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Ani Barbara Shannon and Tracy Chau during a Repaying the Kindness holiday celebration
Every year, the International Merit Box Project collects offerings from students all around the world and disburses them as grants to deserving FPMT centers, projects and services. Since 2001, almost US$1,000,000 in Merit Box grants has been given to build stupas, help long-term retreaters cook and stay warm, publish Dharma books, and fund many, many other activities.
Two of the 14 most recent grants went to support community service initiatives in the caring field.
With their community being hit hard by funding cuts in public services, a team from Jamyang Buddhist Centre in London was inspired to develop Repaying the Kindness, a program to give back to those who take care of others. This compassionate program brings in carers from all ages and backgrounds to rejuvenate with yoga, counseling, celebrations, group trips, art therapy, and simple warm chats over tea and cake.
Jane Sill, co-director of Repaying the Kindness, shared about the program recently, “Our aim is to be sustainable and to be able to offer some kind of continuity and care at a time when so many lives are being affected by cuts and stoppages of public provision. As such, we are happy to be able to offer a quiet and relaxing place to re-energize and reconnect, allowing our carers to be able to carry on with renewed strength in their caring roles.”
Another Merit Box grant went to Karuna Hospice Service in Australia and funded the new development of a spiritual carer training program for FPMT students who want a Buddhist-oriented training to provide spiritual care to the sick and dying. Once implemented, it will help meet the needs of those in the community looking for spiritual end-of-life care by creating well-trained, FPMT-registered spiritual carers.
At the end of the course, participants will be able to speak about the importance of spirituality at the end of life and assist people to explore their beliefs; offer basic spiritual support that aligns with the FPMT lineage for people who are dying or bereaved; offer Buddhist ritual and practices in pre- and post-death situations, as well as during the actual dying process; and conduct Buddhist funeral services.
Mike Fry and Robin Bath enjoying a meal together through the Repaying the Kindness Project
The International Merit Box Project was created by Lama Zopa Rinpoche as a method to enhance the generosity practice of FPMT students. The practice includes an offering box that can be added to one’s altar to make cash and coin offerings throughout the year, and teachings from Rinpoche on how to best do so. If you would like to start doing Merit Box practice, order a free Merit Box Practice Kit for yourself or friends today. You may also give to the 2015 Merit Box grants by making a direct donation online until March 31.
To see what other projects and activities the Merit Box Project has supported, please visit the Merit Box Project homepage.