Maverick Monk

By LEONG SIOK HUI
TheStar Newspaper

As far as monks go, the Venerable Bhikku Sanghasena is an anomaly. Here is a monk who, in the span of two decades, transformed a desolate desert into a sprawling campus that lends hope to hundreds of Ladakhis. Traditionally, Buddhist monks practising either Mahayana or the Theravada tradition, remain confined to monastic life, studying scriptures and conducting religious ceremonies and rituals. They don’t run charity organisations in the scale of the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC). [Read more]

Compassion At Work

In Ladakh – India’s arid land bordered by rugged Himalayan peaks – lies a beacon of hope for the poor, sick, elderly and underprivileged children.

By LEONG SIOK HUI, TheStar Newspaper

Fifteen years ago, six-year-old Dechen Dolma and her father left their village and took a long, arduous journey by road over high passes to arrive days later in Choglamsar, a village near Leh, the capital of Ladakh. Dechen was horrified when her dad left her at the hostel there.
“I cried and didn’t want my father to leave,” recalls Dechen, now 21. Then, a kind-looking monk told her gently, “Please don’t cry, we will take care of you."

Today, Dechen is a pretty and articulate young lady who has just completed her Bachelor of Commerce degree and is one of the many graduates of the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC) in Ladakh, India.

[Read More] [Abode of Hope]