As a sacred place and social center, the Great Lakes Buddhist Vihara has been able to successfully continue its progress because of the great devotion, generosity and dedication of the congregation. Our sincere thanks and gratitude go to all for their continued support of the center and its resident monks.

Having completed its eleventh year, the Great Lakes Buddhist Vihara is entering its twelfth year of service.

The Board of Trustees was comprised of the Rev. Brahmanagama Muditha (President), Wimal Jayakody (Vice President), Somasiri Kannangara and Steven L. Berg (joint secretaries), Namal Kumara (Treasurer), the Rev. Yatinuwara Sankichcha, Rohana Talagala, Udesh Dahanayake, Jeeva Witanachchi and Abhilash Pandya. Since Somasiri and Udesh had to leave the Board for personal reasons, Chanaka De Silva and Lakshman Caldera replaced the two positions. Wimal Jayakody, Namal Kumara, and Abhilash Pandya will be completing their two year terms this year. The Great Lakes Buddhist Vihara gratefully thanks all of the Board members for their contributions for the continuity and development of the Vihara.

The Great Lakes Buddhist Vihara is very fortunate to have the following capable monastics to help us progress: the Rev. Brahmanagama Muditha, the Rev. Yatinuwara Sankichcha, the Rev. Akurugoda Punna, the Rev. Deliwa Indaratana, the Rev. Tawalanthanne Sanyatha, the Rev. Nugegalayaye Jinananda, and the Rev. Pinikahane Maithree. Currently, the Rev. Muditha, the Rev. Indaratana, and the Rev. Jinananda are working at missions in Ottawa and Toronto.

In addition to the resident monks, we were also privileged to have the Rev. Paragastota Piyarathana and the Reverend Bangladeshaye Gnanawansa, both from Sri Lanka, spend the Vassana season at the Great Lakes Buddhist Vihara.

The Great Lakes Buddhist Vihara started 2008 with the New Year Day Blessings ceremony of "Atavisi Buddha Pooja" (the veneration of the twenty eight Buddhas). The temple offers three meditation programs weekly, on Monday and Wednesday in English and on Friday in Sinhalese. On every Friday and on Sunday evenings special Dhamma discussions have been conducted on canonical discourses (Tipitaka Sutras). Bi-weekly Sinhala and Dhamma classes for children and monthly retreat (Sil day) are the regular activities of the Vihara. On April 13^th, children and parents gathered to celebrate Sinhala New Year day. It was started to teach young generation traditional customs of the day with New Year games. On the month of Vesak (May), The Great Lakes Buddhist Vihara had three different days to pay our homage to the Buddha. Children’s Vesak day activities were held on May 11^th. On May 18^th, Sil and meditation day for adults was conducted. The Sri Lankan Student Council of Wayne State University provided the Dana (lunch) for the monks and participants on that day keeping their devotional tradition for the eighth year. On May 25^th, the Vesak celebration for the public was held at the International Institute in Detroit followed by "Bhaktigeetha" (The devotional songs) and "Dansala" (food donation). Adult meditation retreats were held on August 30^th (English) and on June 21 (Sinhalese). The Katina ceremony was held at the International Institute in Detroit, on October 26^th. The key sponsors of the Katina ceremony this year were Amitha, H.R. Dissanayake and family. Resident monks and members of the congregation continued to participate in the "Tele Dhamma Conference", which gives participants around the world a meeting place to discuss Dhamma, is another remarkable activity during the year.

In addition to the services mentioned, the Great Lakes Buddhist Vihara has provided a variety of Dhamma services locally and out of state, in temples, in churches, in spiritual centers, in colleges and in other educational institutes. The GLBV monks have conducted meditation classes, retreats, Sil programs, presentations and workshops on Buddhism. Proving the success of GLBV’s Dhamma mission for last eleven years, now it has become the main temple (Maha Vihara) for six independent monastic affiliates in North America.

In 2008, we had two major projects replacing both the roof ($9,200) and the windows ($12,500) at the Vihara. We thank those individuals who donated their time and money to ensure the success of these projects.

We wish to express our gratitude to all of the members of the congregation who support our Vihara with regular monthly/yearly financial donations. Your generosity provides a secure foundation on which we will build the future of GLBV. When it was first started, our Vihara was able to get much support from outside the state of Michigan. However, due to the fact that new temples have opened in adjacent areas, our Vihara now depends on a smaller number of patrons. Additional contributions are made to support small projects and other activities around the Vihara, often by the individuals who also make their monthly/yearly contributions.

We, the Board of Trustees of the Great Lakes Buddhist Vihara, express our appreciation and gratitude by sharing merits with all of you for your generosity, dedication, and for your commitment without which the Vihara could not have survived. All the benefactors, spiritual teachers, volunteers, the staff of the Dhamma School, the trainers of children in special events, the organizers of special ceremonies, the sponsors of the website, the technical supporters, and all those who helped ensure the Vihara’s success.

May all the merits and blessings be with you

Steven L. Berg, Wimal Jayakody,

Secretary Vice President