Extension Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Dhammacari Vipassana Meditation Center

News from Dhammacari

Dear friends of the Sonnenthal,

now comes the long announced report about our construction progress:

Since the end of May, we have been able to continue working actively on our construction site.

The excavators were at work for a few days and pipes and cables were laid, which are necessary for the further development phases.

(We hope you can see the pictures on your devices)

In addition, the area for the foundation of Angelika’s cottage was excavated

There is a little back story to this:

During the last visit of our Most Revered Teacher Ajahn Tong in Germany (2018) we had the opportunity to show the first drafts for our expansion plans and to ask for advice. Thereby we also received explanations how the kuti’s (small houses for meditators) should be equipped…these are to be built gradually in further construction phases after completion of the large extension.
Ajahn Tong expressed that Angelika should build the first cottage for herself.
Said….done: With the building application for the extension Angelika’s Kuti was also approved.

Our special thanks go to Ellen and Karl-Heinz, who so generously gave their energy and services for the planning of the building application.

The house is now to be built in straw bale construction (wooden frames filled with densely pressed straw bales, with clay plaster on the inside and wooden cladding on the outside) before the end of the fall.

At the moment Tsun-Ning and Karl-Heinz as architects are still busy with the polishing of some details…both put a lot of energy into the elaboration of important details, so that the building at the end the individual trades are well coordinated and the construction succeeds.
For this, too, a heartfelt thank you for your tireless commitment and the generous use of your expertise.
At the end of June, in a joint effort with energetic helpers, we were able to build the first part of the ring foundation ourselves:

There was measuring and leveling…flext and worn…balanced and curved…mixed and filled.

With Tsun-Ning as construction manager, Robert, Christian, Maximiliano, Franz and Vitaly, a great team was at work to master this first construction phase.
It will be possible to do more work on our own until the fall and possibly in October and we are happy to know who would like to help.

The Extension Building

Since our last circular, the Dana for shell construction has grown by a further 16.000€. In total, the shell construction has thus grown to € 64.060 €
Lots of Metta for this generosity of all, who support and make it possible for more people to learn about the Dhamma.

69m²	Outer Wall built from layers of wooden boards	193m²
21m²	Window Areas	145m²
5m²	Roof surface made of board layers	345m²
23m²	Roof covering including roof tiles	524m²
3m²	Ceiling garden level	225m²
4m²	Ceiling ground floor	333m²
6m²	Inner wall 180 mm	385m²
10m²	Inner wall 120 mm	446m²

With an estimated total for the shell of currently about € 1,300,000, it still needs many of these gifts to make the building.
Spread over many “shoulders” it is possible.
Every contribution is welcome.

Here you can find again the list of components with the prices/m²:

Outer Wall built from layers of wooden boards	500€ / m²
Window Areas	750€ / m²
Roof surface made of board layers	400€ / m²
Roof covering including roof tiles	130€ / m²
Ceiling garden level	400€ / m²
Ceiling ground floor	400€ / m²
Inner wall 180 mm	350€ / m²
Inner wall 120 mm	250€ / m²

The amounts already include various additional costs. However, there will certainly be one or the other work, such as demolition and conversion work for the interface with the existing building, as well as costs for construction management, for example.

Who is with the 1st m²?

Who can give several m²?

Who would like to sponsor a m² together with friends?

Who would like to give one m² every month?

Who would like to pass on the possibility of giving in the circle of acquaintances?

There are many possibilities to be part of it, to become active.

Everyone is invited and called to be there, to participate…..

We will keep you informed about the current status.

Please indicate in the bank transfer as

Purpose: “Shell construction”

and the corresponding

„m²” of the building part,

that you would like to give.

Account details:
Dhammacari Vipassana Mediationszentrum e. V.
Sparkasse Erding – Dorfen
BLZ 700 519 95
Konto 101 83 903
IBAN: DE 74 7005 1995 0010 1839 03
SWIFT-BIC: BYLADEM1ERD

With Metta

Euer Dhammacari-Team

Good wishes and report from our construction site

Dear friends in the Dhamma,

all of us in the house are in retreat from December 6th to January 6th. We have reduced our tasks as much as possible in order to practice intensively.

