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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}
[[File:Maigtreya_Project_Promotional_Poster.jpg|thumb|right|Computer-generated rendering of the Maitreya Project Statue as originally proposed.]]
The '''Maitreya Project''' is an international organisation, operating since 1990,<ref name='maitreyaproject.org/en/updates/2007-11'>{{cite news
| first=Peter
| last=Kedge
| title=Maitreya Project Update, November 2007
| date=November 2007
| publisher= Maitreya Project International I.O.M.
| url =http://www.maitreyaproject.org/en/updates/2007-11.html
| work =Maitreya Project International website
| accessdate = 2007-11-21 }}</ref>
which intends to construct statues of [[Maitreya]] [[Buddhahood|Buddha]] in India and perhaps elsewhere. Initial plans were for a 152-metre (500 ft) colossal statue, to be built in either [[Kushinagar]] or [[Bodhgaya]]. These plans have since changed, and the Maitreya Project now intends to construct relatively modest statues in both towns. The project was initiated by the [[Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition]], an organisation within the [[Gelug]] school of [[Tibetan Buddhism]].

==Laying of the foundation stone in Kushinagar==

[[File:Maitreya Project display.jpg|thumb|right|Maitreya Project Relic Roadshow.]]

On Friday 13 December 2013 the State Government of Uttar Pradesh handed over approximately {{convert|275|acre|ha|lk=on}} of land for the site of the Maitreya Project in Kushinagar. The land is immediately adjacent to the [[Kushinagar#Parinirvana Temple|Parinirvana Temple]] denoting the place where Buddha Shakyamuni passed into [[Parinirvana]], and the Rambhar Stupa which marks the holy site of Buddha’s cremation.

On that same day, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, [[Akhilesh Yadav]], presided over a foundation stone laying ceremony on this land. Maitreya Project's Spiritual Director, [[Thubten Zopa Rinpoche|Lama Zopa Rinpoche]] and the Board of Trustees of the Maitreya Project Trust attended as state guests.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mandala.fpmt.org/2013/laying-the-foundation-stone-on-maitreya-project-land/|publisher=FPMT|accessdate=29 December 2014|title=Laying the Foundation Stone on Maitreya Project Land|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720101926/http://mandala.fpmt.org/2013/laying-the-foundation-stone-on-maitreya-project-land/|archive-date=20 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://fpmt.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/12/maitreya-project-kushinagar-news/MP-Kushinagar-Dec-13-2013.pdf|publisher=FPMT|accessdate=29 December 2014|title=Announcement Maitreya Project Kushinagar}}</ref>

==Finances==
[[File:Maitreya Project International Calif Gross Ann Rev 2001-2008.png|thumb|right|Maitreya Project International, California entity, Gross Annual Revenue 2001–2008 in US$<ref name="CalGRA">{{Cite web
| title = Registry Search Feature
| work = Registry of Charitable Trusts (RCT)
| publisher = Office of the Attorney General, State of California
| url = http://rct.doj.ca.gov/MyLicenseVerification/Search.aspx?facility=Y
| accessdate = 2010-06-22}}
</ref>]]
The Project reports for 1990–2008 outgoings of more than US$20 million and investment of more than US$11 million.<ref name="MPRecPay1990-2008">{{cite web
| title = summary
| work = Maitreya Project website
| publisher = Maitreya Project International
| url = http://www.maitreyaproject.org/downloads/MPRecPay1990-2008.pdf
| format = PDF
| accessdate = 2013-01-24}}</ref>

Nita Ing has taken over responsibility for the funding of the statue in Bodhgaya.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kedge|first=Peter|title=Letter from Mr Peter Kedge|url=http://www.maitreyaproject.org/en/#a3|publisher=Maitreya Project}}</ref>

