DDM Social Welfare and Charity Foundation Deliver Loving Care to Mountain Villages of Inwa Ancient City, Myanmar, Together with Relief Supplies

Inwa Ancient City was the old imperial city of Myanmar. However due to the restriction of uneven transportation roads, supplies of daily necessities have been in shortage since the March 28 earthquake. On June 5, DDM Social Welfare and Charity Foundation sent out its fifth batch of Relief Aid Team deep into the two severely affected villages of Inwa Ancient City, to deliver loving care and blessings from the people of Taiwan. The team, led by DDM Social Welfare and Charity Foundation Secretary General Ven. Chang Xing (常惺法師), Dharma Drum Sangha University Vice Dean Ven. Chang Kuan (常寬法師）and President of Ming Te Enterprises Wang Ming-xiang (王明祥), joined forces with Chit Myit Tar Foundation (愛緬基金會), Rainbow Bridge Distribution Co., Ltd (彩虹橋公司) and other local organizations. Together, they completed this journey of delivering kindness and compassion.

On this trip, the team trudged across roughshod roads into the mountainous areas of Inwa Ancient City, to deliver 300 units of rice and provisions, 300 units of cooking oil and 600 units of portable water, thereby demonstrating their loving care to the disaster-stricken residents of A Pyin Sainyar Village and Charcoal Village. Ven. Chang Xing and Ven. Chang Kuan presented the villagers with rosary beads and the Burmese version of the "108 Adages of Wisdom" booklets by Master Sheng Yen, conveying the DDM concept of "Peaceful Mind and Restful Body".

At A Pyin Sainyar Village, Ven. Chang Kuan personally presented the villagers with rosary beads and "108 Adages of Wisdom" booklets, while the Head of the Village led everyone in respectfully chanting their gratitude. He shared that "this earthquake has caused damage to over a hundred households, and took away dozens of lives. It never occurred to us that, from more than a thousand miles away, Dharma Drum Mountain was willing to send warmth and loving care to this remote place. We are truly deeply touched".

Afterward, the team proceeded to Inwa Ancient City's Charcoal Village. Ven. Chang Xing sincerely encouraged the villagers by noting that "we should believe in Buddhadharma and believe there is always hope. We came from Dharma Drum Mountain in Taiwan. A lot of our followers have visited Myanmar and like this country, so it grieves us to watch news of the earthquake. Regardless of region or country in this world, all Buddhist followers are disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha. As such, they aspire for everyone to face life with a positive mindset, and practice the teachings of Buddhadharma. We can bless ourselves and our living relatives with health, peace and safety."
During the course of this loving care expedition, the team met a father in a village near the Snake Temple by the Myitnge River who had lost his daughter in the earthquake. Ven. Chang Kuan gently conveyed his condolence to the man, noting how "she came to repay kindness, and has fulfilled her mission in this life." With that simple sentence, a strand of warmth and appreciation seemed to seep into the father's shattered heart, and in his reply, with Myanmar's highest etiquette of respect, he took off his shoes and bowed down to the Venerable.

This relief aid expedition had the full support of Chit Myit Tar Foundation (愛緬基金會) Exec. Director Zhao De-ren (趙德仁), Ar Lu Post Logistics General Manager Wu Jing-yun (伍謹筠), Rainbow Bridge Distribution Co., Ltd President Zeng Chun-yun (曾春雲) and their teams working together in the transportation of supplies to the villages located deep in the mountain areas. DDM sincerely appreciates the enthusiastic support of all the followers who, together, are delivering loving care to the victims of the Myanmar earthquake.



Original text in Chinese and photos: Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation
Translation: 張振郁
Editing: Keith Brown, YKL