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. 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.
Chenrezig painting inside the Stupa.
The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs by Robert Beer (Shambhala Publications, Inc.)
Green Tara painting inside the Stupa.
History
Among the eight kinds of Stupas is the Descent From The God Realms, Lha Bab Stupa, which is the type of Stupa that is constructed at the Maui Dharma Center. The meaning of the Lha Bab Stupa is the endearing story of when the historical Buddha returned (descended) to earth from Tushita Heaven, after spending three months there teaching his mother and the gods, thus liberating them from cyclic existence to their perfect enlightened mind. The first Lha Bab Stupa, in India, was constructed because of this beautiful story.
The Venerable Lama Gyaltsen chose the Lha Bab Stupa for Maui not only because of this noble relevance, but also because it is often said that Maui is “like a god realm”- so perfect in its beauty and exquisite allure - that the fascinating and elegant style of the Lha Bab Stupa itself will attract and benefit many beings to attain their virtuous aspirations.
The Meaning of a Stupa
The very presence of a Stupa brings benefit and merit to the environment and all beings.
Originally, stupas were built to enshrine the relics of the Buddha and his most important disciples. As symbolic representation of the enlightened mind of the Buddha, they are of great significance and importance.
A Stupa is a symbol of the Wisdom Teachings of all of the Buddhas, and represents the Perfect Enlightened Mind. It is a place where all the Buddhas abide, and contains numerous sacred, rare and meaningful objects. The very presence of a Stupa in the community dispels negativity, and brings benefit and merit to the environment and all beings. A Stupa is the support for a spiritual lifestyle, a teaching without words, which invites peace, love, healing, contentment and knowledge.
Stupas are unique and powerful sacred monuments, which represent the mind of enlightenment - the perfection of wisdom and compassion. They represent the quintessential teachings of the historical Buddha, who lived in India more than 2,600 years ago. Many of the ancient Stupas still remain today in India, Nepal, Tibet, Burma, Bhutan, Thailand and Sri Lanka.
They can be found in the centers of bustling cities as well as in the most difficult and remote areas known to man. Their sacred architectures, which all have profound spiritual meaning are visually expressed in their exact design and measurements through various shapes, sizes, colors and ornamentation. Each and every section of a Stupa, from its foundation to its glorious most upper piece is a teaching about the meaning of the Buddhist path to enlightenment.
Lama Gyaltsen with the Lha Bab Stupa in progress
Drawing of the Lha Bab Stupa by Lama Gyaltsen