Emei Qigong presents

Transcription

Emei Qigong presents
BEIJING/TIBET/
SHANGRILA/SHANGHAI
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Details of Itinerary
explore Beijing's ancient past and enjoy its exciting
Beijing – Capital of China
Beijing, capital of China, is the nation's
political, economic, cultural,
modern development. Marvelous edifices were built
for the Beijing Olympics. Visitors can track
down bargains at the wonderful silk
educational, communication and
markets, mingle with the immense
international trade center. Located in
number of the Chinese people, sit
northern China, it is one of the six
down to some of the most varied
ancient cities of China.
cuisine in the world, browse through
Anthropology’s 750,000 year old
shops that offer beautiful Chinese
Peking Man was found in this area.
goods and souvenirs at great prices,
It was a city as far back as 1045
walk around Tiananmen Square.
B.C. and became the capital of a
Forbidden City*
united China during the Yuan
dynasty in the 13th century.
Lying at the center of Beijing, to the north of
The rulers of the Yuan dynasty
Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden
were the conquering Mongols and
City, called Gu Gong in Chinese, housed the
China’s Mongol emperor was Kublai Khan, the
imperial palaces of the Ming and Qing
grandson of Genghis Khan who invaded deep into
dynasties. It was the center of political power for five
Europe. Marco Polo served many years at the court of
centuries. From the southern section, its Outer Court,
Kublai Khan. Since then, the succeeding Chinese
Ming dynasty kept Beijing as its capital as did the
Manchu Qing dynasty, the last imperial dynasty of
China. The Republic of China which succeeded the
Qing dynasty in 1911, also kept Beijing as its capital,
as does the present Peoples' Republic of China in
1949. Thus, Beijing has been China's capital since
the 1200's. It has been the heart and soul of politics
and society throughout its long history and as a
consequence, there is unparalleled treasure to
discover, to delight and to intrigue travelers as they
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the emperor ruled as the supreme power over the
nation. He ruled by Heaven's grace and approval. If he
ruled poorly and lost the mandate of Heaven, he
would lose the throne. The northern section, the Inner
Court, was where he lived with his royal family until
1924 when the last emperor of China was driven from
the Inner Court. Fourteen emperors of the Ming
dynasty and ten emperors of the Qing dynasty had
reigned from here. It is the world's largest palace
complex and covers about 183 acres. Surrounded by
a 20 feet deep moat, it has a thirty-three feet high wall.
*A UNESCO World Heritage Site
There are 9,999.5 rooms in this ancient Chinese
Revolution to the demonstrations for democracy in
architectural complex. Only the Ruler of Heaven could
1989. All
eyes are always focused on
have ten thousand rooms. The Earthly Emperor had
Tiananmen Square for any
half a room less. Not all the
politically significant events.
rooms are open to the
Bordering the square are the
public. Construction of the
Great Hall of the People,
palace complex began in
China’s congressional building,
1407 and was completed
the National Museum of Art
fourteen years later in 1420.
which contains the prolific and
It was said that a million
exquisite art of centuries, the
workers including one
Monument to the People’s
hundred thousand artisans
Heroes and Chairman Mao’s
worked hard at building it.
mausoleum. These two honor modern China.
The roofs of the buildings are of yellow glazed tiles
The Summer Palace*
and the bricks that cover the grounds
are
The Summer Palace, whose name is Garden of
made yellow by a special process.
Nurtured Harmony, is a masterpiece of
Yellow – the imperial color. It is
Chinese architecture and
little wonder, then, that with the
sun shining on the yellow tiles, it
landscaping. It incorporates
was seen as a City of Gold.
the works of humans and
nature into a harmonious
Only the Royal Library had a
whole. It is a vast ensemble of
roof of black – black for
wisdom and black for water
lakes, gardens and palatial
to quench any possibility of
buildings. It covers about 720
acres. It is dominated by
fire.
Longevity Hill and Kunming
Today, the Forbidden City is called the
Lake. The front of Longevity Hill
Palace Museum. Having been the imperial palace
for some five centuries, it houses an extraordinary
number of rare treasures and artifacts.
which has great views of Kunming
Lake, is rich with imposing palace buildings, exquisite
pavilions, temples and bridges, and passageways
Tiananmen Square
covered with incredible paintings. The back of the
Stroll across Tiananmen Square, the stage for many
hill, in sharp contrast, is quiet with natural beauty.
turning points in modern China history – from the start
There, a stream follows a winding course and one
of the People’s Republic of China, to the Cultural
finds gardens, big and small with quiet ponds and
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brooks, natural old trees and highly prized gnarled
reminder of the power of the Middle Kingdom. Just
trees, full of twists and knots which are seen as
like a gigantic dragon writhing across northern China,
sacred, endowed with special concentrated energies
it winds up and down across deserts, grasslands,
and used for meditation and contemplation. They
mountains and plateaus, stretching approximately
create an idealized miniature
8,851.8 kilometers (5,500 miles) from the east to the
landscape, meant to
express
the
west of China. As early as 467 BC, stretches of walls
were built as a defense against the northern nomadic
tribes and other potential enemies. Through the
years, walls were built across the country by the
different kingdoms and states until the time of
Emperor Chin who conquered the other states and
ruled over a united China. Emperor Chin ordered that
the existing walls be connected and extended further
harmony
to both the east and the west. Subsequent dynasties
repaired, modified and
that should exist
between man and nature.
