This year the center expanded its capacity with the construction of a 34-room two-story dorm which can accommodate up to 80 people. The building includes a two-floor library, gift shop, and office as well as larger rooms for families wishing to stay together. The new dorm will enable us to plan retreats during our colder seasons. Some topics will include The Way of the Life of the Bodhisattva, Nyungne fasting and purification, as well as possibly Tsa Lung/Tummo.
To accommodate visiting teachers such as His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche and high lamas and teachers, a seven-bedroom and eightbath guest residence was constructed with sitting room, kitchen and dining areas. In order to satisfy the water needs for the large dorm, a new pump house was built as well as a large leach field. Another leach field is also required for a new bath house for the tent camping area which was expanded to total one hundred tents.
Speaking of the water system, this year we had some specific costs relating with our septic system. During retreat we had to pump out our septic system at a cost of about $25,000. On the other hand, because of the efforts of our resident monk staff and including the help from March through June of a group of volunteer ex-monks who traveled to the center from New York City on weekends, the center was able to save at least $500,000 on contractor and labor costs, possibly more. Still, the total cost of our projects nears $2 million.