| Tuesday, 09 February 2010 |
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Garden of Enlightenment Project |
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During Chenrezig Institute's 20th anniversary celebrations in 1994, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Spiritual Head of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, initiated the idea of a garden of stupas.
A site was chosen by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the ground blessed, and since then an incredible amount of hard work and dedication has gone into bringing this vision into reality. The project incorporates a large stupa, approximately ten metres high in memory of Venerable Geshe Thinley, a previous resident teacher of Chenrezig Institute, and seven smaller stupas.
These eight stupas depict the Eight Great Deeds of the Buddha’s life and are being constructed on the roof of an amazing Shrine building, surrounded by beautiful ornamental gardens with water features, quiet alcoves of stupas with seating for quiet contemplation. The landscaped gardens provide a tranquil setting with the plants and flowers being specially selected with an emphasis on topiary, colour and perfume. The garden already incorporates many smaller stupas among plants, water features, and other holy objects in the garden.
More smaller memorial stupas will be placed throughout the gardens, accompanying the consecrated ashes of those who have passed away.
The site is located about 300 metres from the office of Chenrezig Institute and is surrounded by established gardens and natural bushland. The Shrine building will be extensively decorated with many traditional Tibetan artworks. Inside and outside the main building will be many holy objects and displays of traditional Buddhist decorations. These will include a three-dimensional Mandala house, painted Mandalas, and approx. 100 prayer wheels under the verandah surrounding the Shrine. The interior will be magnificently tiled with small Tsa Tsas and the Shrine will house many smaller memorial Stupas.
A range of different types and sizes of stupas are available for placement in the gardens or throughout the rooms of the main Shrine building.
NOTE: Stupas in this project remain for perpetuity.
Click here to view recent pictures of the Shrine building, the stupas, and the gardens. For more detail about the project, how to sponsor components, or purchase a stupa for yourself or a loved one, click on the links below:
Stupa Prices and other Holy Objects
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