The Victory Stupa
Our Stupa has a unique feature. Its little shrine is dedicated to
honouring people who have died and preserving their ashes. When people
die, their coffin is placed inside the shrine with their head resting
just above the mandala of the five elements. On the ceiling over the
coffin is the purification mandala of Dorje Sempa. Monks, nuns and lay
practitioners say prayers continuously for three days and nights,
invoking the blessing of Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, and
entrusting the mind of the deceased person to Amitabha, the Buddha of
Boundless Light, praying that their mind takes birth in Dewachen,
Amitabha's Pure Land of Great Bliss. After the period of three days is
up, the deceased person's body is cremated and their ashes are placed
inside the cupboards that surround the shrine. Then once a year there
is a special ceremony conducted by a high lama in which the ashes are
blessed and prayers are said for all those who have died.
The central statue inside the Stupa is that of Amitabha, the Buddha of
Boundless Light. To his right is Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of
Compassion, and to his left is Vajrapani, the Bodhisattva of Great
Might. Around Amitabha are different manifestations of the Medicine
Buddha. Right at the top, surrounding the ceiling, are a series of
small cabinets containing statues of the 35 Buddhas who are connected
with purification of the emotional defilements that obscure our
enlightened nature. The stained glass windows are imprinted with the
Kalachakra mandala, the function of which is to restore balance and
harmony. For more information on Stupas visit: www.stupa.org/stupas.htm
