
Watch the progress!
We are so excited about the construction happening on the Buddha Hall! Pictures don’t always do it justice. We feel the ground shaking from the heavy equipment; hear the drills, saws, and hammers; and see the flood lamps on late at night.
We hope that you come and witness the process yourself. But if you can’t, these short, unedited video clips give you a taste of what it is like at the site.
Joy in the Main Hall – February 2025
We are inspired and filled with joy to see the Buddha Hall come together, especially the main hall.
Tim Wilson, the architect of the Buddha Hall and many other Abbey buildings, has a chance to play the large fish. (February 4, 2025)
Hanging a Thangka
Ven. Losang carefully hangs a Thangka on the right side of the main altar in the Buddha Hall. (February 6, 2025)
Ven. Losang unveils the Manjushri thangka that is part of the main altar of the Buddha Hall. (February 6, 2025)
Altar(s) Sneak Peak – February 2025
It requires many causes and conditions to fully assemble an altar for the Three Jewels. We are part of the way there! These are not the final forms of the altars, but they serve as a basis upon which we can connect with the holy beings.
View of the altar in the Posadha Room of the Buddha Hall on February 4, 2025.
Tara Room Altar
The altar (in progress!) in the Tara Room on February 4, 2025, including tsa-tsas of the 21 Taras.
Here is the main altar on February 6, 2025. This is temporary, as we wait for the main statues to be finished.
Something to Celebrate – December 2024
Progress continues on the remaining details, but we can enjoy the 98%-complete Buddha Hall in many ways.
A technician checks the computer board in the radiant floor heating system. This building is hi-tech!
Stroll in the Snow
It is lovely to walk up to the Buddha Hall in the snow!
Tim Wilson, architect of the Buddha Hall and many other Abbey buildings, gets a chance to play the temple bell.
On Lama Tsongkhapa Day, the community offers light in the main hall.
More in the Main Hall – November 2024
While the AV team installed speakers and screens in the main hall, the community moved in the large stands for the bell and drum. We painted them, and then hung the bell and drum.
The community worked together to move in the large steel stand for the drum and bell—with the help of a rented pallet jack.
Painting Instrument Stands
Ven. Semkye and others quickly prime and paint the stands so the instruments can be hung.
Will and Sean carry in the big wooden gantry that is used to lift the Bell.
AV installation in the main hall of the Buddha Hall is almost complete, including cameras, screens, speakers, and microphones.
Acoustic Panels
Many acoustic panels are mounted in the main hall to ensure the sound quality is spectacular.
One of the accessible parking areas is power washed.
Closer to Completion – October 2024
Work continues on the outside of the Buddha Hall to deal with the directing of water. On the inside, the AV system is progressing well.
Oct 9, 2024: Rolling out Jute mats on the west side of the Buddha Hall to prevent erosion. Next, the area will be hydro-seeded.
Spaghetti Room
Avidex employees making sense of the cables in the AV room.
Finishing the installation of the six cisterns that will collect over 10,000 gallons of water from the downspouts on the Buddha Hall.
Landscaping and Rain-scaping – September 2024
Most of the excitement is outside of the Buddha Hall! Cisterns are going in to collect rain water and trenches dug to channel rainwater to the cisterns. 60,000 square feet have been hydroseeded with native grasses and massive jute mats cover the ground to help keep the seed in place.
The first cistern goes in to capture rain water.
Crafting a Channel for Rainwater
A trench is dug to direct rain water away from the Buddha Hall.
A little more sculpting is needed on the swale on the east side of the Buddha Hall.
The west side of the Buddha Hall has been carefully sculpted to control erosion. Soon native grasses will flourish here!
Hydroseeding by Hand
Hydroseeding by hand ensures that the grass seed is evenly spread all the way to the forest edge.
These jute mats will help the grass seed stay put.
Carpeting – September 2024
Carpet is installed in the main hall and a “carpet” of grass is seeded outside.
A big jet of water hydroseeds the landscape around the Buddha Hall with natural grasses.
Pull Together Now
The crew pulls back the carpet to prepare for gluing.
Precision cutting and matching carpet sections demand constant focus.
Serene Scene – August 2024
The Buddha Hall will be a peaceful and beautiful place for all of us to practice. There are fewer power tools and heavy machinery these days, giving us greater opportunity to appreciate our new temple.
Installation of the mural was smooth and well executed!
Precision cutting and matching carpet sections demand constant focus.
Real, Big Rocks
A rock retaining wall is installed by the meter base to prevent erosion and to protect the meter base along the road.
The Last Layers – July 2024
The Buddha Hall looks closer to being finished: trim is being installed, paint applied, and gutters installed.
One of the painters applies a final coat of paint to one of the exterior doors of the Buddha Hall.
Neil aligns this door jam with many shims as he begins the installation process.
Fly, Gutter, Fly
A long gutter is hoisted for installation above the main hall of the Buddha Hall.
The First Blessing – July 10, 2024
Yangten Rinpoche led a blessing ceremony for the Buddha Hall. We were thrilled to have many visitors and guest monastics join us for this ceremony! The beautiful and resonant chanting indicates how good the acoustics will be.
The Buddha Hall blessing ceremony began with Yangten Rinpoche leading a number of chants in Tibetan and scattering rice.
Three visiting monastics from Theravada traditions offered a chant in Pali and English.
Star Spangled Compassion
We ended the ceremony with chanting Star Spangled Compassion: the dedication verses from Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life set to the tune of the Star-Spangled Banner.
A Tour – July 9-11, 2024
The outside trim is now painted, rendering the Buddha Hall even more beautiful. Yangten Rinpoche received a tour of the Buddha Hall from Venerables Chodron and Damcho during his visit, before the blessing ceremony
The Buddha Hall site is more peaceful these days, with less machinery and power tools. This crew member paints the trim around the door to the main entrance.
On the lower floor is the new library, with a side room that will serve as a meeting room and “special archive” collection.
Touring Outside
Look at that view! We hope that Yangten Rinpoche returns and enjoys the Teacher’s Wing of the Buddha Hall.
Amazing Progress on the Altar – June 2024
Work continues on the outside of the building, including components of the septic system. Most impressive is the work inside, especially on the altars. A complete set of the Tibetan Buddhist Scriptural Canon, the Kangyur and Tengyur, was taken to the Buddha Hall and installed on the altar.
Plastic Domes in the Sand Filter
Installing the plastic domes on the sand filter that will help to disperse the fluid throughout the (eventual) top layer of soil.
Tibetan Canon on the way to the Buddha Hall
Monastics and guests carry the Kangyur and Tengyur (Tibetan Buddhist Scriptures) to the Buddha Hall, where they are installed on the main altar.
Planning Altar Lights
The lights on the main altar are adjusted. They will beautifully illuminate the statues!
Roof Ornaments & More Concrete – May 2024
Excitement and inspiration came from the two-day effort to install the magnificent roof ornaments. See photos and more video here. Less flashy, but also very important, finish carpenters did beautiiful work inside, and concrete began to pour for the outdoor walkways and parking areas.
Ganjira
The stately ganjira, the central roof spire, is wheeled to its new home at the Buddha Hall.
Flying in the Dharma Wheel
The Genie boomlift turns out to be the best tool for flying the Dharma Wheel and deer to the top of the parapet over the grand entrance.
Walkways
Outdoor walkways begin to materialize as the spring weather allows good conditions for pouring concrete.
Learn from books by Ven. Thubten Chodron.
Sravasti Abbey
692 Country Lane
Newport WA 99156 USA
[email protected]
509-447-5549
Also see ThubtenChodron.org