Sakya monastery – Tibet

hile we where in Shigatse – Tibet we visited the Sakya monastery. Whe had the privilege to see a former lama in action on a music lesson with the monks of the Sakya monastery in Tibet. This monastery is a “must see” for visitors to Tibet. The monastery lies 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Shigatse. Sakya, meaning “Grey Soil” in Tibetan since the soil surrounding it is gray; it is the central monastery of Sakyapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Its walls were painted in red, white and grey strips, which represent Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani respectively. Since the monastery has a colossal collection of highly valuable art pieces, it is deemed as the “Second Dunhuang”. The Drum River divides it into the Northern Monastery and the Southern Monastery. Established first, the Northern monastery was founded by Khon Konchog Gyalpo in 1073, from which Sakyapa rose and once ruled Tibet. Unfortunately, it is nothing but ruins now due to its severe destruction during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). However the ruins still reflect its glory and splendor. The fifth Sakya Throne Holder, Drogon Chogyal Phakpa, known as Phakpa, built the Southern Monastery in 1268. Phakpa was the spiritual guide of Kublai khan, a Mongolian Chinese emperor who granted Phakpa secular and religious authority over Tibet. After Phakpa, Sakyapa ruled over 100 years in Tibet. The Southern Monastery remains in better condition. A typical Mongolian structure, the fortress-like monastery covers a space of 45,000 square meters and is surrounded by a moat, and has an outer wall and inner wall. With fortifications and battlements atop, it has only one entrance on the east.

akhang Chenmo, the Main Chanting Hall, is the central structure of Sakya’s inner courtyard. The hall, measuring 5,700 square meters, has 40 huge pillars, four of which are 1.2 meters (4 feet) in diameter. Legend tells us that the four pillars were carried and presented by a Chinese Emperor, a tiger, the Nereus and a wild yak. Wall murals in the hall depict the stories about the pillars. Besides statues of Buddhas, the hall houses the greatest religious library in Tibet, containing tens of thousands of sutras written in Tibetan, Chinese, Mongolian, and Sanskrit. Among them two sutras named Kanjur and Tanjur were written in ink produced from ground gold powder. In the chapel west of the hall mandala-making techniques are taught. Ngudung Lakhang, or the North Chapel, houses 11 silver-wrapped stupas of former Sakyapa Throne Holders. Pukang, the Manjushri Chapel, contains a Jowo Sakyamuni, a Manjushri and other statues. Sakya has countless murals, mostly of the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). Among them, murals of mandalas and former Sakya Throne Holders are the most outstanding. The Sakyapa sect allows marriage and its religious power is descended from paternal uncle to nephew while its political authority from father to son. Sakya’s collection of treasures also contains 3,000 pieces of pattra sutras written in Tibetan, Chinese, Mongolian and Sanskrit which cover a wide range of knowledge; other artifacts such as seals, crowns, robes, Buddhist vessels and statues bestowed by emperors of the Yuan Dynasty are also on display there. Last year a seventy million Yuan (8.5 million US$) national fund had been allocated to renovate and rebuild Sakya Monastery. The reconstruction has begun although the Northern Monastery is still covered with rubble except for a newly built stupa, which contains relics of the first Sakya Throne Holder.

The brief of the holy white conch trumpet.

t says in the poem of honor sakya the conch trumpet is come from the majestic and lofty king of Dragon, it sound wonderful in heaven, like the Buddha turn the just wheel, the heaven-emperor praised it highly. The conch trumpet is the authentic holy trumpet while Buddha is turning the wheel. The India king Dambala give it to the king dewarze. But how the Sakya temple got the trumpet the story is as following : during the three balms for Hubilie and others, His holiness basba (the teacher of the emperor) contribute it to the emperor. The trunch trupmet has such effections; if the people first watch it and the same time see many kind of freedom and happy basic gospels with many very beautiful natural patterns, heard it’s sound would clear away all your sins, avoid the pain of hard trudge, but flying to heaven the paradise directly. Pray in front of the cronch for what you want will become true if you work hard always along. The blessing Buddha Throne Sakya Temple of the snowy region.

For more videos of tibet, head over to my special video page of Asia

Comments

gertie 03-09-2006, 23:08

whow, I like this article!!! :grin1_ee:
How lucky we were to be in Sakya at the moment thís man gave his music-lessons to the monks…. it was so very very special and impressive!! I loved it.
Now, about 1 month later, looking at home to your video and the photo’s and reading this post … the feeling I felt then in Sakya monastry came back immediately …… as if I was standing there right now … (I wish it was true). :rolleyes_tb:
So …. thanks very much, webmaster!! :thumbup_tb:
I’m looking forward to the next articles about China-Tibet-Nepal !! :bye_tb:

Reply

Cees Kazus 04-09-2006, 20:36

Samen met Gertie heb ik foto’s bekeken uit China, schitterend Marcel! Een interessant artikel over Tibet stond in de NRC van zaterdag: “Tussen jakmelkdrikende Tibetaanse monikken, een toerist bereikt in Tibet een geluksgevoel op hoog niveau”. Locatie: Deprungklosster met debatterende monniken. Waarschijnlijk zijn jullie daar geweest Ik zal het sturen naar Gertie en dan komt het wel bij jou. Groetjes ook voor Esther, Cees uit Breda.

Reply

gertie 04-09-2006, 22:25

Hey Cees,
ik zie dat het gelukt is om een comment te plaatsen. Leuk!!
Ik zie het artikel uit de NRC wel verschijnen….
:smile1_ee:

Reply

esje 06-09-2006, 21:07

Ha Cees!!!

wat leuk dat je ook een berichtje plaatst!
das echt tof!!!
hoe gaat het?
nou ja inderdaad, we zullen het artikeltje wel zien he!!!

liefs esther :clap_tb:

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