Bijapur Indosan Sogenji Zen Monastery, S.R. Colony Jal Nagar, Bijapur-586101 (Karnataka) INDIA
Dhyanbhumi Ryukokusan Sogenji Monastery, Kavtha, Post-Khairi, Dist. Nagpur (M.S.) INDIA
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The Buddha Bhumi Mountain weeklong Zazen retreat. |
| बुध्द भूमी माऊन्ट
佛国山(禅提山)曹源寺 |
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 Retreat Banner. |
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From April 4th to April 10th 2010, a unique zazen retreat was organized and lead by Ven. Bodhidhamma at the Buddha Bhumi Mountain in Kolhari Village, Adilabad, Andra Pradesh, India. In 2009 the Venerable visited Kolhari Village, as a result of his example and the influence of his teachings, the village embraced the Buddha Dharma and became alcohol free. Moved by this profound change, as a gesture of gratitude and honor a group of village Upasakas donated a six acre parcel of land on their mountain for Dhamma activities. |
 View from the mountain. |
| This year, Bhante Shaku Bodhidhamma held the first Zen Retreat for the villagers on the mountain property. A part of this event was a naming ceremony that bequeathed the title “Buddha Bhumi Mountain” (Land of Buddha Mountain) on this sacred place. The villagers built a simple retreat hut for the Venerable from wood and dry grass collected from the land. |
 The hut under construction. |
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During Bhante’s one-week retreat, he delivered a discourse to the gathered village participants. He chose the discourse “Buddha and his Dhamma” written by Bodhisattva Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to awaken the awareness of local people to the teachings of Dr. Ambedkar. |
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| Now, in the summer season, the mountain is completely dry. The trees appear to be completely naked and the grass is parched and brown. No water, or electricity is available on the mountain. Water must be brought to the site by the village upasakas on a bullock cart from the village. |
 Meals prepared on site. |
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For the villagers it was their first Zen meditation experience. It was difficult to sit in zazen posture because the land is not flat, and has not been terraced or contoured. Despite the rugged conditions, the village sat happily without any complaint. The participants consisted of more women than men as the men have to attend to work every single day to maintain their meager livings in this impoverished area. Following the conclusion of the first Buddha Bhumi Mountain weeklong Zazen retreat. Venerable Bhante Bodhidhamma led a delegation of Buddhists to meet with Assemblyman Mr. Godham Nagesh, a local representative to The Legislative Assembly. |
| For details of this meeting: CLICK HERE: |
 Upasakas gathered. |
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The acquisition of this parcel of land by the International Buddhist Youth Organization will now provide the venue for the establishment of a permanent Buddhist facility in Kolhari Village. We now set forth in an effort to construct a meditation hall, and a prayer hall, including the necessary water and electrical facilities to serve the unprivileged Buddhist people of Kolhari. At present we roughly estimate that an infusion of some $30,000 USD will be required to enable this vision to manifest and bless the lives of the Villagers and all the people in the surrounding area. We seek, we beg, help form all people to enable this blessing to manifest in gratitude and respect for The Buddha Dharma. |
May all beings awaken to their innate Buddha Nature! |
