By Gabriel Forrer, co-director of Root Institute

Lama Zopa Rinpoche asked me to become a co-director at the Root Institute in Bodhgaya. Having finished building the Vajrasattva Gompa at Tushita, Dharamsala, I was expecting to return there to supervise the construction of a new kitchen-dining room. To be asked to share full responsibility for the running of one of Lama Yeshe’s and Lama Zopa’s most cherished projects, at the holy place of Bodhgaya, was a sign of faith that overwhelmed me with gratitude, and I happily accepted.

On arriving at the Root in December 1991, I found the place in some disarray, as there was too much going on for one director to handle. Winter is the season of intense activity here, when the year’s teaching and study program must be com­pressed into a few cool months. Although I personally disagree with this concept, it will take time and effort to implant seeds for change.

One of Lama Zopa’s instructions to me was to create conduc­tive conditions for meditators. Having no funds available, I borrowed somebody’s return ticket money to invest in con­structing retreat huts made from easily available local materials, bamboo, straw and mud mixed with cow dung. These circular huts are big enough for a bed, prostration area and altar. The doorways offer a fine view of the [Mahabodhi] Stupa.

These retreat places were to be sold on the spot for the building price to persons who wanted to do retreats. The response was beyond expectation. Within one month many people were actually doing retreats in our grounds.

Before the monsoon the retreat huts will be dismantled and the bamboo stored, while the land is used for gardening. Next winter new improved huts will again be available, and five people have already made advance reservations to do two- to four-month retreats.

Working with the local people is an excellent opportunity to get to know each other. Many people engaged in the hut construction were desperate for work, so we built twenty dormitory cubicles with the same simple materials. They were immediately occupied and the cost was soon recovered.

Kabir and I are working enthusiastically together to fulfill Lama Yeshe’s vision and to comply with Lama Zopa’s requests. We have one more fervent prayer to Tara: Bless the work of the Root Institute and somehow find the financial support we urgently need for all these projects.