|
||||
|
In Jushu, Tibet: Demo Gonsar
Choeche Rinpoche built a ten storey palace |
||||
|
|
by Cosy Back Since 1984 H.E. Demo Gonsar Choeche Rinpoche has been dedicating most of his effort and energy in rebuilding a giant statue of one of the greatest teachers in the history of Tibetan Buddhism, Je TsongKhapa. The statue was built in memory of the original statue at Demo Monastery which was destroyed during the cultural revolution. A new place was designated for the rebuilding, in the remote district of Yu Shu, which is located half way between Kumbum, the birth place of Lama TsongKhapa, and Lhasa. In order to make the statue, everything from stones, wood, glass, all materials, food etc had to be brought from very far. Rinpoche himself created all the conditions to make this reconstruction possible, including housing for workers and monks, twenty trucks to bring supplies to the monastery and even extra housing for poor, old and disabled nomads of the area. In the dry stony landscape, a ten floor high palace appeared from emptiness to house the world’s largest statue of the 15th century Tibetan saint and founder of the Gelugpa tradition. The palace stunning in size from afar, reflects the splendor of its interior richness and the grandeur of the statue. All ten floors are decorated with the history of Buddha, Buddhist saints and divinities, as well as with all the traditional symbols and mandalas of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The statue was filled with precious objects and holy scriptures, such as the 200 volumes of Kangyur and Tengyur, according to ancient tradition. Some 9 kg of gold were used to guild its face. Hopefully this incredible work of art and veneration will be completed and inaugurated in summer 2000. |
|||
|
|
||||
|
||||
)
