FWBO Developments

Nagaketu, manager of TBMSG’s very successful ‘Dhammakranti‘ outreach project in India, sends this appeal (July 2007) -

greetings from nagaketu
 
one good news ! we have started some languages classes in Mitraloka (our headquarters in Nagpur)
 
now we are teaching english and japanese and very soon we are going to start teaching chinese, french, german and maybe spanish.
 
nagpur is in process of becoming a metropolitan city - very soon we will have an international airport and cargo hub coming in nagpur. many multinational companies are taking interest in the city and already have started there work here, and they need thousands of  people who are trained in these languages. in short a huge employment possibility is available right here. we think that if our people can grab this opportunity then can make their career.
 
we are looking for some teachers who can teach these languages, if you know any who can come here and teach these languages for a couple of months that will be a great help to us. we can provide living and food.
 
look forward to hearing from you
 
with metta
 
nagaketu (nagaketu [at] hotmail.com)

We need another ₤ 70.000,- will you help us?

Since 2004 METTA VIHARA, a Dutch FWBO charity started by Akasasuri and others in 2001, has been actively seeking a retreat centre for the FWBO (known locally as the VWBO) in Holland and Belgium. In 2005 the trustees decided to create ‘a virtual’ retreat centre as a way of demonstrating the projects’s viablility to the bank and potential dnors, and this has been an extraordinary success.

Akasasri says “last year and again this year we coordinated, planned and organised all the retreats in Holland and Belgium, running 20-22 retreats a year at 3 different locations spread over both countries. We (she and her friend the newly-ordained Manigarbha) are on all the retreats - we do the shopping, the bookings, the finances, the mail-out’s, the PR, the setting-up of the retreats, the cooking, plus co-leading and leading some of the retreats etc. Everything is stored in our living room (mats, cushions, blankets, food, shrine material, etc); we bought a large van to transport everything from our house to the various retreats and back”.

And nearly all retreats (but 3) in 2006 were fully booked with a waiting list – a remarkable and heroic achievement. There are 5 order members committed to living at the future retreat centre: Sarojini, Sobhanandi, Khemasiri, Akasasuri and Manigarbha; with nearly all the other Order Members in the Lowlands are involved in some way in attending, leading and co-leading the retreats.

And now they are on the verge of realising their dream – purchasing a property owned by a nature reserve organisation. It’s an old farmhouse, built in 1880, about 100 meters from a large estuary, with 5 acres of land, located halfway between the Amsterdam Buddhist Centre and the Ghent Buddhist Centre and easily accessible for the Buddhist Centres from Arnhem, The Hague and Antwerp. See photos of the building here.

Akasasuri says “Voices in our local sangha say ‘this is THE place’ and all are very keen for this to come off. WE ARE READY TO GO - JUST SOME MORE MONEY REQUIRED!

For their appeal they have created a website www.mettavihara.nl, have a proper brochure, became a member of the Buddhist Union and advertise in national papers, buddhist magazines and some new-age magazines.

Click here for a fuller introduction to the property and the appeal.

This site aims to give you a comprehensive introduction to the many Dharma projects ongoing in the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order; plus ways you can support them by giving of your time, energy or money - including under our new ‘Legacy’ appeal.

 It is still in development so bear with us as more projects are added. 

The site is organised as a series of pages, each giving an overview of what’s going on in that area - whether project type or region of the world.

 As well as this, you can browse by using the “categories” to  list specific projects types and requests for help  - these may be for money, or specific skills, or volunteers. Whatever you are moved to give, there will be a way to contribute.

You can either support a specific project or to give to one of the FWBO’s general funds -

the FWBO Growth Fund - assisting new Dharma projects around the world
Karuna’s Dharma Fund - funding Dhamma work among India’s new Buddhists

Thank You.

Next year, FWBO Buddhist Centres from all over Europe are joining forces in a new venture. A big marquee has been hired, the first publicity printed, the website launched, the list of teachers is growing… preparations are well underway for the FWBO International Retreat.

From 22nd to 26th May 2008, at Taraloka in the UK, there is going to be a big retreat. The idea is to bring together people in large numbers to practice, learn about, and celebrate the Dharma teaching of the FWBO. Many of the movement’s best and most experienced teachers will be there to teach meditation, give talks, or lead puja and ritual.  The retreat will be co-organised by Taraloka and Buddhafield.

Vajragupta, one of the main organisers of the event, says: “Everyone from the FWBO is welcome, whether it’s your first retreat, or you’ve been on retreat many times before. Come and experience the magic and inspiration of practising together in large numbers!” 

Contact him on “vajragupta [at] fwbo.org” or look at the website if you would like to be involved.