Showing posts with label Holy places. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holy places. Show all posts

Friday, January 30, 2015

Samye Ling Tibetan Monastery Scotland UK Part 9 - The Peacock and Peahen

Samye Ling Tibetan Monastery has changed rapidly in recently years. A new giant smiling Tara ,and her statue is painted in sparkling golden color.She will be greeting with her tranquility and tender smiles on your arrival at the Monastery.


You have never seen before there are many wildlife activity at the Monastery, and especially the Peacock and Peahen are the Monastery celebrities. The Peacock and Peahen are wild birds and has chosen the Monastery as their natural habitat.  
Animals and birds may approach you for food and especially birds may fly and approach you and take food from your palms, because animals and birds through their instinct knew that this is a place where people are with their loving kindness and compassion toward all beings.

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Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.

Samye Ling Tibetan Monastery Scotland UK Part 8 - The River Dragon Stupa

During the freezing afternoon, we spent some time exploring and walking  around at  the river bank that is located near the Monastery garden. from a short distance not far away, you will see there is a river stupa stood right in the middle of the junction. In the middle of the stupa, a picture featuring  of a powerful river Dragon deity whom is constantly watches over the cardinal directions.
We spent a night at the Samye Ling Monastery with a reasonable accommodation charges and the Monastery is provided three vegetarian meals a day. Meals are taken in a spacious dinning hall for guessts. The Monastery Dharma programs are scheduled daily as follows:-

6.00 - 7.00am Tara Prayers

7.00 - 8.00am Breakfast
8.00 - 9.00am Meditation session
10.00 - 12.30pm Teaching session during courses
12.30pm Lunch
1.30 - 3.00pm Mahakala Prayers 
3.00 - 5.30pm Teaching session during courses
5.00 - 6.00pm Meditation session 
6.00 - 7.00pm Dinner
7.00 - 7.45pm Chenrezig Prayers 
(Sundays: 7.00pm - 8.00 pm  Amitabha Prayers, 8.00pm - 8.30pm Chenrezik Prayers)
10.00pm Temple Closed and quiet time. 


Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world. Kindly support to sign up a free 123Rf.com subscription and Agoda.com and Amazon.com or your booking hotel destinations at the advertising sponsor banners to enable us to grow better and stronger. 

Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.


Sunday, January 25, 2015

Samye Ling Monastery Scotland UK Part 7 -The temple of the fine arch

At noon we had finally arrived at the Samye Ling Monastery and this is the entrance of the Monastery and you can see the  Majestic and beautiful Tibetan structure, which i called it  "the temple of the fine arch"  is standing tall and welcoming you to the holy place of Scotland UK. This "temple of the fine arch" has been modified in recent years and there are four heavenly guardian deities images had been printed on the 4 pillars. In the Buddhist faiths, be it a Mahayana or a Vajrayana schools,  there are four heavenly deities guardian and each of whom watches over one cardinal direction of the world.
The temperature was rather icy and chilly cold. It was extremely freezing cold weather partly due to the strong wind and until I had the difficulty to put on my winter clothes.The holy lake is completely frozen and while the danger from winter varies across the country, depending on how severe the condition is. 
This is Samye Ling Monastery and we arrived late afternoon and the vegetarian lunch was over. Due to heavily rain and there are not many visitors today. The main shrine was conducting the Mahakala Prayer and it is scheduled at 1.30pm - 3.00pm. We restrained our self for taking any photos when the monks and nuns and others are conducting the afternoon prayers. 
For your information, Mahakala prayers is usually conducted at the afternoon or before the end of the day. For more information of Mahakala the Karma Kagyu lineage Dharma protector , you may please refers my search box  for "mahakala" and it will lead you to more information of this powerful and wrathful Dharma protector.


Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world. Kindly support to sign up a free 123Rf.com subscription and Agoda.com and Amazon.com or your booking hotel destinations at the advertising sponsor banners to enable us to grow better and stronger. 

Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.

Monday, December 15, 2014

My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Sarnath

Sarnath is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, about 30km from the city of Varanasi (Benares). From Bidhgaya the distance is about 250km.
Sarnath , Place of the Buddha's First Sermon, after spending seven weeks at the seven places in Bodhgaya following his enlightenment , The Buddha was undecided about teaching the Dharma to others as he realized that it was profound and hard to discover, and others would not understand Him. 
Brahma Sahampati (大梵天人) 
According to the Buddhist scripture, it was Brahma Sahampati (大梵天人) who entreated the Buddha to teach the world about Dharma. Initially  Buddha hesitated to preach the principal of Dharma teaching that as He realized that it was profound and hard to discover, and others would not understand Him.  But Brahma Sahampati insisted as in this way the doctrine of Dharma will spread amongst the lay peoples, and pleaded with Him to teach the Dharma otherwise the world would be lost.The Blessed one listened to Brahma Sahampati's pleading and decided to go to Benares to peach to the five Ascetics, namely: Kondanna, Vappa, Bhaddiya, Mahanama and Assaji, who had served him for 6 years but left Buddha abandoned the path of self-mortification.
Finally Buddha agreed to spread the Dharma.

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Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.


Monday, December 8, 2014

My Pilgrimage Tour To India - The ruin in the Nalanda University

Nalanda is known as the ancient seat of learning. World's most ancient University lies in ruins which is 62 km from Bodh Gaya and 90 km south of PatnaEmperor Asoka built many monasteries, temples and Viharas here. Though the Buddha visited Nalanda several times during his lifetime, this famous centre of Buddhist learning shot to fame much later, during 5th-12th centuries.
Nalanda University complex covered an area of 14 hectors and its building were constructed with red bricks. When we arrived at the Nalanda University, we can witnessed the ruin of the university, and its architectural structure still can be seen but most of the complex had been plundered and destroyed by the invasion of Muslim soldiers under the Turuskas or Muhammmad Bakhtiyar Khaliji from Afghanistan dealt the fatal blow to Buddhism in India at the closer of the 1198 AD.
The Turuskas or Muhammmad Bakhtiyar Khaliji from Afghanistan, they were fanatical religion extremist or we shall called it the terrorists in today world's term, and they bent on conquest and mass destruction. By then, they had conquered the western part of Uttar Pradesh called the Doab, the region bordered by the Yamuna and the Ganges rivers.
The ruin of the university, and its architectural structure still can be seen but majority of the complex had been plundered and destroyed by the invasion of Muslim soldiers, this religion fanatical soldiers were especially hostile or ferocity was directed towards Buddhist institutions with images or statue of the holy Buddhas and Bodhisattvas which were systematically plundered ,destroyed or vandalised and massacred wholesale as idolaters.

Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world. Kindly support to sign up a free 123Rf.com subscription at the advertising sponsor banners to enable us to grow better and stronger. 
Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.

Friday, December 5, 2014

My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Kapilavatthu

Entrance of the garden of Kapilavatthu and many of us were having a great time here in this beautiful garden of the early life of the Lord Buddha .

Kapilavatthu, the capital of the country of the Sakyans where the Buddha spent the first 29 years of his life before leaving home in quest of the deathless. This place has been a matter of controversy  for nearly a century.  
There are two claimants to the site of Kapilavatthu, namely Piprahwa in Basti District of Uttar Pradesh of India and Tilaurakot 25km west of Lumbini in Nepal. The Indian claim was based on seals and inscriptions over the lid of a pot from the 2nd century AD that was found during excavations of the so-called palace at Piprahwa.

Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world. Kindly support to sign up a free123Rf.com subscription at the advertising sponsor banners to enable us to grow better and stronger.

Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

My Pilgrimage Tour to India - Angulimala

                      This is the place where Angulimala the murderer used to lived here 

This is one of the holy site that today's Buddhist is visiting here, this is the notorious historical person named Angulimala, the famous criminal and murderer of a 1,000 thumbs garlands for his neck collections, and he was very tired and near exhaustion. At the same time, he was very anxious to kill the last person to make up his full quota of 1,000 thumbs collection and so complete his task.  
Angulimala he saw a woman on the road below and he was having total of 999 thumbs as he wanted to fulfil his vow to complete the 1,000 thumbs collection, but as he approached, he saw it was his mother. but at the same time, the Buddha was approaching, and Angulimala had just enough presence of mind to decide to kill the wandering monk instead of his mother. He set out after the Blessed One with his knife raised. But the Buddha kept moving ahead of him. Angulimala just could not catch up with him. Finally, he cried out, "O Bhikkhu, stop, stop!" And the Enlightened One replied, "I have stopped. It is you who have not stopped." Angulimala did not catch the significance of these words, so he asked, "O bhikkhu! Why do you say that you have stopped while I have not?"
The Buddha replied, "I say that I have stopped because I have given up killing all beings. I have given up ill-treating all beings, and have established myself in universal love, patience, and knowledge through reflection. But you have not given up killing or ill treating others and you are not yet established in universal love and patience. Hence, you are the one who has not stopped." On hearing these words Angulimala was recalled to reality, and thought, these are the words of a wise man. This monk is so very wise and so very brave that he must be the leader of the monks. Indeed, he must be the Enlightened One himself! He must have come here specially to make me see the light. So thinking, he threw away his weapons and asked the Blessed One to admit to the Order of the bhikkhus, which the Buddha did.
When the king and his men came to capture Angulimala, they found him at the monastery of the Buddha. Finding that Angulimala had given up his evil ways and become a bhikkhu, the king and his men agreed to leave him alone. During his stay at the monastery, Angulimala ardently practiced meditation.

Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.


Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Sankasia Part 3

Today Sankasia is the one of the most remote and undeveloped Buddhist Holy site in India. A far cry from the Buddha's time when Sankasia was called "City of Sankasia".
In 1961 India's Prime Minister Mr Nehru  when he was asked by some of the Japanese visitors, which was the poorest holy Buddhist shrine in India ? Mr Nehru he promptly replied: "Sankasia"
This are the typical daily street vendors who are selling food to the locals for a living.  
This are the most common houses and it was built mainly by the animal waste products of cow dung. The villagers used the mud soil which is the same as cob and then cover the walls with this in 3 or 4 layers. In between the first and third layer use a sandy soil, and the last layer use cow dung and mud and compress it to seal it off.

Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge greatly and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.

Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.
  

Monday, November 24, 2014

My Pilgrimage Tour To India - SanKasia Part 2


Sankasia is located in the village of Sankasia -Basantapur in district of Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh. From Agra, Sankasia is about 175km via the Farrukhabad-Shikohabad-Mainpuri-Bewar-Pakhna route. Sankasia is a very small in size but renowned an important Buddhist tour destination. 

According to the Dhammapada Commentary, after the Buddha
mother, Maya Deva, was reborn in Thirty-Three Gods Trayastrimsa heaven after she died. To repay her kindness and to liberate her, and also to benefit the gods in the heaven, Buddha ascended to the heaven where he preached before the divine congregation including his mother, for three months.

Nearby under a tree, is a small shrine with a standing image of Lord Buddha, flanked by Brahma and Sakka to depict the Buddha's descent from Heaven. Behind the shrine,King Asoka has raised a stone column 18 m high with a lion capita on top on its four sides, placed Buddha images.


Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.
Dedication of merits

May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.

My Pilgrimage Tour To India - SanKasia Part 1

Sankasia, a place when Buddha returns from heaven.  Sankasia is located in the village of Sankasia -Basantapur in district of Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh. From Agra, Sankasia is about 175km via the Farrukhabad-Shikohabad-Mainpuri-Bewar-Pakhna route.

