New facilities at Bodhgaya Construction of Public Toilets and Showers: LBDFI is committed to improving the facilities for pilgrims and local people at all the sacred sites of the Buddhist Heritage of India, the Aryadesha. As a first step in this programme, the Foundation has constructed and opened a new public toilet and shower facility in Bodhgaya close to the Mahabodhi temple complex. This was opened to the public in a brief ceremony in February 2007 and is fully staffed by a local caretaker family who will be funded annually to take care of this facility.

Butterlamp Houses in Bodhgaya Offering butter lamps at sacred sites has always been important to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. However, the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee asked that the burning of butter lamps be moved from directly beneath the Bodhi Tree, as the health of the tree was beginning to suffer due to the large number of pilgrims making such offerings. Over a period of three years, from 2003 to 2005, a series of six dedicated facilities were constructed to the South of the Mahabodhi Temple. The spacious houses make it possible to offer 50,000 butter lamps each day.

Bodhgaya World Peace Bell Each time this bell rings out in Aryadesha, motherland of Sakyamuni, may the sound of Dharma echo throughout all universes, reviving the teachings of the Bhagavan in the midst of the Kaliyuga, and sustaining the lineage of Awakened Ones with its eloquent Lion's Roar. May the melodies of the Dharma Bell reach the myriad Buddha Realms as our prayer filled with faith in the Three Jewels, evoking the vibrant power of perfect enlightenment to bless all beings wandering in Jambudvdpa. Just as the sun dawns above Vajrasana and Maha Vajra Gandola, radiating waves of light throughout the field of space, may the sound of Dharma arise in the center of the heart, spreading waves of blessings that awaken awareness. Here the formless body of enlightenment becomes embodied, uniting the vastness of the outer cosmos and the inner depths of all beings through the transmission of sacred sound. The miraculous Voice of Sambhogakaya rings out, enlivening the sacred mandala of Kâya, Vaca, Citta of Nirmanakaya, spreading the 84,000 teachings of prajnâ and karunâ, which clear the poisonous kleshas that forge the chains of karma binding beings of the three realms. May one and all dwell forever in the perfect liberation of Moksa. In the year 1999, 2,544 years after the Lord Buddha reached Perfect Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, this Dharma Bell was created by Tarthang Rinpoche, Kun-dga' dGe-legs Ye-shes rDo-rje, Head Lama of the Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Center. Born in eastern Tibet in the land of 'Gu-log in 1935, Tarthang Rinpoche arrived in America as a refugee in 1968. In 1989 he inaugurated the Annual rNying-ma sMon-lam Chen-mo Ceremony at Bodh Gaya. This bell is his offering to the most sacred site in the world, in gratitude to his teachers, his fellow countrymen of Tibet, and the people of Äryadesha. May this Dharma Bell, precious symbol of Buddhav'cana, remain until the advent of Maitreya Buddha to the Vajrasana. Dedicated to World Peace, the longevity of the blessings of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha on this earth, and to the peace and happiness of the 100 million beings who perished in the tortured nightmares of the 20th century's violent tragedies. Sarvam Mangalam Jayanu-Ho Inscription on the Bodh Gaya World Peace Bell

On October 10, 2000, members of the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee were approached to inform them of plans to create a World Peace Bell. Describing the inspiration for the bell, its design, and its purpose, they were asked to accept this gift to the site of the Buddha´s enlightenment. This dialogue continued through the spring of 2002, when two Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Centre representatives to travel to India to complete the arrangements in person and oversee the bell´s installation. The bell was shipped from Germany to India in August, arriving in Calcutta. It was stored in a gated area until early November, when final approval was received to place it in the meditation park adjacent to the great Mahabodhi Temple.

A third TNMC representative familiar with heavy construction now travelled to Bodh Gaya to work out the complex details of moving and installing a structure of this size and weight. By November 21, the concrete piers for the bell foundation had been poured and the grade beam completed, and by December 11, the bell had been moved to its final location. The work of installation continued day and night. On December 13th at 5 AM, the sound of the bell resonated throughout the area for the first time, announcing that day's opening of the Mahabodhi Temple.

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