Dear Dharma brothers and sisters,

I would like to announce dates for the next annual Phowa course in Bodhgaya which will be from January 15 to 25, 2009

Registration for the Phowa course in Bodhgaya is not necessary — the teachings are free. If you wish, you can make personal offerings for the course and to the teacher.

The course is located behind the main stupa complex. Ask at your hotel or look for signs posted around the Mahabodhi stupa.

To give you an idea of the daily schedule you can download the 2008 Phowa schedule here in MSWord format, or here as a PDF

Best wishes and warm regards,
Truelha

Dear Dharma brothers and sisters,

I have just returned from Kathmandu after almost three weeks and am attaching some recent pictures to update you on the Amitabha Foundation project in Kathmandu and the Bodhgaya project.

The work is going very well. Cement carving is complete and painting has started in the main ground floor temple and the veranda. Flooring work in the veranda and exposed areas are continuing and wood work for doors and window shutters are progressing. Railings for the different floors are being welded and fitted. Civil work is almost complete except for some minor touch ups here and there.

The construction of the rain harvesting water tank will start soon and connecting roads will be created to start work on the retreat cottages.

I am returning to Bodhgaya on the 15th of December. The main temple is up to the plinth level and the floor slab will be caste after the water proofing work is complete.The footings are being caste for the foundation of the quarters.

Warm regards,

Truelha

Amitabha Foundation Temple North East view

Amitabha Foundation Temple South East view

Amitabha Foundation Temple 30.11.07

Bodhgaya project 24.10.07

Registration for the Phowa course in Bodhgaya is not necessary — the teachings are free. If you wish, you can make personal offerings for the course and to the teacher.

The course is located behind the main stupa complex. Ask at your hotel or look for signs posted around the Mahabodhi stupa.

Special prices have been requested for students of Rinpoche wanting to attend the Phowa course or to travel to India on pilgrimage.

For more information please contact:

Mr Karma Lhundrup Neyratsang
Himalayan Travel and Tours
Email: himalayantt@hotmail.com.
Tel: +91 11 2381 9521 / 2381 9520
Fax: +91 11 2381 4715.

Himalayan Travel and Tours can help you organise all train, flight and hotel bookings.

Dear All,

I would like to inform you that the work of the Kathmandu Amitabha retreat center is progressing very well. Since the painting job is being done, we feel that its time to start the development of the immediate external areas as the construction of the same will create a lot of dust which may damage all the paintings in the main temple building.

It would be great to have a landscape architect who would be willing to volunteer to do this job for the retreat center because the beauty of the built structures will depend a lot on the surrounding landscape. A very good landscape will enhance the overall beauty of the temple and the retreat center.

Therefore, I would like to request you to please post this request on our websites. Hopefully, there will be some people who would want to accumulate some merit and be willing to offer help and their expertise for this noble project which is to benefit all sentient beings for many generations to come.

Thank you.

Truelha

If you know of a landscape architect who might be interested please use the form below to send us an email.

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Dear Dharma brothers and sisters,

This is a latest photo of the Kathmandu AF temple. Painting of the traditional ornaments inside the temple is currently being done. This picture was taken from the south-west but since the temple is in the shape of a mandala, it will look the same from all four directions.

Regards and best wishes to all.

Truelha