Vajrapani Institute
P.O. Box 2130
Boulder Creek, CA 95006
(831) 338-6654 

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Below you will find a list of projects that are either currently under construction at Vajrapani, or on our "to do as funds become available" list as well as a "wish list" of items we could put to good use. We welcome your participation to bring these goals to fruition either by your service, your gifts or your financial contributions.

New Dharma Dormitory at Vajrapani! 

Lama Yeshe Memorial Shrine

Prayer Wheel

Path of Peace  

Wish List


New Dharma Dormitory at Vajrapani!  

We are delighted to announce that construction is underway for the remodel of our existing dormitory. We are ever so grateful to Jim Westbrook for putting his architectural background to use and designing this very beautiful and utilitarian building.

Preparations for construction commenced at the site with a puja performed by the Gyuto monks in order to make offerings for a successful project. Actual groundbreaking began in October, 2005. It is a delicate juggling act for Tom Waggoner, our general contractor, who must work around our usage. Although we target completion by the summer, many factors play a role, especially the weather.

Our remodel will include two main rooms with wonderful partitions to provide some privacy, as well as indoor bathrooms with vanities, toilets, and shower. Also included will be two semi-private rooms, lots of storage and four single rooms built at ground level under a nice, big new deck. Each bunk bed will have its own reading light and curtain to create individual privacy. Lovingly, one of our staff referred to it as "pure land cruises" because it has the flavor of a wonderful cruise ship.

This new dormitory will provide a comfortable place for our guests to stay while engaging in Dharma practice. Please rejoice with us in this exciting project!

The estimated cost of this project is $300,000. We have raised the money thanks to the kindness of many and especially to one student who has mortgaged her home to help us with the final necessary $200,000!

You can help us repay the $281,000 in loans by becoming a member and offering monthly membership dues or by a one-time donation. All donations are tax-deductible. If you would like to make a donation, please click on the "Donate Now" button at the top of this page.

Donations may also be made through our main office. Checks can be made payable to Vajrapani and mailed to: Vajrapani Institute, PO Box 2130, Boulder Creek, CA 95006.

MasterCard and Visa are also accepted by contacting our office at (831)338-6654 or by email: Vajrapani@vajrapani.org. Thank you so much for your support!

Existing Dormitory:

  New Dormitory: 


Lama Yeshe Memorial Shrine  

Click Here to see the Lama Yeshe Slideshow

Lama Thubten Yeshe, the founder of Vajrapani Institute, passed away on Losar, Tibetan New Year, in 1984. Lama's Holy Body was brought to Vajrapani and cremated several days later in a structure built for this purpose on the ridge above the Gompa (the current site of our retreat cabins). For years many students have wished to see a fitting memorial erected at Vajrapani. That wish is becoming a reality. We have plans now to build a stupa surrounded by beautiful gardens, a circumambulation pathway and prayer wheels.

Additionally, a life-sized, bronze statue in Lama's likeness has been completed and approved by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who said He was "very pleased." The statue was scanned, enabling us to eventually duplicate the statue in any size creating a smaller version for one's altar. Following the scanning, the statue was filled with mantras and holy objects and consecrated by the Gyuto monks in San Jose. We are very grateful to Ven Thubten Munsel who applied the gold leaf and to Gelek, renowned Tibetan artist, who "opened" Lama's eyes.

We have raised over $40,000 to bring this project to its current stage of completion. Additional funds are needed to build the stupa and to create a memorial shrine to house Lama's statue. Designs for the structure are underway. Additional plans for the sites are circumambulation walks, a place to make prostrations and offerings, plaques depicting the life of Lama Yeshe, and tiles to recognize those who have donated to the project.

Without Lama's hook of compassion, many of us would have missed this life's Dharma opportunity. Lama was unique...truly incomparable. Please join us in making this memorial to his life and his passing as beautiful as possible by becoming a member and offering monthly membership dues, or by a one-time donation. All donations are tax-deductible. If you would like to make a donation, please click on the "Donate Now" button at the top of this page.

Donations may also be made through our main office. Checks can be made payable to Vajrapani and mailed to: Vajrapani Institute, PO Box 2130, Boulder Creek, CA 95006.

MasterCard and Visa are also accepted by contacting our office at (831)338-6654 or by email: Vajrapani@vajrapani.org. Thank you so much for your support!


Prayer Wheel

Tibetan prayer wheels (called Mani wheels by the Tibetans) are devices for spreading spiritual blessings and well being. Rolls of thin paper, imprinted with many, many copies of the mantra (prayer) Om Mani Padme Hum, printed in an ancient Indian script or in Tibetan script, are wound around an axle in a protective container, and spun around and around. Typically, larger decorative versions of the syllables of the mantra are also carved on the outside cover of the wheel.

