let the lotus of compassion

enfold the world

 WHO WE ARE
An interdenominational community of
Buddhists and friends of Buddhism who seek to give
concrete expression to the Buddha's great compassion
as an ongoing project in the contemporary world.

BGR is an all-volunteer organization.

 OUR HISTORY
BGR was born in response to an essay by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
challenging American Buddhists to face the immensity of
suffering that besets humanity in our present-day world.

In May 2008, a number of Ven. Bodhi's friends and students

joined hearts and hands to create BGR as a vehicle for
addressing the plight of people afflicted by

Poverty
Disaster
Societal neglect
The special challenge facing Buddhism
in our age is to stand up as an
advocate for justice in the world,
a voice of conscience for those victims
of social, economic, and political
injustice who cannot stand up and
speak for themselves. This, in my view,
is a deeply moral challenge
marking a watershed in the modern
expression of Buddhism.

--Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi

Buddhadharma (fall
2007)
 MISSION
to provide relief to the poor and needy
throughout the world
regardless of nationality, ethnicity, gender, or religion

Bearing in mind the Buddha's frequent stress

on the value of giving food,
BGR especially focuses on providing food aid
to those afflicted by hunger and chronic malnutrition.
 GLOBAL HUNGER

We address the global problem of hunger.

According to the World Food Program,

each year...
10 million people die of hunger and
hunger-related diseases, over half of them children.

Each day...
over 100 million people wonder
where their next meal will come from.
WHAT BGR DOES

We fight hunger and

poverty in the
developing world. We
support projects aimed at
developing better long-
term methods of food
production to ensure its
beneficiaries a constant
supply of food.
BGR provides grants to
organizations in third
world communities to meet
the need for nutrition,
clean water, education, and
supporting infrastructure.
BRG aims at long-term
solutions. We seek to
promote better long-term
methods of food
production, management,
and distribution.
BRG does not proselytize.
We respect the religious
beliefs of those whom we
serve and seek to work in
harmony with those of all
faiths to alleviate poverty.

Photo: Jeremy Barnicle/Mercy Corps

In giving food, one gives five things to
the recipients: one gives life, beauty,
happiness, strength, and mental
clarity.

In giving these five things, one in turn

partakes of life, beauty, happiness,
strength, and mental clarity, whether in
this world or in the heavenly realm.
- Anguttara Nikaya 5:37
 EXTENDING A HELPING HAND
We assist victims of sudden disaster
who need emergency food aid.

We enable those hurt by chronic food shortages

to develop stable strategies of food security.

We seek to...
...provide emergency food relief.
 ...meet the need for clean water.
Photo: Swiatek Wojtkowiak FAO
...support education.
...enhance local infrastructure.
 OUR PROJECTS

BGR raises funds for food relief and related projects from
both private donors and philanthropic organizations.

We work in partnership with agencies, institutions, and

relief organizations already operating on the ground.
 CAMBODIA
Critical rice support to girl scholarship recipients and their families
(Partner: Lotus Outreach International)
 VIETNAM
Providing meals for hospital patients
(Partner: Red Cross)
 SRI LANKA
Microfinance for farmers
(Partner: Sarvodaya Women's Movement)
 MYANMAR
Relief for families affected by Cyclone Nargis
(Partner: Save the Children)
 SRI LANKA
Relief for internally displaced persons
(Partner: Sarvodaya Women's Movement)
 NIGER
Critical nutritional care to women and young children
(Partner: Helen Keller International)
May I be a good doctor for those who suffer
from illness,
a guide for those who have gone astray,
a lamp for those who dwell in darkness,
a source of treasure for those in poverty and
need.

- Vows of Samantabhadra, Avatamsaka Sutra

 BGR'S LEADERSHIP

Founded by Bhikkhu Bodhi, American

Buddhist scholar-monk.

Advisers are lay and monastic Buddhist

teachers and scholars, such as Ven. Heng Sure,
Ven. Thich Tri Hoang, Rev. Joan Hoebrichts,
Andrew Harvey, Prof. David Loy, Michael
Roehm, Prof. Jan Willis.

All staff are volunteers.

 BGR'S CORE VALUES

Faith... conviction in the power of goodness

Compassion... breaking out of the cocoon of self-centeredness
Service... heeding the call of compassion
Moral rectitude... following the Buddhist ethical code
Self-cultivation... doing inner work to sustain our outer work
Integrity... appropriately using funds entrusted to us
Prudence... using funds effectively and efficiently
Respect... honoring customs, beliefs, traditions of those we serve
Collaboration... cooperating with each other, our partners, and
the people we serve
To repeatedly dedicate ourselves to
the task of removing the
sufferings of others, and
promoting their true well-being, is to
answer the call of conscience
swelling up from our inner depths.
--Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
let the lotus of compassion
enfold the world