Becky | Amitabha Foundation

Request for Statue and Temple Ornament Sponsors

June 19, 2010 by Becky

Throne nearly ready for statue

There are many opportunities to contribute to the new Amitabha Foundation Temple and Retreat Center in Kathmandu. Please read this March 17, 2010 letter from True Lhamo and see the recent photos of the temple, courtesy of Grace Wong.

Dear Friends,

I am sending here two attachments that will give you an idea of the number of statues and temple ornaments that are needed for the amitabha retreat center in kathmandu. The construction of the temple is almost complete including traditional carvings and paintings. The construction of the retreat cottages is to start in April. Due to lack of funds, the statues are being delayed.

In order for the project to be realized sooner and also to give an opportunity for those who wish to be a part of the project, there are different sizes of statues and temple ornaments that need to be made and if there are people who may be interested in sponsoring items, they may do so on their own or a few people can join together as group sponsors and dedicate the statues and ornaments in the name of their loved ones who are alive or dead. We can also write the names of the people at some place in the monastery or in front of the statues in whose names the statue or temple ornament has been dedicated.

Many greetings and best wishes to all of you,

Truelha

Please select a statue or temple ornament that you would like to sponsor and donate today. If you live in the US, you may receive a tax deduction for contributions made through the Amitabha Foundation, which is a 501[c]3 charitable organization. Donate here through PayPal, or send your check in USD to Amitabha Foundation Treasurer, 109 Irvington Road, Rochester, NY 14620.

You may also donate directly to the Amitabha Foundation in Nepal:

Filed Under: Announcements

Buddha Statues for the Amitabha Temple

May 3, 2009 by Becky

Lord Jigten Sumgon Nearly Complete

The main shrine room will contain a 12-foot high statue of Buddha Amitabha with 7-foot high statues of Guru Rinpoche and Lord Jigten Sumgon on either side. On the floors above will be a shrine to 8 tantric deities, with each of the 8 statues being 5 feet in height. Above this, the shrine to Dharma Protectors will contain 6 statues also 5 feet in height. On the top story of the main temple the 5 Buddha Families temple will contain a central 7-foot-high statue of Buddha Amitabha along with 4 other 5-foot-high Buddha statues.

The brass statues for the new Amitabha Foundation temple are being made using a traditional “lost wax” method. First, the statue is sculpted out of a hard wax.

Then the wax statue is covered in several layers of a clay and fiber mixture which is bound together and allowed to dry thoroughly, forming a rigid mold. For the largest statues the wax statue is cut into pieces before covering with the clay mold. Holes are then drilled into the bottom of the mold and it is heated up enough to melt the wax, which drains out of the holes.

The holes are then plugged and a molten mixture of copper containing 5% zinc is poured into the mold and allowed to harden. The mold is then removed and the brass pieces assembled, welded together and polished. At this point the statue is painted with gold, using a liquid mixture of gold foil rubbed together with mercury. After it is heated, the mercury boils off leaving a pure gold surface.

The 12-foot Buddha Amitabha statue will take 1 1/2 to 2 years to complete and will involve 5 craftsmen to sculpt the original wax statue, 2-3 to apply the clay mold, 5 to pour the copper mix, 3 to assemble and weld the parts together, and 10 to finish the carving, polishing and painting.

Because of the quality of the materials and the time and number of artisans involved in construction, each statue will cost around 100,000 Nepalese rupees, or US$1,250 per foot. The 12-foot Buddha Amitabha statue will cost approximately US$15,000. Rinpoche asks people to consider sponsoring one of these beautiful statues, or any of the hundreds of smaller statues to be located throughout the temple, all of which will be filled, consecrated and placed in the new Amitabha Foundation temples as objects of veneration and devotion and to facilitate dharma practice.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Amitabha Retreat Center in Nepal

Retreat Cottages in Nepal

May 2, 2009 by Becky

The Amitabha Foundation Temple plans call for the construction of 64 individual retreat cottages around the perimeter of the main temple.
Retreat Cottage in Phase 1	At present, eleven single-story cottages are under construction. Each is planned for a single retreatant, and contains its own kitchen, bathroom, sleeping and practice areas. Most will have an unobstructed view of the sky and natural landscape, with considerable privacy. The anticipated cost of sponsoring one cottage is US$15,000. Anyone sponsoring a retreat cottage would have access to the cottage for personal retreat for up to 6 months per year for a total of 40 months.
Putting on the Cottage Roof	Please see the full retreat center description here, or email NY@amitabhafoundation.us for more details. Your support is critically needed, and any donation supporting dharma retreat and practice brings much merit. It has been said that the sponsor gains the same merit as the practitioner!
Side View of Retreat Cottage
Artist’s rendition of new cottage and sample floor plan

Filed Under: Amitabha Retreat Center in Nepal

Ayang Monastery Clinic in Tibet

April 28, 2009 by Becky

At Ayang Rinpoche’s request, in 2004 two of his Western students travelled to Tibet to try to find ways to reduce maternal mortality in his monastery; Local nomads and village leaders requested that a clinic be built and doctors trained to help meet the health needs in the community.