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Bodhicitta Foundation
Bodhicitta Vihara
Bodhicitta Vihara
Will be a haven of peace in the Centre of India in a place called Nagpur, where most
Indian Buddhists live. It will be the focal point for our social work, a place where people
from different countries and backgrounds can meet and share skills to uplift society. It
will also be a place where Buddhism is a living thing and people can come and be
spiritually refreshed.
We will have classes, retreats, social work workshops, job training and traditional monastic training to Indians and Foreigners from the local and international Buddhist communities.
Indian Buddhists have great faith in Buddhism, but so far, have had little access to many fully trained Buddhist teachers. We will offer a 5 year traditional monastic philosophical /meditative /ritual programme. We will also offer retreats, counseling and teachings to the local Buddhist community and teach in jails, schools etc. In a community as poor as the one in Nagpur, socially engaged Buddhism that has strong roots in a correct view and deep meditation practice is essential. Bodhicitta Vihara will admit men and women and some lay students, but men will reside on a piece of land a few kilometers away.
Time Scale
We estimate it will take 5-7 years to collect enough money for this project, to recruit
monastics (Indian culture traditionally looks down on unmarried women) and to establish a well-trained community of committed monastics and lay students and supporters. We are not after vast quantities of monastics, just sincere people who are very committed to the Dharma. The Vihara will focus on training younger monastics as the rigorous lifestyle and the demand to change oneself to suit monastic culture is often a challenging step for more senior citizens, but exceptions may be made.
Cost
We estimate the cost of this project could be between $220,000-$400,000 US or
$250,000 - $550,000 Aust (2-3 Indian Crore rupees).
We will have classes, retreats, social work workshops, job training and traditional monastic training to Indians and Foreigners from the local and international Buddhist communities.
Indian Buddhists have great faith in Buddhism, but so far, have had little access to many fully trained Buddhist teachers. We will offer a 5 year traditional monastic philosophical /meditative /ritual programme. We will also offer retreats, counseling and teachings to the local Buddhist community and teach in jails, schools etc. In a community as poor as the one in Nagpur, socially engaged Buddhism that has strong roots in a correct view and deep meditation practice is essential. Bodhicitta Vihara will admit men and women and some lay students, but men will reside on a piece of land a few kilometers away.
Time Scale
We estimate it will take 5-7 years to collect enough money for this project, to recruit
monastics (Indian culture traditionally looks down on unmarried women) and to establish a well-trained community of committed monastics and lay students and supporters. We are not after vast quantities of monastics, just sincere people who are very committed to the Dharma. The Vihara will focus on training younger monastics as the rigorous lifestyle and the demand to change oneself to suit monastic culture is often a challenging step for more senior citizens, but exceptions may be made.
Cost
We estimate the cost of this project could be between $220,000-$400,000 US or
$250,000 - $550,000 Aust (2-3 Indian Crore rupees).
Bodhicitta Vihara