India Dhamma Trust
‘Friendship is like treasure’
In previous editions of Jalaka we have introduced the work of the India Dhamma Trust and told the stories of some of the men and women in India who have benefited and will benefit from its work. The India Dhamma Trust is a Triratna charity which exists to help spread the Dhamma in India, specifically by supporting the work of the ordination teams and Public Preceptors. At the same time, it is hoped that the work of the India Dhamma Trust will help to strengthen the unity of the movement, encouraging a sense of shared endeavour amongst Buddhists from very different backgrounds.
This week we hear the story of Sachin, a GFR mitra, who is benefiting from the work of the movement and the Trust.
Sachin
Sachin - gfr mitra from maharastra from Dharmashalin on Vimeo.
Sachin – friendship is "like treasure‟
Sachin is from Maharashtra and grew up as a Hindu. His father was an alcoholic while his mother was a more „spiritual person‟. As a young man, he says that he had many bad habits, such as a fondness for drinking, and that some local people had a „bad understanding‟ of him. The elders in his village told him that he could change if he worshipped the Hindu gods and participated in the Hindu rituals (which he regretfully confesses included animal sacrifices), but he realised that none of this actually helped him to change.
The real change in his life started when his mother persuaded his father to go on a Buddhist retreat. His father started to change as a result of his experiences on the retreat and, over time, stopped drinking. He has not had a drink for 11 years, and became a mitra and asked for ordination. Inspired by his father‟s example, Sachin began his own exploration of the Triratna movement and, after learning about the example of Doctor Ambedkar from one of the senior Order members, got the opportunity to stay in a Buddhist community for three months.
Sachin says that he has experienced big changes in himself as a result of his involvement in the movement. Before, he had a very negative outlook and never really thought about helping others. Meditation has played a big role in changing his perspective but of more fundamental importance in this shift has been the experience of friendship he has encountered in the movement which he describes as "like treasure‟. The friendship shown to him by senior Order members such as Amoghasiddhi and Maitreyanath, the order member who first explained to him about Ambedkar, has meant so much to him. He speaks of the way Maitreyanath has guided him on his journey so far and says, "His friendship is very amazing for me‟.
Giving to the India Dhamma Trust
Sachin is benefiting from his experience of friendship with senior Order members within the Triratna movement. The India Dhamma Trust exists to facilitate the work of the ordination teams and Preceptors and thus enable more and more men and women to enjoy the opportunities for spiritual progress that Sachin has had.
One way that you can help the India Dhamma Trust is by giving dana by standing order. If you are moved to do this, then there is a standing order form below which can be printed out and completed.
