Tsem Tulku Rinpoche

Largest Buddha in Thailand!!!!

Dear everyone, 

Patsy Lee sent me these beautiful photos of the largest Buddha statue in Thailand!! Wow. It is absolutely breathtaking. Even the pictures are taken in such a surreal manner.

Please take a good look and be blessed. Be inspired.

I love this so much. I love Thailand, it's form of Buddhism, the people, culture and country so much also. I love their King and respect him so much because he lives/acts for the people. He gave his whole life in the service of his people.. What a wonderful country. One of the best places I have ever stayed, visited and lived in. I really like Thailand very much.

Tsem Tulku

Wat Muang, Ang Thong

Ang Thong is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. The name means "golden bowl" which refer to Angthong as a central for prosperity as it has a lot of rice fields.

Wat Muang is located at Mu 6, Tambon Huataphan, approximately 8 kilometers from downtown. Go along Ang Thong Wiset Chai Chan route (Highway No. 3195) Km 29 for 1 kilometer, the temple will be on the left side.

There are several important attractions in the temple. The Wat boasts one of the largest statues of Buddha in Thailand – over 90 feet tall - Phra Buddha Maha Nawamin. The ubosot of Wat Muang is surrounded by the biggest lotus petals in the world. Ground floor of Wihan Kaeo is a museum (open only on Saturday and Sunday during 9 am.5 pm.) exhibiting sacred objects, antiques, and figures of renowned monks from all over the country.

The upper floor of the museum houses the first and largest silver holy Buddha image of the country, which was constructed in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of His Majesty the Kings throne ascendancy. Within the temple compound, there are figures of heaven and hell, Thai god paradise, Chinese god paradise, and a huge statue of Kuan Yin (Avalokiteshvara) female goddess. Besides, there are figures narrating the history of Thai-Burmese battle in Wiset Chai Chan.

 

 

 

 

I was also sent a link to Wayne's Dhamma Blogthat has more pictures from the wat. So these pictures were extracted from someone's Dhamma blog. I want to share it. I don't know who Wayne is, but I thank him for posting these. I am reblogging here to share.

 

 

 

left: Temple of Guan Yin
right: Thousand-arm Guan Yin (or Avalokita in Tibetan)

 

left: Gold Ubosot (temple) with Chinese Dragon guardians and many lotus sculptures outside.
right: Silver Ubosot where the monks perform their daily chantings

left: The inside of the silver Ubosot is filled with mirrors creating an effect of infinite space

right: The undecaying body of Ajarn Kasem, the previous abbot.What a holy monk, as his sacred body does not decompose in the hot Thai heat. Thousands go to his body to make prayers and get blessings. Wonderful! The power of the sangha.

 

The previous abbot, Arjan Kasem's bucha and photo portrait.

Phra Malai (monk) preaching to the hell-beings on Uposatha days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

left: Barbed tree where sinners who commit sexual misconduct are forced to climb up and down by the torturers and their hell-hounds.
right: A sinner who cheats others being hanged by her limbs and mercilessly slashed by her torturer.

  

left: Sinners who are addicted to alcohol and other intoxicants are force to drink boiling metal liquid by the torturers.
right: Sinners who constantly lied, abused or slandered others have their tongues hooked in hell, or are forced through the meat grinder.

left: Those who killed, murdered or slaughtered other beings are themselves slaughtered alive by the torturers in hell. They die and keep coming back to life to go through the same torments again and again due to the force of their own evil karma.
right: Thieves and robbers are impaled and sawed up in hell.

left: The ungrateful sinners who repay kindness with evil re thrown into the wok of boiling oil to be fried alive.
right: The Hall of hell where King Yama and his judges decide on the appropriate punishments for the sinners, in accordance to the unwholesome deeds that they have committed. Every good or evil karma done shows up in the judges' record books without fail.

left: Tall statues of male and female hungry ghosts, who have to suffer constant hunger and thirst.

right: A statue of Phra Sivali, the symbol of great merit. Indeed merit is the thing that sustains all beings; for without merit beings are doomed to suffer endlessly in the wheel of Samsara. The Hell Park serves to reminds us to avoid evil and make as much merit as we can when we are alive. Once we die and fall into the lower realms, it will be too late to repent.

