KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (RNS) — With all temples in Malaysia closed to the public in an effort to curb the coronavirus outbreak, the country’s 5.4 million Buddhists — the second largest faith group in the mostly Muslim nation — observed Vesak, or Buddha Day, from home this year. This important holiday commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha.
Link: https://www.sgi-italia.org/8x1000coronavirus/
L’Istituto Buddista Italiano Soka Gakkai ha deciso di devolvere in favore dell’emergenza Coronavirus l’intera somma dell’8xmille che riceverà dallo Stato per la prima volta il prossimo giugno. Ha inoltre deciso di destinare subito 500.000 euro alla Protezione Civile quale immediato contributo in questa prima fase di interventi, attingendo ai propri fondi.
L’Istituto Buddista Italiano Soka Gakkai partecipa alla ripartizione dell’8xmille a seguito della Legge di Intesa approvata all’unanimità dal Parlamento Italiano e pubblicata sulla Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 164 del 15/07/2016. A decorrere dal 1° gennaio 2016, infatti, i contribuenti hanno avuto per la prima volta la possibilità di destinare l’8xmille del gettito IRPEF in favore dell’Istituto.
Con lo spirito del Maestro Daisaku Ikeda, continueremo uniti a pregare per le vittime di COVID-19, per la salute di tutti i cittadini italiani, per il personale medico e paramedico e per tutti coloro che in questo momento stanno facendo ogni sforzo per fermare l’epidemia in corso. È pratica della Soka Gakkai proteggere e preservare la vita di ogni essere umano.
La nostra preghiera è innanzitutto rivolta a salvaguardare la vita di ogni singola persona, in Italia ed in tutto il mondo, con la consapevolezza che ciò inevitabilmente contribuirà ad uscire al più presto da questa grave crisi.
Link: https://m.phnompenhpost.com/national/mgn-emperor-holds-large-covid-19-blessing-ceremony
Three hundred monks, including patriarchs, from across the Kingdom were in attendance as MGN Emperor Bank held its second biggest Buddhist blessing ceremony at its headquarters in Phnom Penh last Saturday.
The bank’s CEO Om Visal and staff held the blessing — which was presided over by Men Sam An, Minister of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection — to pray for its employees and the whole of Cambodia as the Covid-19 outbreak intensifies.
The event offered blessings for good health and peace as the coronavirus continues to spread throughout the world.
Visal called on everyone to, like MGN Emperor Bank, practise good hygiene and make sure all precautions are taken in combating the disease.
“We need to all work together and pay the strictest attention in the fight against the coronavirus and ensure the sustainable operation of financial institutions,” Visal said.
MGN Emperor Bank has taken strict precautions against the disease by regularly providing Covid-19 care packages — including face masks and hand sanitisers — to its employees.
The bank also measures body temperature and disinfects both employees and customers before they enter its premises, and Visal strongly urged everyone to follow the precautions outlined by the Ministry of Health.
These include to regularly wash hands thoroughly, avoid touching the face, make sure food is well cooked before eating and practise social distancing.
He also encouraged all companies to provide their staff with appropriate Covid-19 care packages and to be highly alert for any symptoms, such as a high body temperature, a fever, a cough and difficulties breathing.
https://mailchi.mp/spiritrock/care-covid-19-2020-03-05?e=e7bcd63a27
Dear Ones,
I hope this finds you as well as possible amidst all of the rapidly changing conditions of our world. We are sending deep mettā to those impacted directly by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and, on this interconnected planet, to all communities as we feel both the strength and fragility of our interdependence.
It was a blessing to be joined by more than 350 of you here on the land for our regular Monday night meditation class earlier this week. Please let me share the link of the conversation I had with Paul Hawken around how to stay grounded and steady as we navigate the spread of the Coronavirus, global climate change, and other current challenges. We talked about how to use these conditions as a portal to connect to the teachings, right here, right now.
