April 15, 2014
As I write this letter to you, I find my heart heavy. I’m not accustomed to this and in many ways it goes against long standing tradition.. however I have taught you all to follow your hearts and trust in the dhamma and so now I must do the same.
The Blue Lotus Temple is in crisis and I need your help.
Since before I even became a Monk at Age 11, I knew I had one goal in my life: to add more love to the world. That’s all I’ve ever done—I wake up each day and look around and ask myself how can I best serve, give and add more love in the world.
By asking that simple question and striving each day to fulfill this goal, I’ve traveled around the world and been given incredible opportunity to serve. I’ve met all of you and you’ve expanded my heart as much as I hope I have opened yours. Together we’ve gone far beyond my wildest dreams and by cultivating our Buddha nature and being relentlessly focused on our spiritual practice, I know as a result we’ve changed the world.
The Blue Lotus Temple came to be as a result. We built this spiritual home for us to nurture ourselves and support our spiritual practice and to serve as base camp for our humanitarian efforts and meditation teaching around the world. The temple serves so many people, more than you will ever know. The viral reach of our adding more love is not measurable.
The Temple is in financial crisis. We simply can no longer rely upon a donation basket being passed around at each meditation, nor can we hope that classes and workshops fill up. It’s just not working, it’s not enough to support our efforts and I am fearful that the Blue Lotus Temple will not be sustainable long term.
The numbers are simple. We need $7000 per month to stay open. We are currently receiving $2000 per month in pledges. I NEED YOUR IMMEDIATE SUPPORT. I’m so uncomfortable asking, so know that because I am, this is real. Even if it’s $5 dollars, $10 dollars.. whatever you can do.. we need ongoing monthly pledges. We CANNOT keep relying on the baskets… it’s not sustainable and the work of the Blue Lotus is to vital to not be on a solid foundation. PLEASE TAKE THIS MOMENT, right now, and ask yourself if you’ve received any benefit, any peace, any joy from the Blue Lotus Temple, please please please help us thrive. SIGN UP NOW, I’ve attached the form or you may go to www.bluelotustemple.org/donate and sign up for a monthly ongoing pledge.
We must become sustainable thru monthly pledges and I believe we can. Let me break it down for you…If people donated only $10 per month, that’s 500 people. We easily have more than 500 people a month using the temple. If each person gave $20 a month, that’s 250 people. If each person gave $50 a month, that’s only 100 people.
I know money is hard to come by, I know this is a touchy subject and people don’t like to be asked. I would love more than anything to not bring a financial conversation into our spiritual practice and home—but the reality of life is that the temple has needs that must be met. Please consider helping. $10 a month is not even two trips to Starbucks. ☺
I know you will help if you can, and if you can’t, I want you to know with all my heart you are welcome and will be supported and loved as always.
The price of admission to the Blue Lotus Temple always remains the same.. your willing desire to add more love to the world. That’s it.
Please contact me directly with any questions of conerns. My wish, that you be well, happy and peaceful.
Bhante Sujatha