 

 

You can watch a short clip of the surroundings of the large Buddha Phra Buddha Maha Nawamin by clicking the video below:

What a wonderful place to visit on our next break or holiday!! I recommend people to go definitely. You must visit Thailand and it's many places of interest at least once in your life. It's not be missed..trust me!!!!

Tsem Tulku

 

*********

BELOW IS EXTRA INFORMATION FROM WAN WHO OF COURSE IS FROM THAILAND:

 

wan (wasukamol@yahoo.com) has left you a comment:

Thank you rinpoche for sharing about this big Buddha statue. I’m looking forward to see big Lama Lama Tsongkhapa statue at KWPC. I would like to share some information about this big Buddha statue which i read from Wat Muang website in Thai language, This big Buddha Shayamuni statue ,its hight 95 metres and width is 63.05 metres. Phar Arjan Kasem and his students started build from 2 May 1991 and completed on 16 February 2007, it took 16 years to complete. Estimate fund used about 104,261,089.65 baht or about 10 million ringgit, all funds came from donation. U might view more photos from Wat Muang website gallery as http://www.watmuang.com/gallery1.php.

 

 

VISITING THE HUGE KUAN YIN IN PINANG

Myself with JJ who assisted me to Pinang.

Monlam, myself and long time student Chia.

Keloksi Temple is the Largest Chinese Buddhist Monastery in Malaysia as far as I know. It is in the Northern State of Pinang which is five hours drive from Kuala Lumpur.

The Temple complex is huge. Here we are visiting the outdoor Kuan Yin (Avalokitesvara) image at Keloksi. Fantastic structure. The cover for Kuan Yin is nearly done. I rejoice and feel very happy to see this sacred image of Kuan Yin so awe inspiring. May Kuan Yin bless us all to full enlightenment.

I went to Pinang with JJ, Chia and Monlam. We had a nice overnight trip in which I visited our Kechara Paradise Outlet in Pinang for the first time also.

Tsem Tulku

 

 

Angel makes offerings

 
Angel on the far left with glasses.

Angel is a long time student of mine. She is in Bangkok at the moment attending a wedding. She, her sister, cousin and friend went to make traditional offerings of food to monks. Angel dedicated the offerings to my long life and Kechara House's growth also for the manifestation of KWPC. How generous and kind. Very thoughtful and I deeply appreciate it very much. It is very virtuous to make offerings to monks in general and I encourage people to do so..

Making food offerings to monks is the same in all Buddhist countries. It just the way they go about it is different. Each Tradition has it's unique cultural method to make offerings...all is beautiful.

In Thailand, early in the morning, the monks will come to specified places and have their alms bowl ready. Then the participants put food inside their bowls as an offering. The monks will recite a blessing prayer for the food giver. It's done at the crack of dawn daily and I have done it before. It is truly a beautiful experience and I am ADDICTED TO IT.

Thank you so much Angel and family/friends.

Tsem Tulku

   

Excellent Thangka at Gyuto Tantric College

I love thangkas and statues. I have always since I was a young child.

This thangka is so well made and it is in Gyuto Tantric College. It shows the Three 'Kingly' Tantras recommended by Lord Tsongkapa as very effective paths to reach full enlightenment in one life. Lord Tsongkapa practiced these Three simultaneously and became fully enlightened. Their lineage stem from Tsongkapa to us up till current times.

Description:

   

Tsongkapa

Gyaltsab Je -   Kedrub Je

 

 Yamantaka  -   Guyasamaja   -    Cakrasamvara

Kalarupa--Vaishravana--6-armed Mahakala--White Mahakala--Pelden Hlamo--Yudroma 

 

 

I really like this thangka. One of my students went to Gyuto on a visit and snapped this picture.

Tsem Tulku

 

I VISITED GADEN for 1st time WITH AN OXYGEN TANK

I am facing holy Gaden Monastery making my prayers before I enter it's holy grounds.

January 1st, 2009 is when I laid my eyes on holy Gaden Monastery in Tibet the first time!!

