Maitreya Project Update, December 2011

We sincerely apologize for not providing frequent updates for some time. The truth is it has been very difficult to give meaningful updates on the project as we will explain below.

Despite our constant unrelenting best efforts, there are key issues which are not within our control.

In India Maitreya project has two sites. One is in Bodhgaya where Maitreya project owns outright 30 acres of land. The other site is Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh where the State Government entered into a very detailed agreement with Maitreya Project in 2003 including to make available 750 acres of land.

On both sites there are issues that have to be resolved before construction can take place.

To anyone living and working outside India it is extremely hard to explain the sometimes glacially slow pace at which bureaucratic processes move particularly outside of the main Metro areas.

In Bodhgaya Maitreya Project has been in dialogue with State Government of Bihar to consolidate a number of small contiguous parcels into one large parcel of land. The process has been ongoing for more than 15 years.

In Kushinagar State Government of Uttar Pradesh have had to acquire a portion of the 750 acres promised to Maitreya Project in 2003. Maitreya Project has been trying continuously – that means on a daily basis to progress the situation with the land there for almost 9 years.

There have been countless meetings with officials there have been countless promises made, numerous deadlines set, but the fact is these things move at their own speed.

The details are not easy to put into an upbeat news update. The difficulty of reporting on the incremental progress has made us reluctant to provide frequent updates. In the past we have published "good news" based on promises or estimates we have actually received and which at the time we have truly believed to be reliable but which then fail to materialize. Consequently we have continued to put effort and prefer to wait until what we report is really happening. We are just reluctant to report on promises made when we know that more often than not, the promises slip forward and we know we lose credibility with supporters, donors, and other interested parties.

Having said all that not as an excuse, but as the facts, we are pleased to report there is progress both in Bodhgaya, and in Kushinagar.

Of course it's impossible to begin building a statue until land issues are fully resolved and each of these 2 land sites is under full control of Maitreya Project.

What we can say and are delighted to report is that it has been decided that in any case, as was Lama Yeshe's original wish, a Maitreya statue will be built in Bodhgaya.

The statue will not be 500 feet. The statue will be approximately 150 feet which is lower than the Mahabodhi Stupa is Bodhgaya.

Planning for this has begun and without waiting further for the Kushinagar land this will be the first big Maitreya statue.

As from first of January 2012 a major funder has committed to take responsibility for building this 150 foot Maitreya statue in Bodhgaya. The existing Maitreya team are committed to resolving the land issues and obtaining the necessary permissions and approvals for the statue to go ahead.

This means the project's full effort in the near term is on building a Maitreya statue in Bodhgaya. There will be some months of planning and preparation but we expect this work to begin within the next few weeks.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche sent a team of monks from Kopan to Bodhgaya 3 months ago. The 5 monks have taken up residence on Maitreya land in Bodhgaya and perform daily pujas, offerings, maintain the large Maitreya Temple on the land, and receive visitors.

Venerable Khadrola who advises Lama Zopa on many things, explains that proceeding with the statue in Bodhgaya is helping to create the cause for the statue in Kushinagar.

Lama Zopa is also planning a number of similar size Maitreya statues to be built elsewhere in Asia so there will be efficiencies in planning and execution of these similar projects.

All the previous architectural and engineering work that was so diligently undertaken will be drawn upon to complete the first statue in Bodhgaya. The same is true when the land in Uttar Pradesh eventually becomes available and a statue is built there.

Discussions are underway to re-establish a school in Bodhgaya. For a number of reasons detailed in earlier updates regrettably Maitreya Universal Education School was temporarily closed in 2009.

Maitreya Project together with Root Institute, is in dialogue to determine a location and format for a new Universal Education School in Bodhgaya.

In Kushinagar, State Government is currently offering an initial parcel of land of around 250 acres which although less than the 750 acres initially offered 9 years ago, is still extraordinary. The land is right next to the shrine denoting the place where Shakyamuni Buddha passed into Parinirvana. The land also abuts the Rambhar Stupa which marks the place where Shakyamuni Buddha was cremated. However rather than wait any longer in Uttar Pradesh, Maitreya Project will allow the process in Kushinagar to continue whilst proceeding with building the statue in Bodhgaya.

It is not our intention to make false promises or provide information simply to give a positive "spin".

As of today, what we have explained above is the latest information we have. Timelines for permissions, approvals, and finalizing of bureaucratic processes is completely beyond our control but we assure everyone, we have a legal team in India which is second to none, and which stays absolutely focused on moving Maitreya Project forward through the frustrations that are inevitable for a project as complex as we are undertaking.

With many thanks for your continued support

Peter Kedge
Director and CEO
Maitreya Project