Buddhist monasteries were built. Buddhist temples and monasteries
Founded in the 6th century BC, Buddhism is one of the oldest religions in the world. His distinguishing feature- a close connection not so much with traditional beliefs present in any modern religion, but an emphasis on the philosophical concept of knowing oneself. In fact, Buddhism is the doctrine of the spiritual awakening of a person, which becomes possible only under the condition of certain actions on the part of the person himself.
For two and a half thousand years, Buddhism has spread widely among different peoples Southeast Asia, having absorbed local beliefs and cultural traditions. To date, there are several major currents in Buddhism, each of which aims to achieve personal liberation from the binding fetters of the world - nirvana.
Buddhist monasteries bear little resemblance to religious communities of other religions. The monks living in them, although they live permanently in monasteries, are not strongly attached to them. In ancient times, Buddhist monks wandered the endless roads of Asia, living on donations from the population. Today, the collection of donations is also an integral feature of the life of a modern Buddhist monastery. In addition to caring for the well-being of the community, Buddhist monks are in a constant process of self-improvement, which, however, does not prevent them from time to time from communicating with the people and even visiting tourists, who are met quite cordially in Buddhist monasteries.
Buddhist monasteries — Photo.
1. Yumbulagang Monastery, Tibet
Yumbulagang Monastery is one of the oldest architectural and religious monuments in Tibet. Translated into Russian, its name literally means - the Sacred Palace of the Deer, but usually the monastery is called the Palace of Mother and Son. Built on the east bank of the Yarlung River over two thousand years ago for the first king of Tibet, today it is an important Buddhist shrine. The four-tier buildings of the monastery end with the main temple, decorated with square Buddhist domes. Inside, the eastern cloister is painted with ancient frescoes reproducing the early history of Tibet. Today, several Buddhist monks live in Yumbulagang.
2. Erdene Zuu Monastery, Mongolia
The Mongolian monastery of Erdeni-Dzu is one of the most ancient Buddhist architectural structures that have come down to us. Its name, given at the end of the 16th century when the first buildings were laid by Abtai Khan, is translated into Russian as “The Temple of the Precious Lord”, that is, the Buddha. The architectural ensemble of Erdeni-Dzu is a composition of three temples that combine the ancient architectural traditions of Mongolia, China and Tibet. In the old days, more than ten thousand lamas lived on the territory of the monastery and there were about sixty separate idols. Today, Erdeni-Dzu is a functioning temple of Labran and a museum of ancient culture.
3. Ganden Monastery, Tibet
The Tibetan Ganden Monastery, located on Mount Wangbur, at an altitude of four and a half thousand meters above sea level, is considered one of the most serious Buddhist organizations in the world. Here is the university of the Buddhist school of Gelug, known as the "yellow faith". The abbot of the monastery is the head of a teaching that calls on true Buddhists to adhere to morality and a strict monastic way of life. Ganden was founded at the beginning of the 15th century. The monastery was badly damaged in the 60s during the "cultural revolution" in China. Today it has not yet been fully restored, but it already receives visitors on its territory.
4. Key Gompa Monastery, Tibet
The amazingly beautiful Ki Gompa Monastery, lost in the harsh mountains of the Spiti Valley, from afar resembles a fairy-tale toy with its appearance. Founded in the 11th century as a religious fort to observe the surrounding area, today it is a functioning Buddhist monastery, where at least 250 lamas live in the winter season. The monks replenishing the monastery are the second sons of local residents. Within the walls of Ki Gompa there is a rich collection of sculptures, musical instruments, books and weapons. During its history, the monastery was destroyed several times, which determined its modern architectural form - an unusual, multi-tiered one.
5. Tibetan Buddhist temple Yonghegun (Yonghe Temple), China
Yonghegong Buddhist Temple, belonging to the Tibetan Gelug school, is located in the northeast of Beijing. Several names are assigned to it: for example, "Palace of Peace and Harmony", "Lamaist Temple" or "Lama Temple". Erected at the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries, Yonghegun initially served as the residence of the palace eunuchs, and only decades later began to gradually come under the rule of Tibetan monks. Architecturally, Yunhegun is a combination of five halls - Heavenly Kings, Harmony and Peace, Eternal Protection, Dharmachakra and the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Lucks.
