Jai Shri Mataji!
Dear Sahaj Family,
In the spirit of full transparency, I am writing to report to you about the Indian Fundraiser that was launched in May and some challenges we have faced in disbursing the funds raised to India.
May 2021 request for funds
As you may recall, back on the 8th of May, we wrote to the Collective seeking to raise funds for our Indian brothers and sisters to help them during the height of their Covid crisis. (The original May 2021 email can be seen here.)
The proposal was to send the funds raised to the Vishwa Nirmala Prem Ashram and the Pratishthan Centre and we had agreed with the Indian Yogis operating those centres that the donations will be used to purchase medical equipment and other supplies needed to support yogis impacted by the pandemic.
Due to the regulations surrounding our Australian Sahaja Trust structures, Life Eternal Trust is unable to transfer funds to overseas organisations. To do so would have risked our status as a tax-exempt registered charity. As such it was decided that we needed to transfer funds into a private Australian account and then onto the relevant Indian Trust accounts. For this purpose, we used the private account that we used for the Meditate Australia Tour for similar reasons. This account was in my name.
We raised $36,894
Firstly, and importantly, the good news is we quickly raised $36,894 in a very short space of time from the 8th of May to the 14th of May. It was a wonderfully generous outpouring of support, well done to everyone who donated.
Issue with bank accounts
Unfortunately, and surprisingly, on the 16th of May, I logged into my internet banking to begin the process of transferring the funds to India. I discovered thereupon that all the funds in the bank account were gone. It turned out I had been the victim of identity theft by a sophisticated organised crime scam. Not only were the donation monies stolen, but also all my personal business bank accounts had been completely cleaned out.
Thankfully, on the 20th of June the funds were fully restored by the bank after they conducted their investigations.
First transfer to the Pratishthan Centre
After some back and forth ironing out some further administrative details, we made the first transfer to the Pratishthan Centre on the 4th of July in the amount of $5,000.
The Pratishthan Yogis sent us an official receipt on the 10th of July and were most thankful and appreciative, they advised that: “We are developing Shri Mataji’s Museum about her Life Story. Also beautification of Pratishthan Campus and Studio Development is going on. This money will be of great help to us for these projects.”
Whilst these are lovely projects, they of course are not the purpose for which we promised you the money would be raised.
Funds to Vishwa Nirmala Prem Ashram
Accordingly, we decided to transfer the balance of the funds to the Vishwa Nirmala Prem Ashram but before doing so we sought out a letter of assurance from them to confirm the funds would be used for the purpose we had promised the Collective. Unfortunately, those efforts have been unsuccessful, it seems that due to the delays in being ready to send the funds and with the crisis levelling out, the need for the funds is no longer there for the purpose they were raised.
Where to now?
Firstly, I shall reimburse the funds sent to the Pratishthan Centre from my own personal funds as I had a duty to the Collective to see the funds were put to the use intended and have failed in that duty.
That restores us back to the original $36,894 raised and the question of where to send it.
Supporting Vishwa Nirmala Prem Ashram
My feeling is we should still send this full amount to the Vishwa Nirmala Prem Ashram. It is a wonderful charity established with Shri Mataji’s blessings for helping poor girls and destitute women as was Shri Mataji’s desire. You may wish to visit their website and see for yourself: Welcome to nirmalprem.org
I will arrange for the funds to be transferred to the Vishwa Nirmala Prem Ashram on Wednesday the 11th of August.
If you would prefer to have your donation refunded, that is completely understandable and acceptable, please do not hesitate to email privately: [email protected]
Alternate projects
Alternatively, if you would prefer to redirect your donation to another Sahaj Project such as the Australian Sahaja Yoga Primary School or the Adelaide Ashram, just let me know on the same email above. I have kept a list of all the donations made, so there are no issues in arranging refunds or redirecting the funds.
Everything works out for a reason
My sincere apologies for not having been successful in what was a well intended endeavour. As we know, everything works out for a reason, please forgive me.
With Love,
Brett
Her Holiness Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi – Shri Krishna Puja Cabella 24th August 2008