His Holiness at the Great Stupa
DVD available
A DVD of the wonderful day at the
Great Stupa on June 7 2007 with the
full teaching by His Holiness, the Dalai
Lama is now available. DVD’s cost
$24.95 (includes delivery within Australia) or $29.95 (includes international
delivery). Please order your copy at
our website www.stupa.org.au
Commemorative photos of His Holiness
at the Great Stupa
Chorten is the magazine of
The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion
More relics offered
A magnificent mandala of sacred Buddhist relics was offered
to the Great Stupa by two Thai families (the Sooksavee and
Pulprapan families). Altogether there are 14 collections of relics
If undelivered return to:
43 View Street, Bendigo VIC 3550
Australia
including those of Shakyamuni Buddha, Sariputra, Moggalana, a
Tibetan lama and several Thai arahants. The relics are displayed
into groups which symbolize dharma lessons. These lessons
are explained on a series of posters. The collection was received
by Geshe Konckok Tsering on behalf of the Great Stupa at a
ceremony held at Phuoc Hue Temple, Sydney November 6 2007.
Magnificent, intimate photos of His Holiness, the Dalai
Lama at the Great Stupa are now available. Please order at
www.happeningfilms.com and click on ‘shop’.
CHORTEN
S T U PA E DI T IO N
v
N o. 2 8
Two Protector Room Partners found
“This Stupa will be very significant for Buddhist spirituality and Tibetan culture.”
Many thanks to Michael and Carol Amos who along with
John Waite have become our first Protector Room Partners.
The Protector Room will house special deities who will
exert a positive, protecting energy over the Great Stupa.
Ten Protector Room Partners are being sought. Each partner will contribute a donation of $10,800. Their name will
be displayed in perpetuity on the walls of the Protector
Room.
WORK CONTINUES ON
THE JADE BUDDHA
Two Library Pillars of Wisdom found
His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Geshe Konchok Tsering with representatives of the Sooksavee and Pulprapan
families.
Many thanks to Karina de Wolf and Jeremy Ball for their
generous support in becoming our first Library Pillars of
Wisdom. The Library is part of Lama Yeshe’s vision for
the Great Stupa. It will house Buddhist texts and will be
available for students and scholars. Ten Library Pillars of
Wisdom are being sought. Each “Pillar” will contribute a
donation of $10,800. Their name will be displayed in perpetuity on the walls of the Library. As major benefactors
they will be recognised at the major puja that will be held
at the Great Stupa for a long as the Great Stupa exists.
2008 Great Stupa Holy Relic Tours
PERTH: Hayagriva Institute, 64 Banksia Tce, Kensington,
March 14 to 24.
ADELAIDE: Phap Hoa Temple, 20 Butler Avenue,
Pennington, April 19 to 27.
MELBOURNE: Quang Duc Temple, Fawkner in October (to
be confirmed).
See www.stupa.org.au for more details
the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion
The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion is being built at Atisha
Centre near Bendigo. It will be the same size and design as the Great
Stupa of Gyantse that was built in Tibet in the 15th century. The
Great Stupa of Universal Compassion will be a symbol of peace in
the world. It will also be a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists of all
traditions. Located next to the Stupa are Atisha Centre and Thubten
Shedrup Ling Monastery.
Highway” / “Kerang”.
• In Eaglehawk veer left at Town Hall (stay on major road) and travel
approx. 3 km to Allies Hotel, turn left and travel approx. 3 km to
Sandhurst Town Road, then follow signs to Atisha Centre and The
Great Stupa Exhibition Centre.
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The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion
Office: 43 View Street Bendigo VIC 3550 Australia
Phone (+613) 5444 2440 Fax (+613) 5444 2422
E-mail info@stupa.org.au
The Great Stupa is a member of the Foundation for the Preservation
of the Mahayana Tradition.
You are welcome to visit us, just remember that the Exhibition
Centre is open weekends and public holidays only.