6. Thikse Monastery, India
Located in North India, on a hilltop overlooking the Indus River, the Buddhist monastery Thiksi Gompa consists of twelve levels of snow-white buildings with red and yellow splashes of separate buildings. Ten Buddhist temples, a nunnery, a meeting hall and numerous outbuildings were built in the 15th century. Today Tiksi Gompa is an active monastery belonging to the Gelug school. The main attraction of the Buddhist community is the temple of the future Buddha with a huge fifteen-meter statue of Maitreya, made of clay, copper and gold.
7. Fortress Monastery Punakha Dzong, Bhutan
The Bhutanese Punakha Dzong Monastery is “Happiness” itself in the architectural flesh, because this is how its name is translated into Russian. The prefix "dzong" indicates the fortress function of the building, erected in the 17th century as a fortified fortress, which housed not only a Buddhist monastery, but also the city administration. In the case of Punakha Dzong, we are talking about the city of the same name Punakha, which was the capital of Bhutan for a long time. Built at the confluence of two rivers, Punakha Dzong is an unusually beautiful architectural complex consisting of two temples and a library.
8. Taung Kalat Monastery, Myanmar
The Buddhist monastery Taung Kalat got its name from the name of the mountain on which it is located. Rising above the city, almost floating in the clouds, the Myanmar architectural ensemble is distinguished by elegant architectural features and real human fearlessness. Mount Taung Kalat - an extinct volcano more than 24 centuries ago, now overgrown with green trees - is an ideal natural basis for snow-white temple buildings, to which 777 steps lead from the ground. Locals believe that spirits - nats - live in the depths of Taung Kalat Mountain, so visiting the monastery is a must with their favorite fresh meat.
9. Taktsang Lhakhang (Paro Taktsang), Bhutan
Taktsang Lakhang, which means "Tiger's Nest", got its name from ancient legend about how the Buddhist teacher Padmasambhava ascended a high mountain, sitting astride his wife, who temporarily turned into a wild beast. The monastery-fortress for observing the surroundings, is located at an altitude of three thousand meters above sea level and seven hundred meters above the local Paro valley. Founded in 1692, Taktsang Lhakhang was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1998 and restored by 2005.
10. Xuankong-si (Hanging Monastery), China
The Chinese Xuankong-sy Monastery is a unique temple complex belonging to the "hanging" types of architectural structures. Founded in 491 AD in the Chinese province of Shanxi, near the sacred mountain Hengshan, Xuankong-si unites representatives of three religions. In addition to Buddhists, Confucians and Taoists also settled here. The buildings of the monastery are attached to the mountain with wooden piles. Their back wall is dense rocks. Xuankong-si consists of forty halls and pavilions and contains more than eighty statues sacred to the eastern peoples.
The Shakyamuni Buddha Abode is one of the largest Buddhist temples in Europe. The temple is located in the central part of the city of Elista. It was consecrated at the end of 2005. The khurul building reaches a height of 63 m and contains a 9-meter statue of the saint, the largest in Europe and Russia.
The khurul was opened at the end of 2005 on the eve of the celebration of the national celebration of Zul and the anniversary of the deportation of the Kalmyks to the Siberian steppes and Far East in 1943. The lavish ceremony kicked off at 6 am with a lighting ritual. For the reason that the canons of Buddhism prohibit the involvement of such laity in events, the ceremony was televised for citizens. Religious leaders of Tuva, Kalmykia, Mongolia, Buryatia, as well as officials from Japan, Europe, India, USA, Nepal took part in the opening. Scroll through.
Features of a Buddhist monastery
The religious site is considered one of the main attractions of the magnificent Elista. It is a grandiose building where prayers, magnificent services, and rituals are held. Along the perimeter of the temple there is a fence with alternating snow-white stupas. In total, khurul borders 108 stupas. The southern gate is considered the main one. From three more sides you can get to the Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni from the northern, western and eastern gates. The architectural plan resembles the shape of a mandala. The construction is surrounded by pagodas with sculptures of prominent Buddhist mentors of the Nalanda monastery. There are 17 pagodas in total.
The khurul's interior includes seven different levels. On the ground floor there is a museum, a conference hall and a library. The second room was given to the prayer hall, where the giant Shakyamuni Buddha is installed. According to the servants of the temple, mysterious items of jewelry, mantras, handfuls of earth and plants from all parts of Kalmykia, incense were laid inside the sculpture. The statue is adorned with diamonds and gold leaf. On the third level there are reception rooms where doctors of Tibetan medicine, monks and astrologers receive visitors, helping them according to their knowledge. The administration of the religious object was also located here.
