SINI Brochure 2021

Sarnath International Nyingma Institute
In the spring of 2020, when the pandemic
became a public concern, SINI provided
public health information regarding the need
for high-level hygiene practices and the
importance of social distancing. Early on,
we recognized that food security would be
one of the most important ways to support
community life during the pandemic, as
most livelihoods had come to an abrupt end.
In the first month of the national lock-down,
SINI established an informal food program
for the homeless families living between
the local railway station and the Dhamekh
Stupa. In our first offering in April 2020,
we provided two months worth of dry
foods to approximately forty families. In
subsequent months, SINI’s food service to
the most vulnerable around Sarnath grew
to a more formal Full Moon Food Basket
offering to over 1000 family members per
month. By conservative estimates during
the first year of the pandemic, SINI has
provided over 900,000 meals to Sarnath
residents.
Many lessons have been drawn from our
engagement in food offerings and other
humanitarian initiatives such as providing
medical equipment, tree-plantings, and
water pumps. It is our aspiration that SINI’s
resident monks continue to engage their
Bodhisattva vows, applying skillful means
to provide both temporary and permanent
relief to our neighbors. As a result of the
opportunity to support local communities,
SINI is developing more professional training
in humanitarian assistance for its monastic
students.
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