Thubten Nima
Stupa Project - Tibet, 2003
In Buddhist cosmology stupas are a multifaceted and sacred expression of the highest level of achievement. On one level, they represent the Buddha's mind. Just as statues of the Buddha represent His body and texts represent His speech, a stupa is the symbol of Buddha's mind.
Authentic Stupas contain many sacred and blessed objects and are consecrated as a whole upon completion. Practitioners circumambulate stupas in a clockwise direction to show respect, make aspiration prayers and generate merit.
Following is a brief description of the different items contained in the levels of a stupa. Please note this is a very abbreviated description of a stupa, providing a basic overview.
Dong O Drong Stupa as designed by Nguden Dorje and rebuilt by Lama Gape and local Dong O Drong residents (2003).<- Top Level contains relics and pieces of clothes, malas, instruments, texts, etc., from past masters. Also included are sacred texts such as the Tengyure (commentary of great mahasiddhas, panditas of very special circumstance) and the Kangyure (speech of Shakyamuni Buddha).
<- Next (round) Level contains seeds, vases, jewels, many precious stones, wealth and prosperity deities.
<- Next Level contains grains to turn away bad harvests and to help during times of starvation/famine.
<- Next Level contains weapons to bring peace and turn away quarrels and wars.
<- Second from bottom Level contains medicine and essences of medicine to turn away any harm or diseases.
<- Very bottom level is the literal and figurative foundation blessed by a highly realized lama(s). This blessing helps dispel obstacles in general and in the construction of [a] stupa.
The above pictured stupa was originally constructed by the well-known Drikung Mahasiddha and treasury discoverer Nguden Dorje. Nguden Dorje felt this particular area in Dong O Drong to be auspicious and thus helped bring about its original construction. In the 20th century, however, it was unfortunately destroyed.
Out of his devotion to Nguden Dorje and affinity for Dong O Drong, Lama Gape set out to rebuild the Stupa in 2003. Following are some pictures from this considerable undertaking.
This elaborate project took four months to complete and drew on the support of the Dong O Drong community.
Once the foundation was built a well-respected Lama, Drubchok Rinpoche (pictured below, seated in middle) came to perform the blessing ceremony (Samten Rinpoche is seated to right of Drubchok Rinpoche).
Stupa foundation consecrations are preformed to subdue all harm and other obstacles during the construction process. This consecration is used to suppress obstacles and obstructive forces, whose origin is ignorance.
Many texts, mandalas and holy relics were gathered and prepared to begin filling the stupa as the construction progressed.
