TRR photo David Hulse Kadampa Buddhist Nun, Chanda, foreground, turns a spade of earth at Sunday's groundbreaking ceremonies as Principal Teacher Gen Togden, left, and Administrative Director Mondrub look on. (Click for larger image)

By DAVID HULSE

GLEN SPEY - Participants shared prayers Sunday afternoon at a ceremonial groundbreaking for a 10,000-square-foot Kadampa Buddhist Temple to be built on the grounds of the meditation center off County Road 31 in Glen Spey.

About a dozen people took part in harmonic chanting of prayers as the new temple was dedicated to the pursuit of world peace.

Principal Teacher Gen Togden said the groundbreaking represented the culmination of many years of planning and fundraising and more recently months of work settling construction details before the Lumberland Planning Board.

He recalled his feeling that the right location had been found on his first sight of the Sweeney Road property came during a December sunset, last year.

The temple, peaking at 40 feet in height, is the first of several construction projects and will, with the exception of adaptations for snow loading, be similar to an existing temple in Great Britain, Togden said.

Excavation work will begIn this week and Togden said his hope is to have a roof in place before winter weather closes in.

Future construction on the 82-acre property will include a dining hall, homes for some 40 anticipated residents and accommodations for up to 150 guests.

The meditation center will offer a variety of spiritual courses both at the center and locally at the Best Western in Matamoras. For dates and times call 845/856-9000.

For more information about Kadampa Buddhism visit www.KadampaCenter.org.