LATVIAN ENLIGHTENMENT STUPA - PEACE PAGODA

Relics of the Latvian Peace Pagoda

The Pagoda or Stupa is a repositary for the relics of the Holy masters - those who have attained spiritual perfection and realisations.

It is filled with the representations of body, speech and mind of the Realised Teachers, that is, with the figurines, clay molds (tsa-tsa), texts and relics.

Even in the Stupa's foundation there must be a lot of precious objects. Filling the Stupa in a proper manner is very important and always takes place under the guidance of the qualified Teacher.

There were many precious relics laid into the Latvian Peace Pagoda.

Since 1992 Venerable Nubpa Rinpoche has been giving various items to his first western disciple Lana Konchog Chodron for preservation: holy Texts, extremely rare relics from the realised yogis - Enlightened Masters of the past, such as Marpa, Milarepa and Rinchen Puntsog.

His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche, Chogyal Namkay Norbu Rinpoche, Nubpa Rinpoche, Thrangu Rinpoche, Dza Ranyak Patrul Rinpoche, Sogyal Rinpoche and others have written their words of encouragement and have passed holy relics for the peace Stupa Foundation.

During all this time the Teachers have kindly granted Latvian Stupa over 2500 various relics and a large collection of the Dharma Texts, including those concerning medical, philosophical topics, on the structure of the Universe and astrology. Many of those texts now exist only in a single copy.

There are also a full original volume of Buddhas Teachings –Tripitaka and the commentaries that have been originally printed in Tibet. All this has become a part of the Latvian Pagoda's Treasury and in this way will be preserved for the future generations.

In the dome of the Pagoda there is Guru Rinpoche’s statue (Guru Rinpoche means “Precious Teacher” in Tibetan). Guru Rinpoche is fully Enlightened Being, entirely Awaken, the one who’s help is particularly effective in overcoming the obstacles and carrying the light of the Teachings to all sentient beings. He gives the most powerful protection to the Root Lineage of the celestial and worldly Teachers, protects from the dark forces, defeats evil and helps in the attainment of good goals.

 There are also various precious relics located in the dome of Pagoda, some of them are more than 1000 years old. Total amount of the relics is over 2500 items, and some of them are mentioned below:

  • Hair of the Guru Rinpoche. Guru Rinpoche also known as Guru Padmasambhava or 'the second Buddha' is the founder of the Nyigma tradition of the Tibetan Buddhism also called 'the school of old translations'. The lock of his hair is one of the most precious relics located in the Latvian Peace Pagoda.
  • Sokshin – the fragment of the original 'sokshin' from the Great Swayambhu Stupa, Nepal. Sokshin or the 'Tree of Life' is a wooden mast that is placed as an axis stretching from the lion’s throne up till the very top of the Pagoda. During the maintenance checks of the sokshin at the Swayambhu Stupa small fragment has been filed down. This fragment has been passed to Latvia and attached to the sokshin that is now located inside the Latvian Peace Pagoda. In this way the fragment of the Nepalese Swayambhu Stupa's sokshin became the part of the Latvian Pagoda's sokshin.
  • Ringsel of Swayambhu – the manifested compassion of Swayambhu Stupa, Nepal.
  • The Originals of Gandzhur and Dandzhur – a complete set of the Buddhas Teachings and the commentaries for them. They were printed from the original forms of the famous typography of the past – Derge, Tibet;
  • The Three Fruits (Аru, Baru, Kyuru) – the most precious medical plants that are found in Himalayas.
  • Ringsel of Kailash – the manifested aspect of compassion from Mount Meru, Kailash (According to the Buddhist Cosmology Mount Meru is the axis of the Universe).
  • The Sand of Five Jewels that was found and gathered at the base of the Mount Kailash.
  • Soil from all the Holy Places in Himalayas (Tibet, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim) – it was granted by the Master of Great Perfection –Dzogchen, His Eminence Zadral Rinpoche;
  • Relics – Ringsels from the Great Jigmey Phuntsog Rinpoche as well as the fragment of his clothes. After his departure, ringsels miraculously manifested from the Mandala of this realized Master of the XX century who belonged to the Nyingma School. They were granted by the Nubpa Rinpoche.
  • Conch shell granted by Dza Patrul Rinpoche that symbolises the pure sound of the Dharma.
  • Stupa Yendum from Dza Patrul Rinpoche.
  • Fruit from the Birthplace of the Buddha, Lumbini, Nepal.
  • The Stone Plate with the ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ mantra from the Guru Rinpoche (Guru Padmasambhava) Throne - place where first Teachings of Guru Rinpoche took place in Tibet.
  • Relic of Milarepa – a cotton fragment of clothing of the Great Saint Milarepa, Holy Lachi Mountain, obtained from the Venerable Nubpa Rinpoche.
  • Tsa-Tsa from the Dorje Pamo Cave, Lachi Mountain, the place of Milarepa’s practice.
  • A part of the meditative robe belonged to Drubwang Rinpoche (1921-2007) the realized meditation Master of the XX century.
  • Lock of the hair from Drubwang Rinpoche who has spent most of his life in retreat. It is believed that Drubwang Rinpoche recited the mantra of compassion ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ more than a billion times.
  • Arrow of Long Life - shaft and fletching of which were brought by Yudra Rinpoche from the Pure Land.
  • Material from the Vase – the Heart of the Boudha Stupa, that was used several thousands years ago during the construction of this ancient Stupa, Nepal;
  • Relics of the Activity of all the 16 Karmapas of Tsurphu, Tibet. They were granted by the Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche;
  • Black Pill from the ХVI Karmapa that eliminates rebirth in the lower realms.
  • Mantra Rolls – the millions of the Enlightened being’s mantras.
  • A relic of Buddha Sakyamuni and the figurine of Buddha Shakyamuni - granted for the Vase of Stupa of Enlightenment by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
  • The Mandala Sand from the destruction by Four Elements granted by the Venerable Garchen Rinpoche. The sand is layed in the Tsa-Tsa figurine of the Buddha Shakyamuni.
  • Tadrol of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche – this 'tadrol' was produced by Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche specifically for the Latvian Peace Pagoda. 'Tadrol' purifies negative karma accumulated over many lifetimes. If you come into contact with Tadrol, it is the cause of liberation from birth in the lower realms;
  • Relics of Jigten Sumgon (1143-1217) – Reincarnation of the Nagarjuna and founder of the Drikung Kagyu tradition in Tibet. The heart ringsels of Jigten Sumgon were received from the Venerable Garchen Rinpoche.
  • 200 Relics of the Great Teachers from Tibet – after cremation of the Great Yogis 'ringsels' miraculously manifest. They were granted for the Stupa of Enlightenment by His Eminence Yudra Rinpoche.
  • The stones from the place of confinement of demons and evil spirits, which have been subdued by the Guru Rinpoche near the Samye. Obtained from the Enlightened Yogini of our day Palden Lhamo, Tibet.
  • The Chrystalls – blessings of the Tantric Transmissions of Kalachakra, Hevajra, Chakrasamvara. Obtained from His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche.
  • Mantra Stones from Samye – the first Temple of the Guru Rinpoche in Tibet.
  • Seeds from the Jowo Statue – the main place of worship in Tibet.