Talk:Maitreya Project/Draft Rewrite

Maitreya Project plans to construct a 152 metre bronze statue of Maitreya Buddha, in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, along with charitable education and healthcare facilities. Maitreya Project is designing the statue to last for 1,000 years.

Whilst the Kushinagar project is still in the planning and development stages, the Project currently operates a charitable pilot school in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India.

Maitreya Buddha is prophesised to be the future Buddha, and is recognised by Buddhists as a symbol of love. Maitreya means 'loving-kindness', derived from 'maitri' which is Sanskrit for 'love'.

Maitreya Project has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government of Uttar Pradesh, where the Kushinagar Special Area Development Authority (KSADA) has been created to oversee the development of the area. Maitreya Project holds 2 seats on the KSADA Board.

Legal Structure
Maitreya Project’s legal affiliation with the FPMT is currently pending.

Maitreya Project Entities in India
 * Maitreya Project Trust is a registered Ttrust in Uttar Pradesh
 * Maitreya Project Society is a registered Society in Bihar

Maitreya Project International (MPI) Entities Outside of India
 * MPI Isle of Man is a registered company limited by guarantee
 * MPI, Hong Kong Ltd is registered as a company limited by guarantee
 * Maitreya Project Pte Ltd Singapore is 100% owned by MPI Isle of Man
 * MPI, USA is a registered, non-profit 501c(3), charitable body incorporated in California USA
 * MPI, Taiwan operates as a division of the FPMT Foundation in Taiwan
 * MPI, France is registered as an Association Law 1901 in France
 * MPI, Australia is registered as an Association in Australia
 * Stichting Maitreya Project International is registered as a Foundation in The Netherlands.

The Maitreya Universal Education Project
The Maitreya Universal Education Project (MUEP) owns and operates a charitable school in Bodhgaya, Bihar, which currently has around 400 pupils. In the evening, informal classes are offered for up to 130 children and adults who cannot attend in the daytime. The school occupies a two storey building on a ¾ acre site about 2 km from the centre of Bodhgaya. No fees are charged and the school provides uniforms, books, meals and health care.

In addition to academic instruction, the schools curriculum emphasises ethical and spiritual development.

Maitreya Project Healthcare
Maitreya Project plans to create charitable public health programmes in Bodhgaya and Kushinagar with the intention of supplementing the medical services already provided by the government. The project intends offer treatments based on Ayurvedic, Tibetan, and allppathic medical systems and provide surgical and other procedures.

Artwork for the Maitreya Statue
Work on the life-size prototype for the Maitreya statue began in Taiwan in 1997. The art of the prototype utilises the traditional proportions of the Buddha's form, known as Sor, in Tibetan. At slightly more than one metre high, this sculpture will form the basis for the one hundred and fifty-two metre Maitreya statue.

Maitreya Project has employed industry specialists to develop methods for retaining the form of the prototype when scaled up to 152 metres. This requires 3D computer software, laser scanners, digital video technology and computer controlled manufacturing techniques.

The statue's 'skin' will be cast in bronze plates approximately 2 x 2 metres in size. To achieve this, the computer model of the statue must be split into more than 5,000 smaller sections which will guide milling machines, to cut casting moulds directly from resin bonded sand.

Environment and Sustainability
Maitreya Project states that it is committed to environmentally sound, sustainable development. The Project is commissioning environmental consultants to conduct full environmental impact assessments including water harvesting, water recycling and management, waste management, and pollution control. The process of assessment will be ongoing throughout the construction phase, and thereafter during operation.

Criticism
There has been criticism in the press regarding the Uttar Pradesh State Government's plans to acquire 660 acres of private land which will then be leased to the Maitreya Project, upon which the Project will be constructed. Maitreya Project has responded to this criticism.