We can still get money to India

Mahasraddha writes: You may be aware from the news and messages from the key Triratna charities operating in India (Karuna, FutureDharma Fund / IDT and The Abhayaratna Trust), that the past few weeks have seen major changes affecting the NGO sector in India. More than 150 large Indian charities, including at least one of our Triratna Trusts, have had their permission to receive foreign funding revoked by the Indian Government.

The changes affect transfers to Indian charities. Because of the remit of The Abhayaratna Trust – to provide help to individual Order Members in hardship, our work in India will be affected very little by the Indian Government changes. 

Many of you gave to the Trust’s Emergency India Covid Appeal last year, and we continue to send donations to Order Members there who, along with their families, remain in hardship as a result of the pandemic. We continue also to support Order members in India to attend retreats.

Working closely with the Order Convenors in India, we are developing projects identified as priority areas, including helping Order Members re-establish livelihoods lost as a result of the pandemic. Funding to these projects will also not be affected by the recent changes to overseas funding to India. 

So, please be assured that the money you gave to the Abhayaratna Trust’s 2021 India Covid Emergency Fund will continue to bring relief to Order Members and their families badly affected by the pandemic; the recipients remain grateful for the solidarity shown by their fellow Order members who responded so generously to help them. 

An update on Ashvajit

Thank you very much to all those who have given so generously so far to the appeal for Ashvajit after he had a serious head injury and was admitted to hospital a week ago in Mexico. The initial target amount of £4000 to pay for his medical treatment has already been exceeded with over £12000 in donations. The target has now been set at £15000. This is because although Ashvajit is due to leave hospital today, we understand that he will continue to need daily visits from a nurse as well as an adapted living environment while he recovers.

As far as we know he did not have medical insurance for such an eventuality as this when he moved to Mexico, because the cost was prohibitive due to his age.

We have already sent the first £5000 to Mexico to cover the treatment cost so far. We are wishing him well.

If you would like to donate and you bank within the UK, you can donate by debit card or PayPal here. Only if you bank outside the UK use this link and choose option 3. to PayPal, or email jinavamsa@abhayaratnatrust.org for other ways to give.

Thank you from Subhavandana

We recently ran an appeal to help Subhavandana. This appeal surpassed its target, and she asked us to pass on this message to everyone who donated to her appeal;

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity. I am beyond grateful to everyone who donated. The money from the Appeal will and is now, making a huge difference to my peace of mind to not have to worry about money constantly. I went to see my son at the weekend and took him out to lunch and didn't have to worry. Very different to my usual trips to see him. 

Thank you so much to each and every one of you. 

With Metta, Subhavandana 

“For the darkness around us is deep.”

Kia ora, from New Zealand Aotearoa. 

Taradakini asked me why I am inspired by Abhayaratna Trust and have been our rep in New Zealand Aotearoa (formerly alongside Purna.) I would put it in the context of an Order wide first stage metta. If we do not have a charitable heart, a wide open, caring and deeply concerned heart for our own basic needs, as a collective, how can we truly say we benefit the world ‘out there’? We need to walk the talk while meditating deeply on there being ultimately no ‘in here’ and ‘out there’ no self / other, in reality. 

Abhayaratna Trust gives us ‘Bodhisattva Activity’ off the cushion. It’s one of the finest jewels in the crown of our Order. Become a Trust rep (for your Centre or country) and you’ll see suffering being relieved around you. You’ll never be sorry you took this hat on! And even wearing it with devilish pride is no problem. It’s so easy to transfer your merit in this aching old world. To quote the poet William Stafford, “For the darkness around us is deep.” (from the poem A Ritual to Read to Each Other; read here)

Aroha nui, Satyadevi

Contact taradakini@abhayaratnatrust.org if you are interested in becoming a Trust rep.

Taking care of yourself  

Did you know that you can apply to The Abhayaratna Trust for help with paying utility bills? If you are struggling to afford such bills or not heating your accommodation through concern about the costs - which are spiraling in many parts of the world – then email taradakini@abhayaratnatrust.org or text her on +44 0 7857 351818.

Only if you bank outside the UK chose option 3. direct to 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.

www.abhayaratnatrust.org