Buddha Mountain and Sacred Lake
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Mt.
Kailash, the highest peak in Gangdis Mountain range, with the
altitude of 6600 meters, is located in Ali of Tibet sharing a common
boundary with India and Nepal. It is the most famous Buddha Mountain of
the world, the mandala of Samvara, where Buddha turned the Wheel of
Dharma and five hundred Arhats still reside presently. It’s said to have
a crystal stupa in the centre and a Vajra on the top of the mountain with
numerous holy mountains around. The merit of Mt. Kailash is no different
from that of Buddha. Making pilgrimage to it is the same as to Buddha.
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Genzon Chenlin Chokyi Gyaltsen Rinpoche led a group of over 30 people involving monks of Wara Dechen Monastery and disciples from Tibet and other areas of China reached the holy site on April 13th Horse year of Tibetan Calendar (May 23 2002 of western calendar). Pilgrims from all over the world gathered at the foot of the Buddha Mountain setting up thousands of tents. |
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complete 70-kilometer circumambulation. Photo taken at the top spot of the circumambulation, Rinpoche gave blessing to devotees there. |
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Devotees circumambulating the mountain |
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Thawing snow |
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The gate-opening ceremony of
the Buddha Mountain, once for twelve years, was held on 15th April wooden
horse year of Tibetan Calendar (2001). Buddha was said to turn the wheel
of Dharma in Horse year here. Thus, the gate of the mountain is opened
in Horse years. Over twenty thousand Buddhists from all over the world
gathered here to attend the biggest Buddhism pageant and witness the holy
moment of setting up Dharma Banner.
As the only monastery society attending the ceremony Genzon Chenlin Chokyi Gyaltsen Rinpoche leading monks of Wara Deche Monastery held a praying ritual for peace in the world, flourish of Buddha Dharma and prosperity of snow land, which became the focus of hundreds of reporters’ attention. |
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On the next day Rinpoche presided over a grand feast offering ritual at the foot of Mt.Kailash. Hundreds of devotees attended to receive Rinpoche’s blessing. The group departed in the afternoon. When they passed by the gate of the mountain, three vapors arose spontaneously in front of the mountain, which is taken as an auspicious omen. One vapor on the right –hand side of the photo |
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Zidapore Spring, located at the side of Mt. Kailash, is the bodimandala of Vajravahar. Snow-mountain relics around the spring are very rare. The spring and relics symbolizes the unity of Samvara and Vajravahar. The merit of Zidapore spring is no different from that of the Buddha Mountain. The group reached Zidapore at dusk. There was rain accompanied with relics on the next morning and many rare relics were collected. A heavy fall of snow came in the afternoon. After snow the sun shined again and the group cleared away the rubbish around the spring. They left for Lake Manasarovar after offering prayers for the spring on the morning of the third day |
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Lake Manasarovar,
30 kilometers apart from the Buddha Mountain, is a
holy site where Buddha and five hundred Arhats turned the wheel of Dharma.
It has the same merit as the Buddha Mountain does and it is also the
mother of rivers. The ‘Zambu’ Trees grow here, which is the name of
“Southern Continent of ‘Zambu’ derived from.
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