World largest Guru Padmasambhava Statue in Bhutan

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A statue of Padmasambhava in the form of Guru Nangsi Zilnoen is being built in Takela, Lhuntse in the eastern part of the Kingdom of Bhutan to bring peace and harmony to the world as prophesied by Lord Buddha and the Great Dzogchen masters. The statue will stand 148 feet tall including 30 foot high lion throne and 17 foot high lotus seat.

According to the Mahaparinivana Sutra, when the Buddha was about to pass away at Kushinagara in India, he said ‘impermanence is the nature of all created phenomenon. Death being inevitable, the time for my passing into Nirvana has arrived. Of this you should not grieve… I will be reborn in lotus lake- Dhanakosha, in Uddiyana and will be known as Guru Padmasambhava’. Guru Padmasambhava is also known as Guru Rinpoche, the ‘Precious Master’.

Guru Rinpoche as prophesized appeared miraculously from the Lake Dhanakosha in Uddiyana – the present Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier as the reincarnate Buddha. He discovered the supreme teachings of the true nature and enlightenment, bringing great benefits to sentient beings. This is why Guru Rinpoche is called the Buddha of the Vajrayana.

http://www.drukodiyana.org.bt/2010/?page_id=9

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Terton Lerab Lingpa prophesied, ‘At one point of time, there will be a war of horses in Kurteo valley. To avert this war, a statue of Guru Nangsi Zilnoen should be built’. Likewise, the late Lama Sonam Zangpo, the most revered Yogi of Bhutan, emphasized that, for ensuring continued prosperity in the world in general and Bhutan in particular, a giant statue of Guru Rinpoche should be built in Takila, Lhuntse district in eastern Bhutan.

Takela has one of the beautiful scenic spots in Lhuntse district. The statue will stand imposingly on the Takela mountain slope overlooking the entire valley of Tangmachu. The slope then gently descends into the Kurichu River. Belonging to the Tangmachu community, an old Lhakhang exists at the site of Guru Statue. The community Lhakhang is on the verge of collapse. Hence, the community graciously offered the old Lhakhang to the Venerable Khenpo Karpo as the site for the construction of the Guru Statue together with the surrounding areas measuring up to 31 acres of land. Not a single household will be affected by the project. Besides, Khenpo will restore the existing old Lhakhang and provide spiritual hone and sanctuary for elderly people.

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The construction work of the project began in February 2008. It is expected to be completed in 2012. As of date, the foundation work as been completed.

This gigantic statue has no equals in this world. The exact projection of financial requirement to complete this statue is rather difficult as planning and design of Lhakhangs are still evolving. However, the initial estimated cost of equipment, materials and labor worked out to US $ 3.70 million. Further a substantial cost will be incurred on the interior design, painting, electrification, landscaping, fencing etc. Some activities undertaken to generate funds include:

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The collection box can be found at

Venue: 怀爱生命中心

60A Pagoda Street (Level 2) S’pore 059219
MRT: Chinatown
Exit: NE4

The centre opens from mon to fri 2pm to 7pm.

Closed on weekends.