Meaningfulness and Money

I have a great deal of affection and respect for the Zangdokpalri Foundation for Great Compassion, and in this regard want to pass along the following solicitation that Moke Mokotoff, the Foundation's President, recently sent to interested parties. I think it is well written, to-the-point, and sensible. I hope that after you read this, you will consider sending something to them before the end of the year:

In our culture we are consciously or unconsciously seeking meaningfulness for our money. Even if we feel we don't have enough money, that in itself gives money meaningfulness. And of course there are those with "too much" money who seek luxury and high quality consumption to give their money meaning. A tantric, direct way to give our money meaning is to give it away. Doing so with a good heart to a needy cause, if maintaining a selfless view of both subject and object one accesses the buddhanature and experiences an uncontrived non attachment, liberation ... taking the result as the path.

In this society giving is emphasized at the end of the year, and at this time some of us are accessing the tax advantages of reducing our taxable annual income by means of donation to a registered 501(c)(3) charity.

Though yet again the healing and teaching tour of the last 4 months at 30 venues by Dungse Rigdzin Dorje and the nuns and monks of Zangdokpalri was the most successful so far due to the generosity of those like you who attended and donated; nevertheless, the value of those donations when sent back to the Himalayas was less than 80% of what it was last year due to the devaluation of the dollar. . In addition prices for commodities have considerably inflated in India. On top of that the monastic community has increased in population nearly 30%, there are now 120 monks and 100 nuns who are supported only by donations....I think you can see where I am going with this. We may have raised 10% more this year, but it fulfills only 50% of the needs.

The good news is that a donor has offered to match whatever donations come in before the end of the year. Thus if you give a dollar, the nuns and monks receive two dollars.

Your donation large or small is part of a rain of generosity that nurtures a very wonderful Buddhist community in one of the poorest areas on the planet. A bit more than a dollar a day can provide food, lodging and clothing for a nun or monk who assiduously studies and practices traditional Buddhist teachings.

Please consider sending a tax deductible donation of any amount to:

The Zangdokpalri Foundation for Great Compassion 130 7th Avenue Box 221 New York, NY 10011

Or donate online at: http://www.zangdokpalri.org/howtohelp.html