Plans & Projects

 
 

Many supporters have asked what the monastery’s plans and needs are. These are some of the major projects the sangha is currently planning to further the monastery’s development. Please feel free to contact us if you’d like to know more.

 
 

Plan for new Sala

New Sala Project

Over the past few years, with increasing numbers of monks, guests, and visitors, and the deterioration and limited size of some of the existing farm buildings (leaks, mold, rodents, etc), it has become apparent that new buildings are needed sooner rather than later. The current farmhouse space we use for gatherings is often too small to fit people who come for Dhamma Talks and events, and the utilities are straining under the load we put on the building with so many monks and visitors using it so constantly.

Therefore, the building the monastery needs most is a new “sala” – the central gathering place which serves many functions in a forest monastery: gatherings, teaching/reception, meal offerings, cooking, eating, offices, monastic facilities, and more – all in one big building. Because of the nature of the site, the plan for a new sala requires first taking down the existing buildings currently used for guest lodgings, storage, workshop, grounds maintenance machines, and more. And because these are necessary functions, those buildings will need to be replaced before we can take the current ones down.

Therefore, to build a new sala, the work must be done in phases:

New Sala Project:

Phase One: Build one of the two planned lodgings buildings, a new barn/utility building, and the solar/electrical infrastructure for much of the site.
Phase Two: Demolish the rapidly deteriorating offices currently used for guest lodgings, disassemble the old post and beam barn and workshop, and lay down electrical and septic infrastructure needed for the new sala.
Phase Three: Build the new sala.

Currently we are proceeding with Phase One: the new guest lodgings building is nearing completion and should be ready before the winter retreat. We have also begun acquiring some of the infrastructure for the solar-electric system, including solar panels, transformers, and inverters; still needed are racks for the panels, heavy electric lines for burying, and big lithium batteries for storage and backup. The electric company is completing their work to move the poles, and we will begin trenching soon for the underground lines we’ll need to install which will connect the present and future buildings. Early next year, if we have funds, we will acquire and install the large racks that will hold the solar panels. Once these projects are finished, we must build the replacement barn/utility/workshop/garage building – and then we’ll be able to move on to the sala itself.

All donations toward the New Sala are of course much appreciated, and will be used to move the project forward in phases, as described.

 

Lodgings Building (“Karunasom”)

We are happy to report that work on Karunasom (the name of the new lodgings building) is nearly complete. We expect to be able to use it this winter. Thank you to all who have contributed, both funds and manual labor, to help the monastery reach this milestone. The first building in the Master Plan is done.

Anumodana

Solar Electric Project

In order to build the Utility Building (barn replacement, workshop, storage, garage, solar battery bank, etc.), which we had hoped to do first, the electricity lines that currently hang over the site need to be moved. In addition, with utilities rising in cost, rebates receding, and tariffs impending, we have been proceeding as much as funds will allow to move the existing power lines and install the solar electrical infrastructure laid out in the monastery’s Master Plan.

New poles have now been installed on Converse Rd. Current plans and progress includes:

  1. New poles to the monastery will be installed by the electric company, as well as two transformers – all this has been approved and already paid for; we’re waiting for Eversource to finish their work.

  2. We will soon begin laying trenches and lines to the buildings in the master plan, and installing slabs for the transformers.

  3. Solar panels and inverters have been purchased.

  4. Racks on which to lay the solar panels are still needed.

  5. Lithium batteries are needed.

  6. The two phone companies must be convinced to move their lines.

  7. Housing for the inverters and large bank of batteries must be built, to enable power to the site, act as backup, and allow for self-sufficiency if the grid goes down.

No more kutis for now

We are very grateful for the support over the past ten years which has allowed the sangha to build seventeen kutis in the forest. This is enough for now, and we won’t plan to build any more for some years at least.

Anumodana