I also offered some teachings on compassion, courage, steadying the heart and gaining a wide perspective via video call to a big group in China the other night, some of whom are at home in quarantine. To get them to laugh, I told them there were a large number of people on retreat at Spirit Rock who paid to sit silently and not go out and not speak to anyone—and that in China they were getting their retreat for free! We talked about how the Bodhisattva turns toward difficulty and deepens their practices to quiet the mind and cultivate compassion for all.
Currently, Spirit Rock’s doors remain open to support practice and to help all of us cultivate goodwill as we face change and new challenges. Right now, we are blessed to be in the middle of our longest residential retreat practice period—our one and two-month retreatants are here, which means almost 100 people sitting meditation up the hill in our retreat center through the end of March. In the meantime, our Community Meditation Center is open for weekly classes and weekend programs to support your practice.
We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation as it unfolds, at all levels. We are deeply committed to the safety of our practitioners, teachers, and staff on the land. We are proactively taking preventative measures throughout our campus, continuing to follow county health and government protocols, and acknowledging the dynamic and unknown nature of these conditions. We will use our practice and our policies to make the most skillful response needed as things change—which they will—and will continue to keep you up to date.
The need for the Dharma is stronger than ever. We can choose to live in our fears, confusion, and worries; or to stay in the essence of our practice, center ourselves, and be the ones on this beautiful boat of the earth that demonstrate patience, compassion, mindfulness, and mutual care.
With mettā on behalf of all of us at Spirit Rock,
Jack Kornfield
UBI 16 Marzo 2020 Comunicati Stampa
CORONAVIRUS: DALL’UNIONE BUDDHISTA ITALIANA 3 MILIONI PER L’EMERGENZA E IL DOPO. 1.5 MILIONI ALLA PROTEZIONE CIVILE E 1.5 AL TERZO SETTORE
“In questo momento non semplice restituiamo agli italiani la fiducia che ci hanno dimostrato con l’8×1000 e supportiamo anche le organizzazioni del Terzo Settore, da sempre vicino ai cittadini in difficoltà, nell’emergenza e soprattutto nel dopo”
Milano, 16 marzo 2020 – “In questo momento non semplice vogliamo restituire concretamente alla popolazione italiana la fiducia che ci ha dimostrato con l’8×1000 e per questo abbiamo deciso di stanziare 3 milioni di euro come sostegno immediato a chi è impegnato a contrastare la diffusione del Covid19. Invieremo subito 1.5 milioni di euro alla Protezione Civile in modo che possa far fronte all’emergenza. Un milione e mezzo sarà destinato a un fondo speciale emergenziale per le organizzazioni del Terzo Settore che svolgono e svolgeranno, soprattutto in fase post emergenziale, un’opera fondamentale di sostegno e vicinanza ai soggetti più fragili”.
L’Unione Buddhista Italiana monitorerà le urgenze e le richieste, in contatto e in coordinamento con le varie organizzazioni che operano sul territorio nazionale al fine di destinare i fondi in modo efficace. Considerato che le conseguenze dirette ed indirette dell’epidemia si estenderanno anche ai prossimi mesi, l’Unione Buddhista Italiana si adopererà per sostenere le organizzazioni del Terzo Settore che rappresentano un presidio di socialità a fianco di chi soffre e a sostegno di chi opera per affrontare questa delicata situazione. Siamo fiduciosi che questo periodo di prova che stiamo vivendo rafforzerà appieno lo spirito di apertura di tutti noi e come buddhisti sentiamo forte l’invito a tradurre in azioni la compassione verso l’altro: è questa l’autentica via del prendersi cura.
CIMC’s Update on the COVID-19 Coronavirus 3/5/20
In an effort to support the health of our CIMC community, we’d like to address the concern about COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) by providing some helpful guidelines when visiting the Center. We are guided by information provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH).
Coronavirus causes a respiratory (lung) infection. Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath, and in severe cases, pneumonia (fluid in the lungs). To date, there has been just one confirmed case of the coronavirus in Massachusetts and Department of Public Health officials state that the risk to residents in Massachusetts remains low.
