TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Background
2. Project description
• 2.1 Theravada Buddhism
3. Project Goal and Objectives
4. Project Requirements
• 4.1 Appropriate Location for the first step
  • 4.1.1 Fundamental needs temple should facilitat
5. Project Budget
   • 5.1 Investments and Financing
   • 5.2 Financing Options
6. Operational costs: Financing options
   • 6.1 Alms for monks and other needs
   • 6.2 Other fixed expenses
7. The second step of the project

1. BACKGROUND.

The Buddhist Federation of Norway was founded in 1979 and had 10,000 members in 2007.  These individual members belong to the eleven member associations out of which the Tisarana Sri Lankan Buddhist Association represents the Sri Lankan community.

There are three well established Buddhist temples in Norway which represent the Vietnamese, Thai and Tibetan communities. The Vietnamese, having founded their Buddhist Association in 1982, have built a large temple outside Oslo which has become the headquarters of Vietnamese Buddhists in all the Scandinavian countries and have also established a number of smaller temples of which two are situated in Norway. The second largest community, the Thai Buddhist Association, founded in 1991, inaugurated their newly built 600 m3 temple 45 km south of Oslo in summer 2007. The largest of the Norwegian associations, the Karma Tashi Ling Buddhist Association, founded in 1975, runs a meditation centre in a 22 acre forested area south of Oslo.  Karma Tashi Ling also has a bookshop and mediation centre in Oslo as well a centre outside the city with a residential Tibetan monk.

Tisarana was established in 1993 by Sri Lankan Buddhists in Norway with its prime objective being to promote Buddhist practices amongst the Sri Lankan Buddhist community in Norway. Since its establishment, it had undertaken a variety of activities including organising Dharma lectures, meditations, sil campaigns, and religious celebrations mostly with the presence of Buddhist monks who were invited from other temples in Europe and Sri Lanka. There were 160 registered members of Tisarana in 2007 and it intends to increase the knowledge about Theravada Buddhist traditions among Buddhists and other interested members of the Norwegian community.

Tisarana has been facilitating the celebration of Buddhist festivals and activities in Norway according to Sri Lankan traditions.  The main activity is the annual Vesak Celebrations, which is normally organised in every May.  Other activities include the Buddhist school for children, lectures by Buddhist priests and other voluntary activities including the Tsunami relief work are among the activities.  Among the most important initiatives, the annual “Vas” celebration in Oslo and the ongoing activities to establish a Sri Lankan Buddhist temple in Norway take a special place.


2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Sri Lankan Buddhist community in Norway has not been catered according to their customs and practices and therefore we see the importance and necessity of establishing a temple according to Theravada Buddhist principles and Sri Lankan traditions.

2.1 THERAVADA BUDDHISM

‘Theravada’ means literally ‘the Doctrine of the Elders’ and Theravada Buddhism is focused primarily on meditation and concentration, the eighth of the Eightfold Noble Path.

Theravada Buddhism is sometimes known as ‘Southern Buddhism’, to distinguish it from that other great tradition, Mahayana or ‘Northern Buddhism’.  Southern Buddhism still survives in Sri Lanka and in the Southeast Asian countries of Burma, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.  Being the most ancient centre of Theravada, Sri Lanka has maintained close connection with these countries especially since the tenth century, when Theravada Buddhism began to be extensively adopted in that region.

3. PROJECT GOAL AND OBJECTIVES

“To establish a Sri Lankan Buddhist temple in Norway, consistent with Theravada Buddhist Principles and Sri Lankan traditions”.

• To have a landmark for Sri Lankan Buddhists in Norway as there is currently no location identified as a landmark for Sri Lankan Buddhists. Such a place would be held in high regard by Sri Lankan Buddhists as a place where they can visit on special days such as Poya days that are important to Buddhists. Moreover, such a place would facilitate the congregation of Sri Lankan Buddhists to engage in Buddhist activities, religious rites, worship and devotional activities.
  