• From Melbourne take Tullamarine Freeway and then Calder
Highway. Follow signs to Bendigo.
• In Bendigo, drive to the fountain at the centre of the city and turn
left (West) and follow the signs to “Eaglehawk” / “Loddon Valley
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JADE BUDDHA FOR THE KING
A model of our Jade Buddha has been carved as a
special gift for Thailand’s revered monarch, His
Majesty King Bhumibol. This model has been carved
with loving attention by the carvers in Thailand from
an off-cut of Polar Pride. No date has yet been set for
the presentation.
Right: Magnificent Buddha carved for His Majesty King Bhumibol.
JADE BUDDHA Takes SHAPE
Delays in the
finalisation of the
prototype
have
pushed back the
carving date to
April 2008. The
Buddha is now
taking shape and
the carvers have
The Jade Buddha taking shape. Buddha
four months solid
lying on side with head on right.
work to finish the
statue.
The Jade Buddha Project is to carve a Buddha from
the boulder known as Polar Pride. This will be one
of the largest and most magnificent Buddhas ever
carved from gemstone-quality true jade. The Buddha,
including lotus and throne will be over 3.5 metres (11.4
feet) tall. It will be a wonder of the world.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said “It will illuminate the
world and bring inconceivable peace and happiness and help
prevent the destruction that is happening so much in the
world, including war.”
World premiere showing
of the Jade Buddha to be in
Singapore at Vesak.
Singapore’s oldest Buddhist temple, Lian Shan Shuang
Lin Temple at Jalan Toa Payoh will play host to the
world premiere of the Jade Buddha on 7 June 2008. The
Jade Buddha will be on display for one month at this
temple. Shuang Lin is a national monument which was
completed in 1908 and commemorates Buddha’s birth
and death. The temple has an elaborately decorated
gateways, temples and courtyard. Visitors can see
beautifully carved Buddhas and a magnificent pagoda
at this temple.
The opening ceremony is planned to be a major event
with representatives of the Singapore, Australian,
Thai and Canadian Governments as well as different
Buddhist traditions.
More carving benefactors available
2007 Great Stupa Holy Relic Tours
We have already collected the 108 carving benefactors for the Jade
Buddha. Now, due to the enlargement of the throne for the Jade Buddha
we have the opportunity of adding more carving benefactors.
This is a great opportunity to be part of a massive holy object for the
world. We are seeking carving Benefactors to each contribute $1080.
Each will have their name carved into the throne of the Jade Buddha
(and probably gold-leafed). These names will be part of the statue as
long as it exists. Please note we allow up to 22 characters (including
spaces) for the names. As at January 1 2008 we have 24 new names to
be carved.
Sangha and distinguished guests at the closing ceremony at Phuoc Hue Temple.
SYDNEY: Phuoc Hue Temple, Wetherill Park, October 6 to 14.
Approximately 4,000 people attended the Holy Relic Tour at Phuoc
Hue temple. This visit was made possible through the generosity
of Most Venerable Thich Phuoc Hue, Venerable Thich Phuoc Dhat,
Sangha and members of Phuoc Hue temple. The coordination of
this tour was very ably led by Mai Tuyet Anh. Thanks to everyone
involved in making this a most successful visit.
GOLD COAST: Labrador School Hall, October 19 – 21. Kindly
offered by Venerable Lozang Chophel and attended by several
Tibetan lamas and students.
Plan for Jade Buddha throne prepared by Jonathon Partridge.
Where to after Singapore?
At this stage we are planning to take the Jade Buddha
to Kuala Lumpur (Lozang Dragpa Centre) for late
June, July and August 2008. Possibilities are also being
explored for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam.
jade donations online
Donations can be made at www.jadebuddha.org.au
Look for a new range of magnificent jade malas and
memento items available from March 2008.
His Holiness’ advice for
the Great Stupa
Above: Offcut of jade which is being used to carve large statues of Guru Rinpoche and Green
Tara.
