Massively beautiful
Dear friends,
This is really beautiful and I want to share these with you. Take a few minutes out to enjoy and be blessed.
Tsem Rinpoche
Tsongkhapa in Denma Gonsa Monastery
Who was Lama Tsongkhapa?
Lama Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) was a Buddhist scholar and saint who lived in Tibet during a time when Buddhist teachings had degenerated. Through deep study, profound practice and high attainments, Lama Tsongkhapa led a renaissance of pure Buddhist teachings by emphasizing study, morality and distilling the best teachings from the existing schools of Buddhism in Tibet and from Indian Buddhist masters. His teachings became the basis for the establishment of the Gelug monastery, a monastic institution which survives to this day although it has since relocated to South India.
Revered as an emanation of the three great Bodhisattvas (Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri and Vajrapani), Lama Tsongkhapa embodied the respective profound qualities of enlightened compassion, wisdom and spiritual power of all three Beings.
Among the many renowned teachings he gave and dharma texts he composed, Lama Tsongkhapa’s Lamrim Chenmo, translated as The Graded Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, is considered one of his greatest works and is widely studied today, by both ordained Sangha and laypeople all over the world.
Despite his high attainments and enlightened qualities, Lama Tsongkhapa never exhibited any public display of miraculous powers, such as clairvoyance, and expressly prohibited his disciples from doing so. Instead, Lama Tsongkhapa focused on studying and teaching pure Buddhadharma, and was a role model of pure virtue. The Gelug school of Buddhism, which means “Virtuous” tradition, arose out of his teachings, and has become one of the fastest growing Buddhist schools on the world today.
Lama Tsongkhapa’s works and achievements are extremely extensive and are presented here in a short biography so you can gain a glimpse of his greatness to appreciate the vast breadth and depth of his teachings and accomplishments.
Benefits of large statues
- Plant seeds of liberation in all beings who lay eyes on the statue
- It is said that seeing the Buddha even when we are angry helps to purify the mind
- Creates waves of merit for those who help to sponsor, create and maintain the statue
- Pacify the environment. It is said that the construction of the Leshan Buddha helped to calm a particularly notorious stretch of the Yangtze River known for many drownings and ships capsizing
Historically, large representations of the Buddha have been built with the intention of inspiring anyone who sees it onto a higher (spiritual) path. It is believed even the smallest beings, like insects or “passersby” like birds or spirits receive the blessings of the Buddha. Thus the larger the statue, the greater its reach and more widespread its blessings: the 120-metre Maitreya Buddha statue in Japan, the 88-metre Amitabha Buddha in Lingshan and the 26-metre Maitreya statue in Beijing are just a few examples.
From Faces of Enlightenment by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche
The bigger the statue, the better, the more virtuous. That’s not something of the Tibetan tradition; that’s in all Buddhist traditions. If you go anywhere in the world, all Buddhist traditions make huge statues into mountains or temples. The money or sponsorship put towards statues should be done happily because it’s towards something to worship and to pray to. It is something that embodies the Three Jewels appearing to us in that form because we can’t see them directly yet.
From Gurus for Hire, Enlightenment for Sale by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche
Amazing photos!
These photos were taken in Denma Gonsa Monastery in Kham, Tibet. The statue is 12-storeys high and the main image of the monastery.
The previous Denma Gonsa Rinpoche was a student of both Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. His current incarnation received his monk vows from the current Kyabje Pabongka Chocktrul Rinpoche who travels often to this monastery to receive teachings, practices and commentaries.
For more interesting information:
- The Tsongkhapa category on my blog
- Holy and Profound Pabongka Rinpoche
- Tsongkapa’s daily practice (video commentary)
- TRANSCRIPT: How Lama Tsongkhapa transforms to Vajrayogini
- Exciting information on Tsongkapa!
- Facebook question: What are on the Lotuses that Lama Tsongkhapa is Holding?
- Condensed Tsongkapa practice for Happiness & clear mind
- Sayonara to Depression 再见吧！忧郁
- TRANSCRIPT – Lama Tsongkhapa (24th July 2008)
- TRANSCRIPT – Guru Yoga Teaching
- TRANSCRIPT: TSONGKHAPA explained
- The Mind and Lama Tsongkhapa
- 74 Grand Statues of the World
- China’s HUGE Buddha Statues!!!!
- I visited the largest Buddha statue in Thailand!!!!
- Largest Dorje Shugden in the world
- VISITING THE HUGE KUAN YIN IN PINANG
- Huge statue of Luang Phor Thuad (龙普托) in Thailand
- Statues for our new Gompa!!!
