The Buddha statue arrived in late October 2023. Weighing around 300kg, it was clear our new Buddha Shakyamuni would not be fully supported in the existing shrine cabinet, so we began fundraising to build a new home for him. Very quickly, and due to the kindness and generosity of many kind benefactors, we had raised the full amount. Dominic began the first phase of work on the new cabinet in November, and then during the January retreats moved up to Madhyamaka KMC to begin the second phase of construction within the main meditation room itself.

While the beautiful cabinet was being constructed by Dominic and his team using a light maple wood, Kadampa artist Jessica Finney refreshed the paintwork and added jewels to many of the statues in preparation for the transition to their new home. The statues of Buddha Shakyamuni’s two disciples, Shariputra and Maudgalyanaputra, have long been a distinguishing feature of the shrine at Madhyamaka KMC, and we were delighted when it was decided they would stay. We also had the good fortune to receive a new Dorje Shugdan statue for the shrine, and will be updating it with two new Kadampa stupas very soon.