The residence of the head of the Kalmyk Buddhists is arranged on the fourth level. The 14th Dalai Lama Tenzina Gyatso has been in charge since the fifth level. As for the sixth level, there is a utility room. A little higher there is a meditation room. Unfortunately, mere mortals are not allowed there. To achieve the perfection of thoughts in a sacred place through meditation is allowed exclusively for the servants of the temple. However, you can plunge into the state of nirvana in other rooms of the khurul.
There are three main regions of Buddhism in Russia, and they lie very far from each other: Buryatia, the Republic of Tuva and Kalmykia. However, there are other places as well. Let's talk about everyone.
St. Petersburg
The northernmost Buddhist temple in the world, Gunzechoinei datsan, is located in St. Petersburg, although it is located far from the city center, on Primorsky Prospekt. It was completed a few years before the October Revolution, worked intermittently as a church until the 1930s, stained-glass windows were made according to sketches by Nicholas Roerich. The building was returned to the religious community during the reconstruction, and today many services are held there. On the main altar of the temple, a new burkhan of the Big Buddha Shakyamuni, covered with gold leaf, is installed, together with the throne, it reaches a height of five meters.
A visit to the datsan can be combined with a trip to Yelagin Island, a popular holiday destination for Petersburgers: the Buddhist monastery is located across the street from its northern exit. In addition to religious practices, here you can taste poses - typical Buryat food, a variation on the theme of manti. Neither here nor elsewhere do Russian Buddhists care much in practice about the happiness of all living beings: traditionally, poses are stuffed with beef or lamb. The cafe is located in the basement, the interior is unpretentious, but interesting prices.
Believers in the capital had to wait quite a long time: only on September 16, 2017, the grand opening of the first Buddhist stupa of enlightenment took place in Otradnoye. It is located on the territory of the future Buddhist temple complex "Tupden Shedubling - Center for the study and practice of the teachings of the Buddha." The stupa is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 to 17:00.
Kalmykia
The huge Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni towers over Elista, a very low-rise and rather ordinary city. The temple was consecrated in 2005. It is surrounded by more than a hundred snow-white stupas and 17 pagodas with statues of great Buddhist teachers. Go around and read about these great sages. The main attraction of khurul is the largest Buddha statue in Russia and Europe (9 m).
The schedule of services is extensive: prayers for the well-being of the Kalmyk people are held every morning, funeral prayers are held on Fridays. On the 8th, 15th and 30th day of the lunar month, matsg-odr - large prayers are held. In the temple during the day you can get an individual consultation, there is a museum, a medical center, a library and a cinema club.
Baikal
It is much easier to see one of the Buddhist shrines for tourists visiting Baikal. On the small island of Ogoy in the middle of the Baikal Small Sea there is a Buddhist stupa of enlightenment. Its full name is the Stupa of Enlightenment, Demon Conquest, containing a statue of female form, the Mother of all Buddhas, the Only Mother of Troma Nagmo. The shrine was built in the summer of 2005 at the expense of private donations by volunteers from many Russian cities: building materials were transported by water on boats, then manually lifted to the top. Here, for the first time in Russia, in one place, an extensive library (its weight was 750 kg) of original Buddhist texts was collected and put into a stupa for posterity: a complete collection of canonical texts of Kanjur — teachings compiled from the words of the Buddha himself, and Danjur — comments by Indian Buddhist teachers on the sutras and tantram, texts in Tibetan and Sanskrit, previously unknown to Western science, were laid down. In addition to ancient manuscripts, the stupa contains mantras and sacred Buddhist relics, including particles of hair and blood of Shakyamuni Buddha.
Tuva
Buddhism came to the territory of this region in the 9th century and gained a foothold by the 14th century, at a time when the region was part of the Mongol Empire. After the revolution of 1917, all existing khurals were closed, and only in the 90s did a gradual revival of the Buddhist community begin. The temple complex "Green Tara" in the suburbs of Kyzyl has been planned for construction for more than ten years, things are a little better with the Buddha statue on the sacred mountain Dogee. And the main temple of the republic, Tsechenling, experienced a legal scandal several years ago related to the definition of ownership. In Tuva, Buddhism is especially strongly mixed with local pagan beliefs. Until the projects of the temples are implemented, the rites are held in natural sacred places, you can try to check the schedule in the Union of Buddhists of Tuva.
