January News 2023
A glimpse of what we achieved in 2022
We are putting together our Annual Review of 2022 but here is an advance glimpse of what you’ll find in it relating to the grants and appeals work we carried out last year: We made 76 grants totaling more than £86,000 to Order members around the world for a variety of purposes, including UK & Ireland convention attendance; winter fuel; wellbeing therapies; solitaries; medical emergencies; retraining; and business start-ups – these were small scale grants to Order members in India who lost their work during Covid.
We also run appeals for individual Order members when somebody needs several thousand pounds (or equivalent currency), and last year we successfully ran 7 of these appeals, more than in any previous year, which shows both that our work on behalf of individual Order members is very much needed, and also the ongoing generosity of our donors. Thank you.
Supporting livliehoods in India
The Abhayaratna Trust made modest grants in 2022 to support 20 individual Order members in India whose livelihoods had been lost or badly affected by the covid pandemic.
One of those we supported is Anomaraja from Kandiveli, Mumbai. His Sanskar Coaching Centre closed completely during lockdown. With a financial livelihood grant from Abhayaratna, he started coaching again and now has 25 children attending. This is many less than before covid but he is optimistic that before long he will have enough students to make a profit.
Another Order member who has benefitted from a livelihood grant is Prabhutratna who lives in Nagpur, Maharashtra. With his grant he was able to buy a small bus to allow him to drive children to school. He currently has 18 students that he takes to and from school every day and says he is very happy about the way this has worked out.
Living with MS - Interview with Buddhaseveka
We are conducting a series of conversations with Order members who have a specific neurological degenerative disease; they speak about the challenges they face, and how they practice the dharma in the context of their condition and, crucially, the support they find helpful.
Our first conversation was with Vilasini, who has dementia (you can watch that video here) and this time we talked to Buddhaseveka, who has a progressive Multiple Sclerosis condition.
Visarada joins our team
Visarada is the Abhayaratna Trust’s new finance officer. He joined us just before the new year. Here he shares his thoughts about working in Triratna and about the work of the Trust.
‘I really appreciate working with other Triratna Buddhists, as there’s often a strong sense of shared values and purpose, and great quality of communication, so I’m looking forward to working with, and getting to know the rest of the Abhayaratna Trust team. I’ll be doing my bit to make sure the Trust has a clear picture of its finances, and is able to use its resources in the most effective way to help those in need. The scale of our Movement means it’s not possible for us all to be aware of the need that is out there. The Abhayaratna Trust can make sure that the generosity of the Order and Movement is directed where it’s needed, playing an essential part in helping us to operate as a true spiritual community.’ Visarada
Urgent message about Ashvajit
After being repatriated from Mexico, Ashvajit spent seven weeks in hospital in Wales and then returned home to Llanidloes to be cared for by Manjugita. When Manjugita returns to Mexico at the end of January, the options for Ashvajit are to be admitted to a nursing home or cared for at home. So he is urgently looking for a live in helper.
Please click here to read the attached ad if you think you might be interested in this role, or if you know someone who may be interested.
Did you know that you can apply to The Abhayaratna Trust for help with paying household bills? For example the cost of gas and electricity is a real concern for people across Europe, including many in our Order. Triratna Order members can request up to £1500 / €1700 support with their personal fuel costs; 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.