Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India

A Message of Loving-kindness and Peace

We are living in very uncertain times. Humanity and all living things are constantly under threat and there is an urgent need to create the causes for harmony throughout the world.

All of the world's major religions and humanitarian traditions teach the ethical values of tolerance, patience, loving-kindness and compassion.

As these universal values are embraced and take root in the minds and hearts of more and more people, world peace will become an attainable dream.

"The goal of the Maitreya Project is to bring the greatest possible benefit to as many as possible, for as long as possible. As its focus, Maitreya Project is building a magnificent 500ft / 152m bronze statue of Maitreya Buddha. Constructing the statue - because the essence of Maitreya Buddha is loving-kindness and peace - will provide a symbol to bless and transform the mind and heart of everyone in the world. The statue will be located at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, in northern India close to the place of the historical Buddha's passing away. It will be constructed as a Buddhist cathedral for the public and will be designed to last at least 1,000 years so it can act as a catalyst for peace for a full millennium."

To create the greatest possible benefit, Maitreya Project will put loving-kindness into action by combining public spiritual, medical and educational facilities. Indirectly, these will catalyse other economic, social and civic benefits. Countless people will be inspired and blessed by Maitreya Project's activities.

Who is Maitreya?

"Relying on certain Mahayana Buddhist citations and quotations, we believe that in this fortunate aeon one thousand Buddhas will appear. This is the time of the fourth Buddha, Buddha Shakyamuni, whose teaching is still existing, and the fifth Buddha will be Maitreya Buddha." — His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama

Maitreya's name is derived from the Sanskrit 'maitri' meaning 'universal love'. Infinitely compassionate and all-knowing, Buddhas teach by their words and example in order to guide us along the path to our own spiritual maturity.

When Shakyamuni Buddha's teachings disappear from this world (the teachings of the historical Buddha of our current age), negativity and misfortune will grow until, spontaneously moved by his overwhelming compassion, Maitreya will manifest in our world as a radiantly beautiful spiritual teacher inspiring people to practice the path of virtue, especially loving-kindness.

Maitreya Universal Education Project

http://www.maitreyaproject.org/en/ue.shtml

http://www.maitreyaproject.org/en/ue_programme.shtml

The Maitreya Universal Education Project offers free education to village children from poor families in northern India and a unique curriculum emphasising ethical and spiritual development as well as academic achievement.

A pilot school, the Maitreya Project Universal Education School, is already established in Bodhgaya, the place of the Buddha's enlightenment in Bihar state. Further developments offering primary, secondary and vocational education are planned for Bodhgaya and Kushinagar in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

You can help by donating to one of the following:

• Child Sponsorship
• General Sponsorship
• Building Fund
• Endowment Fund

Sponsoring the education of a child is an especially wonderful way of helping. The cost of educating one child for one year is US$120, although we are pleased to accept whatever you can afford. In return, as well as knowing that deserving children are benefiting from your generosity, your name will go on our database and you will receive annually:

• A report on the progress of your nominated child.
• A recent photograph.
• A copy of our newsletter “The Good Heart”.

We ask that sponsors appreciate that donations do not go directly to individual children but contribute to the general running of the school. The children are not aware that they have individual sponsors although they know that there are people around the world who support the school. We do not want to create a situation in which some children are sponsored while others are not. Also, for the children's protection, we do not allow direct contact and ask sponsors to be willing to remain anonymous to their nominated child.

http://www.maitreyaproject.org/en/ue_sponsorship.shtml