Opening of The Garden Of Enlightenment at Chenrezig Buddhist Institute of Queensland.

Chenrezig Buddhist Institute

Chenrezig Institute is affiliated with the FPMT (Foundation of the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) and was one of the first centres of Tibetan Buddhism to be established in the western world.
In July 2010 I had the pleasure of visiting Chenrezig Buddhist Institute for the first time. I was there on the invitation of Garrey Foulkes to take photos of placing the Stupas atop the new temple in The Garden Of Enlightenment, and again in November for the official opening by Geshe Lobsang Jamyan and the Nuns and Monks of Chenrezig.
Chenrezig is only a short picturesque drive from either Eudlo or Mooloolah Valley at Diamond Valley in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

Images of the entrance and walk up to the main reception area

Chenrezig Entrance	Walk up to The Long Life Stupa and Main Reception	The Long Life Stupa	The Long Life Stupa	A Memorial	Stupa Decorations	The Long Life Stupa side view

The Garden Of Enlightenment

The garden of enlightenment is located at Chenrezig Institute, a centre for Tibetan Buddhist studies, it was established about 40 years ago and has supported a community of Monks, Nuns, Lay people, teachers and translators from that time. Chenrezig Institute is located on the Sunshine coast approximately 100 kilometres from Brisbane and is situated on 160 acres of natural bushland and rain forest gullies.
The garden of enlightenment is set in the midst of this area. Our main teacher, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, suggested we make a beautiful garden centred around 8 large stupas so that people could place smaller stupas, containing the ashes of loved ones who had passed away, into the gardens. So, in short, the garden of enlightenment is a Buddhist memorial garden the gives people the opportunity to sponsor holy objects and for visitors take a look at some traditional Tibetan art and architecture while enjoying a day out in what is rapidly becoming one of the few remaining tracts of unspoiled forest close to the busy Sunshine coast.
The project has taken 15 years to complete and has been built almost entirely by volunteer labour including locals and a large number of people visiting the centre from overseas. Many thousands of hours of work have gone into the preparation of ingredients to place inside the eight stupas on the roof and also the large number of decorations that cover the stupas.
The completion of the project has helped to create the cause for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to visit our centre in June 2011 and give a public talk to over 3000 people, the main focus being addressing local school students on the importance of ethics in our daily lives.

Short Videos of construction and opening

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WMV Movie 4.68mb Placing Stupas.	WMV Movie 4.57mb Placing Stupas.	WMV Movie 15.9mb Prayers.	WMV Movie 8.36mb An Introduction by Maureen Walshe	WMV Movie 18.4mb Garreys Speech.

Click here for part two Images of The Garden Of Enlightenment Opening

Click here to go to part 2 of The Garden Of Enlightenment

To find out more about this project and Chenrezig Institute go to www.chenrezig.com.au

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