So I’m using the time of my working meditation to give you a short report from our construction site:

The weather was kind to us and the work on the foundation went well. After the retaining wall to the slope had been concreted, the floor slab could be poured.
The highlight, however, was definitely the small earth cellar that we had included in the planning. This will serve as a storage space for fruits and vegetables. Such an earth cellar keeps the storage temperature at around 8 ° by itself.
Here are the first parts on the ground …

… and here they are already put together …

The earth cellar also received a clay layer to seal it off …. for this we got the opportunity to shovel and to stomp.The rest of the work could then be done by the machines again …

… and Robert.

Dana for the structural building

Since our last report at the end of October, a further € 17,000 of Dana for the structural construction has been received in the association’s account.

The total amount so far given for the extension in the form of Dana has thus grown to

325.769 €

In addition, a large part of the planning costs was given as Dana: above all from Ellen, who worked intensively on the construction design, but also from Karl-Heinz who contributed many hours to find the best solutions. This is an additional value of more than € 60,000 for the association.

Traditionally, the Buddhist teaching is sustained by Dana – that is, voluntary gifts from students and people who appreciate the teaching – and it is one of the highest merits to give food and shelter for meditators.

Thank you very much for all your donations.

May all who give and contribute so generously achieve Metta from all of us and bear fruits.

To date, the costs for building the foundation are at € 186,000 including the earth cellar.
In the spring, there is still remaining work to be done with lines, pipes and filling work…
as well as the construction of the foundation for Angelika’s Kuti.

Many parts become a whole

At the same time, the structural work is growing with Dana, i.e. walls, roof and windows. Dana is already in place for the following areas:

40 m²	External wall	out of	193 m²
1 m²	Window area	out of	145 m²
2 m²	Roof area	out of	345 m²
21 m²	Roof covering	out of	524 m²
5 m²	Inner wall 180 mm	out of	385 m²
9 m²	Inner wall 120 mm	out of	446 m²
0 m²	Floorceiling garden level	out of	225 m²
1 m²	Floorceiling ground level	out of	333 m²

We have listed the different components and their quantities.
When the total amount for the shell construction has been collected, the order will be placed.

Outer Wall built from layers of wooden boards	193m²	500€ / m²
Window Areas	145m²	750€ / m²
Roof surface made of board layers	365m²	400€ / m²
Roof covering including roof tiles	524m²	130€ / m²
Ceiling garden level	225m²	400€ / m²
Ceiling ground floor	333m²	400€ / m²
Inner wall 180 mm	385m²	350€ / m²
Inner wall 120 mm	446m²	300€ / m²

Various extra charges and completion costs are already included in the amounts above. But there will certainly be other costs, such as for the demolition and renovation work, or the costs of the Construction management for example, that will be added to the list later on.

Who will be there with the 1st m²?
Who can give several m²?
Who would like to sponsor a m² together with friends?
Who can give one m² every month?
Who can pass on the opportunity of giving to friends?
There are many opportunities to take part again, to be active.
Everyone is invited and called to be there, to take part …

We will keep updating you on the current status.

For your bank transfer, please state
’Rohbau’
as your purpose of transfer, and please also state the
corresponding ’m²’
of the construction part that your donation is for.

Account details:
Dhammacari Vipassana Mediationszentrum e. V.
Sparkasse Erding – Dorfen
BLZ 700 519 95
Konto 101 83 903
IBAN: DE 74 7005 1995 0010 1839 03
SWIFT-BIC: BYLADEM1ERD

Best Wishes...

In turbulent times like these, “mental hygiene” is needed more than ever.
We wish you all a lot of time to practice, to come down to the here and now, moment by moment and step by step …

… an arrival in the silence that this time at the turn of the year carries within itself …

happy days with your family and loved ones and a smooth transition into the new time.

May you be healthy and strong and patient
…may you find the real happiness.

You are welcome to get in touch if you want to start an daily or intensive retreat with Hildegard, using phone reports.

While listening
to true teachings
the hearts of those
who are receptive
become calm as a lake,
deep, clear and still.

Dhammapada V. 82

With Metta

Hildegard * Angelika * Elisabeth

Our construction site

Dear friends of meditation and the Sonnenthal,

On September 30th, the digger began the earthworks for the foundation.

During the entire planning process, we tried to protect our large birch tree.

Unfortunately, it had to be removed right at the beginning, as we had to remove a lot of the big slope for the excavation in order to avoid a collapse.

