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
|