Kadampa Temple for World Peace

M a n j u s h r i K a d a m p a M e d i t a t i o n C e n t r e , U K

a Guide

Without inner peace, outer peace is impossible.

A Buddhist Temple is a holy place, where people from all walks of life

come to find inner peace.

ApproAching the temple

Based on the mandala palace of Buddha Heruka, the supreme Buddha of compassion, every aspect of the Temple symbolizes the spiritual path to enlightenment. Seeing the Temple reminds us that we all have the potential to achieve the highest goals and encourages us to enter into the spiritual path by which we can realize them.

Welcome to the Kadampa Buddhist Temple at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre

As you approach the Temple you will see that the lower level is square with a doorway on each side. The four doorways symbolize the four ways to enter the path to liberation. They remind us that we need to seek liberation from suffering by entering a spiritual path.

Above each of the four doorways there is a male and female deer with a Dharma Wheel between them symbolizing the final stages of the path to enlightenment.

On the next level, notice how the shape changes from square to octagonal, with five windows on each wall. Above this is a lantern tower adorned with an ornate roof.

the First KAdAmpA Buddhist temple

Everyone is welcome to visit the Temple to enjoy the peace and tranquillity and learn more about the Buddhist way of life.

Designed by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, the Founder of the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union, and built by Kadampa Buddhists as an offering to future generations, the Kadampa Buddhist Temple was opened in 1997 and dedicated to world peace.

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The Temple is built from local stone so that it is compatible with the surrounding environ-ment. Many local companies were involved in the construc-tion of the Temple.

The adornments on the roof are gold-leafed, which required many weeks of painstaking work by Kadampa artisans, and the windows above the doorways are impregnated with gold. Precious substances such as gold are made as an offering to the holy beings. They also symbolize the preciousness of the spiritual path as the only way to achieve liberation from suffering and experience lasting peace and happiness. From a Buddhist perspective, inner realizations such as wisdom and compassion are far more valuable than ordinary wealth.

At the very top of the lantern tower is a golden five-pronged va j ra , symbol iz ing the f ive omniscient wisdoms. This is the highest attainment and the completion of the spiritual path.

Buddhists believe that walking around a Temple that houses a statue of Buddha brings great good fortune. It is called ‘circumambulating’, and is usually done in a clockwise direction.

‘Dharma’ means the teachings of Buddha and the realizations of inner peace we gain from putting them into practice.

Precious Umbrella Come under the

umbrella of Buddhism!

Precious Fish Always be peaceful

and harmonious with others

Precious Vase Become rich with the inner wealth of wisdom and

compassion

Precious Flower Enjoy the purity

of your mind and actions

Precious Conch Listen to the

precious words of holy Dharma

Precious Knot Apply great

effort to attain enlightenment

Precious Victory Banner

Be victorious over the enemy of your

delusions

Precious Wheel Benefit others by

turning the Wheel of Dharma

Each symbol has a specific meaning

As you walk round, notice the eight series of eight symbols set in stone on the wall above the veranda. These are the Eight Auspicious Symbols that symbolize the spiritual path.

A wAlK Around the temple

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As you pass round the back of the Temple you will see the utility rooms: the Preparation Room, where offerings are prepared for the shrines; the Boiler Room that powers the underfloor heating system; and the Storage Room.

Along the north side of the Temple stands the greenhouse, part of the original estate that was restored after the Temple was built.

The Temple is built on the site of the old kitchen garden. These days, with around a hundred full-time residents and thousands of people visiting each year to attend courses, it is not practical to attempt to provide for so many people with such a modest garden – the space is much better used for sowing the seeds of happiness and cultivating positive minds!

As a sign of respect, Buddhists usually remove their shoes when they enter the Temple. If you prefer not to, please use the shoe covers provided to protect the carpet.

As you enter, pause for a while to experience the sense of peace and tranquillity. The blessings of the Buddhas and Spiritual Guides combined with years of prayer and meditation by thousands of people have created a unique atmosphere conducive to experiencing inner peace.

As you enter, pause for a while to experience the sense of peace and tranquillity.

Walk to the middle and look up at the lantern tower. The vast wheel inside the tower contains precious scriptures symbolizing the teachings of Buddha spreading throughout the world. Buddha’s teachings are said to be like a precious wheel because, wherever they spread, the people in that area have the opportunity to control their minds by putting them into practice.

entering the templeThe glass doors on three sides of the Temple are designed to fold away to allow extensions to be fitted to accommodate large events. During the annual International Spring and Summer Festivals, over four thousand people are seated in the Temple and its extensions.

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Around the inside of the lantern are eight double vajras symbolizing protection from obstacles of the four directions. Around the upper walls are eight sets of five plaques symbolizing the five completely purified constituents of body and mind (the ‘five aggregates’) and the five omniscient wisdoms.

