Tsunami Disaster Relief Work

Photo Galleries

News Articles

TRIPLE GEM VILLAGE September 26, 2005
A HISTORIC DAY IN ELLIYADDA	WE HAVE BUILT A BRIDGE
50 PERMANENT HOMES FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS	LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
100 TSUNAMI AFFECTED CHILDREN RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS	152 HOMELESS FAMILIES RECEIVE TEMPORARY HOMES
89 HOMELESS FAMILIES MOVE INTO TEMPORARY HOUSING	TRIPLE GEM TRANSITORY HOUSING SCHEME
CONSTRUCTION OF TOILETS IN REFUGEE CAMPS	TRIPLE GEM HOUSING PROJECTS
DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTAINMENT	TRIPLE GEM SOCIETY REFUGEE CAMP
BUILDING FIFTY MORE TEMPORARY SHELTERS	FEEDING THE REFUGEES
CLEANUP OPERATIONS	HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS	MEMORIAL SERVICES

ATTENDING TO TRAUMA COUNSELING AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS	SCHOOL RECONSTRUCTION AND CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES
WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEMS	RECONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING NEW HOMES

Dear friends and students,

I have once again returned to Sri Lanka to continue our Tsunami relief efforts.

As I arrived here I remember the many people who lives have also been lost or devastated by the recent tragedy of hurricane Katrina. My thoughts and prayers go out to them, and I hope you will all support and contribute your help in whatever way possible. In such difficult times it is important to try not to become overwhelmed by the disaster, and try to stay focused on constructive ways so that we can ease the suffering of those affected.

Here in Sri Lanka although there is considerable progress in many areas, still there are many people who do not get the support they had been promised, and expected from the government. Lot of families affected by the Tsunami are facing many challenges and problems.

The good news from us is that since I arrived, we have chosen the families who will receive our completed, brand new homes. The 35 families will get their house keys in a simple dedication ceremony on September 24th.

The schedule here is especially busy now. As I arrived in Sri Lanka I lost a few days because I got sick and spend time in bed. Very hard thing to do while so much is happening around you. I am feeling much better now and am working hard to resolve the most urgent problems.

We will also be dedicating the Triple Gem bridge on the 22nd. I heard that the villages are preparing to rejoice the occasion with a grand opening ceremony. You can read more about our Bridge in bhantewimala.com

I will be leaving for Africa to continue our medical relief projects, and will spend most of the next month at the Samadhi Meditation Centerin Prague. I will send an update about these projects later.

As always I am grateful to all of you who make it possible for me to do the kind of humanitarian work that change thousands of lives. You may know that helping profession is neither simple nor easy. But if you put your heart out to what you do, you have so much energy to face very chellenge, every difficulty with a renewed sense of courage. No matter how big your heart is still there are moments that you feel effected by the challenges and the suffering of others. That is a moment that you remember that you are human too. Yes, it is OK to be human.

with love and blessings,

Bhante Wimala

Dear friends and students,

It has been while since I communicated with you last. By now some to you might be wondering of the progress of our Tsunami relief efforts. Although we have slowed down considerably our direct involvement with Tsunami survivors and the efforts to help them continues.

It is natural for us, human beings to feel the pain of others and react to their suffering. In daily basis we all have to deal with the suffering of our loved ones, our friends and neighbors, citizens of our country or our fellow human beings. Non of us can escape this reality no matter who we are. In such occasions rather than feeling helpless and becoming unhappy or getting lost in sadness and sorrow, we need to lean how to remain calm and respond positively and try our best to help them.

Specially past seven months I experienced so much pain and suffering around me, many time I felt overwhelmed. It was challenging for me to stay close to my heart and let all my actions originate from a positive and peaceful place within me. I had to be mindful and challenge my self every day so my actions are motivated by compassion and kindness rather than sadness and sorrow. I had to learn how to remain true to my normal human emotions and at the same time let them bring something positive, productive and constructive from me.

I have seeing so many who try to heal the pain of others or dedicated to helping those who suffer fall apart eventually or getting hurt themselves or even getting depressed. Among many external challenges I also had the challenge of keeping myself together so that the best of me will be in action as we were trying to help those who are in need.

There are still 152 families in our TGS camps. We continue to solve many problems in the camps. Since my last visit we got tap water connections to two of our camps and built a community kitchen in one of the camps. We also continue our scholarship program for 100 children who survived the Tsunami. We have gotten a few people who need special medical care to specialists. We have chosen 30 more families who lost their livelihood due to the Tsunami. They have enrolled in our livelihood assistance program and will receive financial assistance, material and equipment needed to earn a living.

35 homes are ready.

