Huge Outdoor Buddha – Thimpu, Bhutan
I don’t have any details but I found these pictures on Facebook by accident and by luck. So I would like to post this to show how fabulous this project is. Wow…the workmanship on this huge Buddha statue is so well done. Very Balanced and beautiful on sight. I wish so much I can build big images like this also. It is in Thimpu, Bhutan.
Much Care,
Tsem Rinpoche
UPDATE: 30 September
According to ‘Gelay’s view,’ the Shakyamuni statue will be the 17th tallest Buddha statue in the world! When completed it will hold 100,000 smaller Buddha statues!!!
This statue will overlook Thimpu and is said to cost around USD$20 million!!
When this statue is built….it can be added into the 56 Grand Statues of the World post!! hehe
Tsem Rinpoche
This 51.2 meters tall Buddha statue is visible from miles away!
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Atop a hill in Thimphu, which is the capital and largest city of Bhutan, there is a massive, golden Buddha Statue. This massive statue of Shakyamuni measures in at a height of 51.5 m, is one of the largest statues of Buddha in the world. Wow.. the statue is made of bronze and is gilded in gold. It was constructed to honor the 60th birthday of Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth king of Bhutan. The statue houses over one hundred thousand smaller Buddha statues, each of which, like the Great Buddha Dordenma itself, are made of bronze and gilded in gold. Looking at this massive statue paints a thousands words. Having a huge statues atop in Thimphu is indeed a blessing to the whole area and who ever see it.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
This statue of Buddha Shakyamuni is now being recognised as one of the biggest attraction to Thimbu,Bhutan. I’m happy to see this post here. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this.
A very beautiful Buddha statue. With this huge size many beings can view from a far and benefit them by planting a dharma seed to them. I’m sure the statue will attract a lot of people to visit Thimpu in Bhutan. May all be blessed and rejoice for the people for are involved in the planning, sponsorship and construction.
Wow …amazing a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue been built up overlooking the southern approach to Thimphu , Bhutan. This golden Buddha Statue sits at one of the mountains in Thimphu known as Kunzangphodrang. Its presence reflects the dominant religion in Bhutan. Buddhism been an important part in the daily life of the Bhutanese. It was constructed in 2015 to honor the 60th birthday of Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth king of Bhutan. By now this huge Buddha statue has attracted many locals as well as foreigners visiting the beautiful country of Bhutan. I do wish I could visit this amazing architecture Buddha statue in the near future. Well…it would be wonderful if Kechara Forest Retreat have such a big statue to bless the surrounding area with peace, harmony and happiness.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
That is a very beautiful, gigantic Medicine Buddha. Bhutan is such a beautiful country. Love this outdoor Buddha Shakyamuni statue very much, not only because of the mesmerising sight of the Buddha but also because of the view from the site. Thank you very much Rinpoche and blog team for sharing this beautiful outdoor Buddha.??
Throne seat of Zhabdrung Jigme Norbu at Gorinang Monastery in Paro
(From Facebook)
The seat of Zhabdrung Jigme Norbu. Here is what I found out from a short study.
High Lamas can manifest in different forms, such as the Mind emanation, Body emanation or Speech emanation. Jigme Norbu was a layman who was recognised as the Mind emanation of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1651).
Jigme Norbu, the Fourth Mind Incarnation of the Zhabdrung, was born into the respected family line of the renowned Bhutanese Nyingma terton, Pemalingpa (1450-1521), whose Nyingma teachings had become part of the Drukpa lineage. His list of teachers included several important Je Khenpos, including Sherab Gyaltsen (25th Je Khenpo), Padma Zangpo (27th/29th Je Khenpo), Jampel Gyatso (30th Je Khenpo), and Yonten Gyaltsen (31st Je Khenpo).
After Jigme Norbu was recognized as the mind reincarnation of the Zhabdrung, he was enthroned as the Desi in 1851 under the recommendation of the Central Monk Body. However, Jigme Norbu did not want to be ordained and decided to take a consort to practice advanced Mahamudra.
He also had a daughter. This was not well looked upon by Bhutanese society. That, combined with a suspicion that he was involved in a political coup, were the reasons behind his resignation in 1852. Soon after, he left his monastic seat, Talo Sanga Choling, which is located at Talo valley, and journeyed to Tibet.
Later, Jigme Norbu returned to Gorinang, the monastery which was founded by his teacher, Sherab Gyeltsen, and passed into clear light at the age of 31.
