New York Retreat Center...

As you may know, we were in New York last week to learn formally how to fill statues. We've received instruction over the years from many Lamas, but this time we learned directly from a text (thanks to Khenpo Norgye's willingness to teach us, in English!). As I worked today (and will tomorrow) I'll give some glimpses into what we were up to last week...

Thanks Dawa for the great photos! What I post today was taken by Ani Dawa, now back in Arizona...

There are vows taken, dietary restrictions to observe, prayers to recite and many, many precious offerings and supplies needed to do this kind of thing, so these photos and descriptions are intended only to enhance your understanding of the depth of symbolic meaning in statues. The universe they contain may not be visible once they're sealed, but it is all in there. Nothing that goes in them is ordinary, and in an ideal world, neither are those that fill them, or the prayers that accompany their filling. It is a form of profound practice. There are many aspects not documented here, so this is not intended as a "how to" kind of thing, but just as a way of showing you how the internal is as detailed and profound as the exterior. Stupas are filled in a very similar way, only even more elaborate, with even more ceremonies and precious offerings....

So as you see this small statue being filled below, know that the Stupas on these pages are filled with millions or even billions of prayers, precious substances, mandalas, relics, all placed according to exacting instructions given by qualified Lamas. Nothing about them is ordinary. All of this effort, all of the preparations, the vows, the collecting of substances, all of it, is done to bring a source of refuge into the world, a visible manifestation of boundless compassion and wisdom, so any being can come into contact with the Enlightened Mind. That contact can be as simple as an accidental bump by insect, or as profound as a sincere practitioner making offerings and wishing prayers to liberate all beings from suffering before it. The Stupas, and statues, will offer blessings without restraint. They exist only to lead beings out of suffering, and provide a ceaseless source of blessings!

We have many statues as well as Stupas at our center in Maryland, so if you'd like to experience them in person do come out. We're open 24 hours a day, every day, always. We're here for you, for anyone needing relief...