Taiwan's Buddhist groups helping with Nepal quake relief efforts

CNA, April 26, 2015

Taipei, Taiwan -- Taiwan's Buddhist groups are organizing teams that will go to Nepal to help with the Himalayan country's relief efforts in the wake of a magnitude-7.8 earthquake Saturday that have reportedly killed more than 2,000 people.

Master Pei Chueh, secretary general of Buddha Light International Association (BILA), which is linked to Fo Guang Shan Monastery in southern Taiwan, said the association is organizing a 30-member team on a rescue and medical mission that will include physicians and interpreters.

The relief team will take food, tents, blankets and other relief supplies to Nepal to extend medical and humanitarian assistance to the victims in the quake-stricken areas, Peiu Chueh said.

The Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, headquartered in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, said it has formed a 15-member medical team headed by Chien Shou-hsin (???), the superintendent of Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, which will head to affected areas in Nepal Monday to assess the situation to determine what kind of assistance is needed there.

In addition to providing emergency medical services, the disaster inspection medical team will also evaluate what types of supply items and follow-up aids will be needed.

In Hualien, the Tzu Chi Foundation has set up a disaster response command center which has gathered multifunction folding beds, instant rice meals and blankets to be sent to the country to help the people affected by the earthquake to return to normal life early.

Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society, which is based in northern Taiwan, has asked its Nepal branch staff to supply clothes, raincoats and food to help with the relief work in its neighborhood to the northeast of capital Kathmandu.

While the society's own branch -- a zen meditation center -- was quite intact, more than 100 houses in the neighborhood crumbled, and survivors are in bad need of assistance, society officials said.

Meanwhile, the Nepal chapters of two Taiwanese religious groups have set up two emergency relief centers in Kathmandu for Taiwan nationals in need after the quake hit.

At the request of Taiwan's Representative Office in India, the I-Kuan Tao offered its Kathmandu chapter office as a provisional liaison office and a shelter for Taiwanese compatriots who need relief aid.

The shelter, headed by Ajita, is located at Rudreshwor Chowk - 5 Narayanthan, Kathmandu. Ajita can be reached by phone at +9779851180452 and +9779841199277.

On Sunday, Fo Guang Shan Monastery's Kathmandu branch agreed to establish the second relief center for the representative office in Nepal.

The branch, titled Sri Pranidhipurnamaha Vihar, Balumbu, Kathmandu, is run by monk Sukha, whose telephone number is +9779841247600.

Taiwan has no liaison office in Nepal. The two countries do not have diplomatic ties.

We Need Your Help to Train the
Buddhist AI Chat Bot NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)

For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.

Dear Friends in the Dharma,

We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.

Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:

One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.

How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.

For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.

Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.

Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.

Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.

Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.

Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!

May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,

With deepest gratitude,

Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team

Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau

We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv

Search Buddhist Channel

Taiwan's Buddhist groups helping with Nepal quake relief efforts

CNA, April 26, 2015