a wonder of the modern world – that's truly wonderful
The Taj Mahal was built on the love of a man for his wife. The Pyramid is built on the belief of after life. The Great Wall of China has been built as a political divide, The Colosseum was built to pit fighter against fighter for cruel fights to the death. In our current era, with advanced technology we can no doubt expect more spectacular buildings. Current in construction for example are the Twin Towers that will replace the towers that destroyed the WTC in 9/11, and speak about the wealth and power of America.
This is about one monument that’s being constructed in India, which I myself have visited twice, and have had the priviledge of contributing to, though not unlike a squirrel that helped Ram build the bridge to Lanka. This is the Global Pagoda in Mumbai. And this particular monument is not dedicated to something beyond a particular ideology or country or religion – it speaks about love and peace across the whole of humanity!
Since my first visit to the construction site in 2006, its come a long way and finally to completion on the 8th of February, 2009, inaugrated by the President of India.
It is the biggest pillarless dome in the world today, the second one comes close to only half the size. On Sunday I was watching the live telecast of the inaugration on TV, where they said that among other things it took 3.7 million man days and over Rupees 1000 crore went into its construction! It was the wishes of Buddha, who’s relics are in the dome, that his relics be kept at a public pagoda rather than any museum.
The above is the view from the ferry of the outside. Below is the view looking upwards from the inside.
Excerpt from wikipedia…
The Global Pagoda is a monument being built in Mumbai, India. … It is being built combining ancient Indian and modern technology to enable it to last for at least 2000 years. The center of the Global Pagoda contains the world’s largest stone dome built without any supporting pillars. The planned height of the building is 96.12 meters, which is twice the size of the previously largest hollow stone monument in the world, the Gol Gumbaz Dome in Bijapur, India.[1] The inside of the pagoda is hollow and serves as a very large meditation hall with an area covering more than 6000 m2 (65,000 ft2).
Her excellency the President of India and a student herself, spoke… “Buddha taught “be the light within yourself” – the light within you.” and concluded with “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”.
“The fact is that all human beings are one and our behaviour should be based on this basic truth. People create distinctions in their own mind and believe them to be true. Today, it is the perceived differences that are dividing people,” said Patil.
~ President Patil inaugurates world’s biggest Pagoda in Mumbai
Finally the barely known (and he tends to keep himself out of the way), Principle Teacher Archarya Goenkaji, himself spoke about how the defilements in one’s mind need to be removed by the very root. A student who learns this knowledge will be able to see this by his own experience.
Vipassana is a technique of India. Laudable references to Vipassana are given in the Rig Veda. The most ancient literature of this country is full of words of praise for Vipassana:
Yo viovabhih vipaoyati bhuvanah
sanca paoyati sa na paroadati dvioah.One who practices Vipassana in a perfect way_sanca paoyati, sa na paroadati dvioah_comes out of all aversion and anger; the mind becomes pure.
All the ancient monuments in all their majesty, existed for visitors to see them and experience the joy. But here is a space where one goes to see oneself, and give Joy to the world through that seeing. While all the historic ones have a purpose fulfilling the retention of memory from the past, this one will exist to simply facilitate people continually evolve.
This is the crystal that was placed at the summit – embedded is another picture of it with some light in the background.
Here the crystal has been installed at the summit. In a way it can be reminder for us to strive to reach the summit of our own potential in whatever humble way it may be.
The ultimate goal behind this particular wonder is simply the wonder – the truth and love – that the common man, the individuals like you and me, can discover within ourself.
All pictures here are courtesy fellow student from Delhi Dipanshu.