Tibetan Buddhists believe that saying this mantra, out loud or silently to oneself, invokes the powerful benevolent attention and blessings of Chenrezig, the embodiment of compassion.

 

Viewing a written copy of the mantra is said to have the same effect. Often, the mantra is carved into stones left in piles near paths where travelers will see them. Spinning the written form of the mantra around in a Mani wheel is also supposed to have the same effect; the more copies of the mantra, the more the benefit.

 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche taught, "Just touching and turning a prayer wheel brings incredible purification and accumulates unbelievable merit."

Ordered from Nepal, we already have the prayer wheel parts to build a large prayer wheel across from Lama Yeshe's Enlightenment Stupa by the redwood grove where Lama gave His first teaching at Vajrapani. Additionally we have many, many mantras - $10,000 dollars worth - all on microfilm.

One inspired student, John Beiling, a coppersmith from Vermont, has expressed an interest in helping us complete this project. If we can receive the necessary funding, which we estimate to be near $200,000, we might be turning our prayer wheel before the end of 2006!

Please join us in making this prayer wheel a reality by becoming a member and offering monthly membership dues, or by a one-time donation. All donations are tax-deductible. If you would like to make a donation, please click on the "Donate Now" button at the top of this page.

Donations may also be made through our main office. Checks can be made payable to Vajrapani and mailed to: Vajrapani Institute, PO Box 2130, Boulder Creek, CA 95006.

MasterCard and Visa are also accepted by contacting our office at (831)338-6654 or by email: Vajrapani@vajrapani.org. Thank you so much for your support!


Path of Peace

Click Here to View the Path of Peace Slideshow

Lao Tzu said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama said, "Universal Peace begins with inner peace." Marrying these two, we are creating a contemplative circumambulation path around our sacred land - hiking trails and winding paths with a variety of picturesque areas including benches, fountains, statuary, gazebos, and natural landscaping. We have this perfect canvas where people, wildlife and nature paint a picture of peace and harmony.

Envision yourself strolling down a path amidst towering redwoods. While your eyes soak in the beauty, your ears hear the soft trickling of the creek and the fragrance of the natural forest brings a sense of calm. Tranquility seems to transcend as one begins this silent, contemplative walk.

Vajrapani's 70 acres of native forest is home to many species of wildlife including deer and birds as diverse as the hummingbird, redtail hawk, bald eagle, raven, stellar jay, titmouse and many others. It is a haven of peace where the deer are rarely frightened and will continue grazing as one walks by.  

Once the trails are complete, we will begin the second phase of this project, creating places for contemplation and reflection. In the cool, cathedral-like redwood groves, one will find very special places for quiet thought and meditation. In order to create and maintain this Path and Place of Peace, we are offering a special tribute program on several levels.  

1. As a reminder of Peace, donors of $500.00 will be offered a large "Peace" rock to place along the trail.

2. For a contribution of $1,000.00, you can honor or remember a friend or loved one with a permanent nameplate in one of our groves.

3. For a contribution of $5,000.00 you can honor or remember a friend or loved one with a special bench dedicated with a plaque.

4. For a contribution of $10,000.00 you can dedicate a mature redwood tree.

5. Donors who contribute $25,000 or more may dedicate a forest grove. A dedicated grove is a lasting tribute to your generosity and commitment to the preservation of peace in our lives.

6. We are offering the opportunity to name our Path of Peace and will afford the honor to a donor of $100,000.

When we "cut the ribbon" on our Path of Peace in 2007, we will have a celebration, a Day of Peace. This Peace walk is being created by the wish for all beings to abide in equanimity, to have happiness, to be free from suffering, and to be liberated from all misery. May those who conceived it, created it, and funded it, as well as all those who hear of it, see it and walk on it, may they all have everlasting peace. By the positive energy thus created, may inner peace reflect in outer peace and may even the concept of war be eliminated.  

Please continue to visit our website for additional future information and if you are interested in participating in our tribute program, please contact Elaine Jackson, Director, at (831) 338-6654 or elaine@ihwy.com


Wish List

If you have any of the following items that you would like to donate to Vajrapani, please contact Elaine Jackson, Director, at (831) 338-6654

Newer laptop computer
Late model Subaru
Late-model, low-mileage car for lama travels
New redwood picnic tables
Energy efficient industrial washing machine
Propane industrial clothes dryer
Tibetan or similar style carpets
Vitamix  industrial food mixer
Robot Coupe industrial food processor