Legal Structure

Light Of Buddhadharma Foundation International

For ten years, LBDFI has worked to restore the Buddha Sasana in India. The Buddha Sasana is the culture of Buddhism, established by the Blessed One and transmitted through the centuries by the Sangha of Venerable Monks and their lay supporters. LBDFI has worked to fulfill its vision through four main activities.

Support for pilgrimages and ceremonies

In 2006, LBDFI became the primary sponsor for the International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony, which has grown to become the most important international gathering of Theravadin monks in India. From December 2-13th each year, over 3,500 monks and their followers from ten South East Asian Countries gather in Bodhgaya to chant the teachings of the Buddha, as recorded in the Pali Canon. Each year, a section of the Canon is chanted. For more information, see our Chanting Ceremonies page or the International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony Bodhgaya. Other chanting ceremonies have now been initiated in Nagpur, Sankasya, New Delhi and Sri Lanka.

Development of Pilgrimage

LBDFI has also been supporting the development of the ancient places of pilgrimage. The Foundation has installed great Dharma bells in all eight of the ancient sites. Gardens have been created to surround these bells, amenities such as toilets and rubbish collection have been installed, and a program to clean up Bodhgaya,the major site of Buddhist Pilgrimage for all Buddhist people has been initiated. Finally the Foundation has begun a program to develop Dharmaytra walks between major pilgrimage sites in collaboration with the Nalanda Mahavihara, the Governments of Bihar and UP, the Mahabodhi Mahavihara and the World Bank.

Training of Monks

LBDFI has begun a program to support the training of a new generation of Indian monks.

Printing of Dharma Books

Building on these activities, LBDFI has begun to distribute Dharma Books to the Indian public through the prayer ceremonies and public events. These materials are also downloadable from the LBDFI website.

LBDFI was founded in 2002 and is registered as a 501(c)(3) non profit religious organization under the laws of California. LBDFI is also the sole shareholder of LBDFI- India, a charitable company established under section 25 of the Companies act of India in 2007. In 2009 the Foundation also established LBDFI- Thailand, a charitable Foundation established in Bangkok to further extend its outreach. In 2014, LBDFI- India received FCRA approval status from the Government of India.
Registered Offices:

Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International – USA
2425 Hillside Avenue, Berkeley, California 94704

Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International – India
1 A Vandhana Building, Tolstoy Marg New Delhi, India

Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International – Thailand
15/3, 6 th Floor, Sukhumvit 16, Klongtoey Bankgok 10110, Thailand

Directors

The Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International does not renumerate any of its Directors. Each are voluntarily dedicated to the life and mission of carrying out its noble cause.

Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International was inspired and established by Venerable Tarthang Tulku, founder and Head Lama of the Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Center in California, USA. Ven. Tarthang Tulku was born in Eastern Tibet, where he studied with many of the greatest Tibetan Buddhist masters of the twentieth century.

After leaving Tibet, he taught from 1962 to 1968 at Sanskrit University in Varanasi, India, where he also established one of the first printing presses abroad to print sacred Tibetan texts. Since 1969 he has lived and worked in America. There he has actualized a long-range vision of preserving ancient teachings of the Buddha and transmitting them to the modern world.

In 1983, Ven. Tarthang Tulku established the Yeshe De Project, which focuses on preservation and translation of sacred texts. In 1989, he founded the annual Nyingma Monlam Chenmo, now attended each year by more than 10,000 monks.

The work of the Foundation is carried out by four directors:

WANGMO DIXEY

Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International (LBDFI)
President, International Buddhist Association of America (IBAA) (www.ibaa.org),
Member, International Tipitaka Chanting Council (ITCC)(www.tipitakachantingcouncil.org)

Wangmo Dixey has a degree in International Relations from the University of Los Angeles in the USA and an MA in Development Economics from the American University. She serves as the Executive Director of LBDFI, and promotes its core mission of helping revitalize the teachings of the Buddhadharma in the motherland of India. She also serves as the newly elected President of the IBAA which brings together all three yanas into one platform as a voice for them in the United States. She lives in Berkeley, California, USA and travels regularly to Southeast Asia to promote the various projects of the Foundation. She is a founding member of the ITCC, which established the annual International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony under the Sacred Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, now in its eleventh year with over eleven countries in participation. This chanting ceremony has now extended to all the sacred sites to include annual programs in Sarnath, New Delhi, Sankisya, Kushnigara, Sravasti, Rajgir, and Vaishali. The work of LBDFI supports the revival of the sacred recitation of the sutras within the Theravada tradition bringing the various streams together under the Sacred Bodhi tree after a gap of 700 years. The Foundation also supports infrastructural projects at the sacred sites, the distribution of Dharma books and the training of Indian novice monks in the highest institutions of South East Asia. She is also the eldest daughter of Venerable Tarthang Tulku, one of the preeminent Nyingma teachers who was one of the first Tibetan lamas to come to the United States. She has two children and works with her husband to promote the mission of LBDFI, ITCC and IBAA.

