Lama Zopa Rinpoche arriving at the Maitreya Buddha Kushinagar Project foundation stone laying ceremony, Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.

The Maitreya Buddha Project Kushinagar and Buddha Maitreya Bodhgaya (formerly, Maitreya Project Bodhgaya), projects to build large statues of Maitreya Buddha in Kushinagar and Bodhgaya, India, continue to make progress. 

A scale replica of the Maitreya Buddha statue to be built at Kushinagar, India, Photo by Andy Melnic.

On December 13, 2013, Lama Zopa Rinpoche attended and spoke at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Maitreya Buddha Project Kushinagar. Long-time student Peter Kedge has carried out much work since then. 

“The complex and unique legal process by which Maitreya Buddha Project Kushinagar will be able to take possession of the land is close to complete,” Peter reported. “As soon as the project takes possession of the land, [we] begin the process of fencing the several kilometers of perimeter, moving the 24-foot (7-meter) Maitreya statue from Bodhgaya to the Kushinagar land, installing the collection of relics Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s kindness has made available, and beginning site structure and planning for the eventual construction of the main Maitreya Buddha statue on site.”

Student Nita Ing, who is director of Buddha Maitreya Bodhgaya, shared news about the work being done in Bodhgaya, the site of Shakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment:

“The project, due to many years of difficulties, has been pending for the past few years without any progress, despite continuous follow up and efforts to break through the problems of land exchange with the government, as well as legal issues with the land title.

“A new project team has been on board since November 2012, and presently there is some work that is being undertaken on site: 1) the construction of boundary walls surrounding the site, and 2) a prototype of Buddha Maitreya in the sitting vajra lotus position is being made in Nepal. Since November 2012, the project has not accepted any offerings, and will remain so until there is substantial work in progress.”

Lama Zopa Rinpoche during his speech with Maitreya Project trustee Ven. Kabir Saxena interpreting into Hindi, Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photos by Andy Melnic.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche wrote about his reasons for building the statues in a letter available on FPMT.org.

Mandala’s ongoing coverage of the Maitreya Projects can be read online. 

Visit the Maitreya Buddha Project Kushinagar homepage to learn more and offer your support: http://mbpkushinagar.org/

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