I made a trip to Tibet in end of December 2008 and early January 2009. It was my first time there and I went with a tiny group as it was a last minute planning to go. 

I visited quite a few places in Tibet.

When we left the hotel and took an hour drive to Gaden, it was clear. By the time we got there it was snowing and the place was white!! From the bottom of the mountain due to the snow, it took 45 mins of slow driving up. The buses that came couldn't go up due to the snow, so stayed at the bottom and ppl actually walked up...wow...such devotion.

We visited the main mausoleum of Tsongkapa that houses the remains of his holy body and clothes. We made tremendous prayers there and we arrived just before it was closing and the monks did not rush us out. We also visited the Setrap Chapel. Then we walked on a narrow 8 inches in width path that led to the cave that Tsongkapa meditated in and achieved great realizations. They built a chapel into it and we went to visit and make prayers.

The altitude was very high, so I needed oxygen that I carried. It took me around 2 days to acclimatize to the attitude and was very sick for the 1st two days.But I had great ppl helping me and good doctors that came to see me.

 

I am facing the holy stupa that contains LAMA TSONGKAPA'S BODY/CLOTHES/RELICS!!!

 

Behind me is the Golden Stupa that encases the holy remains of Lama Tsongkapa's blessed body/clothes/relics!! Tens of thousands from China, Nepal, Mongolia, Russia, India, Japan, and Tibetan themselves have visited this incredible holy of holies for the last 600 hundred years. Great decisions are made after making prayers here and great lamas have been recognized after doing prayers here. EVERYONE IN TIBET FOR THE PAST 600 YEARS WOULD MAKE IT A POINT TO VISIT THIS HOLY STUPA.

And here I am, having the great fortune to visit. I thank my Gurus, Tara and Setrap for this opportunity.

Inside the Setrap Chapel of Gaden in Tibet!!

Walking around in Tibet to visit the various sacred chapels and places of interest. My previous lives are from Gaden I was told. So one of the students with me asked, " Can you remember anything here??" I was like, noooooooooooo, I don't ...too bad for me...but I did feel very comfortable and it was very exciting to be there. When I first entered Gaden I just couldn't stop crying and crying. I was overwhelmed by the energy and vibrations of the place. I realized how much benefit this place created in the last six hundred years for the preservation of the pure Buddha Dharma. It has contributed to the Dharma spreading to the world now!!! And it is all because of Lord Tsongkapa........I prostrate to this supreme Buddha Tsongkapa for all time..

I am standing in front of the cave that LAMA TSONGKAPA MEDITATED FOR 6 YEARS WITH CLOSE STUDENTS!!! He completed ten million prostrations, one million mandala offerings, ten million recitations to the 35 Confessional Buddhas...etc etc....He had his visions of Manjushri here along with a few disciples who also can see... and from hence forth he had direct communications with Manjushri as and when it was necessary. It was like he got his spiritual cell phone here and can call Manjushri anytime. Unfortunately when I showed up to get a cell, they were out of stock!!!!!!

They had built a chapel over the cave and painted it maroon and yellow to show it's sanctity. It was thrilling and moving to be here.

  
 This holy image is inside the cave of Tsongkapa.

This is a video of our drive away from Gaden and I was narrating. I took this on my handphone.

I loved Gaden. I advise you strongly to visit and make the causes to visit by dedicating yourselves to your master and Tsongkapa.

Tsem Tulku
  

Rudyard Kipling's Poem of Kamakura Buddha

One of the places I always wanted to visit since I was a child. I saw this image in Land O'Pines School library's encyclopedia. From then I generated a strong wish to visit. And I did! One of my favorite images of Buddha.Tsem Tulku

The Buddha at Kamakura

"And there is a Japanese idol at Kamakura"

by Rudyard Kipling

O ye who tread the Narrow Way
By Tophet-flare to Judgment Day,
Be gentle when the 'heathen' pray
To Buddha at Kamakura!

To him the Way, the Law, apart,
Whom Maya held beneath her heart,
Ananda's Lord, the Bodhisat,
The Buddha of Kamakura.

For though he neither burns nor sees,
Nor hears ye thank your Deities,
Ye have not sinned with such as these,
His children at Kamakura.