We have built 35 brand new homes. 35 families who survived the Tsunami and lost their homes and land will receive the keys for the homes on the 24th of September. This is one of the most challenging and expensive tasks the Triple Gem Society have undertaken. 15 more homes are to be built soon.

I am so grateful to Mr. Anura Perera of the George Phylnormel Foundation who came forward to help us and financed most of the homes. When I signed a contract to build 50 homes we had very little money in our bank account. Phylnormel Foundation has been the main supporter of many of our projects in U.S., Africa and Asia. Helping again this time Mr. Perera sponsored 21 homes. We all are grateful for his continued support of humanitarian projects of Triple Gem Society.

Other Humanitarian Projects we have done last four month

** construction of Triple Gem Society bridge is complete and will be dedicated on the 22nd of September. I have distributed 65 wheelchairs to disabled people mostly living in rural, poor villages in July 2005. Philnormal foundation is the main supported of this project but the cost of the chairs were paid by Buddhist Mahavihara of Malaysia.

** We donated two incubators and two oxygen concentrators and 50 mosquito nets and many pairs of crutches. Two district hospitals in Kenya who never had an incubator received them. The incubators were donated by temple Beth El in Hollywood Florida. Rabbi Allen Tuffs, a good friend of mine worked with me for a few months to acquire the incubators. We are all very grateful to him and his congregation.

** 12 more African girls who had stopped going to high school because of financial problems got scholarships from us last month. Triple Gem scholarship program paid for a one year tuition fees for all twelve girls and now they are back in school.

** I will be going on my “Prison Tour” until the 10th of September 2005. On the 12th of September I will be leaving for Sri Lanka. After visiting Sri Lanka I will be going to Africa again to distribute most needed medical equipment to some needy rural hospitals and computers to schools. I will be in Prague at our Samadhi Buddhist Meditation center from September 3rd until the 23rd of October.

** We have officially opened the Samadhi Buddhist Meditation Center in Prague and I would like to invite all of my students and friends to come and participate in our meditation retreats and Buddhist study programs. Please get more information from our website at www.bhantewimala.com.

May you all find the desire to help others from a place of love and compassion. May you be well and happy.

with love and blessings

Bhante Wimala

Sri Lanka Update July 4, 2005

I am back in Sri Lanka again. I am so glad for the opportunity to spend some more time with those who were effected by the tsunami. Many people who we helped were waiting for my return. I feel that still there is a long way to go before the victims of the tsunami have a normal life again. We should continue to support them. As you know Triple Gem Society has built six refugee camps and housed 152 families. I visited five of them this time.

Unfortunately the political situation has worsened in Sri Lanka and I was accompanied by six armed guards (Special Task Force Officers) as I toured the eastern province. At times I felt uncomfortable to be surrounded by six men with machine guns. As I toured the disaster area and the refugee camps I was able to quickly identify many problems and was able to make arrangements to solve them.

I also visited our permanent housing complex in Kalutara. This area is safe and anybody could travel safely and freely. Out of fifty homes we are planning to build, thirty five of them will be completed by the end of August. I had a meeting with the architects, engineers and contractors and was pleased with the progress they have made so far. Some houses have already been completed up to the roof level.

Do you know that Triple Gem Society is building a bridge? Yes, one third of it is already complete. When somebody asked me how we could manage such big projects I simply said "we have a very big heart". This village is situated in the hill country of Sri Lanka among the beautiful, green mountains. Two mountains are separated by a deep valley. Over 500 families get trapped on one side of the mountain when the river swells. We heard several stories of people getting swept away by the currents. When the water level gets high people can not take the sick people to the hospital and some have died without medical help. There are many other reasons why I tried to put the fear of my emotions (where do I get the money???…Who is going to help me???..) aside and let my heart be present and say yes, to building this bridge. I hope to write the full story soon so that you can understand it better.

I visited the construction sight of the bridge and wherever I turned the villagers were thanking me for this noble deed. At my request the architects and engineers have made great efforts to speed up the construction. If you are interested in helping us in this please write to us or let us know by phone. You will be able to see the photos in a few days on our website bhantewimala.com

I am grateful to all of you who made it possible for us to create many wonderful miracles. Life is short. Like everybody before us we will leave everything that we call ours. So let us care and share while we can so that when the time comes we can close our eyes peacefully and be still in a selfless place to accept the next birth.

May you be well and happy.

with love and blessings

Bhante Wimala

Sri Lanka Update March 3, 2005

Today is March 3, 2005. It has been a while since I communicated by email. As I work in different projects to help the tsunami victims I face all kinds of challenges everyday. I have to work with so many people in different capacities. I am reminded that no matter where you live and who you are life is full of challenges. How you perceive them and the way you react is what makes a difference. So it is important to stay focused, detach and quickly let go of the emotions of disappointments. When I am physically tired, I realized that I tend to react more easily.

