Excited pilgrimage to the Great Mandala Stupa of Tay Thien to attend the Peace Prayer Ceremony

(NLDO)- From the 10th to the 12th of the Lunar New Year of At Ty (February 7 to 9), His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa presided over the opening ceremony of the Peace Prayer Dharma Assembly at the Great Stupa Mandala Tay Thien.

In the cold weather of 11 degrees Celsius, thousands of pilgrims still came to the sacred Mandala Tay Thien Stupa (in Tam Dao, Vinh Phuc province) in recent days to witness the moment when His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa performed the opening ceremony of the large embroidered painting (Thongdrol) of the Thousand-eyed and Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara.

His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa performed the opening ceremony of the large embroidered painting (Thongdrol) of the Thousand-eyed and Thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara in front of thousands of people gathered in the cold weather of 11 degrees Celsius.

This is the opening activity of a series of ritual events, consecrations, Dharma talks, and performances of Vietnamese and Himalayan Buddhist cultural and artistic exchanges in this year's Peace Prayer Festival.

Masterpieces of Buddhist art from the Himalayan snowy mountains

Thongdrol - a masterpiece of Buddhist art from the Himalayan snowy mountains has become a living symbol of the fusion of art and spirituality. Thongdrol are huge embroidered scrolls depicting Buddha or Bodhisattvas, created by artisans and monks well versed in both art and scriptures with the blessing of enlightened masters.

In Vietnam, the Thongdrol (scroll painting) of the Thousand-eyed and Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara, which is being kept at the Tay Thien Stupa, is 11.8 x 16 m in size and weighs over 100 kg, and has been confirmed as the largest brocade embroidery. The painting was crafted by 40 Royal Bhutanese artisans in a record time of 6 months, under the strict supervision of the Supreme Master and senior monks. Each stage follows the correct spiritual rituals.

In the middle of the painting is the Thousand-eyed and Thousand-armed Great Compassionate Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, below on the right is the Great Wisdom Manjushri, on the left is the Great Strength Vajrapani, and on top is the Five Wisdom Buddhas.

"For four years now, we have all traveled from Ho Chi Minh City to the Tay Thien Great Stupa to attend the opening ceremony of the Cau An Dharma Assembly, to witness with our own eyes the moment of unveiling the Buddha painting - a sacred treasure that is only displayed once a year at the beginning of Spring here" - said Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh.

This was followed by the Opening Ceremony of the Great Stupa of Longevity of the Mother Buddha to help increase merit and longevity - which received special attention from the public.

The opening ceremony of the Great Stupa of Longevity of the Mother Buddha helps to increase merit and longevity.

The opening ceremony of the Longevity Stupa of the Mother Goddess of Victory helps to increase merit and longevity.

According to the Buddha's teachings, those who recite, worship, make offerings, pay homage, and circumambulate the Mother of Victory Buddha will have the merit of eliminating sins, prolonging life, and preventing disasters from falling into evil realms. According to the Vajrayana tradition, the Mother of Victory Buddha is one of the three main Buddhas: Longevity Buddha, White Tara, and Mother of Victory Buddha, who are in charge of bestowing blessings on sentient beings for longevity.

Also on the first day of the Dharma Assembly, there were empowerment ceremonies for the Thousand-Eyed, Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara Buddha, who saves sentient beings and helps increase love and compassion; and empowerment ceremonies for the Golden Treasure Buddha, who brings prosperity and wealth.

Buddhists receive the empowerment and blessing of the Deity Hoang Tai Bao, the god of wealth and prosperity.

Buddhists receive the empowerment and blessing of the Deity Hoang Tai Bao, the god of wealth and prosperity.

Receiving the Medicine Buddha Vajrayana Energy

Notably, on the second day, at the request of the Abbot of the Great Stupa of the West, His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa performed the Seven Medicine Buddhas of Peace Empowerment according to the Vajrayana tradition.

His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa gives teachings and gives empowerments in the Medicine Buddha Tantra practice.

Medicine Buddha is the “medicine Buddha”. This ritual is known to be the essence of healing in the Vajrayana Medicine Buddha tradition and is the most anticipated practice among the monthly Medicine Buddha “Sutra and Esoteric Dual Cultivation” ceremonies held at the Great Stupa Mandala of the West for many years. This practice includes the Jangwa empowerment practice to heal the body and mind of the sick.

Hanoi Buddhist - Mr. Quoc Toan shared: "I spent a whole day attending the ceremony to receive the full blessings and peaceful, positive magnetic field from the Great Tantric Peace Altar by receiving the Medicine Buddha Mandala and the Guardian Deity Card".

The entire Dharma assembly in the Seven Medicine Buddhas of Peace Empowerment Tantric course according to the Vajrayana tradition

These are special protective instruments prepared by the Venerable Sangha of the Lineage according to Tantric cosmology and astrology, distributed to the public during the 3-day Great Stupa Dharma Assembly.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/no-nuc-hanh-huong-ve-dai-bao-thap-mandala-tay-thien-du-phap-hoi-cau-an-196250210141302509.htm