MEMORANDUM & ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

Buddha Dordenma Image Foundation acts in the same guiding principles with Menjong Choethuen Tshogpa (translated from Dzongkha to English).

MENJONG CHOETHUEN TSHOGPA

(To Preserve Buddha’s Dharma Sacred Teachings)
A Non-profit Organization in the Land of Medicine
Kingdom of Bhutan

To the Triple Gem, the refuge for sentient beings from times immortal, the supreme Dharma King of the people of Bhutan and, to all those helpful to the sentient beings, we prostrate with deep respect.

Subsequent to the approval accorded by His Holiness the 70th Kyabje Dorjechang on 21/7/2002 corresponding to the 12th day of the 6th month of Water Male Horse Year, a 29-member committee called the Menjong Choethuen Tshogpa (MCT), (a non-profit organization aimed at preserving the sacred traditional Buddha’s dharma teachings), has been established. This committee gradually expanded in the twenty Dzongkhags (districts) making it necessary to have a working procedure for the MCT. With this objective in mind, the following are considered the working procedures:

  1. Objectives

    For thousand of years our ancestors perceived the triple gem of Buddhism with reverence whereby thoughts of discrimination was eliminated placing firm belief and devotion towards it. Moreover, this is intended to offer our monarchs reverence and devotion for their selfless endurance for the benefit of the people and for offering our services in management of our customs and tradition from the core of our heart.

    Although the triple gem would have compassion to grant good fortunes and the leaders would possess merits to receive them, it would rarely be of any impact if there are no merits to all the beings. Therefore, this MCT is formed in order to attain the best outcome from virtuous acts and to enable ourselves in rendering our services to Buddha’s teaching to the best possible extent.

  2. Identification of MCT

    At the Central Office in the Capital, Thimphu

    • Chairman 1
    • Deputy Chairman 1
    • Members of the Management committee 7

    Dzongkhag committee

    • Chairman – Dzongdag (as a representative from the government for security / adhering to RGoBs policy)
    • Deputy Chairman – Lam Neten and Drangpon (for safekeeping of the law)
    • For conducting traditional Dharma activities the Deputy Eminence Lam Neten would be the Deputy Chairman cum administrator and would be assisted by the secretary and accountant of the Dratsang (Monastery/Temple).

    Eligibility and Appointment Procedures for member of the General Committee and the Management Committee

    • The candidate should be a Bhutanese citizen, regardless of age and wealth.
    • Any member from the Management Committee who can effectively serve for the benefits of the country, people and has the confidence in working for Buddha’s Dharma activities shall be directly appointed as the Chairman of MCT by His Holiness Kyabje Dorjechang Rimpoche.
    • Although the term of office for the member of the Management Committee is three years, MCT can re-elect the candidates based on their performance during the Annual General Conference of the MCT.

    Meetings Procedures

    • General Conference shall be held annually.
    • The Management Committee meeting shall be convened quarterly and the Chairman can convene additional meeting, if required.
    • The Management Committee meeting should have at least two thirds of all the members present for discussion and decision making.

    Responsibilities of the Management Committee

    • Build and strengthen co-operations with the international Buddhist counterparts with the approval of the government.
    • Preserve and promote sanitation in Lhakhang, Goendeys (Temples, Monastery) and work towards the upkeep of the natural environment.
    • The Central Office shall receive all the informations from the dzongkhags relating to the expenses incurred from the Dzongkhag MCT fund.
    • Develop programmes for empowerments, oral transmutations, preaching and visualizations (wang, Lung, and Thri) and annual recitations and prayers for world peace (kurim) and for all sentient beings.
    • Develop programmes for granting education to the public on traditional Buddha’s teachings and support the destitute.
    • Grant financial support to nuns, clergy, monks, yogi and yoginis who offer their services to the MCT according to the availability of funds.
    • Undertake activities which would contribute to sustainable development of MCT fund.
    • Monitor and assess accounts and administrative responsibilities every three to six months.
    • Information dissemination on MCT objectives and mandates.
    • Extend labour and financial support to victims of unprecedented calamities like death etc. and extend aid and cooperation even to foreign countries, according to our working relationship.
    • Take care of immovable and movable assets that are primarily acquired by MCT and monitor the trading of such assets.
    • Grant approval for annual budget.
    • Develop procedures for benefit of MCT and prepare programmes and plans for major and minor activities.
    • Relieve and appoint administration staff as and when required and approve their salary and entitlements.

    Administration & its responsibilities

    • Secretary to the Committee with the responsibilities to:
      1. coordinate general meeting of the MCT and extend daily administrative services and responsibilities mandated for a secretary to the management committee.
      2. responsible for the financial and administrative matters of the office.
      3. execute the orders of the management committee and the chairman.
      4. report to the management committee on the progress of activities of the MCT.
    • Financial Officer with the responsibilities to:
      1. maintain proper records of the members of the committee.
      2. daily deposit of funds received by the MCT in the MCT bank account.
      3. maintain proper document of the donations (in cash or in kind) received by the committee.
      4. issue receipts for contributions granted to the MCT and also distribute receipt books to the committees in the Dzongkhags and maintain proper record.
      5. submit reports through the secretary to the management committee on the receipts and expenditures incurred every 3-6 months and submit annual report in the annual general conference.
      6. submit annual budget estimates of the MCT, through the secretary, to the management committee for approval.
    • Clerks and other staff would be recruited as per requirement.

    Financial authority and funds allocation

    • Open bank account for the MCT in a bank in Thimphu.
    • The secretary and the chairman can jointly accord approval of up to Nu. 1.50,000 in a year from the current expenditure, approved by the management committee in Thimphu.
    • For the Dzongkhags, the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and the Secretary on a need basis, can joinly accord approval of up to Nu. 90,000 from the budget allocated for the Dzongkhag (District)
    • For approval of expenditures for programmes within the responsibility of the management committee shall decide and execute as per the approval and directives from His Holiness Kyabje Dorjechang Rimpoche.
    • All cheques shall be countersigned by the Chairman and the secretary.
    • The financial year shall be based on the Bhutanese calendar.

    Membership fee for MCT and Donation procedures.

    • A member shall offer a fee ranging from Nu. 1 or above according to his/her virtue and devotion.
    • A person who wishes to offer assets and financial donations to the MCT shall offer as per his/her reverence and devotion.

    Code of Conduct

    • Led by the Chairman, all the members of the management committee and the administrative staff, with the Triple Gem as witness, shall work tirelessly towards their benefits of all sentient beings with sincerity and dedication and no member shall undertake any unethical activity.
    • In the event of any member violating the above clause, he/she shall be relieved from the membership of MCT and his/her misdeeds would be made public.

    Amendment authority

    Any amendment to this working procedures shall be approved by His Holiness Kyabje Dorjechang Rimpoche after reviewing the proposals from the management committee.

    Ratification

    The working procedures of the MCT shall come into force on this date the 14th June 2003, corresponding to the 15th day of the 4th month of Water Female Sheep Year.

    His Holiness Trulku Jigme Choedrag Rimpoche
    70th Kyabje Dorjechang of Bhutan