|
|
Bodhicitta Foundation
Taking Light into the Dark Places of the World
Venerable Yeshe Chodron ordained as a nun in 2001. She discovered Buddhism
whilst travelling in Nepal and India at the age of 17 on a search for the
meaning of life. Coming back to Australia after a year of study and practice in
monasteries, she helped run a Buddhist Centre in Sydney and trained with her
teacher Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe for five years whilst working as well.
Upon ordaining as a nun at the age of 23 Venerable Yeshe, found like the majority of Western monastics before her that there was very little care or support for Western monastics, people preferring to access Tibetan Lamas who are already trained. She had no where to live and had to beg on traditional alms round to get food, she stayed with various friends and in garden sheds. She engaged in teaching Dharma in HIV hospices, schools, drug and alchohol rehab centres and trained as a yoga teacher.
Coming to India in 2004, Venerable Yeshe studied for two years in a monastery, but felt a need to make Buddhism accessable and socially engaged, whilst still trying to maintain her contemplative way of life. She met Indian Buddhists in 2005 and has been working with them ever since. Her teachers are Sakya Trizen (the second highest Lama in Tibetan Buddhism) and Ven Thich Nhat Hanh, the nobel peace prize poet and peace activist.
Ayya Yeshe Bodhicitta is the author of 'Everyday Enlightenment' published by Harper Collins and is featured in the documentaries 'life beyong the begging bowl' and 'Through the Eastern Gate'.
Upon ordaining as a nun at the age of 23 Venerable Yeshe, found like the majority of Western monastics before her that there was very little care or support for Western monastics, people preferring to access Tibetan Lamas who are already trained. She had no where to live and had to beg on traditional alms round to get food, she stayed with various friends and in garden sheds. She engaged in teaching Dharma in HIV hospices, schools, drug and alchohol rehab centres and trained as a yoga teacher.
Coming to India in 2004, Venerable Yeshe studied for two years in a monastery, but felt a need to make Buddhism accessable and socially engaged, whilst still trying to maintain her contemplative way of life. She met Indian Buddhists in 2005 and has been working with them ever since. Her teachers are Sakya Trizen (the second highest Lama in Tibetan Buddhism) and Ven Thich Nhat Hanh, the nobel peace prize poet and peace activist.
Ayya Yeshe Bodhicitta is the author of 'Everyday Enlightenment' published by Harper Collins and is featured in the documentaries 'life beyong the begging bowl' and 'Through the Eastern Gate'.
Our Founder -
Ayya Yeshe Bodhicitta
Ayya Yeshe Bodhicitta
Click on a link below to find out more about Our Social Work Projects:
Click on "How You Can Help" for more
information. Consider organising a
fundraiser in your area or set up monthly
donations from your bank account.
QUILT MAKING SERVICE
Direct from women in the Nagpur slums to the buyers...
"Its a way people can directly empower slum women and enjoy good quality hand made craft."
- Sister Yeshe. Approximate cost $150.
For more information contact Ayya Yeshe
Direct from women in the Nagpur slums to the buyers...
"Its a way people can directly empower slum women and enjoy good quality hand made craft."
- Sister Yeshe. Approximate cost $150.
For more information contact Ayya Yeshe
For only AU$40 a month, you can sponsor a poor child in Nagpur, India. Your
sponsorship can pay for school fees, transport, uniforms, books, tuition and extra
food. Your will receive photos, updates and letters from your child.
Contact Ayya Yeshe for more information.
Contact Ayya Yeshe for more information.
- Western monks and nuns sponsorship and dialogue programme
- Counselling and Dharma teaching in the West by donation
- Visiting Jails/hospitals and teaching meditation
- Teaching Dharma/meditation in Drug and Alcohol rehab Centres (when volunteers are available)
- Counselling and Dharma teaching in the West by donation
- Visiting Jails/hospitals and teaching meditation
- Teaching Dharma/meditation in Drug and Alcohol rehab Centres (when volunteers are available)
KALYANAMITRA means spiritual friend. The
Kalyanamitra fund is a socially engaged, grass
roots Buddhist charity and spiritual group that
embodies the Buddhist principles of peace,
compassion and equality to try and transform
individuals and society, to remove the roots of
suffering and offer help to some of the most
oppressed people in the world. The Fund was
established in 2002.
KALYANAMITRA FUND
Social Work in India
Social Work in the West
(Known as Bhikshuni Bodhicitta in India)
Children from our malnourished children's food programme get one nourishing
meal a day - 7,000 meals are served each year.
