Maitreya Statue

The Maitreya project wants to build the world's largest statue. It is to be a representation of the future Buddha, the Maitreya Buddha. The height of the proposed monument is, at 150 metres, the equal of the great pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. It is to be an eighth wonder of the world at an estimated cost of 150 million US Dollars.

However, it the statue will not be built in Bodhgaya and the website of the Maitreya project says that "The statue will be located at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, in northern India close to the place of the historical Buddha's passing away.

Whilst the idea of such a statue is in itself quite awe inspiring the notion of constructing it in Bodh Gaya (which was earlier the preferred site) appeared to me to raise some issues that needed to be discussed. The main issues that concerned were: Were all sections of the local community being consulted? Who decided whether the project benefited Bodh Gaya? Does constructing such a statue benefit Buddhism.

Melbourne, August 20, 2002. It is now clear that the Maitreya Project is almost certainly on the move to UP. The latest issue of the Full Moon Newsletter (Vol. II.2 - June / July 2002 ) contains a Progress Report by Peter Kedge, Director and CEO of the project in which he says that: "Maitreya Project has been offered a number of beautiful sites in the vicinity of Kushinagar.