The
Kunming Lake at the Summer Palace
is entirely man-made. It is a replica of the magnificent
natural mountain lake outside of Kunming City in
Yunnan Province. At one end of the lake is a large
marble boat. Money raised to modernize the Chinese
navy to protect the country’s shores from Japanese
and Western invaders was spent by the last
empress, Cixi, to build her marble boat. In the lake
are three large islands with bridges of different styles
extended
to connect to the shore.
the great wall. With a history of
more than 2000 years, some of the sections are now
The Great Wall*
in ruins or have disappeared. The wall in Beijing
Of course, no trip to China is complete without a walk
on the Great Wall. It is the biggest national military
measures 342 miles and we will be visiting a section
of the wall that is less visited by the general tourists.
defense project built in human history. Originally
constructed to protect the Chinese empires from the
Tibet
Mongolian ‘barbarians’ of the north, the Wall
Tibet is a vast country, spread out in the Himalayas,
ultimately failed in its purpose but remains a
lying between India and China. Its traditional nomadic
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existence; destroyed by bombardments and the
current harsh control of Tibetan Buddhism. In its
place is the modern Chinese city. But there is a
lineage of blessings in Tibet that still has immense
power to inspire. We will see many symbolic artifacts
in this land that has a rich Tantric tradition. We will
see Prayer Flags that decorate monasteries, houses
and mountain passes. Mantras, special prayers and
auspicious symbols are printed on these flags and
these have special powers to bless and their
blessings are carried all over
culture was greatly influenced by the introduction of
the world by the
Buddhism, to the extent that nearly all its cultural
wind. The
achievements were related to Buddhism. For over
flags come in
1200 years Buddhism flourished and the Buddhist
five different
tradition may be said to be the life blood of the
colors: Blue for
nation. In the 1950’s China’s military invaded and
the sky, white for
brought about traumatic changes. Tibet
clouds, red for fire,
persists. Pilgrims prostrate themselves and
green for water and
make offerings at the remaining holy places.
yellow for earth.
It was a society led by monks and every
There are many
family was expected to send at least one boy to a
monastery. It was an access to education and
improved social status. There used to be six
thousand monasteries and nunneries in Tibet. Most
of them have been destroyed and have crumbled
back
into the
earth
with no
sign of
their
different types of
prayer flags.
The Wind Horse (Tib.
Lung-Ta) combines the speed of the wind and the
strength of the horse to carry prayers from earth to
the heavens. The Wind Horse carries the “Wish
Fulfilling Jewel of Enlightenment” which represents
good fortune, the uplifting life force and opportunities
that make things go well. When one’s lung-ta is low,
obstacles constantly arise. When one’s lung-ta is
high, good opportunities abound. Raising Wind Horse
prayer flags is one of the best ways to raise one’s
lung-ta. There are many prayers for health, prosperity
and good fortune on the flag. Prayer Wheels are
crammed with mantras and are similar to prayer
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flags. The power of the mantras will spread when the
merit. Liberation is promoted by touching a Stupa, by
wheel is turned. With the turning of the wheel, one
seeing it, praying to it, walking around it and by
can swiftly attain liberation from the suffering of the
offering food and eating the offerings made to it.
three lower births. The Stupas, (Chorten in Tibetan)
Mani Stones are pieces of flat stone, rocks and/or
originally a mound of earth and stone, was a place to
pebbles, inscribed with the mantra of Guan Yin (Om
bury
Mani Padme Hum) or some other mantra. These are
intentionally place along roadsides and rivers, or
placed together to form mounds as an offering to the
spirits of the place. Creating a pile or carving a mani
stone is a devotional act. One more piece of
information – pa – means sect in Tibetan. Gelugpa
means the Gelug sect (the sect of the Dalai Lama),
Sakyapa means the Sakya sect, Kadampa the
Kadam sect.
important kings. But Buddha Sakyamuni, the historic
Buddha, asked that Stupas be erected to remind
Lhasa, whose literal meaning in “Place of the
people of the awakened state of mind, a Buddha’s
Gods” was the spiritual, political, cultural and
holy mind. Some stupas hold
economic capital of Tibet. It is at an elevation of
the
11,450 ft. and sits in the center of the Tibetan
remains of holy teachers,
others hold items that
Plateau surrounded by the
Buddhists hold sacred -
majestic Himalayan Mountains.
sutra scripts, relics, hair
The Himalayas is home to the
clippings, cremation ashes
planet’s highest peaks, including
of enlightened monks are
the highest, Mount Everest. It is
enshrined within. Each
an area of great scenic beauty.
part of the Stupa shows
Lhasa was the center of Tibetan
the path to
Buddhism and nearly half of its
Enlightenment. The body, speech
population were monks. In 2000,
and mind of the enlightened teacher contained within
observers report that some 50 to
the stupa helps those who come in contact with it
70% of the population were non-Tibetans. Today, the
connect to the Buddha mind. Building a Stupa is a
Tibetan population is even smaller although many
very powerful way to purify negative karma and
come from the countryside on pilgrimage to pray at
hidden negativities, and to accumulate extensive
the temples, most holy to Tibetan Buddhism.