Source: Kardo Petsher FB
Love this outdoor Buddha Shakyamuni statue very much, not only because of the mesmerising sight of the Buddha but also because of the view from the site. Thank you, Rinpoche for this sharing.
Wow …… a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue under construction in the mountains of Bhutan.These huge Shakyamuni statue will be the 17th tallest Buddha statue in the world when completed. Construction began in 2006 and still on going at the time of these post.It was in 2015 these gigantic statues was completed and was the 56 Grand Statues of the World. These whole projects cost around USD$20 million over looking Thimpu. Fantastic and amazing to view it.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these beautiful pictures.
That is a very beautiful, gigantic Medicine Buddha. Bhutan is such a beautiful country and they have managed to have zero carbon footprint.
Could they have had help from the Medicine Buddha, calming and healing the land and all who set eyes on it? It would be such a sight for sore eyes and surely will draw tourists and pilgrims to the country. But, it is not easy to get into the country as the government is making a converted effort to keep the number of tourists at a reasonable number so as not to impact the environment too much.
Thank you, Rinpoche for sharing these photos.
Would be wonderful to have such replica at our Kechara Forest Retreat to bless many who feast their eyes on the Buddha. Even at night too!
Dear Rinpoche
I would like to add a little description of the Buddha statue which you have posted in your blog. This is mainly to give clear idea about the project and its purpose.
The 169-feet bronze statue of Buddha Dordenma, Vajra Throne Buddha, symbolising indestructibility, and seated on a vajra throne, is erected at Kuensel Phodrang in Changbangdu, overlooking the capital city, Thimphu, Bhutan. The Buddha Dordenma project is being initiated by the chairman of Menjong Chhothuen Tshogpa, Lam Tshering Wangdi, to commemorate the hundred years of monarchy in 2007. Within the gigantic bronze structure including the thri (throne) there are enough space to house 17 storeys of different lhakhangs (temples).
The construction of the Buddha statue is meant to fulfill the prophecy of bestowing blessings, universal peace and happiness to the world as a whole. This initiative is in accordance with Lam Sonam Zangpo’s prophecy, a renowned yogi, who said that construction of a statue either of Guru, Buddha or Phurba in this region would bring stability, peace and prosperity in the country.”
Thank you la
Set amidst the mountains how beautiful!
Dear Tsem Tulku Rinpoche,
Please visit http://www.buddhadordenma.org for more info about the construction of this Buddha Statue. H.E Trizin Tsering Rinpoche is the founder of the Buddha Dordenma. Thank you.
Ah, just a prop for a new “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” movie.
It is very good quality, very nice.
Oh my gosh! He’s gorgeous! The statue is a little female-like though, like the facial features and the strong red colour used for the lips.
I read an article in Readers Digest Asia about traveling to Bhutan and it made me want to go there SO badly! Now the urge is wayyyy stronger!!
The sheer scale of this statue really didn’t have an impact on the quality. That really is the one thing that I feel is rather impressive.
Silly thought though, I wonder how it’s gonna maintain itself (from rusting etc) without having a roof over the statue’s head…
Rinpoche
Amazing pictures….it really nice and beautiful …
Wow, Thank you Rinpoche for the lovely pictures. I really hope that we will make big images like that in the future. I bet we would be able to see one in KWPC. The buddha’s smile was made so elegantly …. So perfectly. Wow!
Wow,it’s so beautiful… I love the Buddha’s smile…so gentle and beautiful… and the Buddha’s eyes…. gazing down and radiating love.
Amazing Pictures, beautiful work. This is so hopeful after the destroyal of the two huge stone buddhas in Afghanistan by the canons of the Taliban.
We don’t only have to suffer by impermanence, because even the state of destruction is impermanent, and we may create new beginnings, freshly, with an open heart. 🙂
What a fantastic face, its already radiating love and compassion. Hope that I some day will be able to visit and pay my respect and gratitude.May all beings live in harmonie.
just look at this Buddha’s eyes ….. so captivating & gentle ! The smile is beautiful.
It is great to see how different countries are making huge outdoor Buddha statues, blessing the whole environment and all its inhabitants. How wonderful!
Thanks Rinpoche for the sharing. The Buddha statue and face is magnificent and detaily crafted.The serene gaze is certainly a great sight to behold and exert a very peaceful feel.
As an artist I am humbled and speechless at it’s scope and beauty. As a practitioner I am humbled and speechless at it’s auspiciousness and presence. Thank you so much for sharing.