Annexure Three

Over the last 26 centuries, the teaching of Gotama the Buddha has influenced the lives of billions of people around the world. However in India his non-sectarian, universal teaching was gradually polluted, corrupted and forgotten.

Sayagyi U Ba Khin, the great Vipassana meditation master of Myanmar, had a strong volition that the Buddha’s teaching should return to India. This was the inspiration for his foremost disciple, Acharya Goenkaji, to start teaching Vipassana in India in 1969. The practice of Vipassana is the essence of the Buddha's teaching and the Global Pagoda in Mumbai will reclaim this essential legacy for his homeland, India. Since Acharya Goenka started teaching Vipassana, thousands of ten-day residential retreats have been held. Till now,134 residential Vipassana centres have been established around the world and new ones are coming up in increasing number. One more important centre is being built in Gorai near Mumbai adjacent to the Global Pagoda.

The Global Pagoda will be the most visible symbol of this legacy. This historic monument, now under construction, will be 325 feet tall and will shine in all its golden resplendence on the skyline of Mumbai, the most populous city and the commercial capital of India.

About half the work of this huge monument is already complete. The dome is complete. This is the biggest stone dome in the world unsupported by any pillars. The sacred relics of the Buddha have been enshrined securely on top of the dome. There is going to be one more dome on top of the already constructed dome. This upper dome will also provide for secure enshrinement of the relics.

The pagoda will inject fresh vitality into the spread of Vipassana. It will portray the Buddha as we find him in his original teaching—a great physician and research scientist.

For centuries to come the Pagoda will help to preserve and promote the technique of Vipassana, a process of mental purification through self-observation, the invaluable ancient cultural heritage of India. People from all over the world, belonging to different castes and communities, from different religious backgrounds, will come together to mediate in the huge meditation hall. Dhamma brings people together. Dhamma never divides people.

The pagoda complex will also house a meditation centre, Dhamma Pattana, with an individual residence and an individual meditation cell for each participant. Serious meditators will have the opportunity to meditate in the pious atmosphere of the sacred relics of the Buddha. Acharya Goenkaji plans to give 90 day residential courses here. However, in the beginning there will be ten-day courses and other serious long courses. Dhamma Pattana will ensure that the Global Pagoda remains a living monument spreading the light of Dhamma.

This monument will remind the people of India that they lost the invaluable teaching of the Buddha for centuries. Now that it has returned to India after a long gap and with much effort, they must try their best to preserve it.

The Global Pagoda has a dome, 280 feet wide, which is bigger than any masonry dome in the world, greater than St Peter’s in Rome and much bigger than the dome of Gol Gumbaj in Bijapur in India.

The pillarless hall under the dome of the Global Pagoda, seating 8000 people, rests on an octagonal platform and solid stone foundation. A huge approach staircase is being built. Of the two smaller pagodas of 60 feet height each, one is already ready and the other will be ready soon. The other small pagoda will contain meditation cells.

Ancient and proven Indian stone technology is being combined with modern engineering principles, to create a structure designed to last thousands of years.

Cheques and bank drafts should be payable at Mumbai and drawn in favour of Global Vipassana Foundation, A/c No. 11244, Bank of India, Stock Exchange Branch, Mumbai, India.

(No cash remittances please.)