2009 June update

Dhamma Aid Cambodia

June 2009 Update

Dear friends of Dhamma Aid Cambodia,

Here's another update......yes, more scholarships and more books printed for the beautiful people of Cambodia. But there is even more exciting news and I have kept that for the last part of this letter.

Scholarships for monks

First, I am happy to inform that good friends have contributed 6 scholarships for the monk students of Pheah Sihanouk Raja University. Cambodia's single greatest need is a Sangha with renewed standards. The scholarship program for monastics in Cambodia that we are supporting is highly recommended and appreciated by the government, Buddhist and education leaders in Cambodia. It has made a marked difference in promoting serious learning habits and attitudes among the students at the Buddhist University.

The generous sponsors for the 2009 scholarships are:

Tan Tiang Lye (2 scholarships)
Mudita Yew Lye Seng
Cheah Chye Hoon and Lee Su Win
Khor Song Joo
CG Lim and Swee Ee

Their contribution will help these deserving young monks make a difference in their lives and help shape the future of the Sasana in Cambodia.

Monks who were selected for the scholarships last year(2008), posing with Peter Gyallay Pap, director of Khmer Educational Assistance Project, the administrator of the scholarship program.

Publication - 4,000 copies of "The Purpose of Life"

Ven Vandong of the Buddhism and Society Development Association in Kompong Cham has notified me that we have sucessfully printed 4,000 copies of "The Purpose of Life", a book written by the late Ven K. Sri Dhammananda. This is the 3rd book of the late Ven K. Sri Dhammananda that has been translated into Khmer and printed for free distribution in Cambodia through the effort of Dhamma Aid Cambodia ( the first and second being "How to Overcome your Difficulties" and "Why Buddhism?"). The book was translated by Ven Sovann Pannavaro, a Khmer student studying in Myanmar. The printing cost for the book was fully sponsored by the Brickfields Mahavihara.

Ven Vandong has begun to distribute the books to High School students as well as students of the University of Management and Economics, a private University in Cambodia. We are sure that the clear and brilliant teachings of the Ven Dhammananda will brighten the lives of thousands of Cambodians.

Ven Vandong distributing books to students of the University of Management and Economics.

Morning assembly at the High School comes with gifts.

university students 2

The smiles say it - Happiness is a new Dhamma book!

High School

High School students queing up to receive their free Dhamma books. The girls are on the left, out of view.

Introducing Dhamma Aid Laos!

This is the great news I've been holding back. A friend of mine, Judy Chua of Ipoh has been following the progress of Dhamma Aid Cambodia since its early days. Happily, she was sufficiently impressed and inspired, such that following a trip she made to Laos in 2008, she decided to start Dhamma Aid Laos. And like Dhamma Aid Cambodia, the first project is the printing of 4,000 copies of Ven Dhammika's book "Good Question, Good Answer". This very popular book was translated into Lao by the Laotian monk Ven Ekaggacitta and will help many Laotians gain a deeper and stronger understanding of their traditional religion. One good act leads to another. In addition to this wonderful news, a friend of the Ven Ekaggacitta will sponsor a website for Lao Buddhism ( a rare thing), and will include this book in its cataloque of free e-books.

With peace in the BuddhaDhamma,
Yu Ban
June 2009

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