In a small area this did happen after all ….. but we were happy that no one was harmed … our devas and protective beings did take good care of us…

So in the end, the construction pit became even bigger.
But the collapsed earth could quickly be reattached so that work could continue.

Meanwhile, the concrete work for the foundation strips is going well ….

On the weekend before construction began ...

….Rainer, Fabian, Anastasia and Robert did a lot of work in preparation for the start of construction:

There was still some shrubbery to be cut back, and the wooden terrace needed to be largely dismantled, as a small strip of foundation will be needed in this area for the balconies of the extension.

…. and after all the “important” work there was also a creative task to be completed:

Anastasia and Fabian built an insect hotel from our “building materials storage”. This also serves as a privacy screen from the street to the back of the composting toilet and is a beautiful sight for everyone who comes by. We had a lot of fun with the construction and are curious to see who will move in.

Dana for the shell

Thank you very much, and metta for everyone who gave further Dana for the extension and for certain structural components.

We received a further amount from

27.875 €
on the account.

In detail, these are:
13.500 €
which were given without a specific dedication and may be used for the additional costs of the foundation.

24 m²	Outer wall
2 m²	Roof area
10 m²	Roof covering
1 m²	Inner wall 120

Since our first Dana call,
308.739 €
Dana has been given for the entire extension project.
That’s fantastic!
From this, the barn, the PV system and the new sewage treatment plant have already been built … and with our reserves that have accumulated in previous years, now also the foundation.
Here, we would like to also mention again all the manual support meditators give, when they come to help to support the growing.

We have also asked for a subsidy for energy-efficient building at the KFW-Bank and, fortunately, we have already been promised a subsidy of
max. 375.830 €
for the entire extension. This sum will be paid out once the construction work has been completed and checked.

There is still a long way to go until completion and we are moving step by step, as it is made possible by everyone who gives so generously and again and again.

A few more components are still needed for the shell.

Many parts become a whole

We have listed the different components and their quantities.
When the total amount for the shell construction has been collected, the order will be placed.

Outer Wall built from layers of wooden boards	193m²	500€ / m²
Window Areas	145m²	750€ / m²
Roof surface made of board layers	365m²	400€ / m²
Roof covering including roof tiles	524m²	130€ / m²
Ceiling garden level	225m²	400€ / m²
Ceiling ground floor	333m²	400€ / m²
Inner wall 180 mm	385m²	350€ / m²
Inner wall 120 mm	446m²	300€ / m²

Everyone is invited and called to be there, to take part …

We will keep updating you on the current status.

For your bank transfer, please state
’Rohbau’
as your purpose of transfer, and please also state the
corresponding ’m²’
of the construction part that your donation is for.

Account details:
Dhammacari Vipassana Mediationszentrum e. V.
Sparkasse Erding – Dorfen
BLZ 700 519 95
Konto 101 83 903
IBAN: DE 74 7005 1995 0010 1839 03
SWIFT-BIC: BYLADEM1ERD

Call in the time of Spring awakening

Dear friends of meditation and the Sonnenthal,

we are happy to inform you about the progress that we have made with the extension of the meditation centre so far, and about the next steps.

Two phases of construction will be possible for this year. We still need the financial means to realise them, and will give you more details about this as well as about the renewed call for Dana later in the email.

This week we was working on the side building again.

Over the past few months, a lot of the planning for the extension has been happening in the background. Our two architects Ellen and Karl Heinz, who give their services as Dana, have already worked out many details for the construction plan and have consulted other specialist planners.

Während der letzten Monate wurde im „Hintergrund“ fleißig an den Plänen für den Anbau gearbeitet. Unsere beiden Architekten Ellen und Karl Heinz, die ihre Dienste als Dana geben, haben viele Details für die Werkplanung bereits ausgearbeitet und weitere Fachplaner hinzugezogen.

Next steps

During the first construction phase in August, we plan to create the foundation with a base plate, supporting wall and an earth cellar. The costs for this are estimated at around € 195,000. This amount also includes various additional expenses that will accumulate until then.

In order to start this first phase of construction, around 40,000 € are needed in order to have planning security.

With the second construction phase starting In October, we are planning to create the shell of the building with roof and windows. This is the biggest step that has to be completed in one go. The costs for this are estimated at around € 1,100,000.

