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Scientology Volunteers Support Buddhists in Race to
Build Homes for Tsunami Survivors
President of the Church of Scientology International and Ven. Wattegama meet with Rajakiya, Supreme Prelate of Amarapura Maha Sangasabha
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Ven. Bhente Wattegama and his Secretary visit the housing project he committed to
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Chief Monk Wattagama at the construction site of his housing project to help tsunami refugees in Galle
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Scientologists and Buddhists are working together on disaster relief efforts in Sri Lanka, racing against the clock to build 100 homes for tsunami survivors before the annual monsoon arrives. Scientology parishioners have so far raised $100,000, enough to build 20 homes, towards a housing project being conducted under the supervision of senior Buddhist monk, the Venerable Bhente Wattegama.
Rev. Heber Jentzsch, President of the Church of Scientology International, recently returned from Sri Lanka where he met with the Ven. Wattegama and other Buddhist leaders and learned about the project. He immediately offered the Church’s assistance.
“Ven. Wattegama is working flat out to build these homes by the end of March, thus avoiding the monsoon’s debilitating weather. The prospect of children being further traumatized by a lack of adequate shelter has given renewed urgency to get these homes up and the families housed,” Rev. Jentzsch said.
He added, “When our parishioners learned of this vital project, they rallied instantly in support. Enough money has now been raised to lay the foundations. We will back up this endeavor in every way possible.”
The prefabricated homes are being constructed in Hambantota, a city that was all but wiped off the map when the tsunami destroyed nine thousand houses. The government is virtually relocating the town five kilometers inland. The Peradeniya Sri Subodharama Sasana Seva Society of the Sri Subodharama Buddhist Centre, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, is in charge of the project.
Scientology Volunteer Ministers have been working in Sri Lanka for several weeks, providing both logistical help to relief efforts and ministering to tsunami survivors using a form of “spiritual first aid” called “assists”—simple and powerful techniques developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard to alleviate the emotional and spiritual components of physical pain, shock and trauma.
The Ven. Bhente Wattegama arranged for the Volunteer Ministers to train a number of his monks to use these techniques to alleviate the suffering of the survivors living along the coast.
“Several hundred of our Volunteer Ministers have been addressing everything from shelter and food to spiritual counseling to help the tens of thousands who are still in shock from the loss of their families and friends. We have trained doctors, students, and members of the general public as well as monks in how to give assists.”
For more information call the VM Hotline 1-800-435-7498 (US & Canada) or from outside North America call 1-323-960-1949 or e-mail vm@volunteerministers.org
Further information can be found on the Internet at www.volunteerministers.org and www.subodha.org
1. Assists are techniques developed by L. Ron Hubbard. They operate on the principle that one tends to withdraw mentally or spiritually from an injured area. Only by restoring communication with this area can one bring the spiritual element into healing, thereby greatly speeding the healing process. Assists are used to alleviate stress and physical aches and pains, or to orient a confused or distraught individual to his present environment.
Learn on-line how to do Scientology Assists.
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