Maitreya Project Update
December, 2004
The purpose of Maitreya Project is to bring as much benefit to as many as possible, for as long as possible - spiritually, in education and healthcare, and indirectly, through the creation of employment opportunities.
The name Maitreya comes from the Sanskrit word 'maitri' meaning 'love'. The form of Maitreya represents the embodiment of loving-kindness.
Table of Contents
- A Message of Peace
- Statue Site Progress Report
- Donations and Sacred Art Sponsorship
- Maitreya Project Universal Education School
- Heart Shrine Relic Tour
A Message of Peace
"Loving-kindness is the cause, peace is the result, internally and externally - peace for individuals, families, communities, and for the whole world.
"Construction of the Maitreya Buddha statue - because the essence of Maitreya Buddha is loving-kindness and compassion - will help by blessing and transforming the mind and heart of everyone in the world. "This is the way to bring peace and happiness, not only in the present world, but in the future as well."
— Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Spiritual Director of Maitreya Project
We are living in very uncertain times. Peace is constantly under threat and there is an urgent need to create the causes for harmony throughout the world. However, world peace cannot be imposed, enforced, or legislated. The cause of peace is the attitude of loving-kindness. Peace can only come about as it is generated in the mind and heart of each person.
All of the world's major religions and humanitarian traditions teach the ethical values of loving-kindness and compassion. With such an attitude peace exists internally and then manifests externally. Only when these universal values are embraced and take root in the minds and hearts of more and more people, will world peace become attainable.
New Site Progress Report
Following months of intensive research, planning, and discussions, on May 9, 2003, the State Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Maitreya Project Trust entered into a Memorandum of Understanding.
This provides the basis for the Trust to establish itself at Kushinagar in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Kushinagar, where Lord Buddha passed away, is one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India.
It will be several months before Maitreya Project will take possession of a site and a full announcement will be made at that time.
Information about further developments will be made available
on this website from time to time.
The Maitreya Universal Education Project is a cornerstone of the
Maitreya Project and is vital to our overall strategy to bring education,
health, peace, and well-being to communities in northern India.
We would like to emphasise that although the Maitreya statue will
be located in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, the existing Maitreya Project
school will remain and continue to develop in Bodhgaya and will
not relocate to Kushinagar. It will be a model for other schools
we intend to build, both in Bodhgaya, Bihar State and Kushinagar,
Uttar Pradesh State.
Maitreya Project Donations and Sacred Art Sponsorships
Now that the location of the new Project site is finalised, we look forward to moving ahead with the engineering, design, and planning work. As the Project's momentum picks up, we have to focus again on the need for financial support.
At this time we would like to bring to everyone's attention to the many opportunities that exist to support the Project through sponsorship of sacred art and holy objects such as statues, stupas, and thankas. These will be located within the Maitreya statue building and surrounding park.
Maitreya Project Universal Education School
   Some of the children's art work following the week-long visit of international artist, Chamni Ganju. |
Maitreya Universal Education Project
Status Report * November 2003
The Maitreya Project Universal Education School in Bodhgaya has commenced the final term for 2003 and the programme is in full swing. The school term just completed was successful in all respects with ongoing programme development and teacher training contributing to that success.
New Classrooms
The structural work involved in creating three new classrooms was
completed during the break for the summer holiday in May/June. Lack
of funds has so far prevented the final completion of the work but
it is hoped the final stages of the work, including plastering,
painting and furnishing, can be completed before the end of year
so that the rooms can be ready for use at the beginning of 2004.
Art and Craft Programme
Perhaps the highlight of the previous term was the further development
of the art and craft programme. The school was very fortunate to
enjoy a week-long visit from Chamni Ganju, a tribal artist from
Hazaribagh in Jharkhand. Chamni's work has featured in exhibitions
around the world and she was able to teach the children and teachers
several new painting styles, including the traditional mud painting
that is used to decorate houses in the tribal areas of Jharkhand.
As a result of this exercise and other activities the school now boasts quite a gallery of art and craft work. It is hoped that this can be developed to the point where work can be offered for sale, firstly in Bodhgaya and later maybe overseas. By working with the local village women we hope to be able to set up a cottage industry that will benefit them and the school.
National Exams
During this last term our Class 9 students worked very hard in preparation
for national examinations for English, Hindi and Social Studies
in October. We have eight students in this group and if they have
been successful, then sometime next year they will also sit for
Maths and Science.
Yearly Concert
With the start of the new term the biggest project now for just
about everyone in the school is the preparation for our annual concert
which we are planning for Indian Republic Day on 26th January 2004.
During our Saturday afternoon music classes the children are now
beginning to rehearse songs, dances and plays and in December and
January rehearsals will take place almost everyday.
Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh
While things continue to develop at our school in Bodhgaya, Bihar
we are also beginning to think about establishing a similar school
in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. Already a search has begun for prospective
teachers and it is hoped that two or three can be recruited and
assigned for six months training at the Bodhgaya school. When they
have become thoroughly conversant with our Universal Education programme
and methodology, sometime after the middle 2004, we will move to
establish a primary school in Kushinagar.
Maitreya Project Heart Shrine Relic Tour
A Letter to the Director of Maitreya Project
Dear Peter,
I am the director of the Guyhasamaja Center near Washington D.C. (I also work full time as a clinical psychologist and a writer). We just hosted Maitreya Project's Heart Shrine Relic Tour this past weekend. It was really a remarkable event, incredibly moving. I honestly cannot recall the last time I was part of such a beautiful event, so full of overwhelming devotion and love.
Our best estimates are that between 7,000 and 8,000 people attended the showing, which was kindly hosted by the Vietnamese Temple, Giac Huang, that I contacted for that purpose. The level of devotion that members of the community showed to the Maitreya Project was inspiring. Many people wept and cried with devotion as they joyfully prostrated and gave offerings from their hearts. Their prayers of heartfelt devotion moved me to tears. Some of them told me that they check the Maitreya Project website weekly, that they support the Project to a remarkable degree, and that they are already making plans to be able to visit the Maitreya Buddha Statue in India in 2008.
The Washington Post did a big story about the event and the local news affiliates of NBC News and FOX News each did very respectful reports on the show. It is amazing to think of so many thousands of people in Washington DC, including so many world leaders, receiving the blessings of seeing the relics and hearing about the Maitreya Statue.
I wanted to write to you to share this incredible swelling of devotion and enthusiasm for the Project. Many people at the show asked lots of questions about the progress of the Maitreya Buddha statue and offered to help in any way they could.
Thank you for helping to make it possible for Maitreya Project's Heart Shrine Relic Tour to come to Washington DC and to bless so many people so deeply. Though I write professionally, I couldn't possibly find words to express how beautiful it was to directly see so many people benefit.
Thanks so very much!
Sincerely,
Lorne Ladner
Top
of Page
Print
Page