I at times feel like I am thrown out here in the field with real people, with real problems and real challenges and all the realities of life. Real people can challenge even the strongest minds and destroy the week ones very easily. There is no pretence or no security screens. “May you be well, happy and peaceful!”. With all this I still see the beauty of life. Except sometimes with strange shades that is difficult to understand. Please don’t worry I am learning everyday.

I am healthy and have a small problem with my feet. Past three days they have been a bit swollen and I went and had a medical check up. Doctor advised me to rest for a few days and I am on antibiotics. I continue as usual to do what ever I can to make life a little better for those who are affected by tsunami.

What I do makes me happy everyday. So much to tell but enough for this time.

Every day I feel so much gratitude for all of you for your support and
kindness. I am only a representative of all of you. Without your help I would not have done any of these wonderful things. There are also so many people who help me in Sri Lanka. I am very, very grateful. Thank you so much.

Following is news in brief:

Thirty families who lost their homes and all their belongings and some or most of their family members received temporary homes. Triple Gem Society has completed its first two buildings with 30 housing units and the families moved in on the 26th and 27th of February. In choosing the families we gave priority to single mothers with children and families who lost their family members to tsunami.

Forty more temporary housing units will be finished on the 10th of march and forty families are eagerly waiting to move in.

*25 students in Kalmunai, south eastern province of Sri Lanka, have received scholarships. Most of them have lost their family members or eveb ther mothers or fathers to the tsunami.

* One hundred more children received school uniforms and books in Karative.

*We have chosen a location to set up a water purification system. This project will be competed and managed by Special Task Force solders. The Triple Gem Society will finance the project.

*I will attend an informal ceremony to hand over 25 more scholarships to the students on the 17th of March 3, 2005 in Matara District. Most of them havelost their father, mother or both parents, or family members. This project is organized and will be managed by Ven. Sumedha of Matara.

*More funeral services and memorial services were conducted and we will
continue to do blessing ceremonies in refugee camps and effected villages and towns.

* More food, clothing and medicine were distributed in different areas

Sri Lanka Update February 1, 2005

Dear friends and students,

Our most recent work has taken us into the survivor camps where refugee families are living with the bare necessities of life. Triple Gem Society has taken over the care and support of one particular refugee camp where the people have been terribly neglected and forgotten. These families, having survived the terrible wrath of nature, are now faced with a new peril of starvation, malnutrition, unsanitary conditions and disease. There are currently fifty families who are living in this refugee camp and we have undertaken their care for the next two months. In these rural hard hit by the tsunami, families are streaming into refugee camps as a means of survival; we anticipate that the number of families in our camp will increase to more than one hundred in the next few weeks. So far, we have given about 22 essential items to each family so they can begin to function as a family again.

We are building toilets. Toilets will be ready in three days. We have undertaken to build temporary homes for thirty families; we already have permission for land use, and two monks expect to start construction under my direction and careful guidance. These monks continue to work very hard in the care of these refugees.

Tomorrow, February 2nd, we will start out at 4am and travel across the region to Ampara and Kalmune where our Triple Gem refugee camp is located. We will spend three very busy days at our camp; the first water pump that we donated to Kalmune is now installed and fully operating. A technician will accompany us to Kalmune to install two more of the vitally needed water purifying systems in the camps. Afterwards, we will travel another six hours to Trincomalee to put down stone foundations for six permanent homes that will be built from contributions received by Triple Gem Society. We hope to complete the construction of these homes in two months.

As we travel along the coast, we find that so many lives have been shattered by the Tsunami. The emotional impact of this natural disaster is now beginning to manifest in the lives of so many people in Sri Lanka; and it is apparent that this emotional impact will have a ripple effect for many years to come. Those who helplessly heard the screams and watched their loved-ones swept into the currents of giant waves; those who collected thousands of bodies and buried them in mass graves; those who lost every thing that belonged to them; those who still hear the weeping and the painful stories of survivors…… all of them live everyday with the overwhelming emotional effects of the tsunami. It will continue to affect many people for years to come. Everyday, I meet people who are struggling with anxiety and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness; they are all in tremendous pain and suffering.

Spiritual counseling and religious rituals can be of great help to heal the pain and relieve the anxiety of so much suffering. Monks and religious laity have helped people for thousands of years. We the Buddhist monks, take our responsibilities seriously and devote our attention and time to provide comfort, healing and counsel for the people. I have performed several mass memorial services and read hundreds of names of those who have died. We have had many blessing ceremonies. I have met several committed and hard working monks and nuns who are already working closely with me. And there are many other groups and organizations working in great effort and harmony to provide emotional and spiritual counseling.