The main shrine houses the largest bronze statue of Buddha ever made in the West. Based on designs by Venerable Geshe Kelsang, it was first carved in clay by an Italian sculptor before being cast in bronze at a foundry in England. The statue was then filled with precious holy objects, painted and consecrated. Kadampa students trained with the sculptor to learn the art of sculpting. Since then more

Around the lower walls are three sets of sixteen knowledge goddesses. Their playful manner signifies the completely pure happiness and joy experienced by those who free themselves from all fear, suffering and disturbing conceptions by training on the spiritual path.

All the internal adornments were crafted by Western artists under the direction of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

the mAin shrine

Kadampa students have trained in all the other stages of statue production, and today there is a large, custom-built studio at Manjushri Centre where a team of qualified artists make statues and other adornments for Temples all round the world. Replicas of the statue in this Temple can be seen as far afield as New York, São Paulo, Melbourne and Singapore.

the internAl FeAtures

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Buddha taught how all happiness and suffering depend upon the mind. He showed us how to abandon those states of mind that cause suffering and cultivate those states of mind that cause happiness. By practising these teachings sincerely, eventually we can liberate ourselves from all forms of suffering and attain a lasting peace and happiness.

These teachings have a timeless and universal relevance and can be practised by anyone in any culture, regardless of race, gender or age.

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In the left section of the main shrine are Je Tsongkhapa and his two principal disciples. Je Tsongkhapa was a great 14th century Kadampa Buddhist Master who clarified the meaning of all Buddha’s scriptures, making them easy to understand and practise. All the teachings given at the Kadampa Buddhist Temple are based on Je Tsongkhapa’s commentaries as presented by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

Je Tsongkhapa is surrounded by other Buddhas of Kadampa Buddhism, each one embodying a special quality of the enlightened mind such as wisdom, compassion and spiritual power.

In the right section of the shrine are the five lineages of Dorje Shugden, the Dharma Protector of Kadampa Buddhism. A Dharma Protector is an emanation of a Buddha or a Bodhisattva whose main functions are to avert the inner and outer obstacles that prevent practitioners from gaining spiritual realizations, and to arrange all the necessary conditions for their practice. Traditionally they are depicted in a wrathful aspect to symbolize the power of wisdom to eliminate the inner enemies of delusions such as anger, attachment and ignorance, which destroy our inner peace and prevent us from experiencing pure happiness. This section also contains the complete collection of books by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and a golden stupa. Around the walls on either side of the main shrine are paintings of holy beings, many of which have been painted by Western disciples of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

According to Buddhism, practising Buddha’s teachings is the supreme method for improving the quality of our human life because the quality of life depends not upon external development or material progress, but upon the inner development of peace and happiness.

The main statue is flanked to Buddha’s right by Bodhisattva Maitreya and to his left by Bodhisattva Manjushri. These statues were also made by the original statue team. Maitreya is the embodiment of the loving kindness of the enlightened mind, and Manjushri is the embodiment of enlightened wisdom.

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AS GESHE KELSANG SAYS,

‘In a Buddha’s Pure Land everything is pure. There are no sufferings, no contaminated environments and no impure enjoyments.

BuddhA’s teAchings And commentAries The cabinet to the right of the main shrine houses the Kangyur and the Tengyur, the complete collection of precious texts of Buddha’s teachings, and commentaries by great Indian Buddhist Masters, in the Tibetan language. In the centre is a statue of Buddha Amitayus (the Buddha of Long Life), a precious text by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and a golden stupa. These three holy objects represent the body, speech and mind of Buddha respectively.

In the cabinet to the left of the main shrine is a three-dimensional representation of the mandala, or celestial palace, of Buddha Heruka, the supreme Buddha of compassion. It symbolizes all the sublime qualities of enlightened beings and their environment, or Pure Land. The first of its kind in the West, this holy object was constructed by Kadampa

the mAndAlA oF heruKA

practitioners under the direction of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. It serves as an aid to meditation and a source of blessings and inspira-tion for practitioners.

The design of the Temple is based on this mandala to remind us that by practising a pure spiritual path, eventu-ally we will become a pure being like Buddha

Heruka and our world will become a Pure Land.

‘Beings born there are free from sickness, ageing, poverty, war, harm from fire, water, earth and wind, and so forth. They have the ability to control their death and rebirth, and they experience physical and mental suppleness throughout their life. Just being there naturally gives rise to a deep experience of bliss.’

oFFerings

In front of all the shrines are offerings that are made daily to the holy beings. We can offer anything we find beautiful or welcoming. Traditionally we offer seven substances based on offerings made to special guests: water for drinking, water for bathing, flowers, incense, light, perfume and food. On most days these are represented by bowls of pure water, but on special prayer days the actual substances are set out.

