Mundgod Tibetan Settlement June 16, 2007 India
Putting into action the words of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Volunteers for Animals (TVA) on April 26, started a 2 month long program called “Compassion in Action” to give basic teachings on Buddhism to the Tibetan people in south India. His Holiness during his last visit to Hunsur and Bylakuppe in January suggested organizing programs to teach the basics of Buddhism to the layman. The purpose of this program is to bring Tibetans closer to the basics or roots of Tibetan Buddhism – that is Compassion and non-violence.
TVA concluded its program “Compassion in Action” on June 13, 2007 in Mundgod Tibetan Settlement, South India. TVA started the program on April 26, 2007 beginning with Bylakuppe and then visiting Kollegal, Hunsur and Mundgod.
The teachings are on the following topics:
Khenpo Dhundup Tashi from Namdroling Monastery
1) Introduction to Buddhism (Principles, ideologies and characteristics)
2) Karma and Life after death
3) The 10 non-virtuous actions
4) Benefits of practicing Bodicitta
5) Importance of practicing love and compassion towards all the sentient beings
6) Question-Answer session
Khenpo Nyima Tsering from Gyumed Monastery
Geshes and Khenpos from Sera-Monastery, Namdroling Monastery and Gyumed Monastery were invited by TVA to give the teachings. The teachings were given separately for each camp (Village). There are total 20 Villages in Bylakuppe, 22 in kollegal (Village A to U), 13 in Hunsur and 9 in Mundgod.
“AHIMSA is the central concept of Buddhism and Compassion is the means to achieve it. All of us talk about compassion but more important is to put Compassion into Action so the whole purpose of our Compassion in Action Program is to make people aware of the importance of it .” says Dr. Jamyang Gyatso, TVA’s newly appointed representative to North America and Canada who is in India at present. "It's high time we realize that the meat comes from an animal who would have served a human family all his life and then was mercilessly butchered for human consumption." he added.
The response and support from the audience was great and the program concluded with prayers for the long life of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and for all the animals that suffer each day at the hands of so called superior beings. 
This program wouldn’t have been possible without support of Department of Religion and culture, the Representatives of Tibetan settlements in south and all the local people. TVA expresses its gratitude for all of them for their kind support and encouragement.
Special heartfelt gratitude towards Department of Religion and Culture for their donation of Rs.10,000/- for this program.
TVA is a non-govt. & non-profit organization based in Mysore, promoting vegetarianism and animal rights. TVA activist spreads their message of peace and compassion to the Tibetan people through their peaceful vegetarian campaigns.