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housed the living quarters of the Dalai Lama and the
The Potala Palace, Lhasa*
monks. The White denotes that it is used for secular
The Potala Palace has been the home of the Dalai
purposes such as living quarters, offices, the
Lamas, the most powerful monks in Tibet. The Dalai
seminary, the printing house, etc. At the top of the
Lama is both the
White Palace is the
spiritual leader and the
personal suite of the
temporal leader of
Dalai Lama which is open
Tibet. The Potala was
to the public. The Red
first built in 1645, by
Palace is devoted to
the great 5th Dalai
religious studies and
Lama and no expense
prayer. It contains the
was spared to make it
sacred gold stupas, the
a home fit for a god-
tombs of eight Dalai
king. It symbolizes
Lamas, numerous
Tibetan Buddhism and
chapels and shrines and
it played a central role
libraries housing the
in the traditional
important Buddhist scriptures. In the Potala’s Red
administration in Tibet. It rises 1,000 ft. above the
Palace are the Buddha Sakyamuni seated on a gold
valley floor and is the highest palace in the world.
throne, plus statues of other highly venerated
The palace itself is 13 stories high and has over
Buddhas. There are statues of past great lamas,
1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000
founders of the different Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
statues. It is named after Mount Potalaka, the
Feel negative karma purified in these holy places but
mystical abode of Avalokitesvara, (Guan Yin), the
prayers are now forbidden at the Potala. The
Boddhisatva of Compassion. The palace has
galleries and rooms of the Red Palace contain fine
escaped damage through the centuries although, at
murals, frescoes, paintings and enormous collections
present, almost all of the over 100,000 volumes of
of bronze statues and figures made of copper and
scriptures, historical documents and other works are
gold and worth a fortune. The 5th Dalai Lama’s stupa
either removed, damaged or destroyed. But
coffin is built of sandalwood and is coated with 8,200
remaining are the jeweled burial stupas (chortens) of
lbs. of solid gold and studded with 18,700 pearls and
past Dalai Lamas as well as statuary, frescoes and
other semi-precious jewels. The stupa tomb of the
painting of unparalleled workmanship and
13th Dalai Lama contains one ton (2000 lbs.) of solid
significance.
gold, priceless jewels, porcelain lions and vases and
The complex consists of the White and Red Palaces
a mandala made from over 200,000 pearls. Elaborate
and their ancillary buildings. The White Palace
murals depict many events of the life of the 13th Dalai
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Lama. The 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile in India and
is the most sacred statue in Tibet. King Songsten
his home, the Potala Palace is a museum. Today it is
Gampo build this temple to house the statue which is
shadowed by China’s modern commercial buildings
a source of profound blessings. A major benefit of
that creep up to its
viewing this Buddha
perimeter.
includes the quickening of
one’s path to
The Jokhang
Enlightenment.
(House of
The Jokhang is a four story
Buddha) Temple
building with roofs of gilded
Lhasa*
bronze tiles. Its interior is a
dark and heavily qi-infused
Tibetans look upon
labyrinth of chapels
this as their most
dedicated to various
sacred and important
Buddhas and Boddhisatvas.
temple. For centuries
and to the present, it is the destination of Tibetan
pilgrims who come from all corners of Tibet to
worship here. Some come on foot. Founded in the 7th
century it is dedicated to the historical Buddha
Sakyamuni. It was built in the 7th century by Tibetan
King Songsten Gampo who married a princess from
Nepal and a princess from China. Both brides
brought important Buddhist statues with them and
helped Buddhism flourish in Tibet. It is said that
Buddha Sakyamuni did not want personal adulation
and did not allow likenesses to be made of him. He
permitted only three statues of himself to be sculpted
when he lived. One was of him at age 8, one at age
12 and one as an adult. He designed these statues
himself and blessed them. Princess Wencheng of
China brought with her the statue of Sakyamuni
when he was 12 years old and this is the statue at
the Jokhang Temple. This gilded statue, called the
Jowo Rinpoche statue or the Jowo Sakyamuni statue
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There is peace and hope and sanctity in the
atmosphere.
It is an active temple where the local
people go to pray and make offerings. It projects a
living faith. It is illuminated by yak butter lamps and
thick with the smoke of incense. Sometimes, it is
graced with mantra chanting lamas. The Jokhang
Temple is the spiritual center of Lhasa and Tibetan
protests since 1987 are often started from here. The
consequences are severe.
The Barkhor
The Jokhang temple sits on Barkhor Square, the
center of historic Lhasa. Pilgrims circumambulate the
temple reciting mantras and twirling prayer wheels as
part of a pilgrimage to the site. Some prostrate
themselves around the temple. The
circumambulation route is known as the Kora and is
paved with hand polished stones. It is about one
kilometer or 6/10 of a mile. One always moves
clockwise. It is marked by four large incense burners
Jokhang Temple in the Barkhor, the area has a long
placed at the corners of the temple
history of both religious and trade
complex. After circumambulating the
activity. By the end of the 17th
exterior, pilgrims make their way to
century, the Barkhor was a bustling
the main hall of the temple which
market for foreign goods. The Jesuit
houses the Jowo Sakyamuni statue.
missionary, Ippolito Desideri reported
There are statues of other major
in 1716 that the city had a
Buddhas and Budhisattvas. as well
cosmopolitan community of Mongol,
as the Tibetan King who built the
Chinese, Muscovite, Armenian,
temple, King Songtsan Gampo and
Kashmiri, Nepalese and Northern
his Chinese and Nepalese wives.
