But Jigme Norbu, nephew of the Dalai Lama and son of center founder Thubten J. Norbu, said Tuesday he was seeking financial help from the community and Buddhist monasteries across the country to save the center.

A Monroe County judge in March ordered foreclosure on the center?s 90-acre property in Bloomington. It is scheduled to go on the auction block June 17.

Norbu said the center fell on hard times financially after several large donations from overseas failed to come through because of the poor economy.