Why many buddist vihara , temple or association do not have a proper building ?

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asahi
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Why many buddist vihara , temple or association do not have a proper building ?

Post by asahi »

It seems many so called buddhist temple , vihara or association do not plan properly to acquire (purchase) a strategic location or place or forethought to build a proper building to accomodate its buddhists audience and to conduct certain dhamma activities . Instead they bought the commercial shoplots property and buildings or even borrows non buddhist premises and rents some hotel concourses or restaurants banquet halls to conduct meditation , dhamma classes and activities . We monastics and buddhists should take note to reflect so that can have a suitable place to enable us to carry out any dhamma assembly in the long run . If you look at the muslim mosque the hall is very spacious . Thoughts ?
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SarathW
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Re: Why many buddist vihara , temple or association do not have a proper building ?

Post by SarathW »

To do that you have to have a dedicated group of people with a vision for the future. Buying a property via a bank loan for an association is difficult without the personal guarantee of the members. Muslims are getting big donations from wealthy middle east people.
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Bhikkhu_Jayasara
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Re: Why many buddist vihara , temple or association do not have a proper building ?

Post by Bhikkhu_Jayasara »

I cannot speak for how these things go outside of America, but here very often its a matter of starting from basically nothing and building up from there. By the time there are what most people would consider a legit " temple" there was already a large base of support to get to that point.

Most places start out in a small house in a residential area, and build up from there, their growth limited to the size of the supporting community. The only exception I've seen here is Thai Forest, if the monk has a good lineage and is fairly well known, then its a matter of finding a spot and building, the support will be there.


I am actually planning now, at 5 years as a monk, the process of starting my own little place in another state within the next 3-4 years. I agree with the OP that it is something that does need plenty of forethought, planning, and a vision, to do it right. Things like location are important among many others. My plan is to start small close to large population centers, build a base of support, and eventually if the support is there to start a forest monastery , retreat center and all that out away from civilization in the mountains.
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Bhikkhu Pesala
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Re: Why many buddist vihara , temple or association do not have a proper building ?

Post by Bhikkhu Pesala »

Even the Thai Forest Sangha did not have it handed to them on a plate.

The English Sangha Trust has a long history going back way before Ajahn Sumedho arrived at the Hampstead Vihāra, and when that was sold to purchase Chithurst House it was far from looking like a monastery. The early members of the Thai Forest Saṅgha worked hard for decades to get to where it is now.

Amaravati was not built from scratch either. A lot of work had to be done to make it habitable. Only later, were the custom-built Dhamma halls built.

Honour Thy Fathers by Terry Shine tells the story of the EST.
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SarathW
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Re: Why many buddist vihara , temple or association do not have a proper building ?

Post by SarathW »

What I have seen is it takes about 30 years to build a functioning temple from scratch to never finish. :D
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