The further construction phases can then be carried out in smaller steps.

It is a giant step that we are taking with the shell of the building. Some companies have already reserved production capacities for this. If the necessary amount is available by the end of April, the order can be placed. If this is not the case by then, this construction phase will be postponed.

We have every confidence that everything will happen at exactly the right time and we remember the recommendations of our Most Venerable Ajahn Tong to always take the steps that are possible.

This is how we have proceeded up to now and unexpected doors have opened again and again.

The call goes out to everyone to participate in this great work.
To be there with all your financial and spiritual possibilities.
To tell other people about it.
To send metta to all those who give Dana.

For the first construction phase “Foundation”, another 40,000 € are needed.

Who can contribute? Who can, together with friends, relatives, colleagues, collect an amount of € 1,000 for example?
Who has the opportunity to give a larger amount?

For the second construction phase “shell construction”, a larger amount of € 1,100,000 is required.

Anyone from our circles has the opportunity to make a larger contribution?
Anyone from our circles knows people who appreciate a special project like this one and are willing to give a larger amount, or even the entire sum for it?

The bank account is:

DHAMMACARI VIPASSANA MEDITATIONSZENTRUM E. V.

SPARKASSE ERDING – DORFEN

IBAN: DE74700519950010183903

SWIFT-BIC: BYLADEM1ERD

Please reference as: “Erweiterung Dhammacari”

For the entire project, Buddha statues will be created for the Dana gifts. As we have already shared in previous emails, the artist M. Lena shows her great ability as a sculptor in making the Buddha statues.

Buddha statues are created in different sizes and designs, depending on the amount of Dana given. Here, you can witness the “birth” of one of these statues and marvel at how delicately M. Lena creates it.

This diagram shows the amount of donations that have already been received since we started this extension project.

With Metta
Your Dhammacari-Team

Dana…Buddhaimages…and the construction site

Dear friends of meditation and the Sonnenthal,

We are happy to report on the progress of our construction site:
The concrete plaster for the barn could still be laid in October. Robert, Christian, Kuzma and Artur were a top team. Together, they completed the task in about 3 days.

About two weeks ago, the carpenters set up the barn and a few days later we could start with the completion ourselves. So we laid cables, installed insulation and wall cladding together with a few helpers. Many thanks to everyone who has helped up to this point: Ajahn Phra Ofer, Robert, Christian, Kuzma, Martin, Andreas, Sabrina, Felix, Richard, Katja, Lena, Elisabeth, Lisa, Angelika, …
Despite the cold we don’t let ourselves be deterred from assembling board by board …
In the next few days we want to finish the wood paneling and the gates.

In the meantime some bills could be paid:
€19,944 for the sewage treatment plant,
€46,999 for the dredging work (parking lot, sewage treatment plant, sewer, barn substructure and access roads …),
€8,896 for the concrete foundation of the barn.
Following this, there will be the bills for the plumber with €3,199, the carpentry with around €20,000 and the electrical work including the PV system.

Thank you very much also to everyone who is giving Dana, whether as a one-time or a recurring donation or as a standing order, so that this growth is possible.

As you can see, over €180,000 has already been given.
For every amount of €1,000 or more, a Buddha statue is created; the higher the amount, the larger the Buddha statue. The graphic shows how many statues of Buddha are already coming together.
It is planned to bless the Buddha statues at the ceremonial blessing after the completion of the extension building and to present them to the sponsors.
Lena gives her skills as a sculptor and creates the Buddha statues in diligent precision work. Several work processes are necessary before a statue is completed.

We are experiencing a lot of enquiries in these troubled times and we are far from being able to meet this high demand. It shows more than ever how important it is that there are places that allow us to come back to the present moment and to experience healing.

From the gratitude and generosity of the meditators who could experience this, the Dhammacari Vipassana Meditation Centre has been able to come into existence and to grow.
Also this current major growth step is only possible thanks to the Dana that we are all giving to this project.
It is a special kind of effort.
Only through the joy of giving and appreciation will this place and the Dhamma become accessible to many more people.