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It is often assumed that to meditate you have to sit on a cushion, but this is not necessary. As you can see there are meditation cushions available for those who wish, but many people choose to sit on chairs. Cushions with red cloths over them are reserved for ordained monks and nuns.

the teAching throne The central feature of the Temple is the Teaching Throne, the seat of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, the Founder of the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union. Venerable Geshe Kelsang holds the entire lineage of all Buddha’s teachings, which he received from his Spiritual Guide, who in turn received it from his Spiritual Guide – an unbroken lineage of realized Masters stretching all the way back to Buddha himself.

According to Kadampa Buddhism, there is nothing more precious than a fully qualified Spiritual Guide who can reveal the meaning of all Buddha’s teachings and lead his or her disciples along the spiritual path to liberation and enlightenment.

Because Venerable Geshe Kelsang is principally responsible for the revival of Kadampa Buddhism during our time, he is regarded as the Father of modern Kadampa Buddhism, and Manjushri Centre, where he has lived and taught for many years, is regarded as the Mother Centre of modern Kadampa Buddhism. It is now the hub of a vast global network of centres and Temples throughout the world.

Or try a simple breathing meditation to relax your body and mind. You will find guidelines for a breathing meditation on page 19 of this brochure.

If you would like to find out more about meditation, you will find books on meditation and CDs of guided meditations in the Manjushri Centre Shop.

You might like to spend some

time in quiet, inner reflection.

At times such as these,

Buddhists would typically

think about ways in which

they can make themselves a

better person and be of more

benefit to those with whom

they live and work.

If you have time, take a few moments to sit and soak up the peace and tranquillity.

Regular classes and courses on Buddhism and meditation

are held at Manjushri Centre and at hundreds of similar

centres in the UK and throughout the world.

To find out about classes and courses at Manjushri

Centre, visit www.manjushri.org or call +44 (0)1229

584029. For other centres, visit www.kadampa.org.

time to tAKe A seAt!

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Local events There are regular daily prayer and meditation sessions and weekly teachings held in the Temple. These sessions help us to develop inner peace through receiving blessings from the holy beings. Everyone is welcome to attend the sessions. National events There are also regular courses held at the Temple open to people from all over the country.

Visiting the temple The Temple is open to everyone.

P lease see open ing t imes a t www.manjushr i .o rg or ca l l +44 (0 )1229 584029 .

Pre-booked Education and Group vis i ts are welcome Monday to Fr iday. P lease emai l your preferred dates to v is i ts@manjushri .org or cal l +44 (0)1229 584029.

International events The Temple also hosts major international events throughout the year, including the International Spring and Summer Festivals, and the International Kadampa Teacher Training Programme. For the latest information on events at the Temples, and for courses and retreats held by the Centre, visit www.manjushri.org or call +44 (0)1229 584029.

• Begin by finding a comfortable position in which you can be both relaxed and alert.

• Make sure that your back is straight but not tense.

• Rest your hands in your lap and partially close your eyes.

• Relax into this posture and let all your stress and tension fall away.

• Now turn your attention inwards and become aware of your breathing.

• Don’t attempt to control your breathing – just become aware of it and follow the process of inhalation and exhalation with your mind.

• Try not to follow any thoughts that arise but keep your attention focused just on your breathing.

• Start to become aware of the sensation of the breath as it enters and leaves the nostrils.

• At first, the sensation might be quite faint and difficult to detect, but if you keep your concentration focused in that area it will gradually become more noticeable.

• However slight your awareness of the sensation, remain focused on it and try to forget about everything else.

• Resist the temptation to follow any thoughts that might arise and remain focused single-pointedly on the sensation of the breath as it enters and leaves the nostrils.

• If you notice that your mind has wandered and is following your thoughts, immediately return it to the sensation of the breath.

• Continue in this way – focusing on the sensation of the breath and bringing your attention back to it every time it wanders.

• Gradually your distracting thoughts will subside and you will begin to experience a sense of inner peace and relaxation.

• Your mind will feel unusually lucid and refreshed.

• Stay with this feeling for a while. When you wish, open your eyes and rise from

meditation.

A simple BreAthing meditAtioneVents At the temple

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puBlished By thArpA puBlicAtions, 2011© new KAdAmpA trAdition – internAtionAl KAdAmpA Buddhist union 2008

mAnjushri KAdAmpA meditAtion centre, conisheAd priory, ulVerston, uK, lA12 9QQ

tel: +44 (0)1229 584029 FAx: +44 (0)1229 580080 e-mAil: inFo@mAnjushri.org

www.manjushri.org

The Temple at Manjushri Centre is part of the International Temples Project, which was founded by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso with the vision to create a Kadampa Buddhist Temple in every major city in the world. Kadampa Buddhist Temples take many forms. Some are based on traditional architecture like the Temple at Manjushri Centre, some are adapted from existing buildings acquired

The International Temples Project

for Kadampa Meditation Centres, and some are incorporated within Kadampa Hotels.

For more information on the International Temples Project, visit www.kadampatemples.org or call +44 (0)1229 584029.

9 780955 866722

£1.50