Publications

New Bodhi Tree Community Journal 2011 Release

The 17th Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje meets with chief project director Dhirendra Sharma to offer blessings for the new Bodhi Tree Community Journal at Bodhgaya. Karmapa means "the one who carries out Buddha-activity" or "the embodiment of all the activities of the Buddhas." In the Tibetan tradition, great enlightened teachers are said to be able to consciously arrange to be reborn as a teacher who can carry on the teachings of a predecessor in a prior life. Pursuant to this tradition, the Karmapas have incarnated in this form of manifestation body for seventeen lifetimes, as of the present, and all have played the most important role in preserving and propagating the Buddhist teachings.

The Bodhi Tree Comunity Journal has been conceived for the promotion of durable world peace, brotherhood and the general prosperity of mankind. The Journal features informal, non-exclusive cross-cultural experiences free from political affiliations in an inspiring blend of self-expression, autonomy, and personal credibility. It truly values peer relationships irrespective of caste, language, creed, nationality, color, sexual orientation, degrees, titles, class, status, bank balance, faith or tradition. It serves the ideal of fostering understanding between the young students of India, teaching them to see the world differently and making them aware of the richness of different cultures all over the world. The Journal editorial team acknowledges its deepest gratitude to authors across the world who have contributed their precious articles for the Journal.

Tibetan Priminister

A Sample Magazine of The Bodhi Tree Community journal was released by the Tibetan Prime minister Dr. Samdong Rinpoche in the Bureau of His Holiness The Dalai Lama located in New Delhi India. The Bodhi Tree Educational Foundation Secretary Dwariko Sundrani and Foundation Member Dhirendra Sharma were present on the occasion.

The Youth (those falling within the age group of 15-35 years) constitutes nearly 40% of the total population of India. To optimally tap their constructive and creative energies, the Journal pursues the twin objectives of relation-building and harmony between thought and action; inspiring the youth and involving them in community-centered creative actvities . The role of the Journal is to act as a facilitator and catalytic agent. It is enabling caring, competent and committed people from cross-communities to work together, so that they may find common practical solutions to the shared problems of their society. The writers and readers of the Journal are raising - and trying to answer - the question: can we, as a global family, afford not to search for common ground through collaborative action infused with the spirit of cooperation, caring and sharing?

Our effort is now very small but is based on a deeper and comprehensive understanding of the spirit of the global society in its multiple dimensions - social, economic, cultural and, of course, spiritual. We are striving to interlink science and spirituality. Our focus is to foster values which will help strengthen the virtues of justice, democracy, love, truthfulness and sympathetic understanding of others’ views. Of all sections of the society, the younger generation - especially the students - must be exposed to these values so that a strong foundation for a moral and ethical society can be laid. This is the bright goal behind our humble Journal, and we are pleased with the auspicious beginnings that have been made.

Future Projetcs

An ambitious documentary is already underway, chronicling the evolving programs that are already in place and being created for the future. It will feature extensive footage of the Bodhgaya area, as well as interviews with Dwariko Sundrani ,the Bodhi Tree Educational Foundation Director of Program Development and Gandhi’s last living student; the people involved in running the various programs in India; and the children and villagers that are the driving force behind it all.

The future holds a number of books for the Foundation. A pictorial record of the Bodhgaya region and the Bodhi Tree Educational Foundation’s work is among the first scheduled for publication. The long awaited book "Bodhgaya" will have over 150 beautiful full-color photographs, with commentaries from several distinguished teachers. The book will be a collaboration between well known National Geographic photographer Martin Gray - author of the internationally acclaimed book "Sacred Earth" - and cinematographer Robert Dakota, whose photography and films on Indigenous people around the world have won him world wide recognition.

The publications offered through the Bodhi Tree Educational Foundation will help raise awareness and funding that will have a direct and positive influence on the lives of thousands of children and their families.