Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Hello, from Chandrabodhi in India.  Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

I am appealing to you for funds for Phase II of the development of the Urgyen Sangharakshita Meditation Centre.

The Vision

The Centre has been in use since last five years and we are holding various kinds of meditation retreats there - such as Mind Reactive and Creative, Four Brahma Viharas, Metta  Bhavana, Anapanasati, Overcoming the Five Hindrances, Entering into the states of Dhyana, Spiral Path, Know your Mind and the Dhamma Study on What is the Dhamma, What is the Sangha, Dr. Ambedkar & Buddhism,  the Bodhisattva Ideal, Eight-Fold Path etc.

The retreats are attended by new people, those who have got some experience of the  Dharma, and also  very advanced people. Some people come here for doing Solitary Retreats as well.

The work of the first phase of the construction is over and we are running our above activities there only. One  Dhamma mitra is living there permanently and others join him from time to time.

The construction work of the main Chaitya (the meditation hall) and other dormitories and  kitchen buildings have to be taken up in the second phase. But we don't have funds for completing that work.  

We have launched an appeal for these funds, our fundraising target is 100,000 UK Pounds only.

Therefore we request you to donate generously for this project through Just Giving.

The whole Retreat Centre will be a  memorial in the name of Ven. Bhante Urgyen Sangharakshita. My vision and what we need is described below. Once again this is my earnest request to extend the hand of co-operation and make this project  a success..

 Thanking You.   Yours in the Dhamma

 Chandrabodhi

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The Background

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We are very glad to inform you that on 12th January 2001 Dh. Anagarika Subhuti laid the foundation stone on eight acres of land generously donated by the Narwade brothers who are Buddhists from   Warakwadi. About 3,500 people attended the ceremony which went on for four hours. Since then we have   completed preliminary works such as a contour survey, sinking a bore well for water, a deep well construction of one cottage, registration of the Charity, and making a design for the shrine and other buildings. Building Construction was started in 2003 and the construction of first phase that is one dormitory and a shrine for   accommodating  about 100 people was completed and its opening was done by Dh. Anagarika Subhuti under   the chairmanship of Shri. Munshilal Gauram, IAS Officer in Mantralaya, Maharashatra. About 4000 people  attended the function.

Salient features of the project include :    
1 Big shrine hall 500m2 in area to accommodate 200 people for meditation    
2 Dormitories for 200 people    
3 Residential community and accommodation for long term guests    
4 Two solitary huts with all facilities    
5 Beautiful and attractive gardens with trees surrounding the meditation hall and other places    
6 Well equipped kitchen and dining hall     
7 Offices, and guest rooms    
8 Library

Activities in the Centre
1 Organising various kinds of meditation retreats for men irrespective of class, caste, or creed    
2 Study and discussion of meditation     
3 Personal interviews and communication to clear up hindrances and doubts    
4 Encouragement of solitary retreats    
5 Observing silence from time to time and also for a longer time.    
6 Training Order Members to teach meditation.

What We Need : -
  Dh. Chandrabodhi who has initiated this project spent two years in England (1998-2000) attending   many retreats at Vajraloka meditation retreat centre, Padmaloka and other places. He travelled widely in order   to gain experience of meditation in different places such as in Europe : Spain (Guhyaloka), Paris, Belgium,   Holland, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Ireland.  USA : Missoula Montana, Seattle, San Francisco, Boston,   New York, New England, Aryaloka etc. In this way he developed the idea of starting a retreat centre in India   devoted to meditation. Bhante Sangharakshita consented to Chandrabodhi’s request that it be named after   him, mentioning in his letter that ‘it should be for men only’ - I want the women to have their own meditation   centre.

   The work of the main chaitya of the meditation hall and some other dormitory rooms will be constructed during the second phase of the project. This requires a further 100,000 pounds in addition to funds   already raised. About eight acres of land have already been donated by the Narwade brothers and they have   shown their part of generosity for this noble cause.   Now it is the duty of all to extend our help in a small way or a big way so that the rest of this project   may be completed as early as possible. Once again we request you to donate generously for this project   which will be a memorial in the name of Ven. Bhante Urgyen Sangharakshita.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Fwbo (Dhammaloka) gets your money faster and, will pass it on to Chandrabodhi in India. 

And, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor me now!