STUPA – KAGYU THEBTEN CHOLING MONASTERY
The construction of the Stupa at the Kagyu Thubten Chöling Monastery, led by the Venerable Lama Norlha, began in 2003 and was completed in 2005. The building of a stupa is considered a “good thing” by Buddhists in general as it is a structure that invites (or even invokes) peace. Among other things the shape of the stupa represents the Buddha, crowned and sitting in meditation posture on a lion throne. His crown is the top of the spire; his head is the square at the spire’s base; his body is the vase shape; his legs are the four steps of the lower terrace; and the base is his throne. The structure, constructed with a combination of cast in place and pre-cast concrete, overlooks the Hudson River Valley. Entry to the interior is through the highly decorative concrete portico and copper clad doors. Both the exterior and lower interior are elaborately decorated in the traditional arts, all hand sculpted and painted by artisan monks residing at the monastery. Many of the larger sculptural elements were fabricated in copper and covered in gold leaf. LMV was honored to assist, in some small way, with the realization of this project.
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