The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (법륜스님) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.
The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children’s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage’s care.
“This is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it’s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage—they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,” Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. “When I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.
“When I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved—better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.
“I gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.
“JTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.”
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one’s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The opening ceremony began with a colorful performance of traditional Thai music and dance by the resident children before young novice nuns offered their respects to Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and guests with three prostrations and chanted Theravada suttas.
Maechee Chutipa then gave a welcoming speech in front of the newly remodeled dormitory for girls:
“The children are very happy now that we’ve built them new dormitories.
“The building you see in front of you used to be very old. When Ven. Pomnyun visited last year and saw the condition of this building, he decided to support its renovation. So we renovated two buildings. This building is the girls’ dormitory, which is almost complete. The boys’ dormitory, which we will visit next, is already finished.
“Now that we’ve completed the dormitories, the children are very happy. This place used to be one large hall that everyone shared for sleeping. However, Ven. Pomnyun suggested that we divide it into rooms because the children are growing up. So we created 11 rooms, and we plan to have three children stay in each room.
“Today is the day that we officially open this building and offer our thanks. I hope the venerable monk and our honored guests will look around the building and give their blessings.
“Thanks to your blessings, the children will be able to sleep in good beds from today!”
The children and visitors shared a joyful morning of celebration and gratitude, which was accompanied by a special lunch prepared by Thailand-based members of Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.
Among the many young people who have benefited from the compassion of Maechee Chutipa, we were introduce to Nareerat, whom Maechee Chutipa discovered abandoned on the grounds when she was just eight months old. Today, after having found a nurturing refuge at the Dhammanulak Children’s Foundation orphanage, Nareerat is a 25-year-old young woman who is working part-time while she completes her education at university.
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim is a widely revered Korean Dharma teacher, author, and social activist. He has founded numerous organizations, initiatives, and projects across the world, among them: JTS Korea, an international humanitarian relief organization working to eradicate poverty and hunger; Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddha’s teachings and dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering; Ecobuddha, an organization focused on environmental ethics and sustainable living based on the teachings of the Buddha; and Good Friends, which promotes reconciliation and cooperation between the North and South Korea, and provides humanitarian aid to North Koreans. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim also works closely with the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB).
In October 2020, the Niwano Peace Foundation in Japan presented the 37th Niwano Peace Prize to Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in recognition of his international humanitarian work, intensive environmental and social activism, and his tireless efforts to build trust and goodwill between communities of different faiths and cultures, toward the goal of world peace.*
* Buddhist Monk Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Awarded the 37th Niwano Peace Prize (BDG)
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International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB)
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