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
There is a long tradition of building large Buddha statues in Asia, and else where around the world. It is notable that each country will try to build the bigger the statue, the better, the more virtuous to benefits all beings. Amazing the statue of Lama Tsongkhapa in Denma Gonsa Monastery in Kham, Tibet was built as high as a 12-storeys high. To build such ever-bigger Buddha statues just to share one’s resources for the benefit and well-being of others. This magnificent statue attracts thousands of tourists and pilgrims from all over the world yearly. Amazing Buddhist traditions would make huge Buddha statues into mountains or temples and this can be noticeable in China, Japan, Nepal, India to name a few. Building a huge Buddhist statue would definitely bring peace, blessings, and happiness to the whole world. Merely by looking any of those huge Buddha is a blessing, planting the seeds of liberation, helps to purify the mind, pacifying the environment and those who sponsor, create and maintain the statue will collect creates waves of merit.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing and clear explanations.
Many of the temple would always tried their best to have large Buddha statues because it creates benefits for the sentient beings. Its for people to lay eyes on the statue even from far away, the Dharma seeds then have chances to plant in their mind. It can be so peaceful and calm when looking at the Buddha statue.
Every materials has its energy. When a large statues has built, the environment around would have lift up too. It also has the power to pacify energy.
From this articles, we can knowthat building large statues of Buddhas outdoor have tremendous benefits. In old times, it is build in troubled areas or places where there is a lot of negative disturbances or disasters. The statue will calm the land and beings nearby and blesses them.
Through this, I do see the importance of having big statues as not just for worship or looking good. But to have it to bless the environment as well. Thank you very much for sharing this article with nice pictures.
Wow.. the Lama Tsongkhapa statue at Denma Gonsar Monastery in Tibet is so beautiful and huge. The construction of such a huge Statue is not easy after all but they did it and is one of the most powerful ways to collect merits. May all be blessed by Lama Tsongkhapa .
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing those beautiful images.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this article and pictures of this amazing statue.
In this articles, I have learnt that building large statues of Buddhas outdoor have tremendous benefits. In old times, it is build in troubled areas or places where there is alot of negative disturbances or disasters. The statue will calm the land and beings nearby and blesses them.
The constructing of the statues is the evidence of the teachings being spread in that particular area as well.
Humbly,
Chris
This post reminds me of huge Lama Tsongkhapa statue at Songzanlin temple. May more sentient beings have the opportunity to see and make offering to massive Buddha statues. With palm folded.
May more massive buddhas statues arise and benefit all sentient beings.
For centuries, Buddhists have been building temples and large Buddha statues. I have heard conversations from others who do not understand the benefits and questioned why the money couldn’t be better spent on helping the less fortunate.
With the benefits listed above, we can understand that the benefits of building large statues may not resolve the immediate sufferings of the less fortunate, but they have longer term benefits that last beyond the current lifetime. More people including other sentient beings receive blessings upon sight of the statue, opening up dharmic seeds and planting more seeds of Enlightenment in their mind stream.
When our dharmic seeds open, over a period of time, we would be more inclined to realizing the innate compassion in us. As a result, we would spontaneously help others out of compassion. The more we operate out of compassion, the more we would want to help others. That’s why the benefits of building Buddha statues have exponential effects.
And this new beautiful sector space is spoiled by low resolution heavily compressed background texture of Milky Way. Now how about some sort of diplomacy system so i dont have to bring out my phaser all the time to ‘negotiate’ .
1)It is really wonderful that just by looking at Buddha statues, Buddha texts, Buddha Thangkas and etc, we will be able to have Dharma seeds planted in our minds. Even if you glimpse pass, you will still get Dharma seeds planted in your mind. The Dharma seed is like a real seed, if you water it everyday (Which means looking at Buddhas images and practice the Dharma) then it will slowly grow bigger everyday and the Dharma seeds will never disappear. And eventually, it might be after many lifetimes or not, the Dharma seeds will help us and guide us back to practicing the Dharma.
2)I also like to look at big statues, I don’t know how to explain why but it often gives me the inspiring sensations. There are many great and massive statues around the world. There is another blog post which is also on Rinpoche’s blog that is specifically about the largest statues around the world. I highly recommend you to read it and look at the pictures, it is a jaw dropping post. The title of the post is ’74 Grand Statues of the World. And the link is https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/inspiration-worthy-words/52-grand-statues-of-the-world.html
3)I guess building gigantic statues like this takes a lot of time, money effort but then again it will be all worth it. Why? Because more beings will be able to look at them, have Dharma seeds planted in their mind so that they will have another chance to practice the Dharma in their future lifetimes, and as for the people who contributed all their efforts will receive a lot of good merits not just for themselves but also for their love ones.
This Tsongkhapa statue is so beautiful . The construction of such big statue is truly a blessed way to collect merits, and May the presence of such a big statue bless the environment and emanate an aura of peace and happiness to all sentient beings. May all be blessed by Lama Tsongkhapa.
Thank you, Rinpoche.
Regards
Leonard Ooi
(KPSG)
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for this post. I really wish to go to Kham somewhere in the future and see this amazing statue. 🙂 _/|\_ Thank you for letting us see pictures of it.
