Building a Countryside Buddhist Center (Phase 1)

General Project: Building a Countryside Buddhist Center in Tranisu, Romania ( which includes building The first Stupa in Transylvania & Two Retreat Cabins - the Teacher's Cabin & The Main Retreat Cabin) - see detailed description below

The actual state of the General Project:

The Center of White Mahakala Study Group Romania is currently implementing its project for building “the first Stupa in Transylvania'' on a piece of land in the countryside of Tranisu, Apuseni mountains (80 km away from Cluj Napoca - the city where the Study Group is located). This will be the first Stupa in Transylvania and Lama Zopa Rinpoche already gave advice on placing and building a Kadampa Stupa on the land.

The building of the Stupa was conceived as part of a long term project including two retreat cabins to be built nearby the Stupa. This Countryside Center is intended to bring benefit to the area: people who may not have had an opportunity to engage with holy objects previously will learn what a stupa is, connect to the study group and the land of this holy object, cultivate appreciation for this holy object and retreat space, and everyone in the area will benefit due to the power of the stupa.

Results so far:

- Create almost all the needed ingredients of the Stupa (including the Tree of Life)

- Raise all the needed money for building the Stupa with the help of the FPMT and 108 individual donors

- Design the two retreat cabins: a small cabin designed to be the teacher's house and a main cabin, designed to be the main retreat facility with a meditation hall for 35 seats and dormitories with a total of 16 beds - each bedroom having its own bathroom. Feng Shui principles were taken into consideration with The Stupa placed facing the entrance door of the main cabin.

Arguments for the project:

- It offers a place to practice Dharma for Romania and not only ( the neighbouring countries that do not have such a center yet: Bulgaria, Ukraine, Hungary and even Cyprus could take advantage of the facilities).

- It offers educational & spiritual programmes in the weekends and the possibility to organize retreats.

- It offers a place where people can practice the Dharma in relation to the Stupa taking advantage of its proximity.

- It offers a place to develop a small residential community that could act as a center for other study groups to develop in the neighbouring cities.

Still to be done:

SUPPORTING PHASE 1/STEP 1 of building the Main Cabin

THE FUNDRAISING CAMPAINGN F0R PHASE 1 STARTED ON Losar 2021 (February 12) and it will have 2 steps .

Step 1: Fundraising 12500 € till June 2021 and starting the construction of the 1st Phase

Step 2: Fundraising for 12500 € from September 2021 to February 2022 and finish the 1st Phase in April 2022.

- please consider making a one-off or a monthly donation via this fundraising page.

- join our MALA-OF-MERIT as one of the 108 MAIN DONNORS (donating 500 € or more for our project). Pledge a recurring donation of 108 € (large mala) or 21 € (small mala) over the next 6 months.

Your support will be used for:

- the concrete work and the brick walls of the basement (which is the first floor of the Cabin and accommodates the kitchen, the dining and the living rooms, two bathrooms, a technical space and a storage room)

In this way:

You’ll be creating skies of good karma which in turn brings happiness and success on your own path.

You’ll be helping support the work of HH Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa, FPMT and Mahayana Buddhism throughout Cluj and Romania.

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All donors will receive a DONATION CERTIFICATE and a PDF Booklet with teachings of Ven. Robina Courtin
DONORS of 54 € or more will receive an extra Tsa Tsa
DONORS of 108 € or more will receive an extra Kadampa Stupa

DHARMA SUPPORTERS (MAIN DONORS) will join our MALA-OF-MERIT and their portrait will be on our “WALL of FAME”.

RAFTER SUPPORTER: By donating 500 € or more you sponsor a rafter and your name can be engraved on it.
PILLAR SUPPORTER: By donating 1000 € or more you sponsor a pillar and your name can be engraved on it.
BEAM SUPPORTER: By donating 2000 € or more you sponsor a beam and your name can be engraved on it.
FOUNDATION STONE DONOR: By donating 5000 € or more you will receive life-time “free access” to our classes and your name can engraved on the FOUNDATION of the building.

TESTIMONIALS

About the Center:

Anamaria Tatu / participant:
I first arrived at the Buddhist Center in January 2020 … this being my first effective contact with Buddhism. And I am very happy …. because there are some essential visions that I have understood and integrated in my daily life. There are such simple and so revealing ideas…

Anca / organizer:
A reminder that we are connected with those around us, that we have the same sufferings and we want to end them… a family that accepts itself as it is. A support for access to information.

About the Retreat:

Cristina Urs / facilitator:
A place where I can participate in retreats (lasting a week or two) near Cluj, without the need to travel thousands of km to have access to such events. In this place I would like to meditate in a group, to study the Buddhist teachings and to have the opportunity to share knowledge with others.

Doina Grigoras / event organizer:
For me, retreats are very important because I know that it is essential to spend time with your mind, in an environment that gives you security, with people you feel comfortable with so that you can internalize certain mental processes. For me, they act as community centers, allowing members to manifest behaviors and actions that they would otherwise fear or be reluctant to manifest. Moreover, they often set an example of healthy living in all respects. I am grateful and delighted this project is taking shape in Romania and I intend to be one of its greatest supporters.

Building the Main Cabin of a Countryside Buddhist Center in Romania - PHASE 1: Foundation Work & Infrastructure