Indian traders. Tibet was exporting
musk, gold, medicinal plants, furs
Barkhor was old Lhasa’s original
and yak tails to far flung markets in
center and the traditional market
exchange for sugar, tea, saffron,
area. Its narrow streets and lanes
Persian turquoise, European amber
and public square remain an
important meeting place for Tibetans.
At present, it is designated as the old
area. The new areas of Lhasa are the modern
buildings, businesses, hotels and shops built by the
Chinese. Barkhor Street is a very ancient circular
and Mediterranean coral. Today’s
merchandise include prayer wheels,
long sleeved “chubas” Tibet’s traditional clothing,
thangkas, mala beads, Tibetan knives, tapestries, as
well as gems and some valuable porcelains.
street and the local Tibetans are very proud and
Norbulingka Park*
protective of it. It is said that
after the Jokhang Temple
Norbulingka Palace,
was built, thousands of
Norbulingka means the
pilgrims made their way
Treasured Garden, served as
there. As a result, a trodden
the summer palace of the Dalai
path was formed and that is
Lamas from the 1780’s until the
the origin of Barkhor street.
current 14th Dalai Lama
escaped from it to India in
Today Barkhor Street is lined
1959. As the summer
by tightly packed stalls
residence, the site became
which evoke the essence of
another religious, political and
traditional Tibetan city
cultural center of Tibet, after the Potala Palace. It was
bazaars. Because people were drawn to the beautiful
a place with gentle streams, dense and lush forests,
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birds and
However, the 14th Dalai Lama’s bedroom, meditation
animals. Today,
room, conference room and bathroom are part of the
the complex
display at present. Of interest is that Snow Lions, a
consists of
celestial animal in Tibet and the national emblem of
palaces,
Tibet, still stand guard at the gates of Norbulingka. In
pavilions,
Buddhism, the Snow Lion is the protector of Buddha.
temples,
Its roar embodies the sound of emptiness, courage
extensive
and truth. It implies freedom from karma and the
gardens and is
challenging call to awakening. Outside the front gates
a masterpiece
of the Potala Palace, statues of the Chinese imperial
of Tibetan
lions, symbols of the Chinese emperors, have
palace
replaced its Snow Lions.
architecture
and landscaping. It reflects the beauty, tranquility and
SERA MONASTERY
peace of harmony in man, where mind and body are
The SERA is one of the great three Gelugpa
synchronized. Pools, ponds, fountains and unique
university monasteries of Tibet. The Dalai Lamas
water features blend with winding paths, trellises and
belong to the Gelugpa. The Sera developed over the
fruit trees, bamboo and other trees vie with the
centuries as a renowned place of scholarly learning,
beauty of myriads of flowers, roses, petunias,
training thousands of scholars, many of whom have
hollyhocks, marigolds, chrysanthemum, herbs and
rare plants in pots. This famous garden covers 900
acres and another 840 acres surround the palace
complex with lush green pastures and a forest. Here
the Dalai Lamas were able to enjoy an informality
impossible at the Potala.
The palaces house paintings, frescoes and murals,
statues of Buddhas and 30,000 cultural relics of
ancient Tibetan history and culture. Most of the
palace buildings are not open to the public. They are
used as storehouses or offices for the staff who work
there to maintain the place. Some buildings are
opened to sell souvenirs to tourists. Most of the
historic treasures are not available for display.
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attained fame in the Buddhist nations. Founded in
1419, the Sera complex is divided into two sectors.
The eastern part contains the Great Assembly Hall
and the dormitories. The western part houses the
well-known three colleges of the Sera. Monks in the
questioners. If we’re lucky, we’ll see and hear their
monastery are in the age range of 8 to 70.
chanting of the sutras or their heated and excited
The Jey and Mey Colleges train monks over a 20
debates. They debate the teachings of Buddha and
the philosophy of Buddhism
year program on Buddhist
with passion and conviction. It
teachings and
may sound like mini quarrels
philosophical knowledge.
to the uninitiated, but they are
The third college, the
vocalizing their understanding
Ngakpa College, which
of the Buddhist scriptures and
predated the other two
defending and clarifying their
colleges, was exclusively
interpretations. In 1959, there
devoted to the practice of
were 5,629 monks at Sera.
Tantric Buddhism
During the 1959 revolution
(Vajrayana). This is a
against the Chinese, the
complex and multifaceted
monastery was bombarded
system of Buddhist thought
and practice which evolved over several centuries. It
is one of the three routes to enlightenment.
and most of the monks were killed. Ancient texts,
historical documents, volumes of invaluable old
scriptures, antique works of art, were destroyed. 197
This monastery is famous for the philosophical
Sera Jey monks and 103 Sera Mey monks survived
public debates between its student monks. These
and escaped to India. They have established a
debates are
parallel Sera Monastery on similar lines to the
integral to their
original monastery in India with the help of the Indian
learning
government. They established the Jey and Mey
process. The
colleges of Sera in Bylakuppe, near Mysore. None of
debating
the monks of Ngakpa College survived. Today, at the
tradition is
Sera Monastery in Tibet, there are about 300 monks.
