A Gift
of the
Dharma
Leaving a gift in your Will
to the London Buddhist Centre
The Vision of the LBC
Whether it’s a moment
of peace at a lunchtime
class, a life-changing
retreat or a place for
friendship, the LBC
reaches the lives of
many thousands of
people. It has a huge
effect on Bethnal
Green, the lives
of Londoners and
beyond.
At the LBC we are
trying to bring the
teachings of the
Buddha to life in a
new culture. Above all
we want to teach the
timeless truths pointed
to by the Buddha and
help people live a truly
fulfilling life.
A gift in your Will will
help the Buddha’s
message of wisdom
and compassion thrive
in the world.
Some people find it hard to get round
to writing a Will.
A Will explicitly refers to the fact that
you are going to die. Why spend
time thinking of something so
unpleasant?
A Will helps you face the reality of your death
and so helps you live more fully now
A Will can help you identify and support the
values you live for now
A clearly written Will helps family and friends
at a difficult and distressing time
A Will gives your money and property to
people and causes you choose
A Will tells people how you wish to be buried
or cremated
A Will appoints trusted family members or
friends to look after your interests
A well-drafted Will can use legitimate ways
to reduce the amount of tax payable on your
death
Why make a will?
Stories
from
the
Sangha
Mahananda
“Thank goodness Satyadasa
encouraged Mahananda to make
a Will when he did – Mahananda
died so unexpectedly. I know
how much he loved doing Carer’s
retreats and Newcomer’s retreats.
He’d love to know that partly
because of his legacy we’ve been
able to build a new retreat centre
so that even more people can go
on retreat.”
Maitreyabandhu, Mahananda’s
private preceptor
Fashion designer Alexander
McQueen left a legacy to the
LBC. His story is a powerful
reminder of what we are trying to
do. He had a humble start in life
Alexander
but his prodigious talent led him
to international fame and great
wealth. He also suffered from
anxiety and depression. In his
fashion blog he wrote, “Life can’t
half complicate matters. Feeling
like you’re on a road to nowhere,
trying to stay on the right path
and trying not to go down the
wrong corridors…”His eventual
suicide is the kind of tragedy that
the LBC wants to help prevent.
We want to help people feel that
they are on a road to somewhere
– that they’re connected more
deeply with a sense of their
human worth, and of meaning
and purpose in life.
Vijayatara
“Vijayatara’s death was
unexpected and untimely. In
her Will she divided her estate
three ways – to the three things
that were most important to
her – her partner, her sister and
the LBC. She wanted to give to
the LBC because it was here that
she found what was ultimately
meaningful – the Dharma, and
friends who offered guidance
and were available when life was
challenging, and she wanted
others to benefit in the same
way.”
Muditasri, Vijayatara’s kalyana mitra
Jnanavaca
“I’ve left nearly everything to the
LBC in my Will. This is because
I really really believe the LBC can
make a positive difference to the
lives of thousands of people by
introducing them to the Dharma
and providing a flourishing
Sangha environment. It’s a vital
context that can transform lives
and if we had more money we
could make such good use of it!
London needs us!
Jnanvaca, Chairman of the LBC
Manjusiha & SuYen
“We already give regularly to the
LBC and plan to leave part of
our estate to the LBC because
we want to put what we have
to work for the good of the
Dharma.”
Manjusiha and SuYen Tan-Okotie
Dayabandhu
“I started donating regularly to
the LBC straight after my first
weekend retreat at Vajrasana and
I shall continue to assist wherever
I can in my lifetime. Assuming
I don’t have to go into a nursing
home then when I do die further
assistance will be given to the
LBC in the form of a legacy.”
Dayabandhu
It’s easy to get a Will wrong
and more mistakes come
from homemade Wills than
Wills prepared in other ways.
If offered a “free” Will you are
advised to check the small
print.
Steps
Next
There are a number of ways
to go about writing a Will. It is
possible to write one yourself,
however most people find it
beneficial to use the services
of a solicitor or a professional
Will writer to help them. You
may want to think through
issues (such as tax) and to
make sure your Will is valid. A
solicitor may charge between
£100 and £200 for a simple
Will.
Helpful Resources
www.triratnadevelopment.org
www.rememberacharity.
org,uk
www.co-operative.coop.uk/
legalservices
www.greengatewills.co.uk
Other Resources:
www.naturaldeath.org.uk
www.buddhistfunerals.co.uk
Satyadasa, a
local Order
member,
runs an
independent
business
advising on
and drafting
Wills. He is a non-practising
solicitor and insured member
of the Society of Will Writers.
For more information call
0203 222 6073 or email
[email protected]
or visit www.greengatewills.
co.uk
London Buddhist Centre
51 Roman Road, E2 0HU
www.lbc.org.uk
020 8981 1225
Charity number: 255420
Image Credits:
Cover: NASA, ESA, E. Sabbi (STScI)
1st Page: NASA, CXCUniv.PotsdamL.Oskinova et al; Optical ESA/NASA (STScI); Infrared NASA/JPL-Caltech
This Page: Hubble Heritage Team (AURA(STScI)NASA/ESA)
Image of Alexander McQueen: The Guardian