TAKING CARE OF OTHERS

By Tan Hup Cheng

3,000 blankets and food were purchased for Thai flood victims by ABC.

In early November, just before the Deepavali weekend, we received a request from a fellow Dharma student of Khen Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup, Ms. Irene Ong, living in Bangkok to donate 3,000 blankets for distribution to stricken Thai villagers. The urgency of the immense suffering endured by the thousands of homeless people without food and clothing moved us to work fast. Within a few days, students from Amitabha Buddhist Centre pledged S$18,000 and placed orders with suppliers for the blankets and food. Our tireless and compassionate bodhisattva sister, Irene, organized the transport of the 3,000 blankets, drinking water and food stuffs to the homeless people in Lopbhuri province that weekend. She had invited ABC members to join her for the food distribution but, due to the short notice, we could not make the trip to help distribute the blankets and food. From the pictures that were sent, we observe that the state of suffering of the people is heart breaking. Thousands of homes are underwater, and with them, people’s home appliances and belongings. Thousands of acres of rice fields have been submerged and destroyed. Many thousands are without proper shelter, food and warm clothing during this winter season.

Many people helped to distribute the relief supplies offered by ABC's community.

The generosity of the benefactors in donating the blankets and food for the cold and hungry villages really made a deep imprint in their minds. The smile of relief in their faces as they received the precious goods was enough to make all the effort worthwhile.

We thank all the generous benefactors and members who kindly donated to make this mercy relief operation such a success.

Turn to page 72 in the January-March 2011 issue to read about how Losang Dragpa Centre’s 16 To Live By also contributed to the relief efforts.