• To possess Dharma studies and courses in meditation for children and adults, which demand a professional way of teaching. It is imperative to the second generation Sri Lankans born and raised in Norway that they are taught correctly, in order to maintain a connection with their cultural identity. Therefore the planed temple must be a place, which takes these challenges seriously.

• To create a resource center for the Norwegian school teachers and children in order to the subject “religion philosophy and ethic” by developing a complete temple with devotional hall, “stupa” and “Bodhi”.

• To have regular inter-religious discussions to maintain multicultural understanding which is very important in the modern society.  The temple will work towards building bridges between communities and creating tolerance and mutual respect.

• To arrange special annual services and festivals such as Vesak, Poson, Vas and the other cultural activities related to Buddhism.

• To support monks and nuns, providing ritual services for the laity, and generally serving the Buddhist population, as well as the public large.  Creating a suitable environment for meditation and stress reduction which can be used by anyone.

• To conduct language classes for the children of the Sri Lankan community in Norway, and promote the Buddhist culture to the public.

• To maintain a lending library; books, audio and visual teaching materials would be made available in Sinhala, Norwegian, Pali, Sanskrit and in English.

4. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

The project is planned to be completed in 2 steps. Firstly, Tisarana will purchase a suitable place to cater for the needs of the membership and undertake the arrangements to find a proficient monk. The monk’s main duty will be the serve the Buddhists and members of the public whilst leading the works of building a Buddhist temple according to the Sri Lankan Buddhist architectural design in the capital of Norway, Oslo.

4.1 APROPRIATE LOCATION FOR THE FIRST STEP

To cater for the needs of the temple, we will require a single house with 100-200 m2 in the Oslo suburbs within 20km of the city centre. A location close to Oslo will enable the temple to serve more people particularly in meditation sessions and also during the weekdays. Suitable atmosphere for meditation at the temple will be important in order to appropriately serve the visitors.

4.1.1 Fundamental needs temple should facilitate

• Permanent and private living areas for three people
• An area for 30-100 people to congregate; Dharmashala with statues and other necessities to worship
• A Kitchen to prepare meals as well as to warm/ rearrange food for 30-100 people
• Proper sanitary facilities
• Ample parking possibilities
• Easy access by public transport

5. PROJECT BUDJET

5.1 INVESTMENTS AND FINANCING

5.2 FINANCING OPTIONS

The most rational option is to raise the full amount, so Tisarana avoids loans from the Norwegian banks. The monks can then use their time to promote the Buddhism and serve the members and public at large without having economical burdens. It is a fact that at the start of monks has to use much time to learn the Norwegian language.

6. OPERATIONAL COST: FINANCING OPTIONS

Even if Tisarana can mange to purchase a suitable residence for a Temple without any loan, the temple will need 8.000-10.000 NOK to cover other operational costs. This means we need 90.000-120.000 per year.

6.1 ALMS FOR MONKS AND OTHER NEEDS

The Sri Lankan Buddhists community in Oslo and suburbs will contribute to offer alms (Mura Dane/ breakfast, lunch).  Thirty families will be allocated to facilitate of alms giving for a month. If any unexpected situation occurs, alternative methods of providing frozen food to be warmed up should also be considered.

There will be other needs of the temple, as well as monk’s personal needs. These can be covered by Puja from the devotees, and donation which will be given for lectures, meditation sessions etc.

6.2 OTHER FIXED EXPENSES

The members of Tisarana should be inspired and motivated to support the temple in various ways. We assume that the arrangement of 28% tax reduction for all donations to Tisarana through the Buddhist Federation of Norway will also motivate members to donate for temple Activities.

7 THE SECOND STEP OF THE PROJECT

Tisarana will search for a plot of land to build a temple complex according to Sri Lankan Buddhist architectural design, with the stupa and the “Bodhi”. Our ultimate intention is to bring a branch of “Jaya Shri Maha Bodhi” to Norway.

Such a project is estimated to cost about ten million NOK. We assume that the all Sri Lankan Buddhists will understand the value of establishing a Buddhist temple in Norway and will support us to reach our final target.



“Sabbha Danang, Dhamma Danang Jinathi”