By — Shyamal Sinha
The Sanskrit word “mahakaruna” means great (maha) compassion (karuna). Karuṇā is often linked with other virtues such as “Maitri” (loving-kindness) and “Ahimsa” (non-violence).
The Mahakaruna Diwas 2024 was jointly organized by Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre, Leh, Mahakaruna Foundation, Delhi and Adhyatm Sadhna Kendra, Delhi in the beautiful auditorium of Adhyatm Sadhna Kendra, Chhattarpur, New Delhi on the 7th of January 2024.on this auspicious day Guruji birthday also celebrated in a big way.
Venerable Sanghasena realized that the main root cause of poverty and social unrest was illiteracy. He knew that when people were given proper holistic education, the cycle of poverty and social evils could be broken. With this in mind, he started the first residential school for underprivileged children who came from the far flung corners of Ladakh. From this initial project, other desperately needed humanitarian services were identified and added to the Devachan campus which now houses a home for the aged, visually impaired, a monastery, a nunnery, a meditation and yoga centre and so on.
This auspicious occasion was graced by many spiritual luminaries from all the major religions of the world; Buddhism Shartse Khensur Ripoche Secretary General IBC , Jainism, Hinduism Pt. Sushil Maharaj ji , Sikhism and Christianity, ambassadors from Myanmar, Bhutan delivered nice spiritual talk and educationist like Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi, Dr. Sandeep Marwah,Alok jain ,K.C.Jain IRS ,Kiran Bedi Ex-IPS and peace activists and advocators of the power of Mahakaruna-great compassion. The beautiful auditorium was packed by over hundreds peace loving people including large numbers of Buddhist monks and nuns from various Buddhist countries; Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar and India had come and participated in this great event.
The speakers have conveyed strong messages of peace, compassion as great means to address the ongoing unprecedented violence and wars. All the guests applauded the great initiative of Bhikkhu Sanghasena; Mahakaruna campaign dedicated to world peace and unanimously agreed to support vision and mission of Bhikkhu ji to world peace. All the dignitaries have signed the 30 point Mahakaruna Diwas 2024 Delhi declaration.
The Mahakaruna 2024 Awards were conferred to more than 30 distinguished peace activists, educationists and advocators of Mahakaruna. VBS Young Embodiment of Compassion in education Awards 2024 were conferred to the students from various schools from Delhi. It was followed by a beautiful 600 hundred pages book on “Mahakaruna: A holistic moment for Global peace through compassion in action” authored by Bhikkhu Sanghasena and Dr. P.R. Trivedi, published by Mahakaruna Foundation New Delhi in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Universities New Delhi was launched on this historic occasion.
Earlier, a short documentary film on the Mahakaruna movement by Mahakaruna Foundation was screened.
All the speakers meticulously highlighted the relevance and importance of the core value of Compassion in an otherwise chaotic world today. Another beautiful book vegetarianism in Hindi.
Phunsok Ladakhi renowned artist and singer and the students of Mahabodhi Residential School and from Ladakh students’ Welfare Society, Delhi have presented series of heart touching songs on Ahimsa and Karuna.
He has also made the meditation techniques of the Buddha available to the common people of Ladakh through donation-based intensive Vipassana retreats.
Compassion in action and meditation in action are the guiding principles of his work.
MIMC is indeed a great example of one man’s vision turning into reality. His great vision of love and compassion for the underprivileged people of Ladakh has been materialized in the very formation of MIMC.
Another milestone of guruji got Myanmar highest civilian award declared by ambassador of Myanmar on the dais.
The celebration of Mahakaruna Diwas 2024 which filled with joy, peace, love and compassion concluded in a cosy atmosphere .
