.
And after sending support several times a year for nearly two years, this spring we began making grants to Order members with very limited finances to set up their own business. Meaning they can support themselves and their families in a more stable way, and without precarious employment on low daily wages.
With the help our director Mahasraddha, Karmavajra, the India Order Convenor, and a Trust funded business advisor, so far 12 business plans have been formally agreed by the Abhayaratna Trustees.
One example is Maitrijaya, who lives in Wardha. She received a grant in April to develop her home-made pickle business. She writes:
"I am very pleased to get help at right time. I had very bad time in COVID. Through this help I could establish my business. It is not only helping me but is giving employment to some women in need around our area. Thank you very much to Abhayaratna team, from my heart."
Thank you to all who gave to that Covid India Appeal in 2021. We could never have imagined that your support would enable us to help Order members in India and their families to not only recover from the initial covid pandemic but also now support themselves in skilful self-employment.
Come and see us
The Abhayaratna Trust will have a stall in the ‘shopping mall’ at the UK & Ireland convention, at Wymondham college this month, where you can come and talk to one of the team and find out more about what we do . We will also be putting on some events.
Mahasraddha, the Trust’s director, will be running a workshop in which he will provide information and invite discussion on the need for care in the Order and how that need might adequately be met. This is a topic that affects all of us and you would be welcome to come along and participate.
You may have attended one of the musical performances that Taradakini and Jinavamsa have offered at previous Order events, with original songs and narrative on the myths of Orpheus or Persephone. This year in a performance called The Moon and the Mariner, they will be playing some new songs they have written, inspired by Coleridge’s great ballad poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Don’t miss it.
Mahasraddha
Thursday. 18th Aug. 2.15 pm. Mahasraddha; Care in the Order Workshop.
Friday 19th Aug. 2.15pm. The Moon and the Mariner; songs written and performed by Taradakini and Jinavamsa based on The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner.
Saturday 20th Aug. 4.00pm; Main stage, short presentation making it clear what the Abhayaratna Trust do.
Check the programme and look out for posters to find out the locations. It would be great to see you at any of these events, or if you see any one of us around at the convention come and say hello.
Good news about Ajitasena
Since our recent appeal to cover the cost of treatment to help Ajitasena restore his eyesight, he has successfully undergone surgery in Bangkok. He is now taking some time off from carving while he recuperates from the operation. He writes;
Now nearing my 80th birthday I maintain good health, strength and being active by walking my 3 dogs and carving large Buddha images for free donation. The unexpected accident while mowing the grass that caused damage to my eye required expensive surgery. The hospital costs were beyond my financial ability. My eyesight has been restored and after a period of recuperation I will continue sculpting large wooden Dharmic images. I am very grateful to the Abhayaratna Trust and the generous supporters who made possible the restoration of my eyesight.
Thank you
Metta, Ajitasena
Support group initiative
The Abhayaratna Trust has embarked on a series of interviews with Order members who have neurodegenerative diseases (NDD); we hope the series (posted on our website) will be of use to not just those who have an NDD, but also those who care for someone who does.
The first interview in the series was an interview with Vilasini who has dementia; the interview has prompted quite a bit of interest and consequently, Vilasini would like to form an opportunity for those who have an NDD, or a form of brain damage/injury - or carers of those who do - to meet informally and share experience and support.
If you are interested in joining this group, please contact Vilasini (mahakala.mills@gmail.com).
Our website is now multilingual
The Abhayaratna Trust responds to Order members worldwide, so to introduce the work of the Trust and the help that we can offer in a way that reflects this more fully, we now have new pages in Spanish and in German.
This has been made possible due to the generous help of Vanesa Correa, a Mitra in Mexico and Harald Eckhoff, a Mitra in Berlin, who both offered to translate text for us. We are very grateful for their work and we are hoping to include more languages to our website.
Problems paying bills?
Did you know that you can apply to The Abhayaratna Trust for help with paying household bills? With living costs spiraling in many parts of the world – then email taradakini@abhayaratnatrust.org or text her on +44 0 7857 351818 if you need financial assistance.
Only if you bank outside the UK chose option 3 direct PayPal, or email jinavamsa@abhayaratnatrust.org for other ways to give.
Communications Support: jinavamsa@abhayaratnatrust.org - Send your ideas, reflections and feedback - we love to hear from you.