Help the Ukrainian Buddhist Center Remain Open and Survive Russian War

Why your help is important 

The essence of the Buddha's teaching is not to harm, do good, and tame our minds. Even in peacetime, Buddhist meditation positively benefits many people; imagine the profound benefits of meditation in wartime when our disturbing emotions are stirred up like an ocean storm! 

Therefore, despite obstacles such as war, our Buddhist Center remains open for meditation and Buddhist practice for all who wish to come, providing free food and overnight accommodation for our guests. 

Why we ask for support 

Rangjung Yeshe Ukraine Center is relying entirely on community support. The war has disrupted and wreaked havoc on everyday life. Many of us lost our jobs, were forced to leave our homes, and all have had to adapt to the difficult conditions of military terror, which the Russian Federation stages throughout the territory of independent Ukraine. People who were ordinary citizens before the invasion find themselves suddenly as soldiers defending the country on the front line.

The impact of the war on the lives of ordinary Ukrainians 

Russia has militarily seized Ukrainian lands and threatens to destroy Ukraine as a state and the Ukrainian people. That is why we are fighting and defending our land and shared European values: respect for human dignity, freedom of speech, democracy, equanimity, and respect for all human rights. 

What our life feels like 

Almost every day, we hear the shrill warnings of air raid sirens. It's hard to find a city or town in Ukraine that a missile or drone has not targeted. You won't find a family who hasn't lost a relative, neighbor, or friend in the war. 

There's also, to some degree, everyday life. Children go to school, however, often their classes are in bomb shelters. During blackouts, citizens have learned to cook with the flame of a candle. In the elevators, there are safety kits if you are suddenly trapped. You can still go to a restaurant or café, if there isn't an air raid alert. 

A brief story about our Buddhist Center and its concept  https://gomdeua.org/jangchub-choling-en.php   

We were created as a center of Kagyu and Nyingma practices of Tibetan Buddhism in 2012 by a group of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche's students. It's already our second year operating as a place for individual and group Buddhist practices in Ukraine. There is water, a kitchen, a toilet, a roof over our heads, and solar electricity.