Your humble student,
Keng Hwa.
This Lama Tsogkhapa statue in Denma Gonsar Monastery is so beautiful and regal. The construction of such big statue is one of the most powerful ways to collect merits as statues are replicas of the Enlightened Being and who ever see, make offerings and prayers will actually gain the same result as making offerings to the actual Enlightened Being. May all be blessed by Lama Tsongkhapa.
Thank you, Rinpoche.
Over many centuries, Tibet was said to have produced an extraordinary number of Buddhist Saints and scholars. Certainly, another exception to this rule was the matchless Lama Tsongkhapa, the author of the original verses of the “The three principal paths” in the present volume, and his famous teachings, “Lama Tsongkhapa’s Lamrin Chenmo.” Yes, Lord Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), also known as Je Rinpoche Lobsang Drakpa, was the greatest single commentator, a great scholar and a Saint, who was born in the district of Tsongka in Eastern Tibet. As Lord Tsongkhapa embodies the three Bodhisattvas, (i.e Avalokitesvara, Manjushri and Vajrapani)and arises from the heart of Maitreya Buddha, how massively beautiful, if one keeps a photo, statue or image of Lord Tsongkhapa on his/her alter which will certainly brings one good luck, karma, merits, endless blessings of peace, or at least one will gain a special connection when Maitreya Buddha manifest in future.
1)It is really wonderful that just by looking at Buddha statues, Buddha texts, Buddha Thangkas and etc, we will be able to have Dharma seeds planted in our minds. Even if you glimpse pass, you will still get Dharma seeds planted in your mind. The Dharma seed is like a real seed, if you water it everyday (Which means looking at Buddhas images and practice the Dharma) then it will slowly grow bigger everyday and the Dharma seeds will never disappear. And eventually, it might be after many lifetimes or not, the Dharma seeds will help us, guide us back to practicing the Dharma and finally help us to gain enlightenment.
2)I also like to look at big statues, I don’t know how to explain why but it often gives me some inspiring sensations.m, which makes me feel like building more statues like this. There are many great and massive statues around the world. There is another blog post which is also on Rinpoche’s blog that is specifically about the largest statues around the world. I highly recommend you to read it and look at the pictures, it is a jaw dropping post. The title of the post is ’74 Grand Statues of the World. And the link is https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/inspiration-worthy-words/52-grand-statues-of-the-world.html
3)I guess building gigantic statues like this takes a lot of time, money effort but then again it will be all worth it. Why? Because many more beings will be able to look at them, have Dharma seeds planted in their mind so that they will have another chance to practice the Dharma in their future lifetimes, and as for the people who contributed all their efforts will receive a lot of good merits not just for themselves but also for their love ones.
Wow! A ten-storey high Lama Tsongkhapa statue in Denma Gonsa Monastery in Kham, Tibet! So beautiful. Just thinking of the blessings of Je Tsongkhapa going to the beings in the ten directions boggles the mind. But how wondrous!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the lovely pictures of this beautiful statue of Lama Tsongkhapa in Kham. Such great merits for the people of this area of Kham to have made this statue.
谁是宗喀巴大师？
在我还未来克切拉之前，我真的不认识谁是宗喀巴大师？当我慢慢的去了解，才知道他是是藏传佛教格鲁派（黄教）的创立者。
宗喀巴大师在生之年1357·1419 （62年），从3岁起，他都是无时无刻的都在学习，进修，弘扬佛法。试问现代有多少人可以有这样如此的坚持与不停歇的为佛法事业做好一切准备来利益众生。
很遗憾的是，本人不生在当时的年代，可以亲自遇见宗喀巴大师，向他学习佛法。但却很庆幸的遇见上师尊贵的詹杜固仁波切，让我有机会认识这位第二尊佛。
看见佛像如看见真人。就算我们不能亲身见到和做供养于宗喀巴大师，但是我们还是可以向所有宗喀巴大师的佛像，唐卡，擦擦等，献上供养，也可以让我们拥有一定的功德。
感谢上师的慈悲，让我们有机会可以通过此博文见识到如此大尊的宗喀巴大师。
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing such a beautiful Lama Tsongkhapa Statute look so grand and well make really bless to look at this statute. I hope one day I can personally make a trip to see this magnificent statute.
The Tsongkhapa statue at Denma Gonsar Monastery is really beautiful. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with us all these beautiful pictures of the statue.
It is really amazing what are the unseen effects a Buddha statue can do for the environment and also all the sentient beings that reside or “pass” through the place. Through this, I do see the importance of having big statues as not just for worship or looking good. But to have it to bless the environment as well.
I just cannot imagine the kind of merits that is accumulated for the people in the region to have such a beautiful statue. The merits that they get from offering all the items on the image.
I really hope to visit the monastery and have the chance to view this statue one day.