LGWPF celebrates the new century with prayers and meditation on the
ancient Javanese stupa, a true symbol of universal harmony

Peace Times 14

The word «peace» written with some of the candles offered at the Borobudur stupa on the 31st December ‘99 by members of the LGWPF

The dissolving of the Kalachakra
«wheel of time» sand mandala

The mandala and the artist,
Tsawa Rinpoche, who created it.

by Cosy Back

In celebration of the new millennium, Lama Gangchen with an international group of over two hundred delegates of the Lama Gangchen World Peace Foundation, dedicated a one month retreat to peace prayers at the Javanese stupa mandala of Borobudur.

It is worthwhile to remember that one of the particular motives for constructing Borobudur «the Mountain of Buddhas», was to pacify the numerous volcanoes in the central island of Java; and it is documented that for at least two hundred years after the completion of this monument, there were no volcanic eruptions in the area.

After its rediscovery in the 19th century, the importance of the Borobudur monument has never been doubted; apart from its obvious architectural and artistic beauty, two very significant incidents showed to the world that this holy place is intimately related to peace on the planet: at the outbreak of both World Wars I and II, the top umbrella of the stupa is reported to have fallen.

Therefore, UNESCO's agreement with the Indonesian Government to support the reconstruction, protect the monument as one of mankind's cultural treasures, preserve it for the future generations and declare it as a World Heritage Site, sustains the monument's true value for modern times.

Borobudur, being an important place for peace, is where the Lama Gangchen World Peace Foundation has celebrated since twelve years annual prayer ceremonies dedicated to individual and world peace. In particular, the Foundation chose to celebrate the dawn of the new millennium with the offering of one hundred thousand candles to the «Mountain of Buddhas»: to bring peace and light in the next one thousand years to come.

The celebrations were also joined by representatives from the International Association of Educators for World Peace, the Legion of Goodwill, the Jubillennium, the World Peace Prayer Society, the Open International University for Complementary Medicines, as well as numerous other organisations from throughout the world.

Five peace trees were planted in the grounds surrounding the monument to make peace with the environment on the five continents, and the flag of every nation was raised with the dedication «May Peace Prevail on Earth». At midnight Lama Gangchen released four hundred doves - an auspicious action for health, long life and to make peace with the animal environment.

During the preceeding days a Kalachakra (Wheel of Time) sand mandala had been patiently created by Tsawa Rinpoche and was finally dissolved and dedicated to world peace on the second day of the new millennium.