As a leader in our spiritual community, I am committed to organizing and inspiring the community of monks, nuns and lay workers who provide the spiritual and psychological counseling for so many traumatized people. On January 31st, we dispatched some Chinese Buddhist counselors to refugee camps; and we will begin rotating groups of counselors who will work with children and adults. People are looking to the spiritual community for guidance and direction. We are all there for them to share our love and compassion and blessings.

Finally, we are organizing the infrastructure for the efficient set up and distribution of water purification systems. I traveled three days with a team of water specialists from the Czech Republic and I am constantly in touch with them. They have done the initial research and are going back to the Czech Republic with water samples. They have prepared a report of water assessment and I will be presenting it to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka during our next meeting together.

I hope to continue to provide everyone with an update as time allows me to.

with love and blessings

Bhante Wimala

Sri Lanka Update January 26, 2005 from Bhante

Dear Friends & Students,

Today is the 26th of January. It has been exactly one month since the tsunami destroyed our land and took about fifty thousand lives in Sri Lanka. Today there were many ceremonies and religious services held around the country. We continue our efforts to help those in need.

I slept about five hour last night. Today I had a meeting with the political secretary of the Prime minister of Sri Lanka, Mr. Basil Rajapaksha, in the Prime Ministers office. I also met with the minister of Environment and natural resources at the ministry building. I arrived from Ampara last night. I have traveled over two thousand KM in the last four days and tomorrow I will be leaving again for Ampara District. I will be accompanying a team of water specialists from the Czech Republic who will be doing a study to set up water treatment plants in some areas. We will also carry with us a truck full of basic needs to be distributed in refugee camps and will hold a mass funeral service on the night of the 27th for the families who have not had a funeral service for their dead friends or relatives. Alot of things are happening here. Will update you again soon hopefully!

While I have a few moments, I would also like to share with you some of the relief projects currently underway in Sri Lanka.

The situation here is still somewhat chaotic almost one month after the tsunami devastated the people and landscape of Southeast Asia.

As I travel to different areas, I know it is important to listen carefully and stay flexible as the problems which present themselves often require quick and creative solutions. Many times it is simply about supporting people to get back on their feet and sometimes dealing with those who try to take advantage of kindhearted, generous people.

So as you can imagine, the work needed and the opportunities for helping are almost endless. Traveling around is sometimes difficult and requires dedication and patience. In spite of this, there is definitely progress. People are coming together in so many ways to
rebuild, recover, and gather the broken pieces of their lives. The gratitude of those I have met, and the generosity of all who have helped inspires me to continue.

We are trying our best to provide the important daily needs in the most tragically affected regions. In some places there is very little, if any, government aid. People are in need of the most basic necessities for survival. Because of my connections with local organizations, government officials, medical and aid agencies, and the community of monks and nuns, I have been able to gain access to many of these areas.

Everywhere the devastation is overwhelming. I have seen on many occasions of confusion and disorganization among the survivors in temporary living quarters. The need is so enormous it is sometimes difficult to know where to begin to help.

These are some of our immediate and long term projects:

- DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTAINMENT
Disease Prevention remains of critical importance, to minimize the spread of mosquito and water-borne illness. We have donated mosquito nets to many families, and I have arranged and supervised distribution of the most necessary medicines. I have been able to help direct available doctors and health care organizations to areas with the greatest need.
- BASIC LIVING NEEDS FOR SURVIVORS
Meeting the basic needs for day to day survival is also most critical in the short-term. These people have lost everything and live without any utility services. They are so grateful for the simple tools which allow them to begin the process of recovery. We have distributed 100 gas lanterns. Sixty flooded homes have received mattresses. 100 families received sets of basic cooking utensils. Another 100 families received brooms to assist in cleaning up their broken and flooded homes. Several refugee camps have received daily meals; and we will continue to provide meals for individuals in camps and homes who are not being helped otherwise.
- ATTENDING TO TRAUMA COUNSELING AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS
I am very committed to organizing and inspiring the community
of monks and nuns to provide Spiritual and Psychological Counseling needs to many traumatized people. People are looking to this spiritual community for guidance and direction. Monks are arranging religious services and blessing ceremonies for many different groups in the refugee camps. We are also working with health care professionals to organize and deliver efficient systems for counseling and crisis intervention.
- SCHOOL RECONSTRUCTIONS AND CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES
Education and Child Services have always been a special focus for me. Even as much of the costal country remains in ruins, people are beginning to return to their villages and schools. Some schools have begun to open in make shift facilities, because though many school buildings have been destroyed or are being used for housing refugees. One of our most important relief efforts has been helping the children continue their education and to return to a sense of normality and positive outlook.

