OCTOBER 2003 UPDATE
Dear Friends,
Fantastic news! We found a wonderful site for the Abbey near Newport WA, four miles from the Idaho border, and escrow closed on September 30. It's an hour north of Spokane WA and an hour from Coeur d'Alene ID, so there's easy access to an airport.
The house is beautiful, with lots of natural light. Even the basement has large windows and a door opening onto the garden. The garage and cabin are made of beautiful logs; the barn is huge has has a shop inside. Meadows surround the house, and we'll build a temple and more housing there. The rest of the 240 acres is covered in evergreen trees, with many meandering paths and lots of wildlife. The elderly couple who built the house and lived in it for 18 years are wonderful. He knows every inch of the forest, and she has created the gorgeous garden with lots of love. There are lots of pictures on the website. Take a look at www.sravastiabbey.org.
After a year of looking for a suitable site, we were amazed to find such a large piece of gorgeous land with a house in good condition for such a low price-$485,000 for 240 acres with a house and outbuildings. Although we have a $155,000 mortgage, we decided to go for it, because this way we can begin the Abbey right away and have plenty of room to expand in the future.
We'll have some work parties to begin remodeling, so if you'd like to volunteer let us know your skills. We're requesting your generosity to make the monthly payments of $2100 (mortgage, insurance, taxes), to purchase materials for remodeling, and to support the fledging community.
I would like to thank each of you for your help and support. Dan Black especially deserves a round of e-applause. He spent months looking for land in southern ID. His hard work, perseverance, and patience led up to our finding this land, even though it's not near Boise as he would have preferred. Susan Wildwood, an attorney who graciously and joyfully offered her services pro bono, was key to bringing this to fruition. While I'm grateful for her help, she says "Thank you for this incredible gift. There is much honor in it and I shall treasure and bless it throughout my life."
As I look over the list of people who are contributing to the Abbey in one way or another, I'm humbled and encouraged by the kindness and generosity each one of you has shown in so many ways. Our work together is the practice of compassion and wisdom in action.
While you may be as excited as we are, keep meditating on bodhicitta, reciting Tara mantra, and dedicating for the spread of the Dharma in the West and the success of Sravasti Abbey.
You're welcome to visit, and together we'll invite all the Buddhas and bodhisattvas to come to their new home in the USA. How auspicious this is! How fortunate we are!
Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron and Friends of Sravasti Abbey
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