Dharma Voices for Animals is the only International Buddhist Animal Rights/Advocacy Organization in the world! For over six years we have been a strong voice in Buddhist communities around the world to stop supporting and contributing to the suffering of animals. Help us help animals by bidding on our wonderful auction items.

Dharma Voices for Animal is excited to announce the launch of our latest and biggest campaign - The Sri Lanka Project. The Project will encourage the 15 million Sri Lankan Buddhists to transition toward a compassionate plant-based diet.

Sri Lanka, an island nation of 21 million people including 15 million Buddhists, holds a unique place in the Buddhist world.  Buddhism has been the major religion on the island since its official introduction in the 3rd century B.C. by Arahant Mahinda, the son of the Emperor Ashoka of India - the longest continuous history of Buddhism of any nation. 

Since that time the Sangha (Order of Monks) has a largely unbroken lineage, and Sri Lankan monks and lay people have played a prominent role in spreading Theravada Buddhism to Asia, the West and even Africa. Buddhism is the official religion under the nation's Constitution.

DVA has just kicked off our Sri Lanka Project on October 26, 2017, with an audience of 600 people, including te national media, at our second annual Asian Buddhist Animal Rights Conference at the Buddhist Cultural Center in Colombo. The speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament, the Honorable Karu Jayasuriya, made a public speech covered by the national media, extremely supportive of DVA and our mission, while widely respected monks, the Venerable Omalpe Sobhitha Thero, the Venerable Siri Vajiraramaye Nanasiya Thero, and the Vewnerable Olanda Ananda, also gave public talks, pledging their full support for DVA and our Project.

Over the past six years DVA has developed a strong presence in Sri Lanka with influenial chapters in both major population centers, Colombo and Kandy, and strong working elationships with the top monks. In addition to our recent Animal Rights Conference in October, DVA has held two other major events there: the inauguration of our Colombo Chapter on October 18, 2015 nd of our Kandy Chapter two days later. The Speaker of the Parliament and many of the top monks also gave their support at these events. All three of DVA's large media events have received widespread, favorable television, nespaper, and internet media coverage. For example,  major national newspaper, the Daily Mirror, published an editorial which was extremely supportive of DVA and our message promoting vegetarianism/veganism for all Buddhists.  The conditions couldn't be better to move 15 million Buddhists toward a compassionate diet.  But, we need your help to fund our Project.

Our Sri Lanka Project is now underway! Our Project Director and animal activist, Keshinie Bandarainaike, will be working closely with our Social Media Coordinator, the Venerable Bibiladeniya Mahanama Thero, experienced in organizing large scale campaigns on Facebook: 1) to reach our goal of one million Facebook "likes" and 2) to make personal contact with Sri Lankans by offering countless in person public talks, workshops, and forums throughout the island nation. Everyone will be promoting our message to transition to a plant-based diet. 

The proceeds raised through this auction will go towards funding of the Sri Lanka Project.  Our goal is to raise $78,000.  We have already raised $26,000 and have also secured a dollar for dollar match for the next $25,500.  Raising the $25,500, with our match, will get us to our $78,000 goal!

In addition to bidding on items in this auction, please consider a contribution to the Project and/or our general fund through our website.  Your support is greatly appreciated!

DVA is a tax-exempt charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.