supplemented
by gestures
and each
gesture has a
meaning. This
practice is exclusive to the Gelugpa. The debates
The Sera Monastery includes 19 hermitages,
including four nunneries. Most of these were
destroyed by the bombardments of 1959. Today,
some of the hermitages have a few monks and nuns
living in them.
take place in the presence of their teachers, with set
rules of procedure for the defender and the
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like fingers of the lake from the air. It freezes in
Yamdrok Lake
winter. Like mountains, lakes are considered sacred
Tibet is not a cozy country – centers of population
by the Tibetan people. The idea
are few and far in between,
is that they are dwelling places
separated by hundreds of
of protective deities and
miles of wild and
therefore are invested with
astonishingly beautiful
special spiritual powers.
scenery. Tibetans have great
According to local belief,
respect for nature –
Yamdrok Lake is the
mountains are gods and
transformation of a goddess
goddesses and lakes are
into a sapphire sea and
sacred. We will stop at
revered as a talisman that is
Yamdrok Lake which lies
auspicious to the life-spirit of
about halfway between
the Tibetan nation. It is one of
Lhasa and Gyantse on the old route to Shigatse.
four special holy lakes and is considered to be
We’ll see the Tibetan countryside and Tibetan rural
divinatory. Everyone from the Dalai Lama to local
life. We will cross two spectacular mountain passes
villagers makes pilgrimages there. As the largest lake
and stop to view a magnificent hanging glacier and
in southern Tibet, it is said that if its waters dry up,
take a short walk for a closer
Tibet will no longer be inhabitable.
view. We’ll drive along the
shores of holy Yamdrok Lake.
The lake is home to the famous
The view of its turquoise blue
Samding Monastery which is on a
waters reflecting the
peninsula jutting into the sacred
surrounding snow-capped
lake. Samding means the temple of
mountains is an awesome
soaring meditation. It is also the only
sight. It is a fresh water lake.
Tibetan monastery to be headed by
This huge lake is 45 miles in
a female reincarnation. Since it is
length and covers 246 sq.
not a nunnery, its Abbess, Dorje
miles. It is surrounded by snow-
Pakmo, heads a community of
capped mountains and is fed by
about thirty monks and nuns. Droje
numerous icy mountain
Pakmo is the highest female
streams. It spreads out like a
incarnation in Tibet and the third
fan to the south. Its mountainous shore is highly
highest ranking person in the hierarchy after the
crenellated with numerous bays and inlets that look
Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama.
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Today, both pilgrims and tourists walk along the
preserved of Tibetan cities. It is called the “Heroic
City” because a hundred years ago, the Tibetans
gathered on the fortress walls to repel an invasion by
the British
from India
who were
unhappy
that Tibet
was a
closed
country. The
lake’s shores. There are shoals of fish in Yamdrok
Lake and are commercially fished by the local
population. From April to October, fish is caught from
this lake to supply the markets in Lhasa. The fertile
wetland on the vast bank of the lake is probably the
riches earth in the arid land of Tibet. It serves as rich
pasture land for local herdsmen. Every year,
British viceroy sent an army to open it up. He crossed
the mountains with ten thousand men, won the battle
with modern guns and marched on to Lhasa, ending
Tibetan isolation. The town’s fort, Dzong, from which
the defenders battled the British, rests strong and
magnificent on the hill but from various angles seems
to be perched precariously over sharp cliffs.
Wherever you are in
thousands of birds gather
Gyangtse, the Dzong can
here for the winter. Nature’s
be seen. The half hour
timeless peace is strongly
climb up to the fort is well
felt here.
worth the effort and the
Gyangtse
spot offers fantastic vistas
of the monastery
We will spend the night at
compound to the north, the
Gyangtse. We are going
town below, and the
into a completely different
surrounding valley. The fort
world. The town was
is partly ruined, but there
historically considered the
are still some things to see.
The market of Gyatse is still
third largest and most prominent town in Tibet, after
Lhasa and Shigatse, but now there are at least ten
mostly a wool clothing market. Not a big thriving city,
larger Tibetan cities. It was a town made rich by yak
it is quiet here. It is no longer on the main highway
wool trade with India and remains one of the best
from Lhasa to Shigatze. There is a real sense of
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history here from the days when Tibetans were
alone. It is famous for the Bodhi Dagoba, a nine-
monks, legends and warriors. Gyangtze with its rich
tiered temple which has 108 gates and 108 temples.
culture, diverse
It is also known as the Kumbum, meaning the
architecture
“Ten thousand Buddha” pagoda. The pagoda’s
and sleepy
108 temples overlap one the other, temple
character is the
upon temple, to form a three dimensional
kind of place
mandala that portrays the Buddhist cosmos.
that captures
The Kumbum, like other mandalas enables
one’s heart
and aids one to move forward on the path to
forever.
enlightenment. In the main assembly hall is a
26 foot tall bronze statue of the Buddha Sakyamuni.
Palchol Monastery (Penchor Chode
Monastery) is a complex of monasteries and
temples. It
is the main
monastery
in
Gyangtse.
The temple
The walls are covered with numerous silk Thangkas.
