Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Wonderlane's amazing Buddhist journey

Statue of the Buddha in the Earth touching mudra (Bhumisparsha), the most beautiful in the world (Wonderlane/Flickr.com)

The Buddhist photographer Wonderlane (wonderlane@gmail.com) plans to attend a third Kalachakra in Washington D.C. in July of 2011 with a plan to honor a commitment to practice.

Brief History of Sakya Monastery
Alexander Berzin (berzinarchives.com)
In the Manjushri Root Tantra, the Buddha is said to have prophesied that a Sakya Monastery would cause his teachings to flourish in the Land of Snows [Tibetan plateau]. It is said the site of this monastery was also prophesied by Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava. Several stupas [burial mounds for the relics of enlightened individuals and revered teachers] had already been built at the monastery’s future location, when Atisha (982-1053) stopped there in 1040.


He saw on the mountainside a syllable "Hrih," seven "Dhih," and one "Hung" and prophesied that an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, seven of Manjushri, and one of Vajrapani would grace this site. In 1073, Konchog-gyelpo (1034-1102) of the Kon (‘Khon) family established the Pelden Sakya Monastery (gompa) in Tsang province in central Tibet. The monastery, and subsequently the tradition he founded, derived its name from the color of the soil of its location. "Sakya" means literally "gray earth." More

Buddha, Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, mandala offering, throne, shrine, traditional decorations, books, Seattle, Washington, USA (Wonderlane/Flickr)

Thank you so much for your valuable prayers and donations!
-Wonderlane (Photographer Libre, Sherab Wongmo)

If we cling to this life then we are not Dharma practitioners;
If we cling to the Wheel of Rebirth then we do not possess renunciation (nekkhamma);
If we look only to our own interests then we do not possess enlightenment-mind (bodhicitta);
If clinging ensues then we do not possess right view.