No. 0298

SCIENTOLOGY VOLUNTEERS AND BUDDHIST MONKS — ACCOMODATING SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL NEEDS

The head of the housing project, Venerable Dhammawasa Nayaka thero, with President of the Church of Scientology International, Rev. Heber Jentzsch during his recent visit to Sri Lanka.

The head of the housing project, Venerable Dhammawasa Nayaka thero, with President of the Church of Scientology International, Rev. Heber Jentzsch during his recent visit to Sri Lanka.
HAMBANTOTA, SRI LANKA: A team of Scientologist relief volunteers joined an array of dignitaries and community leaders at a ceremony celebrating the opening of 25 prefabricated houses that have now been turned over to 25 families left homeless by the tsunami.

The housing project, which was carried out in only 50 days under the supervision of senior Buddhist monk, Venerable Wattegama Dhammawassa Thero, has been racing against the clock, with the monsoon season fast approaching.

Each structure has two bedrooms, bathroom facilities, a kitchen, front room and porch. The cost per house was approximately five thousand American dollars, from planning to completion. This is the first phase of the project in which a total of 100 houses will be constructed.

Reverend Heber Jentzsch, President of the Church of Scientology International, recently visited Sri Lanka and met with Venerable Dhammawassa, Chief Monk of the Sri Subodharama Buddhist Centre located in Kandy, a hundred miles north of the housing project in Hambantota.

Said Rev. Jentzsch, “ When I visited the housing project’s construction site I spoke with the chief engineer of the project who had personally lost five family members to the tsunami. He related that since working on this project he felt revitalized in being able to bring life back to Hambantota.”

“This housing project is a tremendous team effort and in support we have Scientologists assisting with administrative and fund-raising activities,” Rev. Jentzsch continued.

“As well as taking an active interest in the housing project, at their request we have inaugurated training for monks and citizens in Sri Lanka to provide Dianetics spiritual counseling to the survivors of the Tsunami. It addresses the root cause and fears inherent in the trauma of the incident,” said Rev. Jentzsch.

“Both the physical and the spiritual factors need attention. This housing project is key, as is seeing to their spiritual well being. Therefore, we have trained many Buddhist monks in Dianetics spiritual counseling. They are having great success using these new techniques to help their fellow Sri Lankans restore their ability to again build for the future.”

“The motto of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, taken from the writings of L. Ron Hubbard is ’Something CAN be done about it.’ Buddhists and Scientologists exemplify this every day,” Rev. Jentzsch concluded.

http://www.scientology.org/en_US/news-media/briefing/2005/vm/seindia/050421.html