Great Lha Bab Peace Stupa
The Great Paia Lha Bab Peace Stupa, standing at 27 feet tall, holding a large prayer wheel, is the gateway to the Maui Dharma Center. It has become a landmark destination for travelers from all around the world and is open daily for visitors. The current resident teacher Venerable Lama Gyaltsen brilliantly designed and directed the construction of the Stupa in 2004, dedicating it to the legacy of the late All Good Lama Tenzin. The Stupa was consecrated by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama during his historic visit to Maui on April 24, 2007 before five hundred invited guests.
Stupas represent the Enlightened Body, Speech and Mind of the Buddha and reveal the symbolic meaning of his Enlightened qualities. Stupas are a teaching without words and their presence in the community offer a symbol of peace, love, harmony, healing, and protection. It is a universal place for worship and prayer, serving all believers in virtue and goodness.
The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs by Robert Beer (Shambala Publications, Inc.)
History
Buddha’s mother Mayadevi was reborn in Indra’s heaven. To repay her kindness and to liberate her, and also to benefit the gods, Buddha spent three months teaching in the realm of the gods. When he was about to return to this world, Indra and Brahma manifested three stairs of 80,000 yojanas each reaching this world in Sankisa. As the Buddha walked down the central one, they accompanied him to his left and right carrying umbrellas to honour him. He descended to earth in Sankisa, which is located in modern Uttar Pradesh, and which is counted among the eight holy places. (rigpawiki.org)
From the design of this Lha Bab chorten, one can see staircases descending in all directions. This signifies, this auspicious moment in history. To this day, every year, Tibetan Buddhists around the world gather together to celebrate the festival of Lha Bab Düchen.
Lha Bab Düchen is considered one of the four sacred Buddhist holidays.
