Income from His Holiness’ Bloomington teaching to be donated to charities [Thursday, 13 May 2010, 9:27 a.m.]

His Holiness the Dalai Lama giving teachings on The Heart Sutra (Sherab Nyingpo) at Indiana University Auditorium (Photos by Richard E. Farkas)

Bloomington, IN:
The Tibetan and Mongolian Buddhist Culture Center in Bloomington would
devote the net income from the teaching by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
to projects related with educational and charity initiatives, Arjia
Rinpoche, the director of the centre, which is organising the event
said.Arjia Rinpoche thanked His Holiness the Dalai Lama for
taking the time to bestow the teaching.  He informed His Holiness that
any net income from the teaching would be spent on setting up of a
learning institute at the Center, as suggested by His Holiness the day
before. It would be offered as donations to a cancer hospital in
Mongolia, earthquake relief work in the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous
Prefecture and to the Interfaith Hunger Initiative based in Indiana.
The Interfaith Hunger Initiative consists of two dozen faith
communities in the Indianapolis area who are working together to help
end child and family hunger.Mr. Sudakara Koneru, the Treasurer
of the Center, then gave the financial statement related to the
organisation of the teaching. He said the total income was $ 468, 924
while the total expense was $335,035 with the net income being $ 133,
889.  

Audience members at His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teaching on the Heart Sutra at IndianaUniversity Auditorium

Prior
to making the announcement, Arjia Rinpoche offered made the mandala
offering, and senior lamas and sponsors of the teachings offered
scarves to His Holiness at the end of a two-day discourse on the Heart
Sutra (Tib: Sherab Nyingpo) at the Indiana University. At the
beginning of the concluding session, the Heart Sutra was recited in
Japanese, Korean and Mongolian.  His Holiness commented that this was
the first time he was hearing the Heart Sutra in Mongolian.  He then
recalled his first trip to Mongolia, which happened in 1979.  His
Holiness said that was a very touching trip.His Holiness
explained the generation of Bodhicitta ritual and suggested that people
recite it. While doing so, he said those who are Buddhist could
visualise accordingly, while those who are Christians or Muslims they
could visualise Christ and Allah respectively.The teachings were translated into English, Chinese, Mongolian and Vietnamese.Following
lunch, His Holiness gave some private audiences and briefly appeared at
a luncheon reception for benefactors of the teachings, before
proceeding back to the Tibetan and Mongolian Buddhist Culture Center to
meet the press.Earlier in the morning His Holiness the Dalai Lama first met with some scholars and students from China. –Report filed by Bhuchung K Tsering of ICT