by Dr. James Manganiello

Geshe Nyima Dakpa Rinpoche, director of the Bon Children's Home at the principal Bon monastery in Dolaiji, India, established the Bon Children's Home in July of 1988. His aim was to provide living and study facilities for the needy children of the Bon communities of Bhutan, Sikkim, Tibet, Nepal and India. Bon is Tibet's native spiritual and cultural tradition. The Dalai Lama acknowledges Bon as a tremendously rich native Tibetan spiritual tradition that has contributed to Tibetan Buddhismi unique character.

Parente of the Children's Home residente are often too poor to support their children's education. Initially there were 45 children in residence. Living conditions are extremely difficult now. The number of children has grown tremendously in the past seven years, while resources to care for them have not. Rinpoche is now responsive for more than 112 children ranging in age from 6 to 16.

Children at the Bon Children's Home are in desperate need of food, medicine, vitamins, blankets, toys, personal hygiene products and staff. Food is alarmingly scarce. Children are now sleeping three or more to a bunk bed and many have been forced to sleep on the floor. Many are ili and, because of crowded sleeping and living arrangements, infeetions spread rapidly. Medicai care is not available locally.

The Bon teachers have been especially generous in sharing their spiritual wealth with the West. It would be a gesture of awareness and compassion if we assisted them with their material needs. Please consider helping the Bon Children's Home. There are three ways that you can do so:

(1)Sponsor a child for only $22 a month. This would make a great difference in a child's life by covering most of her or his needs. Each sponsor will receive a photo and biography of the child as well as personal letters from him or her and annual progress repoits from an administrator.

(2)Make a fmancial donation to one of the specific needs of the Bon Children's Home such as, for example, space, food, toys, vitamins or, among others mentioned above, staff. Just specify on your check or money order how you would like your contribution used.

(3)Make a general fmancial donation which Geshe Nyima Dakpa Rinpoche will use to meet one or more of the needs at the Bon Children's Home.

Please send your tax-deductible contribution made out to Ligmincha Institute, Bon Children's Home Fund, to Ligmincha Institute, P.O. Box 1892, Charlottesville, VA 22903. Cali Dr. James Manganiello at (617) 661-9400 for further information. ?