In a possible first for Buddhist monasteries in Nepal, Bhenchen Phuntsok Dargyeling Monastery in Swoyambhu conducted its social audit in the presence of the Social Welfare Council acting director on Sunday.

Monasteries in Nepal need to endorse their annual budgets and programmes from the SWC after the country brought all monasteries under its purview in 2015. However, Bhenchen Phuntsok Dargyeling Monastery’s social audit is an exception and not a norm among monasteries in the country.

Hailing the social audit of the monastery as an indicator of good governance and transparency, Bhagawati Sangraula, acting director of the Social Welfare Council, while addressing the social audit organised by the monastery within its premises, said, “This is probably the first-ever social audit conducted by any monastery in the country.”

Chief Guest Sangraula lauded the initiation of Bhenchen Monastery for taking the lead.

“Monasteries are not only limited to devotion, they are also focussed on helping the communities in many ways including education and health services,” Sangraula said. “They also help communities during disasters.”

After the government made it mandatory for the monasteries to get their donations endorsed by the SWC, monks started frequenting the SWC offices, Sangraula said.

To ensure that the budgeting matches with the government’s standards, monasteries should hire professionals and keep the finances in check through internal audits.

“One of the most important things we all should be aware of is identifying our donors as the country has taken strict measures against money laundering and terrorism financing,” she said.

Chairman of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward 15, Ishwar Man Dangol said he has been well aware of the welfare activities of the monastery for decades.

“I would like to request the officials of the monastery to try increasing the budget for education and health because the cost of these two services has been increased a lot and the urban poor are finding it difficult to get such services,” Dangol said.

The Chairman of the monastery Tempa Lama thanked everyone including the representatives of the SWC, Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Monastery Development Committee for their active participation and valuable suggestions.

Tej Prasad Badal and Sharada Devi Poudel of the Social Development Department of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Chairman of the Himalayan Medical Foundation Therchen Gurung, member of the Buddhist Philosophy Promotion and Monastery Development Committee Pasang Nuru Sherpa were also present at the social audit function.

During the function, an associate of the monastery, Prem Baram, presented all the financial details and the activities of the monastery.

The monastery has 400 students studying in its facilities. Situated near the renowned Swayambhu Stupa in Kathmandu the monastery assembles the monastic school Benchen Phuntsok Dagyeling, the state-approved Primary School, the Benchen Free Clinic, the meditation centre Clear Light in Pharping and the new Benchen Shedra next to it.

The monastery also conducts various health and meditation camps, and provides Buddhist education, besides regular maintenance of its buildings and regular worshipping.

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