New Building Project

Tuesday 4 December 2007

Nalanda Monastery offers men the chance to help build a unique modern Monastery in the South of France, as well as the benefits of living in a Dharma community.

The New Building Project is reaching a critical phase, and we are looking for volunteers to help bring the work to completion. Those with building skills are particularly welcome, although the main requirements are enthusiasm, a willingness to work hard, and a commitment to living in a Buddhist Community.

Volunteers receive full board with three meals a day, in return for 5 days work a week, together with the opportunity to attend weekend teachings when held at Nalanda, or the nearby Vajra Yogini Institute.

For more information contact the Director.

It was Lama Yeshe’s wish that Nalanda Monastery would accommodate up to 50 people and Lama Zopa Rinpoche has always supported this idea. The new building project is the manifestation of this dream.

In 1997, the first architectural plans were drawn, a barn demolished to prepare the chosen site and the first funds were collected. The building permit was applied for in 1998 and a new fund-raising campaign began.

During his visit to the monastery that year, His Holiness Sakya Trizin blessed the new site. On the 17th of May 1999, the construction began officially with the ceremony of the first shovel-full of earth being removed. In June of that year, the foundations were partially dug and concreted.

The whole community took an active part in the construction work to economise on costs. However, a year was spent in negotiations with insurance companies and the local administration before the communities’ legal right to participate in the construction was recognised.

The building began again in July 2000 and the first half of the main structure was finished in April 2001. The central part of the building, the wood framework and the roof were completed from April to October 2002.

Close attention has been paid to environmental aspects by using ecological materials such as self-insulating bricks, raw-clay compressed bricks, wood and natural insulation.

The new building features 16 bedrooms (two of which are adapted for handicapped people), a library, a conference room, large kitchen, an indoor garden and gompa. The new building will be equipped with all the essential facilities required by the community and, in addition, provide facilities for Nalanda Monastery to offer retreats and to organise more public events.

The Gompa is the main room on the first floor and is the heart of the building. The altar is 5 metres high with a 3 metre statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, and almost all the 1000 smaller Buddha statues are in place. Other statues planned for the future are the 21 Taras, the 16 Arhats, Maitreya and Lama Tsongkhapa.

In the side walls, various recesses will hold statues of the Medicine Buddhas, Tara, Avalokiteshvara and other Buddhas. This room will be a great source of inspiration.

The windows have been fitted, terracotta floor tiles were laid in December 2005 and January 2006 and a new central heating system installed. However there is still much work to do to complete the project.

Approximately 80,000 Euros will be needed to finish the project. For each donation of 200 Euros we will offer a statue from our Art Workshop.