Vijayaloka: The Next 50 Years
Stage One Fundraising Target: $1 million
Although our Development Application covers all three stages, we are currently fundraising only for stage one. Stage one is estimated to cost $1 million.
Over the last several years we have been able to build up a reserve around $285,000. We have also have $215,000 available to borrow.
So far we have raised $66,000, and those who have signed up for the Work A Day For The Dharma have pledged an additional $64,000 throughout the campaign.
This means we have $370,000 still to raise.
Work A Day For The Dharma
Vijayaloka is a place for spiritual practice, so we wanted to base its fundraising campaign in spiritual principles. We knew there were certain things we wanted to avoid: we didn't want to start charging for our classes, or to just ask people for a certain amount of money that might only be possible for the wealthy. We're setting up Vijayaloka for the whole sangha for the next fifty years, so we want the whole sangha involved in creating it.
Inspired by our friends at Future Dharma Fund, our primary fundraising campaign is Work A Day For The Dharma. We are encouraging the whole sangha to work out how much money they earn per day, and contribute that amount per month; so every month, you are giving one day of yourself towards our goal.
The Triratna Buddhist Community has always emphasised that we can all practice fully no matter what the circumstances of their life: it doesn't matter if you're a monk, a CEO, or a full-time parent. Commitment is primary, lifestyle is secondary. Most people practicing in our community do so alongside regular employment, spending most of our time at work. Work A Day For The Dharma gives us an opportunity to bring our practice to this part of our life, to live out right livelihood much more directly. We encourage everyone taking part to not just think of it as a monthly donation, but to actually on one day each month engage imaginatively with the idea that you are working that day for the dharma and each other.
Based on the median earnings for a person working full-time in greater Sydney, if around 103 people participated in Work A Day For The Dharma for 18 months, we would raise the full amount we need. There are 107 mitras and Order members in the sangha, so this is an ambitious but attainable goal.
By suggesting a day's income, the suggestion scales according to how much each person earns. But we know there are some who will not be able to give the suggested amount. Many people in this situation are already giving their time so we also invite you, if a day's worth of income feels too much to give, to take off how the time you are already working for the dharma through volunteering. Also if you are already contributing to other dharma projects, we invite you to deduct those from the suggested donation.
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Donor Stories
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Vijayaloka is a beautiful place where I’ve been lucky enough to spend a fair bit of time over the years. It has an amazing mix of access to nature and access to the Dharma... but the old girl can do with a bit of sprucing up!
I am donating monthly because I’d love to see more people have opportunities to discover the Dharma at Vijayaloka the way I have, because it has been so transformative over the years.
Working a Day for the Dharma has been a beautiful opportunity to actually stop and think about making the most of how I need to spend a day (working!) but also to bring in how I want to be able to spend more of my time (following the Dharma). In my work as an IT Solution Architect, I am deliberately bringing the two together and it has been a really useful way to extend my practice of the cushion (where it so often stops otherwise).
My practice is to bring more of the ethical precepts to work, particularly mindfulness and truthful communication, but of course that doesn’t make my day perfect, just a little better 🙂. It is really helpful to remind myself more actively throughout the day why I am working, and that I can improve how I do it too.
– Duncan H
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I am donating monthly to the Vijayaloka Project because I want to ensure more and more people have access to a place that can support their meditation practice.
I practice meditation and it’s a very good way to gain wisdom and help understand the Buddha’s teachings. Even though I don’t live close to Sydney, I deeply feel the importance of Vijayaloka. It's my hope that this gesture will help others, possibly giving them an environment to one day reach Enlightenment.
– Melissa Y
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I have pledged to Work a Day for the Dharma and it helps me get a measure of what I can afford to be giving to Vijiyaloka, whilst I go about the business of earning money.
It's also been a good way of dedicating and integrating the Dharma in my life. On full moon days, I put emphasis on exemplifying the precepts in my work as a special effects animator. My aspiration is to dedicate all my days to Dharma.
Why have I pledged to Work a Day for the Dharma? Everytime I go on a retreat to Vijayaloka, I am overcome with a sense of loving gratitude; I hold it in great esteem and affection. All the work that has gone into it over the years, and the wonderful land that surrounds it. We are so lucky to have this facility and I want to make it better for the future generations of Dharma practitioners.
– Jinavajra
Other Ways To Give
We know some people might prefer to give in other ways. This could include one-off donations or volunteering particular skills that will support the project. To discuss any ways you would like to contribute, please reach out to us.