Land has been purchased in Brudenell to build a monastery for Buddhist nuns.
The Great Wisdom Buddhist Institute Inc. (GWBI) recently bought 47 acres of land, says spokesman Floyd Sanderson.
Construction will start on the first dorm as soon as a permit is issued.
The dorm will house about 300 nuns currently living in a temporary location in Uigg.
Sanderson is eager to put to rest ill-informed complaints of the Buddhist group buying up more property than they are legally entitled.
He says the GWBI, which represents the Buddhist nuns, and the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society (GEBIS), which represents about 200 monks studying in Little Sands and Heatherdale, are well within the land acreage they are allowed to own.
“We’re so lucky down East here to have two groups of people (Amish and Buddhist) that are so peaceful,’’ he adds.
Montague Mayor Richard Collins is thrilled with the project and the pending arrival of the nuns.
“I’m very familiar with the nuns and I find them wonderful, beautiful peace-loving people,’’ he says.
“It’s going to be a great economic boost to the community and it’s going to increase the population in the area…I see it as a positive project and a positive investment in the community.’’
He anticipates the monastery will also prove to be a strong tourist attraction as well.
A multi-million dollar expansion of the Buddhist monk monastery in Heatherdale is also well underway with the plan calling for six new dormitories, a temple and lecture hall.
Asian coaches have been brought in to teach the construction workers how to build Asian architecture. Outside of the Asian construction coaches, all of the work is being done by Island companies.
