Vishvantara needs our support

Kalyanavaca writes: Vishvantara, who many of you will know through her support for the Arts, beautiful poetry and Wolf at the Door workshops, lives and practises the Dharma around the London Buddhist Centre.

We have been friends for 12 years, living as we do in the same women’s community in East London. She’s a very thoughtful, wise, generous Order member, a friend to many and contributes a lot to the LBC and wider London region.

Vishvantara has had a tough time because of covid. She earns a modest living as a self-employed piano teacher, and experienced a significant loss of income in 2020. She had a creative response and set herself up to teach her pupils on zoom. But earlier this year she experienced a mental health crisis which meant she could not work for some time. She is now in serious financial hardship – and did not qualify for state support (because she would not abandon her pupils before their piano exams).

It is not in Vishvantara’s nature to ask for financial help but she really does need it. The Abhayaratna Trust have been pleased to help with an interim grant but they and her friends know that what Vishvantara really needs is a financial buffer of a few thousand pounds, to see her through future times of ill health and any covid related work cancellations.

Please help with a donation of any amount today so we can raise £3,000 between us.

With metta, Kalyanavaca

How to help

Let’s raise at least £3000 to give Vishvantara some immediate much needed support and create a buffer for her to draw on in any future times of difficulty. The money will go towards her living costs and also 2021 National Insurance payments, which she cannot afford at this time.

To help now, please donate any amount on a UK debit card here
You can also make a direct bank transfer to The Abhayaratna Trust, sort code 40-52-40, account 00023681 – please use the reference ‘Vishvantara’.
If your bank is outside the UK, please donate via PayPal here (you don’t need a PayPal account).

Your donations will be gratefully acknowledged and we’ll let you know how the appeal is going. Thank you.

Meditation and trauma

Vajradevi talks to Jinavamsa for part 5 of our mental wellbeing series. Click here to listen.

In this interview, Jinavamsa asks Vajradevi if trauma surfaces, could that be the result of long term practice or is it something we are doing, or not doing in our approach? And could meditation teachers benefit from some training to recognise when people they teach are coming up against trauma and acute anxiety?

Vajradevi was ordained in 1995. She has been practising and teaching mindfulness with a strong insight dimension for over 25 years. She emphasises a receptive yet precise way of being aware which can be brought to any moment of our lives. Her book Uncontrived Mindfulness was recently published by Windhorse Press.

Catch up with the rest of the Mental Wellbeing and the Order series here.

Bursaries are available for National and Regional Order weekends

Did you know that bursaries are available from the Abhayaratna Trust to cover travel and retreat costs to attend National and Regional Order gatherings.

And Retreat Bursaries continue to be available to Order members worldwide.

Email taradakini@abhayaratnatrust.org for details or to apply. Or call/text +44 0 7857 351818.

Taking care of yourself  

If you are struggling financially, we can help with all sorts of costs. Here are some reasons we’ve found that people hesitate to ask the Abhayaratna Trust for financial support:

‘It’s embarrassing to ask’; ‘Things aren’t THAT bad;’ ‘Surely others need the money more than me – I’m not homeless after all’; ‘I might get turned down and that would be REALLY depressing’; ‘I’ve got some savings so I’d better use all those first’; ‘It’s probably okay for other people, not my situation’. 

If any of this resonates, chances are Abhayaratna Trust support IS for you, even if you have a certain amount of savings. We make it easy to ask for up to £1,000 at a time and give you an answer within a week, or 48 hours if it’s urgent. You can also ask on behalf of an Order friend. Don’t struggle; get in touch with Taradakini on +44 (0) 7857 351818 by phone or text, or email taradakini@abhayaratnatrust.org or click the button below. Don’t hesitate. Just ask!

Please donate by PayPal if you bank outside the UK.

Communications Support: jinavamsa@abhayaratnatrust.org - Send your ideas, reflections and feedback - we love to hear from you.

www.abhayaratnatrust.org