She has received several awards in her honor: she was awarded the Sema Dhammachak Award from the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of Religion during May 2011. The Sema Dhammacak Pillar Award is an honorary award given to individual or organization who has made contribution to Buddhism. She was also honored by the Tara Award in Thailand along with accolades from the Laos PDR Sangha.

RICHARD DIXEY

Richard Dixey has a BA Hons from Oxford, a masters degree in the history and philosophy of science from London University and a PhD from London University. Before retiring to assist in the running of the Foundation, he headed a pharmaceutical company researching new treatments for Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, and obesity. Richard has been a student of Buddhism since 1972.

NELSON CHAMMA

Nelson Chamma holds degrees in economics and International Relations. A native of Brazil, he currently divides his time between Brazil and Portugal, where he attends to business interests. He has been involved with the Nyingma Institute of Rio de Janeiro from 1990 to the present.

JACK PETRANKER

Jack Petranker holds a BA from Stanford in political science, an MA from the University of California at Berkeley in political theory, and a JD from Yale Law School. He has been a member of the California Bar since 1971. Mr. Petranker is an editor, educator, and writer, and the author of When It Rains, Does Space Get Wet? (Dharma Publishing 2006), as well as articles in such fields as consciousness studies, organizational change, political transformation, and the inner meaning of work. A former Dean of the Nyingma Institute in Berkeley, CA, he is the founder and director of the Center for Creative Inquiry, and the Director of the Mangalam Research Center for Buddhist Languages. From 1988-92 he served as Vice-President of the World Fellowship of Buddhists. He is on the faculty of the Tibetan Nyingma Institute and Dharma College, both in Berkeley.

LINDA COPENHAGEN

Linda is currently focusing her work as CFO and consultant in the non-profit sector. Formerly she has held roles as Director of Family office, Seiler LLP, Director of Corporate Accounting at Art.com, Inc, Senior Director at Leapfrog Enterprises and Controller/Director of Finance in several technology startups.

RAJIV SHARMA

Rajiv Sharma has a degree in Science (B.Sc.) and Law (LL.B.) from the University of Delhi. He is a practicing advocate in India and also serves on the board of directors of the Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International-India. He looks after all the legal matters of Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International-India.

LBDFI India is audited by R. P. Malhan & Company, 1 A Vandhana Building, Tolstoy Marg New Delhi, India

Dr Ravindra Panth

Prof. Dr. Ravindra Panth got superannuated from his assignment as the Director/ Vice Chancellor of the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (Deemed University) at Nalanda, Bihar, India where he served from April, 2000 to 31st May, 2016. Besides working as the head of the University he was also engaged in taking M.A. classes and supervising Ph.D students. 2016-17 he worked as Professor of Buddhist Studies in the School of Buddhist Studies and Civilization, Gautam Buddha University in Gautam Buddha Nagar, Greater Noida. Since 2018, he is working as a Visiting Professor of Buddhist Studies at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi, under Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

Prof. Panth is M.A. History, M.A. Buddhist Studies (Gold Medallist) University of Delhi, M.Phil. and Ph.D. Prior to his joining the Nalanda University, Prof. Panth served as the Director, Vipassana Research Institute for 14 years devoting to Paṭipatti (practice) and Pativedana (experience). He had also been a Member of the Boards of several Universities and Advisor and Executive Member of several International Buddhist Institutions.

Prof. Panth is a widely travelled scholar and has more than 100 Research Papers to his credit presented and published in various National and International Conferences, Seminars and Workshops. He has delivered more than 100 special lectures in India and abroad. He has edited and published more than 20 books.

Due to his achievements in the field of Buddhist Studies, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Government of the Union of Myanmar has conferred the prestigious title of MAHA SADDHAMMA JOTIKADHAJA in recognition of his contribution to the purification, perpetuation and propagation of Buddha’s teaching in 2008.