Specific school projects are:
- School reconstructions
So far we have sponsored 4 Montessori schools that lost all their furniture and supplies. We are helping to rebuild these schools with funding we receive so that they can reopen and
educate children. We provided tables, chairs, chalk boards and school supplies. These smaller schools do not receive government assistance, so parents must pay for the child’s education. For families without homes and basic needs this is now impossible.
We have arranged to pay the teachers salaries to relieve the families of this burden and allow the children to return to school.

- School Books and Uniforms
So Far 250 girls have received uniforms. Currently we are preparing for about two hundred more uniforms. We have also provided school books and basic school supplies to 25 affected children. The kits included backpacks, a dozen books, pens & pencils, rulers, math instruments, and erasers.

- Scholarships
We are expanding the already existing TGS scholarship program to accommodate grade school, high school, and university tuition for many more needy and deserving students. Already 25 students have been enrolled. After careful screening, 80 more will receive tuition beginning February 1st.

- Long term projects
Expansion of ongoing aid as well as specific long term
Projects are well into the planning stages. More on this later.

- Health care and water purification systems
We are organizing the infrastructure for the efficient set up and distribution of water purification systems. Through my health care contacts, we are also assessing the needs of hospitals and clinics in order to provide the most useful medical equipment and instruments. As government dry rations are not enough to meet the desperate need, we are developing a program to provide a nutritional meal powder supplement to the affected children on an ongoing basis.

- Reconstruction and building new homes
Rebuilding and renovation will be an ongoing effort for a long time to come. We have committed to helping, through local resources, in rebuilding some schools and homes destroyed in this disaster. With such great need, we are taking the time and effort to carefully
select the most beneficial projects. Our first project is to sponsor the new roof of a damaged school building which had to expand to accommodate displaced students.

We have already committed to building 10 brand new homes, six in Trincomalie and four in Ampara District and we are awaiting government guidelines for reconstruction. Our intention is to build a minimum of 50 homes long term.

Once again, my heartfelt thanks to all of you. Without your support, Triple Gem Society would not be able to reach so many, and accomplish so much.

May you be well and happy.

with love and blessings

Bhante Wimala

Sri Lanka Update January 22, 2005

This is Bhante Wimala, again writing from Sri Lanka. I am getting ready for another three day trip to tsunami effected areas. This time Eve Ensler and Paul Feldsher have written about their experience with our work to help thoses who are effected. They have traveled with me for the last four days and will be traveling for the next four days. This letter will help you to understand the kind of challenges we face here in Sri Lanka. Please read it. As soon as time allows me to write I will inform you the kind of projects that we are involved with. Following is their letter.

May you be well and happy.

Bhante Wimala

By Eve Ensler and Paul Feldsher

It's Thursday 20 January here and we parked on the outskirts of a refugee camp. We've repaired to our van to escape the rain and to cobble together this note.

Bhante Wimala along with six other monks from the Colombo and Matara areas are conducting a memorial service with the few hundred people housed in this muddy camp eerily perched on a lagoon just steps from the sea.

It's 8:15pm, thirteen hours since our day began. We've been traveling with Bhante Wimala for two days-two days so pregnant with activity that we've, almost thankfully been unable to really fully assimilate the spectacular devastation wrought by the planet on its inhabitants here in South Asia.

There cannot be any preparation for this kind of whole scale disaster. A several hours journey down the coastal road is like driving down a plowed highway after an enormous snowstorm. Only, in this case the sides of the road are piled high with the detritus of daily life, homes, flora and fauna.

These two days have felt like a week as we tail along on Bhante Wimala’s relentless immersion into a process so gigantic and begging need from so many directions that it is nearly impossible to avoid freezing with paralysis at the contemplation where to start.

But Bhante Wimala knows where to start. He exists in a somewhat parapetic process that has him going in a multitude of directions simultaneously. He is genuinely a Type A monk.

The remains of schools and temples have become the loci for many of the displaced people. These are our primary stopping points. In the past couple of days there have been many, many of these stops where we have delivered: back packs and school supplies, toys, pot, pans and cooking utensils, chairs, tables and mattresses.

One of Bhante Wimala’s concurrent endeavors has been to establish and inspire a network of monks working as a make shift NGO filling a void where it seems that aside from food rations, no government aid has arrived, over three weeks after the Tsunami struck.

We have several days to go on this tour duty with Bhante and we are tired. Alas, while we indulge in such luxuries as a few hours of sleep and a quick plate of something, we've yet to see Bhante do much, if any, of the same. Our guess is that while we eat or sleep he is still on his mobile commandeering supplies and coordinating the activities of the next hours and days.

What he seems to be managing to do, despite the insensitivity of the metaphor is to harness an ocean. A good deal of the work cannot even be planned for as the various needs and crisis step up to you and demand your attention without your announcement.