If you like to donate, please indicate the reference of your transfer as follows:

„Extension Dhammacari“

Account details:

DHAMMACARI VIPASSANA MEDITATIONSZENTRUM E. V.
SPARKASSE ERDING – DORFEN
IBAN: DE74700519950010183903
SWIFT-BIC: BYLADEM1ERD

With Metta

Your Dhammacari-Team

Construction project started in September

Dear friends in the Dhamma,

we have got some good news for you:

On the 10th of September we received the full building permit for the expansion of the meditation centre.

This is great because a few points regarding fire protection still needed to be clarified beforehand with the authorities.

In the last few weeks and months, many decisions have been made, details have been polished and various solutions weighed against each other …. craftsmen have been contacted and offers obtained.

We have had lively exchanges with our architects – Karl-Heinz and Ellen – and Ellen is still busy with the drawings for the last details of the barn to be passed on to the builders.

At this point, I would like to take this opportunity to thank both of you very much for the generous contribution of your architectural work, which you are giving to the project as Dana.

On the Sunday – the 13th – before the construction started, we had a small ground-breaking ceremony.

As planned, construction work began on Monday, September 14th:
The excavator company moved in with some machines to create the parking space and the area for the barn, and also to prepare the installation of the new sewage treatment plant.
As you can see in the photos, a few cubic meters of earth were moved, a trench was pulled from the terrace to the meadow, and cables and pipes were laid …

Beginning of last week the 4 large concrete tanks for the new “small sewage was delivered and lifted into the large, prepared excavation pit.

After completion of the sewage treatment plant, the foundation for the barn will be concreted. The barn itself is planned to be constructed in October. With your support, we want to do the concrete plastering and the wooden planking on the outer walls ourselves. Builders have already contacted us to offer their help. Nevertheless, we would be delighted if there were still helpers who would be happy to give their energy as Dana.
Please contact us by phone or email for further information

And as you can see here, there is a lot of meditation practice happening in parallel with the construction work.

Status as of September 23rd:

Status as of September 29th:

Since our last message, the Dana on the account of our association has also grown. Thank you very much. It is great to see so many of our Sangha contributing in this way to promote growth in the Dhamma.

Please indicate the purpose of your Dana as follows:

„Extension Dhammacari“

Account details:

DHAMMACARI VIPASSANA MEDITATIONSZENTRUM E. V.
SPARKASSE ERDING – DORFEN
IBAN: DE74700519950010183903
SWIFT-BIC: BYLADEM1ERD

With metta

Your Dhammacari-Team

We continue…

Dear friends of meditation and the Sonnenthal,

We are happy to inform you that we have been accommodating meditators again since Friday. However, the hygiene requirements currently only allow a slightly smaller number of participants, so unfortunately, we cannot give a place to everyone who wants to come.

The last two months have flown by and a lot has happened:

We were given a small used garden shed, which we have almost completely rebuilt in the meantime. Another small area that somewhat alleviates our lack of space.

We are still broadcasting our evening chanting once a week via zoom, usually on Sundays. A small online Sangha has already developed and regularly participates in it. We only send the access details to the group of people that have registered for it. If you would like to receive an invitation to this event regularly, simply send us an email.

The planning for the large extension has now also been completed and has already been submitted to the district office for approval.

Our architects have worked with us with great commitment to create a plan that has been refined with many details to accommodate our growing needs. So in the end, the planning stage has taken more time than expected.

But now we are all the more pleased because the extension naturally fits with the existing building and a harmonious overall structure can be created.

This creates a large dining room and a kitchen on the garden floor. An entrance hall, an apartment for Hildegard, a reporting room and office on the ground floor, and a large meditation room on the upper floor, together with 8 additional rooms on the ground floor and first floor.

Here in the house, we are enjoying the design model that was built by Cora:

The next steps will be to get offers for the barn and for the sewage treatment plant. After the planning has been approved, we would like to accomplish these two parts of the project this year. With regards to the extension of the house, the next step is going to be the implementation plan.

Even if it is very urgent for us, the extension will not be built until next year.

Current events in the world make retreats like this more important than ever in order to create and maintain a clear mind.

Funding is still required to implement the project. Dana has been given generously in the past few months, as you can see in the following graphic:

In our previous emails we had already announced that a Buddha statue will be created for every Dana amount of 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 … etc. The buddha statues will be presented and blessed as part of the blessing ritual of the extension once it is completed.

Lena is already working hard on the Buddha statues: