The Sangha Metta project trains Buddhist monks, nuns and novices to provide practical and spiritual assistance to people with HIV/AIDS and to fight the myths, misconceptions and stigma surrounding the disease. The program now exists in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Bhutan, Vietnam, China and Mongolia and receives aid from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), AusAID, the Open Society Institute and the Burma Project.
Buddhist Leadership in HIV/AIDS Awareness and Compassionate Care
While HIV/AIDS has become epidemic in the Asia Pacific region a lack of understanding about the disease’s transmission persists, as does discrimination against those infected.
Centered on the moral and religious teachings of Buddhism, the Sangha Metta project was started in 1997 by monks in Thailand and has been a source of inspiration, training and technical assistance for Buddhist mobilization around AIDS. Sangha Metta arranges seminars, workshops and visits to AIDS hospices for Buddhist leaders, as well as leaders of other religions. In three to five day trainings, participants learn about prevention education, awareness-raising, social management skills and tools to encourage tolerance and compassion. Together they assess the problems in their communities and possible steps for combating them.
The Buddhist leaders then model behavior towards affected community members, eating, for example, food prepared and offered by people with HIV/AIDS. This simple, symbolic act has a powerful impact on community members by confronting their fears of transmission. The monks also guide meditation for people with HIV/AIDS, visit them in their homes, educate young people about the disease and care for children orphaned by it.
In many communities, religious leaders hold great respect and influence, guiding moral behavior and standards. Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns working with Sangha Metta challenge the stigma of HIV/AIDS by modeling compassionate behavior toward those often ostracized. By demonstrating acceptance and tolerance, they encourage communities to respect human rights and support marginalized groups. Temples in Asia serve as the spiritual heart of villages, and monks and nuns are seen as respected teachers and role models. Their leadership extends beyond Buddhism, with Sangha Metta now conducting workshops for Christian, Hindu, and Islamic faith leaders, promoting human rights across religious boundaries.
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