Our Organization

The foundation is organized as a not-for-profit charity.  The foundation is managed by a Board of Directors consisting of at least three members.  The directors are selected to serve, based on the strength of their belief in the Principles of the Foundation and their ability to implement concrete actions to execute on those Principles.

The Board must meet at least once a year to approve the Annual Report, certify all financial accounts, and appoint a Managing Director among the Directors on the Board.  The Board delegates to the Managing Director the responsibilities for managing all the strategic, financial, operational, and administrative functions of the foundation.  The Managing Director may appoint other officers to assist him in managing this foundation.  However, the Board has the ultimate responsibility of ensuring the foundation is deploying its resources efficiently and wisely to promote the guiding principles of this foundations. 

The Board will appoint an independent accountant and auditor to ensure its finances and all accounts are in good order.  In order to maximum the operational efficiency of how well the resources are deployed in charitable activities, the Board will seek to ensure that at least 95 percent of all its incoming revenues from donations are spent on direct charitable activities consistent with the twelve guiding principles.

The organizational charter can be amended only with the unanimous approval of the Board.  

Our Philosophy

The Medicine Buddha Foundation is established with the belief that the Twelve Great Vows of the Medicine Buddha will make this a better world for all sentient beings.  The Twelve Great Vows, which form the basis of the guiding principles of this Foundation, are as follows:

1. To illuminate countless realms with his radiance, enabling anyone to    become a Buddha just like him.

2. To awaken the minds of sentient beings through his light of lapis lazuli.

3. To provide the sentient beings with whatever material needs they require.

4. To correct heretical views and inspire beings toward the path of the Bodhisattva.

5. To help beings follow the Moral Precepts, even if they failed before.

6. To heal beings born with deformities, illness or other physical sufferings.

7. To help relieve the destitute and the sick.

8. To help women who wish to be reborn as men achieve their desired rebirth.

9. To help heal mental afflictions and delusions.

10. To help the oppressed be free from suffering.

11. To relieve those who suffer from terrible hunger and thirst.

12. To help clothe those who are destitute and suffering from cold and mosquitoes.

  

This Foundation is not intended to promote the religious creed of Buddhism, but to spread the humanistic teachings of Buddha who once lived on this planet.  Buddha was a human being, who through perseverance and constant practice, achieved Enlightenment approximately two thousand five hundred years ago.  Buddha means "The Awakened One".

What Buddha taught was a series of lessons for regular people to become better human beings, via Selflessness, Compassion, and Wisdom.  Similar teachings have been transmitted in a variety of religions.