Post by neil6147 on May 5, 2008 7:54:44 GMT 10
Hello to you all. We have had a great day out down in the Scottish Borders. We visited the Tibetan Buddhist Centre called the Kagyu Samye Ling.
We have visited this place many many times over the years. And each time we visit there is more and more improvements to this great place.
The Temple and grounds are open all year round to the Public.
www.samyeling.org
This is the first sign of the Temple as you approach. You are looking at the The Victory Stupa
A Stupa is a symbol of the enlightened mind of the Buddha and its function is to restore, balance and transform negative energies to heal both our planet and ourselves. The form and contents of the Stupa express the balance and purification of earth, water, fire, air and space. They also express the wisdom and compassion of Buddha nature, the true nature of all living beings. Our Victory Stupa was consecrated in 2000 and is the first of its kind in Scotland.
The following few photos were taken with very kind permission. So I hope you like them.
This a photo of the centre piece on the ceiling.
The Stupa only has two windows which are both the same. It is also thought to be the only Stupa in Western Europe with leaded glass windows.
Green Tara statue
A wonderful 5 metre high Green Tara statue has recently been built by Lama Thubten Kunsal in the new herbal medicine garden to the right of the Samye Liberation Gate. Green Tara is said to embody the loving compassion of all the Buddhas. Her female form symbolises wisdom and her posture with the right foot extended represents her readiness to help whomsoever needs it.
The Green Tara prayers, recited to overcome fear and obstacles, are chanted in the Samye Ling Temple every morning between 6 and 7am.
Guru Rinpoche (also known as Padmasambhava)
In the pond next to the Stupa is the statue of Guru Rinpoche (also known as Padmasambhava) seated on a lotus flower. Revered as the founder of Buddhism in Tibet, he brought the Buddhist teachings from India to Tibet in the eighth century. Lotus flowers provide one of the most enduring symbols of Buddhism. The flower grows out of the mud at the bottom of a lake, but then rises above the water and blooms into a beautiful flower which is untainted by the mud. This has become symbolic of how enlightened awareness emerges from the confusion of our minds blossoming into the full expression of wisdom and compassion. Consequently, it is fitting that legend depicts Guru Rinpoche as having been born in a lotus flower in a lake.
Prayer Wheel House
This is located close to the Stupa.
As people walk around the Stupa clockwise reciting prayers, their path takes them through the Prayer Wheel House, where they turn the prayer wheels as they go. The prayer wheels are at the front of the building. The back part will have drawers where the ashes of the deceased will be kept. The prayer wheels contain millions of mantras (short prayers) for peace and compassion which have been inscribed on paper soaked in saffron water and blessed in a special way. As one turns the prayer wheel clockwise it activates the blessing of the mantras, tramsmitting the energy of peace and compassion in all directions.
This is some of the original house`s which are still in use today. Yes they are made of wood.
The outside of the main Temple. Sorry I was not able to take photos within the Temple. This was due to the Temple being used at the time when we were allowed in.
The magnificent Tibetan Temple is the centrepiece of spiritual life at Samye Ling. Completed in 1988 after ten years of devoted labour by volunteers under the direction of Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche and master artist, Sherab Palden Beru, the temple hosts a daily programme of meditation and prayers.
You are welcome to visit the temple throughout day, although you are requested to come and go quietly during prayer sessions. The only times the temple is closed to the public are during daily meditations, which run 8am - 9am and 5pm - 6pm. You are welcome to join these sessions, but you are asked to be settled before meditation starts and to remain until the end. Otherwise, the temple is open daily from 6am until 10pm.
An example of the wild life which can be found within the grounds.
I hope that you have found these photos of interest.
And yes we enjoyed the trip and the walk around the grounds. We felt more relaxed after this visit.
Neil
We have visited this place many many times over the years. And each time we visit there is more and more improvements to this great place.
The Temple and grounds are open all year round to the Public.
www.samyeling.org
This is the first sign of the Temple as you approach. You are looking at the The Victory Stupa
A Stupa is a symbol of the enlightened mind of the Buddha and its function is to restore, balance and transform negative energies to heal both our planet and ourselves. The form and contents of the Stupa express the balance and purification of earth, water, fire, air and space. They also express the wisdom and compassion of Buddha nature, the true nature of all living beings. Our Victory Stupa was consecrated in 2000 and is the first of its kind in Scotland.
The following few photos were taken with very kind permission. So I hope you like them.
This a photo of the centre piece on the ceiling.
The Stupa only has two windows which are both the same. It is also thought to be the only Stupa in Western Europe with leaded glass windows.
Green Tara statue
A wonderful 5 metre high Green Tara statue has recently been built by Lama Thubten Kunsal in the new herbal medicine garden to the right of the Samye Liberation Gate. Green Tara is said to embody the loving compassion of all the Buddhas. Her female form symbolises wisdom and her posture with the right foot extended represents her readiness to help whomsoever needs it.
The Green Tara prayers, recited to overcome fear and obstacles, are chanted in the Samye Ling Temple every morning between 6 and 7am.
Guru Rinpoche (also known as Padmasambhava)
In the pond next to the Stupa is the statue of Guru Rinpoche (also known as Padmasambhava) seated on a lotus flower. Revered as the founder of Buddhism in Tibet, he brought the Buddhist teachings from India to Tibet in the eighth century. Lotus flowers provide one of the most enduring symbols of Buddhism. The flower grows out of the mud at the bottom of a lake, but then rises above the water and blooms into a beautiful flower which is untainted by the mud. This has become symbolic of how enlightened awareness emerges from the confusion of our minds blossoming into the full expression of wisdom and compassion. Consequently, it is fitting that legend depicts Guru Rinpoche as having been born in a lotus flower in a lake.
Prayer Wheel House
This is located close to the Stupa.
As people walk around the Stupa clockwise reciting prayers, their path takes them through the Prayer Wheel House, where they turn the prayer wheels as they go. The prayer wheels are at the front of the building. The back part will have drawers where the ashes of the deceased will be kept. The prayer wheels contain millions of mantras (short prayers) for peace and compassion which have been inscribed on paper soaked in saffron water and blessed in a special way. As one turns the prayer wheel clockwise it activates the blessing of the mantras, tramsmitting the energy of peace and compassion in all directions.
This is some of the original house`s which are still in use today. Yes they are made of wood.
The outside of the main Temple. Sorry I was not able to take photos within the Temple. This was due to the Temple being used at the time when we were allowed in.
The magnificent Tibetan Temple is the centrepiece of spiritual life at Samye Ling. Completed in 1988 after ten years of devoted labour by volunteers under the direction of Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche and master artist, Sherab Palden Beru, the temple hosts a daily programme of meditation and prayers.
You are welcome to visit the temple throughout day, although you are requested to come and go quietly during prayer sessions. The only times the temple is closed to the public are during daily meditations, which run 8am - 9am and 5pm - 6pm. You are welcome to join these sessions, but you are asked to be settled before meditation starts and to remain until the end. Otherwise, the temple is open daily from 6am until 10pm.
An example of the wild life which can be found within the grounds.
I hope that you have found these photos of interest.
And yes we enjoyed the trip and the walk around the grounds. We felt more relaxed after this visit.
Neil
