
Lời thưa ST: Phương ngoại trời tây, lòng hướng quê nhà, trong tiếng gió rít, nước cuồn cuộn trôi, bùi ngùi thương thay vạn mảnh đời dân lành lênh đênh theo mùa lũ lớn. Tập thể Lam Viên Hoa Kỳ hôm nay nhất nhất phát lồ tâm Ðại Từ Bi, cầu nguyện và chia sớt bằng hành động thực tiễn chút quà cứu nguy đồng bào trong giờ đói, rét.
Dưới đây là Thông Tư của Ban Hướng Dẫn Gia Ðình Phật Tử Việt Nam tại Hoa Kỳ nhằm phát động gây quỹ cứu trợ nạn nhân lũ lụt, ngưỡng mong lam viên bốn phương cấp bách chung tay chung lòng, biến tình thương bằng hành động thiết thực hưởng ứng tinh thần thông tư nói trên. Nam Mô Công Ðức Lâm Bồ Tát Ma Ha Tát. Nam Mô Hoan Hỷ Bồ Tát Ma Ha Tát.
Dear Regional Leadership Committees A few days ago, the great typhoon made landfall into the mid region of our motherland across cities of Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, and Thừa Thiên – Huế. Water level had risen so quickly due to historic rainfall yet the government ordered the electric dams upstream to release water to relieve hydrostatic pressure. This resulted in billions of gallons of water discharged into highly populated cities and towns that were completely taken by surprised. According to the press, hundreds of people were dead or missing, tens of thousands of homes were flooded and destroyed, millions of people are without food and shelter.
As of right now, we are unsure about how much this disaster related to human cause or natural cause. One thing we do know for sure: our fellow countrymen are in great need of food, water, and medicine. If we do not act quickly, a disease can start and would spread very quickly. Our National Leadership Committee is hereby direct the Regional Leadership Committee and Representatives to conduct the following:
- Perform a requiem on Sunday 10/23/2016 for those who lost their lives and also perform a prayers for those who are living in critical conditions in the flood.
- Each Region is to execute an immediate plan to fundraise in your region. This plan is to last around 3 weeks, starting on 10/21/2016 and end on 11/6/2016. (Please request if you need additional time. If the local chapters have plan to coordinate with local temples or Vietnamese communities, it is up to you to decide what’s best in this circumstance but do report to your higher authority for records).
In addition, you can perform other activities to fundraise for this event. Please send any money raised to our Secretary – Diệu Lâm Phạm Thị Thanh Trúc, 4420 Clymer Ct, Charlotte, NC 28269. Checks please write: BHD GĐPT Hoa Ky. Memo: Cứu Trợ Bão Lụt 10/2016
In the spirit of assisting our fellow Vietnamese, especially during this tragic event, I urge everyone to quickly execute the fundraising efforts in hope of the disaster will quickly be over.
Thank you.
Translated by: Tâm Ðịnh Nguyễn Xuân Hiệp