Such a remote republic is perhaps the most untouched place in Russia - it was the last to join the USSR, remaining formally independent until 1944. So those who get here will be able not only to touch Buddhism, but also to get acquainted with mountain nature, ancient customs, or continue their journey in Mongolia, to the border with which from the capital of the region a little less than 300 km.
Altai
Altai is an important center for the spread of Buddhism. The local population has long used elements of Buddhism in their cults, however, not so deeply rooted. But the energy of the local mountains today attracts those seeking spiritual enlightenment.
Now the Republic of Altai is the concentration of three major world religions: Christianity, Buddhism and Islam. There are temples and a mosque here, but the main datsan has not yet been built. The foundation stone for the construction of a Buddhist monastery-university was laid in 2015 in the village of Maima near Gorno-Altaisk.
Also in Gorno-Altaisk, a chamber temple of the Ak-Burkan community was opened. You can practice at the Shen Ling center, the spiritual head of which is a Tibetan lama. By prior arrangement, you can spend some time here learning meditation and spiritual practices. There is no official fee here, everything is based on a voluntary offering to the teacher. Students undertake not to kill, not to steal, not to use intoxicating substances (tobacco, drugs, alcohol), not to commit adultery (not to have sexual relations with other people's partners).
Buryatia
Finally, Buryatia is the main center of Buddhism in Russia. It was the local Buddhists who achieved official recognition of their religion from the Empress Elizaveta Petrovna in the 18th century. Today, there are 23 datsans (monasteries) here, as well as in the neighboring Chita region. Getting to Ulan-Ude is relatively easy: the Trans-Siberian Railway passes through the city, and at the airport there are many long-distance (Moscow, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Krasnoyarsk) and local flights. If you choose a plane, then the first drum with sacred mantras will meet you at the exit from the airport.
The main Buddhist monastery, which is also the residence of the head of Russian Buddhism, is the Ivolginsky Datsan, from the city it takes about an hour by car. In the monastery complex with a dozen temples and statues, excursions are held for visitors, you can take part in ceremonies and rituals. To do this, you need to prepare: arrive at the desired building of the datsan (or some point near it) at a strictly designated time and have certain products (milk, vodka, meat) or things with you. In one of the temples of the datsan, the Blessed Palace of the Khambo Lama Itigelov, the body of the lama of the Buddhists of Eastern Siberia is kept. In 1927, he died and found an incorruptible body: his remains lay until 2002 in a special sarcophagus and did not decompose, now they are stored in a datsan and are revered as a shrine.
Among the bonuses for those who came to Ulan-Ude are a huge head of Lenin with a slightly Asian slit in the middle of the city, the proximity of the eastern, less popular and wilder shore of Lake Baikal, as well as the railway and road to the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar.
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Buddhist monastery Larung Gar is the largest Buddhist monastery in Tibet, but also the largest religious institution in the world. According to official figures, 10 thousand monks and nuns live in it - the maximum number of clergy who are allowed to live in Larung Gar on a permanent basis.
However, in private conversations, the monks admit that the population of this city-monastery has long exceeded 50 thousand. So it is obvious that this rule is not respected.
Almost every day, monks and nuns dressed in burgundy robes arrive at this remote monastery after a long journey through the forbidding mountains.
They have heard that the most brilliant teachers of modern Buddhism live here.
In the hope of becoming their students, they easily overcome any difficulties of the journey to find the newly erected metropolis of Buddhist dharma.
Surprisingly, founded in 1980, Larung Gar Monastery is one of the “youngest” monasteries in Tibet.
Buddhist monastery modern Vatican
The Buddhist monastery grew out of a handful of disciples who visited a Buddhist hermit monk named Khenpo Jigme Phuntsog who lived in a deserted valley.
Khenpo Dzhigma Puntsog (Tib. འཇིགས་ མེད་ ཕུན་ འབྱུང་ གནས་ གནས་ གནས་ གནས་ གནས་ གནས་ གནས་ གནས་ གནས་ གནས་ གནས་ གནས་ ‘jigs med Phun Tshogs‘ Byung Gnas; China.
