The Buddha Park of Ravangla, also known as Tathagata Tsal, is situated near
Rabong (Ravangla) in South Sikkim district, Sikkim, India.
It was constructed between 2006 and 2013 and features a 40 m (130 ft) high
statue of the Buddha as its centerpiece. The site was chosen within the larger
religious complex of the Rabong Gompa (Monastery), itself a centuries-old
place of pilgrimage. Also nearby is Ralang Monastery, a key monastery in
Tibetan Buddhism.
The statue was consecrated on 25 March 2013 by the 14th Dalai Lama, and became
a stop on the 'Himalayan Buddhist Circuit'. The statue of the Buddha marks the
occasion of the 2550th birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha. This statue was
built and installed in the place through the joint efforts of the Sikkim
government and its people. The Buddhist circuit of this park was built here
under a State government project, for boosting pilgrimage and tourism in the
region. The Cho Djo lake is located within the complex, surrounded by forest.
Entrance to the Buddha Park of Ravangla.
The Buddha Park is located approximately 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) north of
the city of Ravangla, in the South Sikkim district of India's Sikkim
state.
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Prayer wheels.
A prayer wheel is a cylindrical wheel (Tibetan: 'khor lo) on a
spindle made from metal, wood, stone, leather, or coarse cotton, widely
used in Tibet and areas where Tibetan culture is predominant.
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Traditionally, a mantra is written in Ranjana script or Tibetan
script, on the outside of the wheel. The mantra
Om mani padme hum is most commonly used, but other mantras may
be used as well.
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At the core of the cylinder is a "life tree" often made of wood or
metal with certain mantras written on or wrapped around it. Many
thousands (or in the case of larger prayer wheels, millions) of
mantras are then wrapped around this life tree.
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According to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition based on the lineage texts
regarding prayer wheels, spinning such a wheel will have much the same
meritorious effect as orally reciting the prayers.
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See more at
Prayer wheel - Wikipedia.
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Buddha Park seen from the southeast.
The park has a tranquil setting with spacious pathways, and there is a
Buddhist conclave, a meditation centre and a museum with a spiral
gallery.
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Access gate to the Buddha statue.
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Buddha statue.
The statue, built of 60 tonnes of copper, is an example of repousse
work.
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The Nine Stages of Mental Development.
Samatha ("calm," "serenity," "tranquillity of awareness,") and
vipassana (literally "special, super (vi-), seeing
(-passana)", are two qualities of the mind developed in tandem in
Buddhist practice.
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According to Thrangu Rinpoche, when samatha and
vipasyana are combined, through samatha disturbing
emotions are abandoned, which thus facilitates vipasyana,
"clear seeing". Vipasyana is cultivated through reasoning,
logic, and analysis in conjunction with samatha.
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See more at
Samatha-vipassana - Wikipedia.
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Six symbols of longevity.
The painting refers to a very old legend about an extremely beautiful
and tranquil place where people dream to be, a cloud-kissing, firm and
eternal Stone Mountain which, like the right-turning conch was worshiped
by Amitayus; "a longevous old man" with a large, plump forehead and a
long white beard on his face, benevolent in appearance and holding an
ancient precious bottle and holy peach.
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He is living happily in the charming landscape. The hot spring,
worshiped by the old man, is welling up from the valley of the Stone
Mountain and flowing eternally to foster good health; an old tree
living on this land and nourished by the hot spring is deeply rooted
in the earth and appears to be flourishing and fruitful.
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It is a sacred place for people to enjoy the cool atmosphere; cranes
are also living in this abundant land, shadowed by the ancient tree,
fed with eternal fruits, and looked after by the old man. They happily
search for food in his yard, which attracts various kinds of birds and
beasts.
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On the grassland, not far from the old man, a buck and a doe are
romping; having been protected by the old man, they are enjoying the
profuse grass and abundant spring water.
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See also
Source
Location