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Part II Day 2 - Temple-Hopping in Tibet
Last update: 31 October 2010 10:52AM (GMT+08:00)
Reported by Sherwin Ng.
Tibet Day 02 - Academic Centers of Tibetan Buddhism
Three places here in Tibet have long been regarded as universities for the study of Buddhism - Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, and Jokhang Temple. Our first visit for the day - Drepung Monastery.
The first building here, the Gaden Palace, was built by Lama Tsongkhapa himself, after discovering a natural sacred relic here. Again, from a Feng Shui point of view, when Qi is pure and focused, it can manifest as physical matter, forms, or structures. For example, shimmering stars and water mouth regulators occur when there is excess of Qi in the lands (the Dragon is of superior quality). Secondly, when certain spiritual features are present like Fire Stars, rocky Wood Stars, Fairy Bridge, Praying Palms, Fairy Seat, the four Graveyard directions - perpetuate the occurrence of spiritual manifestations.
At Drepung Monastery, a Fairy Bridge formation greeted us upon arrival. While the Fire Stars were obvious, they were also 'fire moving on the ground', giving a political twist to this place and produces armies and fighters. Indeed, Drepung has had its share of political struggle and fights.
The left and right embraces are not locked, and instead, they seem to open up. Hence, scholars and monks don't stay here for long. There is one interesting landform feature at Drepung Monastery though. The sacred relic found here originally belonged to the Goddess Phalden Lhamo, quite an intimidating force called upon during exorcisms, and curing of supernatural diseases, which used to be performed within Drepung grounds. And right outside we can see the Daoist Brush formation, a Feng Shui testimonial to just that.
Monastery of the Rose
Sera means rose - and perhaps the Five Flower Petal formation that greeted us as we hiked up along the market-filled mountain street would attest to this. Being a Water Star sub-type, we can see why Sera Monastery used to be the most reputed printer of Buddhist texts. It was also here that Lama Tsongkhapa, considered a religious revolutionary then, wrote most of his treatise and commentaries on old Buddhist scriptures.
This very location was discovered by Lama Tsongkhapa's disciples, after discovering another natural stone relic out of a tree, shaped as the Horse-headed deity of wisdom and protection. Being predominantly backed by Metal-Water mountain ranges, Sera Monastery quickly rose to become the second largest Buddhist academic institute and a place for monks to debate their findings.
In the axis of the Heavenly Door and Earthly Gate, we find two Nobleman Rising, receiving the vein from Northwest. But as with the previous Drepung Monastery, the embrace here does not lock the Qi Mouth - people come and go, not staying here for long. In the distant South, we see a Fairy Seat formation - a Fire Star in Fire Palace, which is perhaps why the Horse-headed protector god selected this site to manifest itself.
(South 2 is the Horse direction...)
Our final monastery for this entire excursion would be Jokhang Temple, the oldest temple in Tibet. In fact, if you did not read the history notice just after the temple doors, you might not know that this temple was built on a lake!
Now, at this altitude of High Level Dragons, a natural lake meant that it was a Heavenly Pool Water - all the Qi collects here! End of story, right?
No. Most of us did not spot a very special feature until Joey pointed it out - all four Stables directions were tapping into Fire Star peaks! This location was literally receiving Qi from the four corners of the world. Whereas the four Graveyard directions bore spiritual Qi, the four Stables indicated power, strength and growth. But then again, this meant also that the Qi quality is aggressive and strong, used to unify people and to be 'victorious over your enemies' - political power. Much like Potala (which was visible at a distant in front of Jokhang), this was a power center, and much less of a spiritual center.
Of course, as every temple has its own specialty, the Feng Shui formations of Jokhang indicate that coming here to pray for power and victory over your enemies would be quite effective.
Tomorrow, we go to the second highest lake in the world, Namuchuo, also a Heaven Pool Water way, way, way up there.
Reported by Sherwin Ng.
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