This month, we are pleased to inform readers that we’ve made considerable progress in our search for the contractor who will construct the new Avalokiteshvara Hall. We have narrowed our options down to the final two contractors.
Choosing the contractor best suited for this reconstruction project is important to us for the sake of both the Thousand-Hand Avalokiteshvara statue and the Mahayana Temple community. The grand statue, carefully hand-gilded by parishioner Zi Xai Li, would only be appropriately housed in a temple as inspiring as itself. It is our belief that our monastics and parishioners, who have meritoriously contributed to the Mahayana Temple, deserve a beautiful space for practicing Buddhism. We hope that other visitors, too, will enjoy seeing a new building that evokes the reverence that our retreat should represent.
We are confident that both of the contractors being considered possess the skill and expertise necessary for excellent construction. Still, we must determine which one can better understand our vision for the new temple, and bring to life the experience that our monastics, parishioners, and other visitors deserve to enjoy. The new building must complement the devotion represented by the grand Thousand-Hand Avalokiteshvara statue. Furthermore, as the first of many new buildings in our plans, the Avalokiteshvara Hall will set the tone for the remainder of the reconstruction.
In our ongoing final deliberation meetings with the contractors, we are discussing various practical considerations. One example is the timeframe that each contractor is expecting for the project. Because the Avalokiteshvara Hall construction will be the first of many, knowing its estimated start and end times is crucial for long-term planning. Another important factor we’re considering is each contractor’s experience with building Buddhist temples and other similar structures. Having a prior understanding of Buddhist architectural styles will greatly benefit the contractor crafting our vision for the new building.
We hope to finalize our decision and sign a contract by early February. Updates will be shared as progress continues to unfold. Readers anticipating the news can sign up for our newsletter to receive emails about blog posts and other temple information. Those who wish to support the reconstruction may contribute donations to our PayPal or Venmo accounts. We extend our gratitude to all readers and donors.
