His Holiness the Dalai Lama consecrates sand mandala at Zenkoji
[Saturday, 19 June 2010, 9:24 p.m.]
| His Holiness the Dalai Lama arriving at the Zenkoji Temple in Nagano, Japan, on 19 June 2010/Photo by Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL |
Nagano, Japan: His Holiness the Dalai Lama this afternoon consecrated a sand mandala made by Tibetan monks at Zenkoji Temple.
The
creation of Gonpo O-pa-me (Amitabha Buddha or Buddha of Infinite Light)
mandala marks the first visit of His Holiness to Zenkoji, a 7th century
non-sectarian Buddhist temple, located in the Honshu island. Amitabha
is the principal buddha enshrined and worshipped at Zenkoji.
creation of Gonpo O-pa-me (Amitabha Buddha or Buddha of Infinite Light)
mandala marks the first visit of His Holiness to Zenkoji, a 7th century
non-sectarian Buddhist temple, located in the Honshu island. Amitabha
is the principal buddha enshrined and worshipped at Zenkoji.
Ten
Tibetan monks from the India-based Tashi Lhunpo monastery constructed
the mandala which took 16 days to complete. Traditionally, sand
mandalas are created in exquisite geometric designs to generate
compassion, realize the impermanence of reality, and the cosmic healing
of the environment, and then destroyed to symbolize the impermanence of
all existence.
Tibetan monks from the India-based Tashi Lhunpo monastery constructed
the mandala which took 16 days to complete. Traditionally, sand
mandalas are created in exquisite geometric designs to generate
compassion, realize the impermanence of reality, and the cosmic healing
of the environment, and then destroyed to symbolize the impermanence of
all existence.
But
the mandala at Zenkoji will be preserved for posterity so that visitors
and devotees could visit it anytime in future. Sand Mandala is an
ancient Tibetan art form not common among Japanese Buddhists. The
Avalokiteswara mandala is the first sand mandala ever created in the
centuries-old history of Zenkoji temple.
the mandala at Zenkoji will be preserved for posterity so that visitors
and devotees could visit it anytime in future. Sand Mandala is an
ancient Tibetan art form not common among Japanese Buddhists. The
Avalokiteswara mandala is the first sand mandala ever created in the
centuries-old history of Zenkoji temple.
| Photo by Getty Images |
| According to Venerable Lobsang Dorjee of Tashi Lhunpo monastery, local devotees in Nagano took special interest in the mandala. “Every day we have many local people visiting Zenkoji to watch the process of mandala making; some devotees, stirred by the message of compassion and impermanence embodied in a mandala, broke down in tears,” he said. |
After
the consecration ceremony, His Holiness the Dalai Lama along with the
two chief priests of the temple led a prayer ceremony for world peace
and for the victims of the April 14 earthquake that rocked the Tibetan
area of Yushu in Qinghai Province. Tibetan monks joined Japanese monks
in reciting the Heart Sutra (Tib: Sherab Nyinpo) and the King of
Aspiration Prayer for Noble Activity (Tib: Sangcho Monlam) as hundreds
of Nagano residents lined up on either side of the temple’s two main
gates to listen to the prayers broadcast through several speakers
that were fitted around the temple complex.
the consecration ceremony, His Holiness the Dalai Lama along with the
two chief priests of the temple led a prayer ceremony for world peace
and for the victims of the April 14 earthquake that rocked the Tibetan
area of Yushu in Qinghai Province. Tibetan monks joined Japanese monks
in reciting the Heart Sutra (Tib: Sherab Nyinpo) and the King of
Aspiration Prayer for Noble Activity (Tib: Sangcho Monlam) as hundreds
of Nagano residents lined up on either side of the temple’s two main
gates to listen to the prayers broadcast through several speakers
that were fitted around the temple complex.
| His Holiness (2nd L) at a press conference held at the Zenkoji Temple in Nagano, Japan, on 19 June 2010 |
Zenkoji
Temple is a non-sectarian temple whose religious leaders (a priest and
a priestess) share the ritual responsibilities. Historically open to
women when other temples were not, now up to 8 million visitors visit
Zenkoji annually. Their purpose is a one-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to
ensure salvation by touching the “Key to Paradise” located in a
pitch-black passageway under the main altar of the temple.
Temple is a non-sectarian temple whose religious leaders (a priest and
a priestess) share the ritual responsibilities. Historically open to
women when other temples were not, now up to 8 million visitors visit
Zenkoji annually. Their purpose is a one-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to
ensure salvation by touching the “Key to Paradise” located in a
pitch-black passageway under the main altar of the temple.
Dating
from 1707, the main temple houses Zenkoji’s most sacred image, an Amida
(or Amitabha) triad. Called “Ikko Sanzon Amida Nyorai”, it features
three standing images sharing one halo. Never displayed, a replica of
the image is revealed periodically. It is considered the first Buddhist
image in Japan and arrived via Korea in 552 AD.
from 1707, the main temple houses Zenkoji’s most sacred image, an Amida
(or Amitabha) triad. Called “Ikko Sanzon Amida Nyorai”, it features
three standing images sharing one halo. Never displayed, a replica of
the image is revealed periodically. It is considered the first Buddhist
image in Japan and arrived via Korea in 552 AD.
–Report filed by Tsering Tsomo
