Things I did and improved at Amidaji in 2022 and 2023 - your help is very much needed and appreciated

the new kitchen of Amidaji
in the former accomodation place

 My last post (December, 2021) in the category Amidaji temple - work

 plan and progress was related with the stove that I installed in the

 Amidado (Hall of Amida), so now I am going to tell you what I did since that time. The following information are already present on various social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, etc

 In 2022, I arranged a new kitchen in the former accommodation place and transformed the former little Hondo (Dharma Hall) into a library and accommodation place. There I installed a cooking stove on gas and many useful things. 

in Amidaji kitchen with a guest from Taiwan

In the new accommodation place I also added a good stove made of tiles which is very useful during winter. This stove is even better than that from Amidado Hall which can warm the place for the duration of a service, while the heat in the library and accommodation place lasts for many hours. 

Electricity was also added to both the new kitchen and library.

In 2023 I printed and framed ten images of various Buddhas and Enlightened Bodhisattvas, like Avalokitesvara, Mahasthamaprapta, White Tara, Green Tara, Mahakala, etc, some of them wearing Amida on the crown of their head, as well as images of Shinran Shonin, Rennyo Shonin, the seven Patriarchs (Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, T’an Luan, Tao’ch’o, Shantao, Genshin, Honen), Shotoku Taishi, and I placed them inside the Amidado Hall.

the new library and accomodation
place at Amidaji

The reason I added these sacred images around   the  main altar of Amida and on the walls of the Hall is to visually represent the 17th Vow in which Amida promised that all Buddhas praise His Name,   encouraging sentient beings to say it in faith. Thus, when one   sits in the main Hall looking at the central image of Amida Buddha, he is surrounded by all Buddhas supporting him to say the Name of Amida. The images also represent the protection given by all Buddhas to those who have faith in Amida, which is part of the ten benefits in this life. 

Dharma talks near the stove
in Amidaji library

In Jodo Shinshu temples in Japan and elsewhere it is customary to have side altars with Shinran, Rennyo, the seven Patriarchs and Shotoku Taishi (who was regarded by Shinran as an emanation of Avalokitesvara), beside the main altar which is dedicated to Amida Buddha. The only new thing I did is to add more images to suggest the protection and guidance of all Buddhas. It is important to know that Enlightened Bodhisattvas are actually Buddhas who manifest as Bodhisattvas as I clearly explained, based on the Larger Sutra, in this article (click here to read). 

I'm trying my best to beautify the temple so that visitors can be inspired to faith. It's a great chance for you to sponsor a Buddha image in the name of your dear ones that will be forever kept in the temple.

This is how Amidado (Hall of Amida) looks now

Recently I also added electricity to Amidado, so that religious services and instructions can also be given during the evening and night. People who visit Amidaji can come at any time and stay many days in retreat, so having electricity and heat is very important. 

installing electricity in Amidado (Hall of Amida)

Amidaji electricitian - Gansen Catalin
who also installed electricity in the library and kitchen

we have electricity in Amidado!

All the above as well as everything that is done at Amidaji comes from donations, so your help is very much needed and appreciated. Click here if you wish to DONATE once via PayPal or become a patron (constant supporter),

 

or here if you prefer a Bank account. 

Buying firewood is a challenge every year at Amidaji as heat is very important for continuing Dharma activities during the cold season. Also, many expenses related with local taxes, food, water, electricity, repairs, and other necesities are done monthly, so again, any help is very much welcomed and needed. Please consider supporting Amidaji especially that all Dharma activities, including books, are available for free. Believe me, its not easy to do Dharma activities for free while also maintaining a temple. The names of donors or those in whose name a donation is made are included in a dedication list in my books or in my videos. 

Yours in Namo Amida Bu,

Rev Josho Adrian Cirlea - resident monk of Amidaji temple, Romania