As a microcosmic example, earlier today yet another small village trying to conjure some kind of starting point for themselves informed Bhante Wimala that they were desperate for some rudimentary carpenter services. Bhante found a carpenter who had lost his workshop and all of his wares to the Tsunami. Next he found a hardware store which did have supplies. So, of course, Bhante bought out the store and brokered a deal with the carpenter where he would outfit him with all the tools of his trade in exchange for the carpenters pro bono work in the aforementioned village.

Later in the day upon arriving in a refugee camp, Bhante was immediately surrounded by a group of parents concerned that the Christian Aid workers who've established a presence in the camp, were making attempts, some less subtle than others, to introduce their own religion to the children in the camp. The concern about this missionary work highlight a larger problem that some of these camps are without guidelines or any official supervision, leaving the vulnerable inhabitants exposed to any sort of exploitation.

A few phone calls later and were sitting in front of the regional government representative, essentially establishing policy. They were riled into immediate action.

It really is unending. This disaster is unprecedented as are the demands for resourcefulness and efficacy of this particular man.

On we go into another day.

Paul Feldsher and Eve Ensler.

Thank you so much for all your help. I would like to convey my heart felt gratitude. We will try our best to be in touch with you and share with you as much information as possible. Since I do not have time to write I am sending a letter written by Dr. Francis. This is a brief update of what we are doing here.

May you be well and happy.

Bhante Wimala

An Experience with Bhante Wimala
In the rat race to help Tsunami victims!

I am Dr. Henry Francis from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Obstetrician Gynecologist. I have known Bhante Wimala over ten years. I spent the last four days with him. This is my experience of what he is doing.

I arrived in Colombo to see Bhante Wimala at full speed, constantly on the cell phone arranging purchases, shipping, transportation and consultations with government officials, friends, relatives and Buddhist monks. My medical supplies and personal baggage were lost in transit, but no problem……live like a monk!

The first day of my arrival at 11pm the truck was loaded at the monastery with the mosquito nets, water purifiers, pots and pans and food supplies. We started from Colombo at 4:45 am on the road south and east along the coast with a mad truck and van race which demonstrated the consummate driving skills of all involved. Close to Gall we stopped briefly to rendezvous with other volunteers from Germany and by chance met the United States marines. Master Sergeant Honko, the comptroller, gave a detailed description of relief activities in the area performed by marines on a daily basis under the guidance of Sri Lankan Government. They were very happy to help people and would do anything they were asked to do. The Marines thought Bhante and four other volunteers were very interesting and wanted to take pictures with them.

We continued on through miles of Tsunami damaged sea side areas. We saw marines with bulldozers, rare relief organizations, UN vehicles (Brand new Toyota land cruisers, 4wheel drive!) and countless shattered houses. New temporary bridges were working. Sewage and electrical systems were starting to be repaired. At three locations the Buddha Statues and Stupas were in perfect conditions while surrounding structures were heavily damaged or destroyed. Every one said all over the Island the Buddha statues were intact, I must say in the 80 miles I traveled that was definitely so.

We arrived at a small road and followed it back for a mile or so to a temple where people were waiting for us. All around the temple tsunami damage was present. The destruction was more severe as you approached the sea.

The people were anxious, courteous and friendly but as the time passed you could see and feel the distress. They told us horrible stories of tragedy, A girl in the first year of collage had a father who died of cancer of that year and the tsunami killed her mother. We have her picture and information. Another family of three found their mother crushed under a cinder block wall. At the time of our arrival no relief organization or government officials had helped that community as yet.

The monks who are traveling with Bhante Wimala gathered with words of comforts and prayers. The Villagers, who numbered approximately one hundred, followed their every word and were obviously inspired and given hope. The people formed lines and received the much needed supplies. The monks who had gone house to former house continued to assess the need and do what was
needed to alleviate suffering. Bhante Wimala would discreetly give Rupees to those in acute need of money.

That night we slept in the house of Mr. Jayaakodi and his pregnant wife Nisha. The next day we were up early and Bhante was off again to locate and inspire some educated monks who could assess the immediate needs of the small villages. Bhante had previously joined a group of ten counselors through the Sarvodoya organization to visit the grief stricken famlies of Hambantota and provide psychological evaluation and spiritual support.The group included one Buddhist monk, two Buddhist nuns, and a Catholic nun.

Upon arrival at the medical/government complex many people were gathered. Bhante Wimala introduced the members and with eloquent speech opened his heart, the people were absolutely silent, they were so grateful to be with the counselors and clerics. The counselors then individually heard everyone’s stories. Bhante had several families to talk to, the Buddhist nuns each had three families, the Catholic also was talking to families separately. They all were listing to awful stories.

