Wyremontowana klinika w Katmandu

But why is it so that we develop the idea of helping others? Is it simply fashionable to have the sense of a "mission"? What are our motives? Is it really others or perhaps just ourselves that we want to do something for?

Most religions propagate altruism, the love of one's fellow man, and pity. Although they also promise a reward for good deeds - such as heaven, paradise or a better reincarnation - they all stress that if we really want to help, we should forget about ourselves and such kinds of gratification. There is no time for that. There is no time to think about religious, doctrinal or ethnic differences. What we have to do is simply start working hard or, if we cannot do that ourselves, unselfishly support those who can.

Helping the weakest and those who need help most urgently, one forgets all the divisions and quarrels about convictions. Illness and suffering put all people on the same level. This is best noticeable at places where we doctors struggle against the tangible external aspect of evil. Humanitarian assistance is needed almost everywhere. To see this, one look around is enough. Since 1998 we have decided to start from Katmandu ….

OUR LOGO
	Instead of the traditional red cross - the health services' universal symbol - we have used a double dordje. The Buddhist symbol refers to the fact that we are operating on the line of contact of two cultures and civilizations. In the Buddhist tradition, the four arms of the dordje stand for "four awakened activities of the enlightened mind": the gentle - assistance rendered to others, peace, and soothing of pain and worry; the augmenting - increase of the good features such as good health and long life; the energizing - making one stronger, adding charisma, and attracting people; and the angry and destructive - prompt and resolved removal of all obstacles.   Inside the dordje, the Aesculapius has been placed - the universal symbol of medicine.
JS Dalai Lama letter

Contact