The Sacred Space

[thornbush]

The Buddhist Maha Vihara: Part 6

[thornbush]

The Buddhist Maha Vihara: Part 7

[thornbush]

For Ngawang Drolma: My Home Altar for May/June

[Ngawang Drolma]

Beautiful!

[Ngawang Drolma]

I finally got my rupa in the mail yesterday. I'll take a pic and upload it tomorrow.
I'm very excited about it! It's a good size (21 inches high), and to me it's just lovely in its simplicity!

[thornbush]

I finally got my rupa in the mail yesterday. I'll take a pic and upload it tomorrow.
I'm very excited about it! It's a good size (21 inches high), and to me it's just lovely in its simplicity!

Yes, less is more

[thornbush]

The Chempaka Buddhist Lodge, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, West Malaysia
This is one of my favourites: it is run by the Laity and is of Chinese Mahayana Buddhist by Tradition. But it is also a Tri-yana temple in the sense that it has regular programmes and Monastic/Lay speakers that are derived from all 3 Traditions, be they local or international ones. They also have a welfare home in their management just next to their temple. Here's one of their videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImVm3VkhreQ

The Chempaka Buddhist Lodge: Part 1

[thornbush]

The Chempaka Buddhist Lodge: Part 2

[thornbush]

The Chempaka Buddhist Lodge: Part 3

[thornbush]

The Chempaka Buddhist Lodge: Part 4

[thornbush]

The Chempaka Buddhist Lodge: Part 5

[thornbush]

The Chempaka Buddhist Lodge: Part 6

[thornbush]

The Chempaka Buddhist Lodge: Part 7

[thornbush]

The Chempaka Buddhist Lodge: Part 8
The Eastern Hall of Merits: The Bhaisajya-Guru Shrine:
The Great Twelve Yaksha Generals, Dharma Guardians of the Sutra: http://www.fodian.net/world/0450.html

http://www.fodian.net/world/0450.html
At that time, twelve great yaksa generals were present in the assembly.
They were:
General Kimbhiro,
General Vajra,
General Mekhilo,
General Antilo,
General Anilo,
General Santhilo,
General Indalo,
General Payilo,
General Mahalo,
General Cidalo,
General Caundhulo,
and General Vikalo.

These twelve great Yaksa generals, each with a retinue of seven thousand yaksas, simultaneously raised their voices and addressed the Buddha, "World Honored One! Today, by relying on the Buddha's awesome power, we are able to hear the name of the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata.
As a result, we are no longer afraid of the evil destinies.
All of us are of one mind to take refuge with the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha to the end of our lives.
We vow to support all living beings and to benefit them, so that they may live in peace and happiness.
In whatever cities, villages, countries, or secluded forests this Sutra circulates, or wherever people accept and uphold the name of Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata and venerate and make offerings to him, we, together with our retinues, will guard and protect them, deliver them from all distress, and fulfill all their wishes.
If a person wishes to dispel illnesses and difficulties, he should read or recite this Sutra and tie a five-colored thread into knots, forming the letters of our names. He should untie the knots when his wishes have been fulfilled.

At that time, the World Honored One praised the great yaksa generals, saying,
"Good indeed, good indeed, mighty yaksa generals!
All of you who want to repay the kindness of the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, should always benefit beings and bring peace and happiness to them in this way.

[thornbush]

The Chempaka Buddhist Lodge: Part 9

[thornbush]

The Chempaka Buddhist Lodge: Part 10

[sraddha]

I have a little shrine in the highest shelf of my bookshelf. With the Nikayas and various Mahayana sutras right under that shelf.

I put a round wooden platform on top of which there's about a 6 inch golden statue of Buddha. I made sure the statue I bought was the most golden in color -- it shines in the light or even without direct light, it shines with a metallic golden sheen.

Initially I used to offer real flowers every morning, but -- as all formations are impermanent, they just created a mess.

I found a beautiful crystal lotus at a flee market one day - I thought, PERFECT! Doesn't fade, doesn't make anything dirty and is beautiful -- I bought it and I offered it to the Buddha.

I also found in a chinese gold shop a tiny Buddha about 3 inches, made out of gold in a little temple about 3 inches high. It seemed like a Thai design, and is absolutely adorable.

I found a cup made out of solid silver in an Indian store, and I offer water everyday in that.

I found a 1 foot X1foot rug -- I sit on that to meditate every morning and evening.

I love to look at my shrine, it always brings a smile to me in the morning with it's beauty with the golden light of the Buddha waking me up every morning !

[thornbush]

Would love to see a snapshot of that lovely altar u have sraddha

[sraddha]

Would love to see a snapshot of that lovely altar u have sraddha

Sorry, I don't have a digital camera.

[Ngawang Drolma]

Daka la, you always share the most beautiful images with us. Thank you