"Whoever sees, hears, remembers, or touches the Stupa will receive all the joys of the Buddhas and all the blessings." Lord Shakyamuni Buddha
Indiana Buddhist Center's Resolve to Build Namgyal Chorten (Stupa of the Immaculate Light Dharanis) for the Benefit of All Sentient Beings
The photo above is of the Namgyal Chorten (Stupa of the Immaculate Light Dharanis) located near Dharamsala in Northern India. Our translator, Tenzin Phulchung was instrumental as project manager in the building of this Stupa which will be the model for the Stupa Geshe Jinpa Sonam proposes for Buddhist America. The proposed stupa is 86 feet high and the estimated cost is $600,000.
For Buddhists, this stupa is "a spiritual island and shrine of faith and peace" where one can go to meditate, pray, and worship. From the Buddhist point of view, the stupa also has power to protect the environment in three important areas. First, it is believed that the Namgyal Stupa (Stupa of the Immaculate Light Dharanis) protects against natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornados, hailstorms, and other potentially devasting events. Second, it protects against epidemics. And, third, it protects against social strife and coflict ensuring peace across the land.
Buddhism teaches that this precious human life is very short, no more than 120 years, and much less for most people. It is very important that we, as Buddhist practitioners, utilize every minute of this precious human life performing good deeds and practicing loving kindness and compassion. Such positive actions lead to greater happiness not only in this life but in many future lives as well.
The stupa is a symbol of faith symbolizing the Three Jewels: Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. In addition, it symbolizes the strength of Buddhism to bring happiness and peace to the land where it is built. Today's world is filled with wars, natural disasters, and conflicts of all kinds. Many people of all religions pray incessantly for loving kindness, compassion, and peace to prevail.
Tibetans put up colorful prayer flags that carry the mantras and blessings of the Buddha to every corner of the the universe on the wind of loving kindness and compassion. Thus, the mantras and blessings pervade everything in the universe creating love, compassion, and peace everywhere.
If putting up such small symbols as prayer flags can carry such benefit, imagine the benefit that would be accumuated through building a stupa!
It is said that building a stupa will bring peace and harmony to the land where it is built as well as the the liberation from suffering for countless sentient beings. It is also said that building a stupa is a way to emanate loving-kindness and compassion. It is a way to protect sentient beings from the the suffering of disease, fear, anger, and other conflicting emotions.
The Indiana Buddhist Center has resolved to build the Namgyal Chorten (Stupa of Immaculate Light Dharanis) in an auspicious location in Indiana. Because of zoning requirments, this stupa will not be built at the Center's new location on 10th and Bonar. However, we are positive that we will find a location that will create benefit, auspiciousness, and prosperity for the land to which it belongs and to all the people of that land.