If you are coughing, sneezing, have or have had a fever, we ask that you stay home. This is the most important action you can take to protect others.
The coronavirus is on people’s minds and even the perception of illness can cause alarm. Please, take care of both yourself and the CIMC community by waiting until you are well to return. CIMC will offer a refund for any program you cannot attend due to illness.
Other preventative measures we strongly encourage to help stop the spread of germs are:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with either a tissue or your inner elbow.
We’re asking those who have traveled to any place the CDC is designating “Level 3” not to visit CIMC until they have been symptom-free for 14 days upon return. Current Level 3 countries are China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea. Please visit the CDC site for the most up to-date information.
At this time, we are not cancelling any CIMC programs due to the coronavirus. We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation as it unfolds and should this change, CIMC will communicate with the community by email and on the “ANNOUNCEMENTS” section of our website homepage.
The Portland Insight Meditation Center in Portland, Oregon shared the following 20-second handwashing loving-kindness (metta) meditation on their Facebook page:
https://www.upaya.org/2020/03/upaya-health-and-safety-statement-for-covid-19-time/
Dear Dharma Friends,
The truth of uncertainty is so clear to all of us these days, as we adjust to life in relation to Covid-19. We at Upaya are doing our loving and responsible best to protect you and the sangha as this wave of illness makes its way across our country. As you might have guessed, we are cancelling Spring Practice Period at Upaya, except for residents. And we will be closing the zendo as of Sunday, March 15. But we are offering online options that we are developing now, and we hope you will join us online for practice and teachings!
DAILY MEDITATION
Zazen will still be happening virtually, Monday-Sunday at 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., thanks to Upaya’s residents, priests, and elders, and we invite you to join through this link:
https://www.youtube.com/user/upayazencenter/live
WEDNESDAY NIGHT DHARMA TALKS
We will also livestream Wednesday’s Dharma Talk with peacemaker John Paul Lederach at 5:30 p.m.. This session will begin with 15 minutes of meditation. Please join us through our Live YouTube page at this link.
As soon as the contagion issues around Covid-19 are resolved, we will be re-opening the zendo, and you will immediately hear from us.
We are doing our best to be responsible by moving teachings and practice online and postponing programs and limiting access to Upaya during this global health crisis. We need your help in navigating the huge financial losses we are experiencing at this time. Please consider becoming a member, or support our general fund. If your program is canceled, consider converting your payment into a donation or move your program payment to next year.
Please know that your ongoing support and care are much appreciated, and we look forward to hosting you here at Upaya as soon as possible.
Bowing,
Roshi Joan Halifax, Upaya Zen Center
Wednesday, March 14, 2020
Link: https://www.sgi-italia.org/comunicato-9-marzo
Cari compagni e compagne di fede, grazie di cuore per gli sforzi che state facendo in questo periodo così complicato. Sicuramente tramite l’incoraggiamento reciproco riusciremo a superare questo periodo e a trasformare il veleno in medicina.
Sabato 7 marzo i responsabili di tutte le regioni e i responsabili nazionali in video conferenza hanno avuto modo di ascoltare report di esperienze e iniziative da ogni zona d’Italia.
A seguito di queste riunioni l’Istituto ha deciso quanto segue:
1) La sospensione di tutte le attività religiose, comprese le visite a casa, prosegue fino al 3 aprile p.v. in linea con le ultime disposizioni del Governo italiano.
2) Gli esami di Buddismo di primo e secondo livello sono posticipati al 18 ottobre 2020.
3) Le redazioni delle nostre riviste invieranno una Newsletter settimanale per incoraggiare tutti i compagni di fede che stanno affrontando questo periodo difficile.
Per quanto riguarda i comportamenti individuali, poiché l’espansione del coronavirus continua a diffondersi nel nostro paese, è importante seguire le indicazioni del Ministero della Salute e dell’Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità, sviluppando saggezza e un forte senso di responsabilità verso se stessi e gli altri.
Grazie infinite per la collaborazione.