You must know what happened here. December 26 was a Sunday, the market day, the day all the families travel to town to buy supplies for the week and visit with friends. The buses are packed, streets full with vendors and pedestrians. It was not a seaside hotel or resort but commercial/poor residential area. All the surrounding villagers lost people who were in town shopping. The tsunami killed an estimated 7-8,000 people in this town and left them in swampy rice fields behind the town or swept them out to sea. The town is gone! The wreckage now bulldozed flat (too hard to repair buildings and control disease) the vegetation all brown, dead from salt water poisoning. The sea however is still there casually flipping the fishing boats at anchor, a fresh brisk sea, a sea that is no longer alluring but is now deceptively menacing like the closed mouth of a shark.

The people spoke and everybody listened. A Muslim woman lost all of her children she was crying as she limped away. A 16 year old girl held her sister in the rushing water as longs as she could until the force took her sister away. She can still hear her sister screaming. She has nightmares and must sleep between her parents. A Buddhist woman was in a packed bus, one of the five or six people who survived. She was at the hospital for twelve hours before she was admitted, her wounds, physical and psychological have not healed.

Until Darkness Bhante Wimala’s group consoled who ever was present. Exhausted, we left to seek a prior arranged sleeping place But it was tsunami damaged and unsafe. So we drove a hour and half back to Matara and arrived at our residence at about 11pm.

The last four days I have seen Bhante’s compassion in action. There was no rest for him. Bhante Wimala is constantly on the move unless actually helping the tsunami victims, the cell phone, recruiting, arranging, purchasing and assessing the immediate needs of the people we contact. It is always surprising that when you talk with the people you see how much need there is and how little of them are met by relief organization or the government. Bhante knows that you can not obtain the help for those people without a very personal assessment. That is where his current efforts is concentrated.

Many people are still in need and they haven’t received most of what they need. So far disease control must be continued. Bhante is focusing getting people – monks to areas that are still in need to assess immediate requirements and deliver what is needed. A long -term plan is being developed at the present. Bhante is in very good health. Perfect! I think he thrives when he can really do some good. But it is not glamorous. It is hot, sweaty, dusty, diesel fumed work. Constantly accompanied by mosquitoes, mosquitoes, mosquitoes, please send me a mosquito net. Bhante is wearing me out.

More later,
May you live long - Aubowan.

Sri Lanka update January 11, 2005 from Bhante

Dear Friends and Students,

I would like to express my deep gratitude for the rapid and generous financial contributions the Triple Gem Society has received in response to my request for disaster aid. We have set up an efficient system for transfer of all received funds for immediate local access as needed. As always, I will personally conduct a needs analysis and allocate 100% of your kind donations most appropriately.

Upon my arrival in Colombo on the 6th of January, I immediately went into action. I spent half the day at the very busy, active airport awaiting clearance of a shipment of the most essential medications from Malaysia. I then started on a 180 kilometer journey along the southern shore. I was completely shocked by the massive nature of the disaster. The landscape almost had the appearance of a nuclear blast site. The devastation was unlike anything I had ever seen. At one location, a train, formerly located 1/2 mile from the shore, had been swept another 1/4 mile inland. It had been completely uprooted from its tracks, which were now bent and twisted in all directions by the incredible force of the tsunami. In several places, the only
structure left intact was a large Buddha statue standing quietly amidst a pile of ruins.

All along my travel route, so many people had stories of death and despair, but also miraculous survival. Despite their tragedies most were quiet, almost solemn, as they spoke their sad words. Many were lost and confused. One old man returned to the ocean, endlessly watching the waves for the return of his lost wife. A small boy who had witnessed his mother and sister being swept to sea, refusing to believe they were dead, searched the nearby camps to be reunited with his family. Death is also everywhere. I heard a dead father surrounded by the four children he had tried in vain to save. A young mother died holding her infant close to her heart. I did my best to ease the suffering of those in the temporary camps, offering counseling, assisting financially with rebuilding efforts, and assessing the needs of the most urgent cases.

As I was touring the area I met with government officials, medical doctors, and aid organizations to plan the most efficient strategies for relief efforts. I also attended a conference with 25 counselors to discuss how best to help the many, many emotionally traumatized. I have been coordinating relief efforts with the community of monks and nuns, providing meals and basic needs as well as ongoing counseling.

I plan to spend the next three days with a team of 10 people visiting one of the most affected areas in gall, Matara and Baticalor. The people who remain here are among the most traumatized survivors. Our immediate plans are distribution of 4000 mosquito nets as well as antibiotics to help reduce the spread of water and mosquito borne illness. We are also providing basic cooking utensils and assisting in clean-up and rebuilding efforts. On the 12th of January morning I will be leaving at 5am with a truckfull of such meterial.

