The Wellbeing Programme is a philanthropic initiative by Friends of Tibet, a non-profit organisation founded in 1999 to support the cause of Tibet and to create awareness about the issue of Tibet amongst people all over the world. This initiative researched, designed and implemented by Friends of Tibet aims at the restoration, propagation and promotion of the endangered traditions and practices of Tibet.

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The Art of Volunteering
(By Yeldtho Mathew, February 13, 2014)

"This is the duty of our generation as we enter the 21st century — solidarity with the weak, the persecuted, the lonely, the sick, and those in despair. It is expressed by the desire to give a noble and humanising meaning to a community in which all members will define themselves not by their own identity but by that of others." — Elie Wiesel (Photo: Elvin Yeldtho)

Background
Since the invasion of Tibet by Peoples Republic of China, all that is Tibetan is being systematically destroyed and this process continues unabated, before the conscience of the world, loud and wild.

Monasteries are defiled, sacred and ancient scriptures are burned, monks and lay people are being brutally murdered, demography is forever destroyed and even their own language is forbidden. More than these, for the whole world to worry, the environment is destroyed to irreparable dimensions in the name of the so-called development. The mountains are melting and global warming rising. The cries of a peaceful people for their freedom are lost in the wilderness. Meanwhile, the 122nd person did the supreme sacrifice for the country through self-immolation, to invite the world attention on Tibet.

Genesis of Tibetan Medical System in India
For many, the Dalai Lama is the living Buddha, the earthly manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, Bodhisattva of Compassion. This compassion is manifest in all that he did and does. Even when everything was lost, it was this compassion manifested in the re-creation of the Tibetan Treatment system in India. In 1961 in India he re-established Men-Tsee-Khang, the Tibetan medical and Astrological Institute. The unique method of Tibetan healing would have been lost in the history without the initiatives of HH the XIV Dalai Lama in exile.

The driving mantra of Tibetan healing by Shantideva is:

"For all the suffering beings in this world
May I be the medicine and the doctor
And be the nurse to serve them until everyone is healed."

Wellbeing Camps at Kochi
The mantra originated from the Roof of the World echoes in the far distant city of Kochi in Kerala, southernmost State of India, every month, during the Wellbeing camps organised by Friends of Tibet Foundation for the Wellbeing. The first medical camp was in September 2010 and with its efficacy proven, continues to draw more and more people from different parts of Kerala and neighbouring states.

There is a different set of people who support the Wellbeing camps with their body, soul and spirit: the Volunteers at the camp venue. The 4-day long Wellbeing camp is run with the help of volunteers. Some support with their language skills and others with their technical skills. These Volunteers perform a variety of functions right from receiving the medical team from the railway station, arranging the chairs for the waiting patients, setting up the consultation rooms, medicine room, updating and maintaining the online databse; running the registration desk, counseling the patients about the Tibetan medical system, so on and so forth. Some of them act as the interpreters between the patients and the Tibetan Doctors whenever language is a bar. This report is about them.

Volunteers
If one observes the camp activities one can feel an effervescence of positive energy surrounding the place.

The Camp Volunteers could be seen doing chores which for a million rupee reward they would otherwise not have done. All of them are faring extremely well in their profession and occupation; have enough material possessions to relax and enjoy the time they are now spending in the Wellbeing camps. But, month after month, they come to this camp even though there is no physical comfort to entice them to here. Why are they so much dedicated to volunteer in these camps? Why do they travel long distances to volunteer?

I spoke to few of them and the answer was more or less same.

Wellbeing Volunteer: Shri Kodiery Rajan Menon is a distinguished scientist in Microbiology and had worked with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and several leading companies. He later spent about 20 years in the field of Food Safety. (Photo: Friends of Tibet)

Shri Kodiery Rajan Menon
He first visited the Wellbeing camp seeking remedy to his minor ailment, suggested by his friend Shri Brahamanandan, a strong supporter of Friends of Tibet's Wellbeing Programme. The accuracy of the pulse diagnosis reinforced his belief in the ancient medical wisdom and when he came to the camp next time, it was with added conviction about the efficacy of the medicines. As a keen observer, he was impressed by the activities at the camp, and was curious to know about the roles done by the volunteers and was wondering whether he could also be of some service in the wellbeing camps.

He recounts, "I felt deficient in just meeting the doctor and collecting my medicines. I was wondering if I could contribute in a manner best suited to serve patients with my background. I jumped at the first opportunity to do translation work. That surely is the most appropriate contribution I can make." Since then he is a regular Volunteer with Wellbeing camps. As an interpreter he is doing a great service to the people who find it difficult to communicate with the doctor. For the patients, what can be better than getting a knowledgeable and compassionate person to be their voice? Shri Kodiery Rajan Menon leaves each camp a happier and more contented person, having made several persons comfortable in their struggle to win their health back.

Considering his accomplishments in his professional arena, his humility humbles anyone.

Smt Mrinalini Rajagopal
A soothing presence in the Wellbeing camp.

Though she heard about the Wellbeing camps from a relative who got cured from Cancer, it was only last year she visited the Wellbeing camp as a participant. She was amused by the manner in which the camps were run. When she heard about the services rendered by the Wellbeing Volunteers, she offered her services and continues to volunteer. Where does she get so much energy and enthusiasm?

She confided that she felt guilty for being late to be a part of the Wellbeing camps because she could have done so much help to others as a volunteer! She derives tremendous joy by helping the suffering people. She was groomed like this by her grandmother to help others.

Herself a Reiki Master, a practitioner of Naturopathy and an admirer of traditional healing systems, is enthused as a learner to witness the Tibetan Doctors diagnosing the patients with precision by reading the pulse. This gives her an opportunity to learn newer things. She is so much one with the Wellbeing camp that she would have volunteered for all days, but for the policy of the Wellbeing Foundation: to receive only as much is the need.

Smt Mrinalini Rajagopal is based in Palakkad and is a person with knowledge and skill in varied fields. She is now doing charity service at Vazhoor Naturopathy Clinic and is teaching Reiki and crystal healing. She has good knowledge in aromatherapy, clinical psychology, hypnosis, reflexology, yoga and astrology. People close to her lovingly call her 'Amma' because she uses all her knowledge to alleviate the suffering, like a caring mother.

So, what drives them?

There is a flame of compassion in each of us. There is a Buddha within each one of us. These Volunteers had a glimpse of the Buddha within them and they are overpowered by the compassion and are driven to utilise their skill, and sacrifice their time, energy and comfort so that they too can be part of a great healing mission.

Kahlil Gibran's words are true about the volunteers of Wellbeing Programme and is worth repeating here:

You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.

(This report is prepared by yEldtho Mathew, a Founding Member of Friends of Tibet Foundation for the Wellbeing. He can be reached at yeldtho.mathew@friendsoftibet.org)

Friends of Tibet has a strong No Plastic Policy. In today's throw-away society culture, the organisation works towards medical camps with no plastic bags. These newspaper bags manufactured by Paper Trail, specially for Friends of Tibet Foundation for the Wellbeing help financially-backward women to make a living through this initiative. (Photo: Friends of Tibet)

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