Yet spare us still the Western joke
When joss-sticks turn to scented smoke
The little sins of little folk
That worship at Kamakura.

The grey-robed, gay-sashed butterflies
That flit beneath the Master's eyes.
He is beyond the Mysteries
But loves them at Kamakura.

And whoso will, from Pride released,
Contemning neither creed nor priest,
May feel the Soul of all the East
About him at Kamakura.

Yea, every tale Ananda heard,
Of birth as fish or beast or bird,
While yet in lives the Master stirred,
The warm wind brings Kamakura.

Till drowsy eyelids seem to see
A-flower 'neath her golden htee
The Shwe-Dagon flare easterly
From Burmah to Kamakura,

And down the loaded air there comes
The thunder of Thibetan drums,
And droned -- "Om mane padme hums" --
A world's-width from Kamakura.

Yet Brahmans rule Benares still,
Buddh-Gaya's ruins pit the hill,
And beef-fed zealots threaten ill
To Buddha and Kamakura.

A tourist-show, a legend told,
A rusting bulk of bronze and gold,
So much, and scarce so much, ye hold
The meaning of Kamakura?

But when the morning prayer is prayed,
Think, ere ye pass to strife and trade,
Is God in human image made
No nearer than Kamakura?

 -- Rudyard Kipling

The Biggest Buddha in Thailand?

Is this the biggest Buddha image in Thailand ?

The seated Phra Buddha Maha Nawamin statue located at Wat Muang in Ang Thong Province, some two hours north of Bangkok & an hour north of Ayutthaya may well lay claim to that honour. 

Check out the short video & look out for the signs that show just how large this statue really is!

The Theravada Buddhism statue towers over both the temple Wat Muang & its surrounding area. Also located at the temple is the aptly named "Hell Park" which is a large "Buddhist Theme Park" full of macabre scenes of mutilation & death depicted through large colorful figures all set in different themed scenes! 

The "ubosoth", which is the holiest prayer room at any temple, also known as the "ordination hall" of Wat Muang is surrounded by the biggest lotus petals in the world, there is also a huge golden statue of Kwan Yin the Chinese female Buddhist symbol.

*Many thanks to my good friend Heather Hapeta at The Kiwi Travel Writer for allowing us to share her wonderful copyrighted photos* 

Ang Thong is one of the "Central Provinces" of Thailand its name means "golden basin" in Thai which is a reference to geographical layout of the region & the golden color of the rice grown throughout this fertile area. 

How to get to the Wat Muang which houses the biggest Buddha in Thailand is easy just take the Asian Highway from Bangkok. 

Source: http://www.visit-chiang-mai-online.com/biggest-buddha-thailand.html 

I love Kamakura Buddha in Japan

I have always wanted to visit Japan's Kamakura Buddha for decades. And I finally did.

This was built by a shogun's wife dedicating this sacred Buddha for her beloved husband.

I wish to visit in the future again.

Tsem Tulku

Puja at Naropa's Cave, Kathmandu, Nepal

These are pictures of myself in Nepal in 2008, the place is by a river and right next to the river near me is the cave of the Great Mahasiddha Naropa and his Guru Tilopa. I had taken about sixty over people there on a pilgrimage with me, and we all visited that cave and then everybody returned to their respective countries, but I stayed on in Nepal to do more pilgrimage. It is a very beautiful, wonderful and very holy site, because this was where Naropa received trainings and teachings from his Guru Tilopa, and he had visions of Vajrayogini here. They have built the wonderful statues of Naropa and Tilopa in both the caves, so nearby I decided to set up with my assistants to do a wonderful puja to absorb the energy of the area, and that was what I was doing here, some prayers and pujas, it was very peaceful and beautiful, the flow of the water, the atmosphere, the weather, the whole feeling, and the caretakers here were very interested also and they had come to join me in the puja and asked me a lot of questions, so I had the pleasure of giving them a lot of pictures of various Buddhas such as Vajrayogini, and they liked that very much. It was a wonderful visit, and I thought I would share this on my blog with everyone, for you to enjoy and rejoice, and I hope one day, all of you will visit this holy spot of Naropa and Tilopa in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Good luck, Tsem Tulku