US$ 67,000 promised for Dhyana Buddha project

Newindpress, January 17 2006

AMARAVATI, India -- The Dalai Lama has announced a Rs 30 lakh (US$ 67,000) aid for the 125-feet Dhyana Buddha project on the banks of River Krishna.

He also promised to provide 300 volumes of Buddhist literature to develop it as an international Buddhist study centre. Kalachakra and Buddhha Satva statues will be kept at the centre.

This largest Buddha statue in the country is the result of the vision and jeal of an officer.

It started three years ago when Deputy Director of Social Welfare R Mallikarjuna Rao was designated as special officer of Tadikonda Assembly constituency. The town, which has a glorious past, was in an utter state of neglect. He took the development of the town into a Buddhist tourist centre as a mission.

As per the master plan, 5 acres was acquired to develop the infrastructure. The then Collector K Ramakrishna Rao released Rs 10 lakh. This initiative encouraged Mallikarjuna Rao who had saved Rs 14.5 lakh by selling his own paintings of the Buddha.

Last year, during ??Rajiv Palle Bata??, Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, impressed by the project, agreed to release Rs 25 lakh. While the present Collector, G Jaya Lakshmi, released Rs 20 lakh, the Tourism Department released Rs 14.5 lakh. So far, Rs 85 lakh has been spent. But it is estimated to cost Rs 2 crore.

Mallikarjuna Rao said the project was designed in such a way that it was divided into eight ways and four zones. Eight pillars denote the eight-fold path while the four zones denote the four noble truths. Paintings to explain the teachings of the Buddha were kept in the museum.

The project, having 20 suites and a dhyana mandiram will be another jewel in the crown of Amaravati.
The Buddhist Channel - Donate to Support Our Work



An Appeal

In deep gratitude for your support! We are half way to meeting our target (US$ 10,400 of US$ 18,000 already achieved)!

The Buddhist Channel is a dedicated group of "mindful communication practitioners" striving to make a positive impact on the Buddhist community. We deeply believe in the power of mindful journalism and are reaching out to you with a heartfelt request for your support. Your donation, no matter the size, can make a tangible difference in the lives of countless Buddhist monastics, local communities and other dedicated engaged workers. With your help, we make their stories known, and thereby opening up avenues for them to obtain sustainable support for their work.

Please indicate whether your support will be a donation or a loan. We will get back to you via email. We thank you in advance for providing us financial relieve. May the Buddha Dharma ever be your guide and protector.

Note: To date, we have received the following:

US$ 900 from Esa Myllykoski (donation)
US$ 9,500 from Lance Edwards/Kau Soo Kin (loan)

We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv

TOP