This is the unedited communication which was sent to me by an Indian physician, who is a Vipassana meditator in the tradition of Goenka.
I whole heartedly believe their will be a lot of well wishers and contributors to fulfill this noble cause undertaken in the land of our Great Teacher, the Supreme Buddha..
Sukhi Hotu!
"The Most Venerable Ayya Thathaloka,
Vandami Ayya ji!
Namo Buddhaya!
Erika,
India"s First Thervada Bhikkhuni Monastery (Bhikkhuni Sangharame)
In India there is no place where Thervada Bhikkhunis can be trained or find ideal conditions to practice Buddha’s Dhamma and live as a Sangha. Hence we wish to create a Bhikkhuni Sangharame where we plan to train future aspirants who wish to live a life of renunciation. Our Bhikkhuni Sangharame will have a 100 people group meditation hall 50’x50’ surrounded by 20 meditation cells 5’x3.5’x7’. Meditation hall will have a large Buddha sculpture. Our meditation hall will also host Pali Tipitak in devnagri script and translations in Marathi and Kannada languages. We are hoping to recreate architectural design like Buddhist caves such a Ajanta and Ellora.
We plan to build 4-12 Bamboo huts that can be used for meditation living space and study for Bhikkunis.
We will have a common kitchen and dining hall that can serve upto 50 people. In addition we will have residential space with common bathrooms for upto 25 samneris 9’x9’ rooms. In this residential space we will have a few rooms set aside for sick Bhikkunis from all over India who will be cared for in our Sangharame.
We plan to initiate this project in Keriambalga village near Gulbarga in Karnataka where we have acquired 3 acre land in 2020. We wish to acquire additional 8 acre land to have sufficient open spaces in Bhikkhuni Sangharame.
Detailed Timeline and Budget
August 2021 Digging borewell for water supply. Cost $3000
Building 4 bamboo kutis Cost $15,000
August 2021 Making architechtural site maps and working with an architechtural firm to finalize designs for meditation hall and Residential building and kitchen and dinning hall. Consultation $20,000
Building fence around property. Cost $10,000
Planting trees and landscaping including a lotus pond near the meditation hall. Cost $20,000
Building kitchen and dinning hall $30,000
Building residence for 25 saamneris individual rooms and shared bathrooms. $30,000
Building 100 people group Meditation Hall 50’x50’ with 20 individual meditation cells. $300,000
We plan to use Bhikkuni Sangharame for teaching Dhamma to surrounding village folks and also folks from all over India. We will organize saamneri camps with young girls during vassavas.
We will be happy to answer any more questions that you may have regarding our project.
With Metta and Warm Regards,
Saamneri Uppalvanna
On Behalf of Venerable Bhikkhuni Sumana"