By Ven. Thubten Gyatso

Australian monk Ven. Thubten Gyatso, director of Australia’s first IMI monastery for monks, has raised the money for and is now building Thubten Shedrup Ling, on land offered by Atisha Centre, near Bendigo,Victoria.

The rammed-earth walls of the first two buildings are complete, and they look magnificent – a pale yellow-ochre earth color and strong enough to last until Maitreya comes! Each building consists of four rooms for monks, a tea room and toilet. Roofs are now under construction. The main facility block is finished, and we now have everything necessary for a residential community of ten monks.

Thubten Shedrup Ling’s major benefactor, Salim Lee, recently gave $50,000, in addition to $20,000 already given, so that roofs, doors and windows could be completed. Other contributions have come in from all around Australia. Already many visitors are coming to see the “new monastery.” I feel most humbled by peoples’ generosity.