Blood Donation Campaign

Joyful devotees queuing up to donate blood at this year’s Wesak Observance.

As part of the annual ‘Buddha Day’ observance, members of the public are invited to perform meritorious deeds such as offering alms, observing the Eight Precepts, and meditate.

Besides those, Nalanda has been organizing blood donation drives for many years in conjunction with Wesak celebrations. There is an educational approach to donating blood at Nalanda Centre, whereby donors are made to relax their bodies and minds, and to generate thoughts of loving-kindness while donating blood – with the sincere wish that their selfless act may save the lives of others and contribute to their well-being.

Blood sampling and testing station. This year, more than 120 bags of blood were collected in five hours.

This year, the blood donation drive was coupled with an organ-donation campaign to encourage people to pledge their organs for transplants.  A counselor for organ donation was specially engaged to educate the public on the subject.

The abstinence from unwholesome deeds, the cultivation of goodness, and the purification of one’s mind – this is what Wesak is about.

Donors were made to relax their bodies and minds, and to generate thoughts of loving-kindness while donating blood – with the sincere wish that their selfless act may save the lives of others and contribute to their well-being.