What a great joy it
was for me to dedicate the Shanti Villa of the Samadhi
Buddhist Meditation Center this past summer. I am very
grateful to be able to share with you now
some of the memories and also a bit about some of the people
who helped make possible
this labor of love.
The Samadhi Buddhist Meditation Center itself is located
on a protected historic sight in a
national nature reserve in the Czech Republic. Because
the land and buildings are protected
in the reserve, any work done to any of the structures
or on any part of the grounds
requires a number of permits and approvals. I am thankful
for the help offered to me by the
government officials of the City of Melnick who advised
us throughout the reconstruction
process. I am especially grateful to Josef Pokorni who
managed the project and worked
tirelessly to help me to make decisions for two challenging
years during the construction
period. I also appreciate the hard work of Jana Hosarova
and Iva Nesvarova who managed
the accounts with great skill and enthusiasm.
Shanthi Villa is one of the five main buildings of the
Samadhi Buddhist Meditation Center.
Located at the northern corner of the grounds, Shanthi
Villa is the home away from home
for retreat participants who come to the Samadhi Center.
Framed almost entirely by its
original structure, the building recently underwent major
renovation to remodel the second
floor, resulting in comfortable living quarters and modernized
accommodations. Shanthi
Villa has 18 beds in 7 rooms on both the upstairs and downstairs
floors. There is a small
kitchen with a pantry on the first floor that is next to
the hallway and sitting area and down
the hall from the fireplace. There are two bathrooms on
the first floor and two bathrooms
upstairs. Also on the second floor are a laundry room,
a sitting room, and a kitchenette.
As always, much gratitude and joy is sent to and shared
with all of the sponsors and
supporters of the Samadhi Center. Special thanks go to
the several major sponsors from
Ireland, Italy, and the United States who all helped to
bear a significant portion of the cost
of the reconstruction of Shanthi Villa. A loan was secured
to cover the remaining costs.
Shanthi Villa is ready and all of you are invited use these
wonderful facilities We hope that
you will come to participate in our retreats and stay at
Shanthi Villa and find peace healing
and spiritual rejuvenation.
In June 2005, some of my students and friends gathered
at the Samadhi Meditation Center
for the dedication ceremony of Shanthi Villa with the celebration
of 2005 Vesak.
The following photos are from the dedication ceremony.
|
Buddha puja,
offerings were prepared by the participants who
were dressed in
white. |
|
Ven. K. Dhammavasa
from Toronto temple and Ven. Silawansa from Berlin
Buddhist Vihara participated in the Buddha puja. |
|
Mr. Gunaratna
and the monks leading the participants from the
main Vihara to
Shanthi Villa for the blessing ceremony. |
|
Mr. Gunaratna
and the monks leading the participants from the
main Vihara to
Shanthi Villa for the blessing ceremony. |
|
After the blessing
ceremony, a concert was held outside the main
Vihara. Well-known pianist and violinist, Mrs.
Adamoskova, accompanied by her daughter
Katherene, played classical music.
|
|
After the blessing
ceremony, a concert was held outside the main
Vihara. Well-known pianist and violinist, Mrs.
Adamoskova, accompanied by her daughter Katherene,
played classical music. |