Young Girls Enjoying
Temporary Ordination
FOOD PROGRAMME
Please
contact us: moondakini@hotmail.com
contact us: moondakini@hotmail.com
Daily tuition classes continue to expand, and with
study the slum children have the chance to gain
better employment in the future and break out of
poverty.
Our You Tube Doco
Click here for Bodhicitta Foundation's Expenditure chart
detailing how we use your donations.
SPONSORSHIP
Paintings by Ayya Yeshe of
the spiritual and life of
service can be
commissioned for AU$650
in part to sponsor slum
children.
Order a "Dakini" CD
Professionally made chanting CDs with Ayya Yeshe and Indian world music group India Jiva.
Cost is $28 including postage.
Professionally made chanting CDs with Ayya Yeshe and Indian world music group India Jiva.
Cost is $28 including postage.
Proceeds go to slum children. Contact Ayya Yeshe for CD orders
- Women's job training and community centre
- Tuition Centre for slum children (to help them get jobs and enhance their humanity and access to information)
- Malnourishment programme for slum children (1/3 of the world's malnourished children live in India)
- Counselling for poor and traumatized people / drug and alcohol / domestic violence victims
- Sponsorship for poor children to go to school
- Sponsorship for poor young people to go to university
- Accompanying poor and uneducated people to hospital and assisting with the cost of healthcare
- Women's empowerment through skills and psychological development
- Job training/placement
- Help with basic housing
- Spiritual teachings and meditation (which are very much needed in the often dark and oppressive environments of slums)
- Youth groups (to uplift youth, help them deal with depression, anger management, study pressure and help them grow into ethical and compassionate adults)
- Sunday schools for small slum children
- Sponsorship for monks and nuns
- Tuition Centre for slum children (to help them get jobs and enhance their humanity and access to information)
- Malnourishment programme for slum children (1/3 of the world's malnourished children live in India)
- Counselling for poor and traumatized people / drug and alcohol / domestic violence victims
- Sponsorship for poor children to go to school
- Sponsorship for poor young people to go to university
- Accompanying poor and uneducated people to hospital and assisting with the cost of healthcare
- Women's empowerment through skills and psychological development
- Job training/placement
- Help with basic housing
- Spiritual teachings and meditation (which are very much needed in the often dark and oppressive environments of slums)
- Youth groups (to uplift youth, help them deal with depression, anger management, study pressure and help them grow into ethical and compassionate adults)
- Sunday schools for small slum children
- Sponsorship for monks and nuns
Sept '14 Newsletter
Help us build a
Girls' Hostel / Nunnery!
Click here
Girls' Hostel / Nunnery!
Click here
We now
have 3
slum
tuition
centres
with 75
children
studying
after
school.
Two girls from our nuns
study programme.
Our Annual Temporary Nuns Retreat!
STREET DOG RESCUE & CARE PROGRAMME
This year Bodhicitta Foundation has
cared for 6 dogs with skin disease
that made them lose all their hair.
We took them to the vet, bathed
them and gave them food and
medicine. All dogs are now healthy.
We also rescued two puppies near death
and rehoused them. This is not easy to do
in India as many people can hardly feed
themselves and rich people prefer
pedigree dogs.
A puppy we rescued
Teachings with Ayya Yeshe:
Compassion. Community. Social Engagement. Authenticity. Inspiration
Compassion. Community. Social Engagement. Authenticity. Inspiration
We held a 'little nuns
ordination' for young women
to deepen their spiritual
practice and have fun. Most of
the day the children would
study and learn meditation and
in the evenings we took them
to a park or boating (which is a
chance slum children seldom
get). Lets just say monastic life
is looking more attractive now!
Ayya Yeshe giving toys and friendship in
the slum in Nagpur.
Read the article "Nun of the Slum" by Kathy Graham which describes Ayya Yeshe's spiritual journey, rewarding work and colourful life!
Read the article "Nun of the Slum" by Kathy Graham which describes Ayya Yeshe's spiritual journey, rewarding work and colourful life!
Sydney Teachings
Compassion in Motion:
Intermediate Meditation & teachings from the '37 Practices of the Bodhisattva' teachings on compassion with a socially engaged edge.
Intermediate Meditation & teachings from the '37 Practices of the Bodhisattva' teachings on compassion with a socially engaged edge.
ALSO:
Introductory Buddhist Meditation and Mindfulness with Heart
Buddhist Library Teachings, University Teachings and a Workshop at Bamboo Buddha, Gosford.
Download the Brochure for more information: Ayya Yeshe Sydney Teachings
Introductory Buddhist Meditation and Mindfulness with Heart
Buddhist Library Teachings, University Teachings and a Workshop at Bamboo Buddha, Gosford.
Download the Brochure for more information: Ayya Yeshe Sydney Teachings