Left: All offcuts and chips of the boulder are kept for polishing and making into memento items
such as pendants and brooches.
Right: Sample of a jade pendant with Om Mani Padme Hum mantra. The reverse side has an
outline of the head of our Buddha.
BRISBANE (1): Langri Tangpa Centre, October 26 to November 4.
Miffi Maxmillion (SPC
of Langri Tangpa Centre)
writes: Over 500 people
came to see the holy relics, about 45 on an average
day. We were supposed
to be open from 10 am to
8pm, but had people arrive
at 6.30am and at 9.00pm,
so very much a village
atmosphere. What was
so nice was being able to
Abbess Thich Nu Tri Luu presents a sacred relic
meditate and recite sutras,
of Venerable Thich Huyen Vi to Ian Green.
rather than it being an
exhibition or gallery. People really found that special. We
also has 3 baby possums, 4 Persian cats, 3 puppies (all
very securely held) and a beautiful bird circumambulated.
Other highlights included 30 recitations of the Sanghatsutra,
17 people finishing an all-night Tara Puja. Langri Tangpa Family also became carving benefactors of the Jade Budhha project.
Miffi concludes with: The donations received probably seem
like a drop in the ocean for you – but I am very proud of the donations given by LTC members and friends (and strangers)!
BRISBANE (2): Linh Son Vietnamese Temple, Darra, October 20
to 28. Approximately 2000 people attended the holy relic tour at
Linh Son. Activities throughout the nine days included 1200 recitations of the long Dharani, over 1,000 recitations of the Heart
Sutra, over 7,000 recitations of the Amitabha long mantra and
many circumambulations of the holy relics. Over 500 light offerings were made to the Buddha and holy relics. The visit was
made possible only by the kind and generous sponsorship of Abbess Thich Nu Tri Luu and the many volunteers at the centre.
A highlight of the visit was the offering of holy relics of Venerable
Thich Huyen Vi, a founder of the Linh Son temples worldwide.
Also Abbess Thich Nu Tri Luu became a Carving Benefactor of the
Jade Buddha.
The following advice on a future use of the Great Stupa was provided by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama during his public address
on June 7 2007.
At least among the believer, I think it is really worthwhile
to make effort to promote religious harmony, closer understanding among the different traditions. This also I think is
one strong contribution for peace, for dialogue.
So I think with that reality, the situation, the construction
of this stupa could be useful. And then eventually, I always
stress that wherever there is a Tibetan Community or
Buddhist Centre, I’m always telling them, simply the short
prayer, the short meditation course – of course it is good,
but not sufficient. The important thing is study.
So eventually this Stupa…traditionally, there were many
small temples...I think in the Tibetan case, no cement
or iron was used…so small were the temples it was not
necessary in order to build a few stories. Now here you
have here very good materials – this iron and cement – so I
think some portion should be like hall and something like
classroom. Then some seminars, not only just Buddhist
study but also comparative study about all different traditions.
And also, originally it was my initiative, but then later we
more or less institutionalised – that’s the seminar or meeting or discussion between modern scientists and Buddhist
scholars. It’s quite useful. To us, to Buddhists, the scientific
findings are very useful. And to modern scientists, the
Buddhist experience and Buddhist explanation about emotions, about mind, about consciousness is something helpful to them. And more scientists, genuine scientists, quite
well known scientists now really showing a keen interest
to get more detailed information about their subjects from
Buddhist traditions. So, quite useful.
So, this eventually, also can be used for not only dialogue
between different traditions but also spirituality and modern science. I think useful.
Of course, mine just a mere suggestion. So ultimately up to
those concerned people. Whether they utilise that, whether
they go that direction or not, I don’t know. But this is just
my simple suggestion.
In any case, I think that academic work is very essential.
Closer contact with other traditions is important. It leads to
increased understanding of each others views. Buddhism
is a bridge between science and spiritual traditions.