On 24th August, 2014, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Festival of Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh 2014, in Leh, for his unique contribution in the promotion and preservation of Ladakh’s rich cultural heritage.

On 1st November, 2014, in recognition for his outstanding leadership and contribution for development of Buddhism he was awarded Buddhism Today Award for Leadership Excellence, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

On 18th April, 2015 The Modern School Old Students’ Association (MSOSA) presented the 5th Modernites’ Conclave and Excellence Awards – 2015, sterling achievements and bringing glory in the field of Education.

Dr Ravindra Panth

DR. DISAPHOL CHANSIRI

CHAIRMAN, Light of Buddhadharma Foundation Thailand

Dr. Disaphol Chansiri holds a PhD in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. He also holds Masters Degrees in Law and Diplomacy (Tufts University), International and Comparative Law (George Washington University), and Business Law (University of Wales).

Where We Work

Audited Financial Reports

Audited Financials LBDFI India 2014-15

Receipt and Utilization of Foreign Contributions received during 2014-15

Receipt and utilization of Foreign Contributions received during 2015-16

Receipt and utilization of Foreign Contributions received during 2016-17

Foreign Contribution During Q-1 of Financial Year 2017 18

Foreign Contribution During Q-2 of Financial Year 2017 18

Foreign Contribution During Q-3 of Financial Year 2017 18

Foreign Contribution During Q-4 of Financial Year 2017 18

Scanned Financials 2016-17

Scanned Financials 2017-18

Scanned Financials 2018-19

OUR Awards

Tara Award

Previous slide

Next slide

In October 2014, Executive Director Wangmo Dixey was informed of the Tara Award being granted to the Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International for its activities in promoting the Buddhasasana in India.

Sema Dhammacak Pillar Award

LBDFI was awarded the Sema Dhammacak Pillar award from the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of Religion during May 2011.

The Sema Dhammacak Pillar Award is an honorary award given to individual or organization who made contribution to Buddhism. This award is given to an individual or organization once in a lifetime as this is considered to be the highest honorary award of the life.

Sema Dhammacak Pillar award is made of a simple material in the shape of Dhamma wheel on a pillar. This symbolizes the dissemination of Buddhism and the contributor is regarded as the principle pillar of Buddhism. He/she holds an important role in preserving Buddhism and disseminates Buddhism far and wide.

Currently, the royal ceremony of awarding Sema Dhammacak Pillar Award is organized annually at the ceremonial ground of Sanam Luang (in front of the Emerald Buddha Temple) on the occasion of Visakha Puja day (Vesak). The ceremony presides over by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. HRH Princess hands over the award to all nominees who made contribution to Buddhism.

Background of the award

Selection of people who made contribution to Buddhism was initiated in 1982 which was the first year of the selection. However, the award was halted for one year till 1984, the year of founding the Center for Promoting Buddhism of Thailand. Department of Religious Affairs under Ministry of Education of Thailand and the Center for Promoting Buddhism of Thailand took this project to continue once again from selecting people who had contributed to Buddhism starting from 1982 to present day. Up to 2009 there were all together 2,758 people who have received this award both monastics and lay.

Qualification of awarding the Sema Dhammacak Pillar Award

The Sema Dhammacak Pillar Award is the highest honorary award given to an individual who made contribution to Buddhism and is selected by the Award Selection Committee. This award is given as a praising and recognizing the goodness of the nominees comprised of an individual, organization or government office and to announce their contribution among Buddhist public. This is to parade a good role model to society and youth of the nation as well as to honor and give mental support to their work of dissemination of Buddhism. The selection sub-committee carefully selects the nominees and the Selection Committee of Buddhism Promotional Week Project on the Occasion of Visakha Puja Day approves the nominee list

A selected individual will receive the Sema Dhammacak Pillar Award and the certificate from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn who will be inaugurating the Buddhism Promotional Week on the Occasion of Visakha Puja Day at the Sanam Luang royal ground every year.

Currently, the government office responsible for selecting the nominees for this award is the Department of Religious Affairs under Ministry of Culture. The Ministry annually appoints a special selection sub-committee to select the nominees for award. The award is considered within 10 different types of contribution such as dissemination of Buddhism in Thailand, Buddhist writing and so on. Nominee selections is made by two methods i.e. a well-known individual who has contributed to Buddhism and select through all documents proposed respectively by the provincial cultural offices. Generally, the award is given one or two awards to each province based on the size of population.