On the other floors are the White Tara, other
Bodhisattvas and arhats. The 18 arhat sculptures are
famous and revered in Tibet. The monastery is well
known for its incredible murals. They depict stories
about the Buddhas and relate to Esoteric and
Exoteric Buddhism. Beautiful murals grace the whole
monastery. Zhacang are the dormitories of the
traces back
to the ninth
century. It
is huge and
has a unique history and a wealth of Buddhist art.
The monastery was founded in 1418. Originally the
compound housed approximately fifteen different
monasteries, housing three different sects, the
Sakyapa, the Kadampa and the Gelugpa. This
sharing of quarters was rare amongst the Tibetan
orders of Buddhism and this gave the monastery
prestige and it was held in high regard. Today,
however, the monastery compound is much emptier
monks. Each sect had their own Zhacang. Before
1959, there were 1520 monks at the Palchol. They
now number less than 80.
and is maintained by the monks of the Gelugpa
13
Shigatse is the second largest city in Tibet after
thousands of years old. Used in monasteries
Lhasa. It is a sprawling city, with dusty, uneven
throughout Tibet, their high pile make these squares
streets
ideal for sitting for long periods of time. Gyantze
humming with traffic. As you
drive
across the plains, the site of
would also be a place to look for the Wangden rugs.
the Potala-look-alike
Shigatse Dzong, high on a
hilltop overlooking the
town, will probably fire
up your imagination,
but the fort is empty
and most of what
you see dates from a
2007 reconstruction. It is the
Tashilhunpo Monastery, that is the real
Tashilhunpo Monastery is the second biggest
monastery in Tibet and home to the Panchen Lama,
the 2nd most important and powerful monk in Tibet,
after the Dalai Lama. Tashilhunpo is also a great
scholastic monastery. In 1949, there were 5,000
monks at Tashiphunpo. Only 250 were able to
escape from Tibet. The Cultural Revolution and the
Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959 wreaked
destruction on the great monastic institutions, which
draw. The town has long been an important trading
lost many of the precious scriptures, statues and
and administrative center. As one of Tibet’s larger
relics. Many monks were killed or imprisoned.
towns, Shigatse is at a crossroads between its
Tashilhunpo was spared some of the worst damage.
history as an ancient Tibetan settlement and the
The monastery is currently the largest functioning
encroaching modernity of contemporary China. The
monastery in the Tibetan Autonomous Region. There
are 800 monks there at present
modern city is divided
into a tiny old Tibetan
and it is an honor for a family to
town huddled at the foot
send their sons to Tashilhunpo.
of the fort, and a rapidly
The boys study philosophy,
expanding modern
medicine, history, scientific
Chinese town that has
agriculture, astrology, and other
all the charm of, well,
subjects. They earn a master or
every other expanding
a doctorate degree. It was
modern Chinese town.
established in 1447 by Genden
But it is a place to check
Trup, a Gelugpa who became
out Tibetan rugs and
the first Dalai Lama. Later, the
seating carpets – tiger
fifth Dalai Lama named the
Abbot of Tashilhunpo as the first
rugs and Wangden rugs from the nearby Wangden
Valley. These are rugs made with vegetable dyes
Panchen Lama, second only to the Dalai Lama.
with a near forgotten weaving technique that may be
14
Since then, the Abbot of Tashilhumpo has the title of
(chortens) of the Panchen Lamas are housed in the
Panchen Lama.
monastery. Worthy of note is the Tomb of the tenth
Panchen Lama who passed away in 1989 in
Tashilhunpo is
located on a
hillside
overlooking
Shigatse. It
Shigatse. There is controversy about how he died
suddenly at the age of 51. This temple, for the most
part, escaped the worst ravages of the Cultural
Revolution and its chapels still contain countless
statues and mural-decorated halls.
is a
wonderful
The most magnificent part of the Monastery is the
array of
Kelsang Temple in the northeast area of the
buildings,
compound. There, you'll find enough chapels, statues
courtyards and
gardens connected by steep stone
and murals to keep you enthralled for several trips.
Wander around and take it all in slowly. There is just
steps and narrow cobblestone alleys. We’ll venture
too much in this one building, from chapels dedicated
into its warren of chapels and shrines linked by
to the Maitreya Buddha to the Tara protection
mysterious alleyways and staircases. The
goddesses. Most of the rooms in the monastery are
Tashilhunpo’s golden roofs and its red, white and
locked but you might be able to ask a lama to open
black exterior walls create a dramatic effect. The
one for you.
monastery’s white buildings are where the monks
live. They
are not
temples.
The red
buildings are
the temples
and house
important
Buddhas and
religious objects. An eighty-five foot tall gilded statue
This
of the Maitreya, the Buddha of the future, sits
great monastery has a Kora (pilgrimage path) around
serenely in the Maitreya Hall. It is the largest bronze
it. Don’t miss it. It is one of the outstanding koras
Buddha in the world. A finger of the Matreya is 4 feet
around Tibet’s greatest monasteries. It will give you a
in length. The elaborately decorated burial stupas
magnificent view from the huge monastery and the
15
complete city of Shigatse. At the end of the Kora, you
Amitabha possesses a deep awareness of
will reach the old town of Shigatse – this is how
individualities. In the Sutra Hall are some 10,000
Shigatse might have been 50 years ago. The new
hand carved wooden blocks used for the printing of
part differs little from an average Chinese town. The
Buddhist scriptures. These are all Tibetan
Tashilhunpo Kora will take about one hour to
translations of the original Sanskrit text. The Gyeni
circumambulate. It is of moderate difficulty. You will
Chanting Hall has a debating garden in its courtyard
walk in the company of brightly clad Tibetan pilgrims
saying mantras, prostrating or crawling around the
site. The profound spiritual importance, combined
with the spectacular settings, makes it an
unforgettable place to walk and think.
Gudong, the Panchen Lama’s Palace. The
Panchen Lamas are emanations of Buddha
Amitabha. Within are three statues representing
Amitabha and his two disciples. He is the Buddha of
Infinite Light who is also the Buddha of
Comprehensive Love. Buddhist scripture says that he
for its student monks. It also has many fine old trees.
established the Pure Land and all who call on him will
Shangrila, Yunnan. Although the name
Shangrila is from James Hilton’s fictional book, Lost
Horizons, the legend of Shangrila has a long history
in the region. Some scholars say that it is Shambala,
a mythical kingdom hidden somewhere in Inner Asia.
It is a place of peace, tranquility and happiness
Shambala is mentioned in various ancient texts. It is
also seen as the Buddhist Pure Land. The legend
speaks of a hidden paradise, a mystical harmonious
enter the Pure Land when they die. There, they will
undergo instruction by him and ultimately become
bodhisattvas and Buddhas. They will then return to
our world to help yet more people. They will work
until all beings are enlightened. The Buddha
16
valley, above the clouds, surrounded by majestic
snow covered mountains, gently guided from a
lamasery. It is a permanently happy land isolated
from the outside world, whose inhabitants live to be
hundreds of years old, almost immortal. They do not
age but retain their youthful appearance and their
views of endless grasslands, virgin forests, narrow
vigor. They
and deep gorges, towering cliffs, yellow
live in peace,
rhododendrons, azure mountain lakes and
tranquility,
pastoral villages.
happiness
The streets of Shangrila (Zhongdian) offer up
and virtue.
many surprises. On the main streets or in
The waters of
narrow alleys, the people extend hospitality
the land heal,
and warmth. The town is split in two. There is
mosquitoes
an up market part of town targeted at the
do not suck
Chinese tourists and there is the old Tibetan
blood and flies
town, Dukezhong, where we will be stepping
back in time, back to the 8th
do not bite flesh. Deer roam in
place of dogs and peacocks
century when the town’s
instead of roosters strut.
narrow winding streets were
Although the Shangrila we
paved with smooth
are going to was known as
cobblestone and its old mud-
Zhongdian in Chinese and
brick and wooden houses
Gyalthang in Tibetan and
have not changed in charm
changed its name in 2002, the
and character. The boundary
town is located in an amazing
between the two areas is
scenic region surrounded by
Tuanjie Street. Though many
majestic snow-covered
of Shangrila’s famous
mountains and located at the convergence of three
attractions are outside town, one can have a
rivers. On the way
delightful time wandering the streets
to the better known
looking into local shops that sell herbs and
attractions outside
many other local products. We may learn
of town, we will
about Thangka painting from a local
pass through some
master at the cultural preservation
of China’s most
association. Within the town, the
beautiful
inhabitants include Tibetans who comprise
landscapes, rolling
the majority, Naxi, Han Chinese and Hui
hills with wildflower-
Muslim who live and work harmoniously
strewn slopes and
together. The people outside the town are
lush valleys, see
mainly Tibetan. In autumn the scenery on
17
the plateau is spectacular. The town of Shangrila
gold lamps, exquisite silver incense burners, bronze
never feels crowded with tourists.
sculptures, and paintings done with liquid gold.
Pathways lead to cloistered rooms where
massive Buddha statues look down
Songzanlin
benevolently at all who pass. Feel their
Lamasery
presence and blessings. Yak butter lamps
is the largest
glow at all times. The air is filled with
Tibetan
incense and the sound of monks chanting.
monastery in
Enjoy the hospitality of the monks. It looks
Yunnan. It
and feels like Lhasa must have in the past.
was
Outside the monastery, walk along the Kora
established in
path, where you will see white Stupas
the 17th
(Chortens) and Mani stone piles and from
century by the
5th Dalai Lama who chose the site guided by a
revelation. The complex is built in traditional Tibetan
architectural style. Located at the base of a mountain
side, it sprawls on rolling pasture land and is part of
the Mount Baimang Nature Reserve. The monastery
was meant to be a copy of the Potala Palace of
where you can view old Tibetan farm
houses and sheep and yak in the beautiful valley
below.
One may also walk the wooden platform around the
lake opposite the monastery, approx. 45 min. where
there are great views and photo opportunities.
Lhasa. It has two major lamasery
Dabao Ringha
buildings, the Zhacang and the
Jikang and four smaller lamaseries.
Temple – is an
It is home to 700 monks of the
important Tibetan
Gelugpa. The main temple is large
monastery. Daily, pilgrims
and gorgeous. Its interior red walls
come here to pray. It is
are covered with beautifully detailed
said that a venerable
paintings. It houses a great number
Buddhist monk was on a
of holy scriptures written in liquid
pilgrimage to Tibet with
gold on pattra (of the taro family)
his goat. After three
leaves. A twenty-six foot tall gilded
years of traveling, they
statue of Buddha Sakyamuni sits on the main altar
reached the Ringha Valley where the goat absolutely
surrounded by paintings and frescoes depicting
refused to go on. The monk realized that he had
events of his life. Among the treasures of the past are
found sacred ground and decided to build a temple
18
on a hill in the middle of the beautiful valley. The
temple is about 700 years old and the
5th
Dalai Lama
replaced by positives and there is improvement for
the next life, not only for those who are at the temple,
but these blessings are spread to the world so that all
may benefit.
Pudacuo National Park* was set up with the
help of the International Union for Conservation of
Nature and meets all international standards for the
preservation of nature. Pudacuo is in one of the most
bio-diverse regions in the world. Although only .7% of
China’s land area, it contains more that 20% of the
country’s plant
went there to meditate.
species, about 33% of
Much was destroyed during the Cultural
its mammal and bird
Revolution but the villagers found the
species and almost
funds necessary to rebuild the main hall,
100 endangered
a simple and modest structure.
species. Among these
Unfortunately, there are only three small
are endemic species
original statues in the temple. However,
of fish found nowhere
thousands of colorful Tibetan prayer flags
else in the world, rare
flutter in the wind around the monastery.
and beautiful orchids,
The winds carry the continuous prayers
and mantras written on the flags as offerings to the
vulnerable black-necked
cranes, golden haired monkeys and Himalayan yew
Buddhas, perpetuating the prayers of
trees whose
those who strung up the flags. Inside,
extracts are
down you go through a staircase lined
indispensable
with prayer wheels, with the inscription
to the creation
of the universal mantra “Om mani
of many
padme hung” on each cylinder, calling
cancer drugs.
for the attention and blessings of
Nestled in the
Chenrezig (Kuan Yin) the Embodiment
mountains of
of Compassion. With every turning of
southwest
the wheel and every wave of the flags,
China, it is a
merit is accumulated, negatives are
natural
19
around the park. We can walk on raised wooden
walkways around the lakes. There is a wharf at Bita
Lake where one can catch a boat ride around the
lake and to the small wooded island in the middle of
the lake where spruces, rhododendrons and rare
plants grow. There are many indigenous and
interesting minority villages in the park area.
wonderland. The park is an integral part of the Three
Shanghai: www.wikitravel.org/en/Shanghai go
Parallel Rivers Scenic Area, a UNESCO
to the SEE,
World Heritage Site. Within the park are the
DO, EAT
turquoise blue waters and natural beauty of
sections on the
Shudu Lake and Bita Lake. Shudu Lake is
sidebar. (If
a huge lake and its waters are extremely
anyone knows
calm and clear. Its shores provide good
of a good
pasture for the herds of yak and goats that
website on
graze there in the spring and summer. Bita
Shanghai,
Lake is the highest alpine lake in Yunnan.
please write
Legend says that a goddess dropped her
me so that we
may share).
mirror to the earth when she was applying make-up.
The mirror broke into pieces and became lakes on
Walk through the old city and the Bund with its
the plateau. Among these, the
buildings dating to the time of the foreign
most beautiful piece with
concessions. It is still a
green jade was Bita Lake.
fascinating area. Go to Yunnan
The lakes are surrounded
Road, a mecca of delicious and
by dense forests of oak,
authentic local food. Explore
century-old pines, spruces
Shanghai. Or take a 30 min.
and willows. Fish abound in
bullet train ride to Suzhou, the
the lake. On non-windy
Venice of China, where canals
days, the fluffy clouds, the
and waterways serve as streets
snow mountains and nearby
and whose gardens are of great
forests are all mirrored in
re-known. Visit the gardens of
the lake. There are a couple trams that will take us
Suzhou. Eleven miles from
Suzhou city, along the Yangtze River, is Tongli, a 10th
20
century town occupying seven
islands,
surrounded by canals and small
lakes, all connected by fortynine bridges - arched stone
bridges and moon bridges,
narrow cobblestone lanes
and picturesque tile-roofed
wooden houses. A gondola
ride offers a different view
of this historic town. The
reviews on these places
say they are worth seeing although
much is touristy with lots of people.
Well, China is well known for its
outsized population. Or take a short
day trip to nearby famous Hangzhou
– 45 min. away by bullet train.
Hangzhou has inspired China’s
romantic poets throughout the ages and
was famous for the beauty of its West
Lake area. Today, it is a big bustling city.
We can plan and decide on how to spend
our free day as smaller groups, in different
ways, and I’m sure that we’ll enjoy our time in
Shanghai.
*UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE - is a
place (such as a forest, mountain, lake, island, desert,
monument, building, complex, or city) that is listed by the
UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance.The
list is maintained by the international World Heritage
Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage
Committee, composed of 21 states parties which are elected by
their General Assembly. The programme catalogues, names, and
conserves sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance to
the common heritage of humanity
21
Cost: $4,900 (single supplement add $740)
and includes round-trip airfare from Los
Angeles, all transportation within China,
guided sight-seeing, entrance fees, meals,
lodging (4-star hotels where available) and
travel accident insurance. See reservation
form for more details!)
Deposit: $1,000 (sorry no credit cards!)
Deadline: March 17, 2014, balance due on or
before June 1, 2014
Contact: Celia Tom
858.356.9434 or 858.270.5454 or
[email protected]

Emei Qigong presents

Transcription

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