==Criticism==
There has been criticism in the press about some aspects of the Project,<ref name='csmonitor.com/2007/0910/p06s02-wosc'>{{cite news | first=Daniel | last=Pepper | title=Indian farmers oppose giant Buddha statue | date=2007-09-10 | publisher=The First Church of Christ, Scientist | url =http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0910/p06s02-wosc.html | work =The Christian Science Monitor }}</ref><ref name='timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/33810155.cms'>{{cite news | first=Abdul | last=Qadir | title=Heavy police deployment made for Kalchakra | date=2003-01-09 | publisher=Times Internet Limited | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/33810155.cms | work =The Times of India | accessdate = 2008-03-04 }}</ref><ref name='dharmalife.com/issue15/contemplating_navel'>{{cite news | title=Contemplating the Navel | publisher=Friends of the Western Buddhist Order | url=http://www.dharmalife.com/issue15/contemplating_navel.html | work=Dharma Life, issue 15 | accessdate=2008-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402230734/http://www.dharmalife.com/issue15/contemplating_navel.html | archive-date=2 April 2008 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name='www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070920/FOREIGN/109200032/1003/foreign'>{{cite news | first= Daniel| last=Pepper | title=Villagers fight plan for giant Buddha | date=2007-09-20 | publisher= News World Communications, Inc.| url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070920/FOREIGN/109200032/1003/foreign |
work=The Washington Times| accessdate = 2008-04-27}}</ref><ref name='airmail_india-Questioning'>{{cite web
|url=http://www.wildriverreview.com/airmail_india-maitreya.php
|title=Bodhi Blues — A Year in India: Questioning The Maitreya Project: What would the Buddha do?
|accessdate=2008-03-04
|last=Falcone
|first=Jessica
|work=Wild River Review
|publisher=Wild River Review
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211164119/http://www.wildriverreview.com/airmail_india-maitreya.php
|archive-date=2008-02-11
|url-status=dead
}}</ref><ref name='airmail_india-What would'>{{cite web
|url=http://www.wildriverreview.com/airmail_india.php
|title=Bodhi Blues — A Year in India: What would the Buddha Do? The Debate Continues...
|accessdate=2008-03-04
|last=Falcone
|first=Jessica
|work=Wild River Review
|publisher=Wild River Review
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209213314/http://www.wildriverreview.com/airmail_india.php
|archive-date=2008-02-09
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> including the compulsory acquisition, under "India's [[Land Acquisition Act]]", by the State Government<ref name='maitreyaproject.org/en/updates/2007-11'/> of {{convert|660|acre|km2}} of private land, homes and small farms; which are intended to be leased to the Project, for construction of the statue and related infrastructure, including "landscaped park housing a cathedral, monastery, convent, guesthouse, library and food halls...".<ref name='ArosX80F_Maitreya rev'>{{cite web |url=http://www.arosltd.com/searchresults.php |title=X80F_Maitreya revised.pdf |accessdate=2008-03-04 |format=PDF |work=Aros Architects website |publisher=Aros Architects }}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
Peter Kedge, former Director and CEO of the Maitreya Project has posted a number of replies to these criticisms.<ref name='maitreyaproject.org/en/updates/2007-11'/><ref name='maitreya update'>{{cite web | first=Peter | last=Kedge | url=http://www.maitreyaproject.org/en/updates/2007-09.html | title=Maitreya Project, Latest Update, September 2007 |accessdate=2007-11-10 |work=Maitreya Project International website: Maitreya Project Update |publisher=Maitreya Project International I.O.M.}}</ref><ref name='maitreyaproject.org/en/updates/2009-07.html'>{{cite news | first=Peter | last=Kedge | title=Maitreya Project Status & Fact Reference, September 2009 | date=September 2009 | publisher=Maitreya Project International I.O.M. | url =http://www.maitreyaproject.org/en/updates/2009-07.html | work =Maitreya Project International website | accessdate = 2009-09-26 }}</ref>

Following the 1,262nd day of "peaceful [[dharna]]", in August 2010, by the majority of local farmers against the compulsory acquisition of their farms, the Cabinet Secretary of Uttar Pradesh announced a reconsideration of support for the Project.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Manjul
| first = Tarannum
| title = Farmers’ protests may drive away Maitreya Buddha project to Bihar
| work = The Indian Express
| publisher = The Indian Express Limited
| date = 2010-08-24
| url = http://www.indianexpress.com/news/farmers-protests-may-drive-away-maitreya-buddha-project-to-bihar/664116/0
| accessdate = 2012-07-04}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Academic Papers==
Falcone, Jessica. 2011. “[https://info-buddhism.com/The_Buddhist_Lama_and_the_Indian_Farmer-Negotiating_Modernity-and_Tradition-Falcone_Jessica.html The Buddhist Lama and the Indian Farmer: Negotiating Modernity and Tradition in the Development Plans for Kushinagar, India.]” In ''Inequality in a Globalizing World: Perspectives, Processes, and Experiences,'' edited by Sangeeta Parashar Nandikotkur and Yong Wang, 107-117. Dubuque, IA: Kendall-Hunt Publishing.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Maitreya Project}}

*[http://www.maitreyaproject.org/en/index.html Maitreya Project website]
*[https://www.youtube.com/user/maitreyaproject Videos posted on YouTube by Maitreya Project]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051111102536/http://wm9.easystream.co.uk/maitreya/dec04/largestStatue_384k.wmv BBC Documentary]
*Pepper, Daniel [http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=42,4830,0,0,1,0 Giant Buddha's tough love will drive out poor] [[The Scotsman]], 9 September 2007 on The Buddhist Channel
*Aros Architects [https://web.archive.org/web/20040905021028/http://www.arosltd.com/projects.php?id=24 Kushingar Masterplan] with location map and simulated aerial view
*[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/fearing-unrest-up-govt-scales-down-maitreya-buddha-project/795605/ Fearing unrest, UP govt scales down Maitreya Buddha project] ''Indian Express'', Thu 26 May 2011.

{{Colossal Buddha statues}}
{{Statues in India}}

[[Category:Colossal Buddha statues]]
[[Category:Indian art]]
[[Category:Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition]]
[[Category:Proposed statues in India]]
[[Category:Buddhism in India]]
[[Category:Statues in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Colossal statues in India]]
[[Category:Maitreya]]

Maitreya Project - Revision history

imported>Randy Kryn: /* External links */ italics