Sankasia is a very small in size but renowned an important Buddhist tour destination. According to the Dhammapada Commentary, the Buddha to repay her kindness and to liberate her, and also to benefit the gods in the heaven, Buddha ascended to the Tavatimsa heaven where he preached before the divine congregation including his mother, for three months.
The Buddha informed Sakka Devaraja of his intention to return to earth. Thereupon, Sakka created three ladders, one of gold, one of jewels and one of silver, the tops of which  rested on the summit of Mt. Sumeru and feet of which rested against the gate of the city of Sankasia.

As the Buddha descended upon the jewelled ladder, devas and Brahmas honored the Buddha by accompanying him on each side. With this retinue the Buddha descended and set foot on the earth at the gate of the city of Sankasia, and because of this miraculous event, which was witnessed by a great multitude, Sankasia became an important Buddhist shrine and several stupas and viharas were erected there. 
Nearby under a tree, is a small shrine with a standing image of Lord Buddha, flanked by Brahma and Sakka to depict the Buddha's descent from Heaven. Behind the shrine,King Asoka has raised a stone column 18 m high with a lion capita on top on its four sides, placed Buddha images.

King Asoka visited Sankasia as part of his itinerary of pilgrimage and Asoka built a shrine over the spot where the Buddha set foot on earth. Behind the shrine, he raised a stone column 18.3m high with a lion capita on top on its four sides, places Buddha images.
Tourists can witness The Ashokan Elephant Pillar and a Buddha Temple that are situated here. The pillar supports on the large pavillion, surrounded by an iron fence.

Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and turning the Dharma wheel to the world.

Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings


Sunday, November 23, 2014

My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Vulture's Peak Part 4

At the summit, one can see the huge granite rock formation resembling a vulture standing with folded wing, from which the hill derived its name. This spot offers a commanding  view of the valley below. It is a favourite place for pilgrims to perform puja while reciting the virtues of the Buddha.Guijjhakuta hill (Vulture's Peak) was the favourite resort of the Buddha and the scene of many important discourses while he was in Rajgir. 
His Ven. Sherap Rinpoche (in the middle) and his elder brother are the pilgrimage planners
To reach the top, one has to climb up a long stone stairway from 6.1 m to 7.3 m wide, called the Bimbisara road, built by the King to enable him to reach the summit to see the Buddha. Recent years, a cement staircase has been constructed to facilitate the pilgrim's climb to the top, which is a flat terrance surrounded by a low retaining wall with a shrine near the precipice.


Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.
Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings

My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Vulture's Peak Part 3

Guijjhakuta hill (Vulture's Peak) was the favourite resort of the Buddha and the scene of many important discourses while he was in Rajgir.  The rocky path ends near the top of the hill where one can see two natural caves, which were probably used by the Buddha and Ven . Ananda.
Near the bottom of the cement staircase are two smaller caves believed to be used by two rich brahmins, Upatissa and Kolita, popularly known as the Ven. Sariputta and Ven. Moggallana respectively.Both joined the sangha after their conversion by the Arahant Assaji and became followers of the Buddha.
Please take a closer look to find out  where the holy mantras was crafted onto the rocky surface. 

Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.
Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings

Saturday, November 22, 2014

My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Vulture's Peak Part 2

Guijjhakuta hill (Vulture's Peak) was the favourite resort of the Buddha and the scene of many important discourses while he was in Rajgir. To reach the top, one has to climb up a long stone stairway from 6.1 m to 7.3 m wide, called the Bimbisara road, built by the King to enable him to reach the summit to see the Buddha. Recent years, a cement staircase has been constructed to facilitate the pilgrim's climb to the top, which is a flat terrance surrounded by a low retaining wall with a shrine near the precipice.
The rocky path ends near the top of the hill where one can see two natural caves, which were probably used by the Buddha and Ven . Ananda. At the summit, one can see the huge granite rock formation resembling a vulture standing with folded wing, from which the hill derived its name. This spot offers a commanding  view of the valley below. It is a favourite place for pilgrims to perform puja while reciting the virtues of the Buddha.

Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.
Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings

My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Bimbisara jail

This is the Bimbisara jail , about 2 1/2 km south of Veluvana beside the main road, is an area about 60 m square enclosed by the remains of a stone wall 2 m thick. This area has been identified as the prison in which Bimbisara was jailed by his son Ajatasattu, who usurped the throne. It is said that from this prison, the King could see the Buddha up in Gijjhakuta (Vulture peak) 
Ajatasattu the king's son at his instigation, usurped the throne imprisoned his father in order to starve his father to death. His mother the Queen secretly applied the sticky honey all over her body to feed the king whenever she visited the Bimbisara jail, and soon the Prince has discovered that his mother the Queen secret tactics  to save his father , and the Prince has prohibited the Queen to visit the King in order to starve him to death as quickly as possible.
The Queen was mourning in grief and was prayed to the Buddha if he could  guide her to a better realm or pure land if she could be reborn there to end the suffering.
At the Gijjhakuta (Vulture peak) where the Buddha was delivered the Prajnaparamita Sutra and the Lotus Sutra.  The Buddha knew the Queen was calling upon him and the Buddha was using his spiritual power to presence there and explained to her the meritorious benefits if any sentient beings who wish to be reborn to the Amitabha Buddha Pure land. (Sukhavati in sanskrit) (Dewachen in Tibetan)
Ajatasattu, later has regretted his evil actions too late, as his father had died before he could release him. In later, Ajatasattu at the suggestion of Jivaka, sought the Buddha's advice and became a lay disciple.

Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.
Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Vulture's Peak Part 1

Vulture's Peak  rises over mostly dry land, and its jagged rocks indeed resemble vultures when seen from a distance and this is one of the most important Buddhists pilgrimage holy site located Hill in India, a few kilometers south of the town of Rajgir.
Vultures Peak, One descends about 100 meters or so and there is a paved pathway on the left which leads to Vultures Peak. A small shrine and two caves identify the peak. It was here that the Buddha delivered the Prajnaparamita Sutra and the Lotus Sutra and where, according to Buddhist scripts, the Shakyamurni Buddha he twirled the flower and gave transmission to Mahakasyapa.
To reach the spot on this mountain where the Mahayana tradition text statedthat the Buddha gave the actual discourses; one must walks a fairly long path that lifts one higher and higher above one's surroundings. As one proceeds, one joins the vast community of followers of the Buddha who have visited this spot, either to hear the actual words of their teacher, or to pay homage as a pilgrim to the spot where those fortunate disciples heard those words

With your continuing support to read my blog, it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.
Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings

Friday, November 14, 2014

Holy hand print of Guru Rinpoche at the sacred cave in Pharping Nepal Part 2

When I on a pilgrimage trip to Katmandu Nepal, Bodhgaya in India, we make an actual physical connection with a sacred place and can open ourselves to the blessings that subtlety permeate the atmosphere. It is very helpful then to make our deepest aspirations to follow in the footsteps of the realized beings who were (and are) invisibly present.  Their teachings and lives are a model or profound pattern that we can emulate. 
Holy hand print of Guru Rinpoche at the sacred cave in Pharping Nepal, Pharping lies about two hours by bus fromRatna Park outside of Kathmandu and for many Vajrayana practitioner Pharping is as holy as Bodhgaya.
Guru Rinpoche himself said that in all the caves and places he has meditated and people in the future could receive his blessing as if meeting him in person.  Furthermore Guru Rinpoche mentioned that especially in the time of degeneration and visiting those holy places would be very beneficial for one's spiritual development and purification of sicknesses and obstacles.

With your continuing support to read my blog, it helps greatly to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.
Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings