The Benefits of the Project

The Project is designed to bring extensive spiritual and social benefits to the world community as well as to the people of India.

"The Buddha's teachings emphasise how important it is that holy objects like statues and stupas are created and that they continue to exist.

"The way to bring peace and happiness in the world and eliminate problems such as war, famine, disease, disharmony, killing and so forth is to generate loving-kindness in the mind....

"In all religions, not only Buddhism, but Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and others, the essence of the religion is loving-kindness and compassion towards others. Otherwise without compassion and loving-kindness the religion cannot benefit others.

"Therefore, this statue is essential for the cause of peace and happiness in this world."
— Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Spiritual Director of Maitreya Project

Employmentand Commerce

As work proceeds, the Project is drawing on the expertise of Indian and regional consultants, architects, engineers, town planners, financiers, and other professionals. The Project's construction phase will directly employ more than a thousand skilled and semi-skilled workers, and hundreds more will be indirectly employed in industries supplying materials and services. After completion, hundreds of people will be employed to maintain the park and provide services to visitors all the year round. Thus, the Project will provide ongoing opportunities of employment for local people.

The Project will act as a focus for new investment in the region, and will be a major impetus for the economy of the whole area. In this way many other jobs will be created indirectly as the infrastructure and other new and expanding businesses, employ staff.

Infrastructure Development

People sometimes ask, "Why spend so much money on a statue? Why not spend it on education, healthcare, or improving living standards?" In fact, the Project will accomplish all these objectives.

The Maitreya Project will have an uplifting influence on the region, providing — directly and indirectly — services in healthcare, education, long-term employment, technology development, trade, tourism, agricultural development and other infrastructure services.

Maitreya Project Universal Education School

The Maitreya Universal Education Project has already established a pilot primary school in Bodhgaya, the place of the Buddha's enlightenment in Bihar state.

The school is developing residential facilities for staff and students; administrative and academic facilities including science laboratories, library, art, craft and music facilities; plant nursery, herb and vegetable gardens, botanical gardens, animal houses; recreation and sports facilities; walking meditation pathways and other features.

Further developments offering primary, secondary and tertiary level studies are planned.

Because many families have no means to pay for education, the Maitreya Project Universal Education School provides free education and supplies. Over time it will help to raise the education and living standards of the entire community. The school is financed through separate private donations.
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Maitreya Project Healthcare

Maitreya Project is creating public health programmes of international standard in northern India with the intention of supplementing those medical services already provided by the government.

The Project will build a teaching hospital of international standard as the focus of its healthcare activities. This will offer treatments based on Ayurvedic, Tibetan, and Western medical systems. The hospital will provide first-rate medical care in surgery and other modern procedures.

The healthcare system will primarily serve the poor and under-privileged, even in remote parts of the area.

Over the years, the medical services will be developed and expanded to meet the needs of many communities.