While I am sure that some of you may be expecting frequent updates, I am not sure when I will be able to e-mail again. I am also not sure how long I will remain in Sri Lanka. For the time being, I have cancelled all of my appointments around the world in order to devote my attention where it seems most needed. I will try my best to communicate with all of you as I have internet access.

The Triple Gem Society continues to rely on your compassion and generosity as we raise our level of humanitarian effort to meet the incredible challenges ahead. Together we can make a difference. Thank you once again for your trust, kindness and support in these most difficult times.

May you be well and happy.

with love and blessings

Bhante Wimala

Letter to Friends & Students

I am sorry to be communicating with you under such sad circumstances. As you know, the Sunday morning Tsunami devastated Sri Lanka and many other countries in Asia. Sri Lanka is my home country and many of my family, friends, teachers and students live there. At this moment the death toll in Sri Lanka has risen to 40,000 and, as the medical teams reach remote villages, the death toll will continue to rise.

Over one million people have lost their family members and homes. More than 70 percent of our coastal areas have seen their hospitals, roads, railways and other infrastructures washed away by the floods. Many of our brothers and sisters back home are struggling to cope with the loss of loved ones and the destruction of their homes, property and all their belongings.

I feel compelled to do whatever I can to help alleviate the suffering of those being affected by the disaster and would like to appeal to all of you for your generous support, in whatever way you can. Our foundation, the Triple Gem Society is a non-profit tax-exempt organization. We have a special humanitarian fund and 100% of the money from this fund is used for humanitarian aid only. I will be leaving for Sri Lanka soon and will make sure that all donations you send will go directly to this cause and will be used to the maximum effectiveness. It is impossible to imagine the magnitude of this disaster but we can be gratified to know that we can really touch and change lives with our acts of generosity.

Please write checks payable to and mail to:
Triple Gem Society
P.O. Box 713
Princeton, NJ 08542.

With love and blessings,

Bhante Wimala
609.252.9133

Message from Bhante

First of all, I would like to express my thanks for your e-mails and phone calls and concern for my well being. I am also grateful for your kind prayers and contributions for the victims of the tsunami tragedy. I would like to let you know that my family and I were not directly affected and are safe. I was in Sri Lanka in December and left on the 24th, two days before the tsunami. Until the 28th, I was in Samadhi Retreat Center in Prague. Since we did not have radio or TV or English newspapers at the Center, I got the news from second hand sources. Until I came back to the US on the 28th and saw the actual pictures on the TV, I wasn't fully aware of the magnitude of this disaster.
I was sitting in Princeton feeling totally helpless, wishing I were in Sri Lanka helping those who were affected by the disaster. I spent the next day and night communicating with my family and friends. I talked to the doctors in the field, I spoke with higher authorities in the military and police. I also contacted some welfare organizations and tried to assess the needs of the people and understand the reality of the situation in the affected areas.
That direct information, while it deeply saddened me, motivated me to get involved immediately in relief efforts. I have seen and worked with many humanitarian disasters in the past but nothing before has affected me so deeply. This time it was very personal. When I heard the stories from family and friends, there were times I had tears in my eyes and I felt heartbroken. I began to make travel arrangements to go to Sri Lanka and be with my fellow country mates whose lives have been devastated by the tsunami. I also contacted the temples and monks in the US and other parts of the world and tried to understand their efforts to help. I wanted to help and be supportive in whatever way I can.
I then released a letter by e-mail to friends and students requesting them to help me help the people of Sri Lanka. We already have a humanitarian fund in Sri Lanka which is managed by Trish and Dave Williams. Dave is an American who is an officer in the US Embassy in Colombo. I have known him and his wife before they left for Sri Lanka. They will help me to manage the funds donated to help the relief efforts. I also have appointed two people in Princeton who will be responsible for managing the donations as they keep coming in. They are volunteers and I have known them for many years and they will handle the record keeping and transfer of funds to Sri Lanka.
If you haven't received the original letter, it's posted on the home page of the website: www.bhantewimala.com. I'm leaving for Sri Lanka on January 4th & will be arriving in Colombo on the morning of the 6th. I know it is going to be challenging times for me because I will spend my time in the affected areas with those who grieve the loss of lives, friends, families and belongings. I am not sure of a date that I will leave Sri Lanka and come back to the US. I also may not get a chance to answer all your e-mails while I am there. If you have e-mails regarding this, please write to: <office@bhantewimala.com>. Any personal e-mails to me should be sent to: <ywimala@juno.com>.
As always, I am touched by the kindness and caring and thoughtfulness of my friends and students around the world. I greatly appreciate this and have no words to describe my gratitude. Please keep in touch and let us continue our efforts to make positive changes in our lives and influence those who are close to us. Let us extend our efforts further to include all the people on our planet.

With love and blessings,

Bhante Wimala