Jade Buddha for Universal Peace

The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace is a jade statue of the Gautama Buddha sourced from northern Canada in 2000 and later carved by Thai artisans. It is made of polar jade, which is a kind of nephrite.[1] It stands 2.7 metres high, sitting on a solid alabaster throne of 1.4 metres high, and is valued at more than A$25 million. The four-tonne statue was created for the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo, Victoria, in Australia and was consecrated by the Dalai Lama.[2]

The Jade Buddha on display

Its model is the Buddha statue of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, India, which is universally recognized by all Buddhists. The statue toured the world with the purpose of raising awareness of Buddhism and promoting peace.[3][4]

Mandala lights around the statue

In many pictures taken by tourists visiting the Buddha, bright and unusual lights appear in the background. These lights allegedly first appeared at Quán Thế Âm temple in Đà Nẵng. They have since been sighted at every showing of the Jade Buddha in Vietnam, Australia and the US. It has been said that only those with a pure heart and pure intentions can take such photographs. Called the "Mandala Lights" because their appearance is similar to a Buddhist mandala, the lights seem to be made of many colours in wildly varying patterns.

Tour

The purpose of exhibiting the Jade Buddha around the world was to raise awareness of Buddhism and promote peace.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche said that "It will illuminate the world and bring inconceivable peace and happiness and help prevent the destruction that is happening so much in the world, including war."

"I want to emphasize the importance of so many people, I think it seems millions of people, who have seen the statue and have therefore have had strong imprints placed in their minds for enlightenment. … Please remember the benefits to sentient beings in what you are doing with the tour, by people even merely seeing the Jade Buddha, ultimately brings them extensive benefit."

The Jade Buddha was on tour to major cities around the world before it was finally placed inside the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.

References
  1. http://www.jadebuddha.org.au/docs/jade-buddha-fact-sheet.pdf
  2. Fact sheet for the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace
  3. Article on the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace in the Bendigo Advertiser
  4. "Jade Buddha for Universal Peace". Archived from the original on 25 October 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
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