| On January 12, His Holiness the Dalai Lama formally announced 1999 as the Year of Compassion. Making the announcement from the picturesque Drepuling Monastery in Mundgod, Karnataka, he said that a sense of caring and concern for others are the pillars for the development of a happy and stable society.
The initiative for the Year of Compassion has been taken by the Karuna Foundation, a non-sectarian Buddhist organisation headed by Dr Kagyur Rinpoche. Set up in 1992 to further the Tibetan cause, the Foundation so far has been actively engaged in humanitarian work among the underprivileged in Delhi and other parts of the country. Forthcoming projects include an eye-care centre and Tibetan holistic centres in Delhi and Maharashtra. As part of the year-long celebrations, a fund-raising concert with popular Indipop stars will be held in Delhi on March 27.
The Foundation has taken great strides, more so due to the tireless efforts of Dr Rinpoche. Not many know that he was recognised by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of Kagyur Lama, who was reincarnated as the 13th Dalai Lama. Dr Rinpoche spent 20 years studying Buddhism at the Drepuling Monastery but renounced monkhood six years ago to marry actress Mandakini of Ram Teri Ganga Maili fame. The couple has a six-year-old son.
So what about her alleged links with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim? I always denied any connections with him, shrugs the actress. Says she: I help my husband in his work now and and go wherever he goes. One last nugget: The Rinpoche is none other than the famed Murphy Baby of the '60s Murphy radio ads who was rumoured to have died mysteriously. The truth is that he was studying furiously to achieve his elevated status of today. Actor Deepak Parashar, who was also present at the monastery as chief guest, spent his time cooking two dozen ginger eggs, four kg of lemon chicken and chana-pulao. No one turned up for the dinner though!
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