He came from a family of nomads who lived in the Sertar district of Kham province in Eastern Tibet.
At the age of two, was recognized as a rebirth Terton Sogyal- the great Buddhist mystic and mentor of the XIIIth Dalai Lama.
At the age of 14, he entered the Nubzor monastery to study, and at the age of 24 he became its rector.
During the Tibetan Revolt of 1959, the Chinese authorities massacred clergy and monasteries. Over the next 30 years, 6,254 monasteries were destroyed in the country. The Dalai Lama XIV, as well as thousands of his supporters (mostly representatives of the clergy) were forced to seek refuge in neighboring India.
However, Khenpo Jigme Phuntsog decided to stay in Tibet. Between 1960 and 1980 he shied away from joining the People's Liberation Army. In order not to fall into the hands of the Chinese authorities, he goes as a simple nomad to remote places in eastern Tibet.
In 1980, Khenpo Jigme Phuntsog, accompanied by two of his closest disciples, went to a deserted area near Sertar in order to establish a monastic monastery here.
There, far from the waves of violence and destruction sweeping Tibet, a small group of monks managed to secretly continue their Dzogchen practice under the guidance of Jigme Phuntsog. Despite the difficulties of the time, Khenpo's fame grew exponentially.
For twenty years, Larung Gar from a hermitage turned into the largest monastery in Tibet, and the number of monks permanently residing at the monastery has grown to 10 thousand.
In 1986, Khenpo Jigme Phuntsog conferred initiation into the tantra of the bodhisattva Manjushri. During the teachings, he stated that he was able to see Manjushri in reality and he informed him that if he went to Mount Wutai, then this would undoubtedly benefit Buddhism and people in general.
Mount Wutai (Chinese: 五台山, pinyin: Wǔtái Shān, literally: Five Heights Mountain) is one of the four sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism. It is located in Xinzhou City, about 250 km southwest of Beijing.
Wutaishan is said to be the seat of the bodhisattva of wisdom, Manjushri, or in Chinese Wenshu (文殊).
In 1987, Khenpo Jigme Phuntsog went on a pilgrimage to Mount Wutai with the intention of strengthening his connection with the bodhisattva Manjushri. There he managed to give teachings to several thousand people, including not only Tibetans, but also Chinese, as well as Mongols.
A visit to Wutaishan increased Khenpo Jigme Phuntsog's popularity outside of Tibet, and a large number of ethnic Chinese added to his following.
Difficulties of a Buddhist monastery with the Chinese government
During this pilgrimage, he was able to see certain signs, thanks to which he received memories of his previous lives.
In his visions, Khenpo managed to discover a sacred place, which, in his opinion, was the palace of the legendary King Gesar in the distant past.
Ironically, this announcement led to the Chinese government initiating archaeological excavations, during which ancient building blocks, various Construction Materials and even some treasures.
Khenpo Jigme Phuntsog became the first monk in modern Tibet who was able to build a large Training Center. It is said that he had extraordinary charisma, thanks to which he had an amazing influence on local authorities.
And yet, from 2001 to 2003, Larung Gar experienced three waves of repression: almost 8,500 monks were expelled from the monastery, and 3,000 monastic houses were destroyed.
The number of the monastery was forcibly reduced to one and a half thousand people.
At the same time, Khenpo Jigme Phuntsog's health deteriorated and he was forced to go to the hospital. On January 7, 2004, Jigme Phuntsog died in a military hospital in the city of Chengdu.
To date, the political climate in China has become much milder: this contributed to Larung Gar growing again and even exceeding the 2001 population. The established boundaries of the monastery (beyond which the construction of monastic cells is prohibited by the government) are actively violated.
Each year, more than 1,000 new huts are built by both professional teams and the monks themselves, who enlist the help of their families and friends. Some of the roads around the monastery were paved and provided with street lamps. Water was installed in the largest dormitories.
It should also be noted that about 20% of the monks inhabiting Larung Gar are ethnic Chinese, many of whom were successful businessmen, scientists and even politicians before entering the monastery.
The monastery is run by an executive committee consisting of seven high-ranking lamas, but it is interesting that the current abbot of the monastery is a woman, Dakini Jetsunma Mumtso, who has the status of a highly realized master.
