Benevolent Organisation for Development, Health and Insight
Encyclopedia
The Benevolent Organisation for Development, Health and Insight is a Non-Governmental Organisation that undertakes sustainable interventions in the developing world. BODHI is an example of engaged Buddhism
: their goal is "to utilise skillful means in helping sentient beings, in the developed as well as the developing world." Their activities are principally in Tibet
, Thailand
and the North of India
, and their founding patron is His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
BODHI's projects include a revolving sheep bank, adult literacy programmes and health clinics such as the Jamseng Health Center, which is a branch of Gaden Relief, another example of engaged Buddhism
. BODHI also assists with the purchasing of medical equipment, environmental programmes and animal/sanitation programmes.
As well as sustainability, one of the particularities of the organisation is its investment in smaller projects that have a direct impact on community education and health - examples being
They make extensive use of local and visiting volunteers to maintain their project activities, including students, teachers and doctors.
BODHI was founded in 1989 and has directors in Australia
and the USA. Its advisory board includes
Engaged Buddhism
Engaged Buddhism refers to Buddhists who are seeking ways to apply the insights from meditation practice and dharma teachings to situations of social, political, environmental, and economic suffering and injustice...
: their goal is "to utilise skillful means in helping sentient beings, in the developed as well as the developing world." Their activities are principally in Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and the North of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and their founding patron is His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
BODHI's projects include a revolving sheep bank, adult literacy programmes and health clinics such as the Jamseng Health Center, which is a branch of Gaden Relief, another example of engaged Buddhism
Engaged Buddhism
Engaged Buddhism refers to Buddhists who are seeking ways to apply the insights from meditation practice and dharma teachings to situations of social, political, environmental, and economic suffering and injustice...
. BODHI also assists with the purchasing of medical equipment, environmental programmes and animal/sanitation programmes.
As well as sustainability, one of the particularities of the organisation is its investment in smaller projects that have a direct impact on community education and health - examples being
- BOWSER (BODHI’s Wild DogDholeThe dhole is a species of canid native to South and Southeast Asia. It is the only extant member of the genus Cuon, which differs from Canis by the reduced number of molars and greater number of teats...
Sterilisation and Eradication of RabiesRabiesRabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals. It is zoonotic , most commonly by a bite from an infected animal. For a human, rabies is almost invariably fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms...
Programme) - windmills to produce electricity
- solar cookers to reduce deforestation
- bicycles and educational material provided to rural schoolchildren in ThailandThailandThailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and TibetTibetTibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
They make extensive use of local and visiting volunteers to maintain their project activities, including students, teachers and doctors.
BODHI was founded in 1989 and has directors in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the USA. Its advisory board includes
- Robert AitkenRobert Baker AitkenRobert Baker Dairyu Chotan Aitken Roshi was a Zen teacher in the Harada-Yasutani lineage. He co-founded the Honolulu Diamond Sangha in 1959...
- Shelley Anderson
- Bob BrownBob BrownRobert James Brown is an Australian senator, the inaugural Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Greens and was the first openly gay member of the Parliament of Australia...
- Mila de Gimeno
- John GuillebaudJohn GuillebaudProfessor John Guillebaud is Emeritus Professor of Family Planning and Reproductive Health at University College London. He was born in Burundi and brought up in Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and Britain....
- Maurice King
- Christopher Queen
- David Rapport
- Sulak SivaraksaSulak SivaraksaSulak Sivaraksa [] is founder and director of the Thai NGO “Sathirakoses-Nagapradeepa Foundation”, named after two authorities on Thai culture, Sathirakoses and Nagapradeepa...