Hung Syllable surrounded by Vajra Guru Mantra.
2002 Spring

The Akshobhya Statue

As it was my first visit to Khadro Ling I was completely awed by what has happened there, although I should not have been surprised, knowing the way that Chagdud Rinpoche is able to manifest his ideas. I can only liken the Khadro Ling phenom-ena to my idea of a pure land.

I had traveled to Khadro Ling to help Rinpoche construct a large Akshobhya statue: I had worked with Chagdud Rinpoche On other projects; this statue would definitely be the most elaborate. The Akshobhya statue—a seated figure atop a large throne with a nimbus—stands approximately thirty feet high, with the main figure being nine feet high. One of the most unusual features of this particular statue is the “Six Ornament” halo. The halo is composed of six different mythical figures: an elephant, amagical antelope, a dwarf, a water cannibal, a naga, and a garuda.The six figures represent the six perfections of enlightened mind.The halo rises approximately fifteen feet high and is twelve feet across. It is placed behind the main figure and rests on the throne.

We agreed that the best way to sculpt the halo would be from clay and then make the silicone molds from these. The final product would then be cast in cement and placed on the throne behind the statue. One of the questions we had as we headed into the project was where we could possibly sculpt such a large clayhalo. This dilemma was solved when Chagdud Khadro kindly offered us the use of her living room. As soon as the room was cleared we started to work. In the course of the project we used approximately 1400 kilos of clay and 800 kilos of silicone. It proved to be a time-consuming and expensive process, but it enabled us to get very good detail and now have the molds for creating more halos for future statues.

Rinpoche and the crew worked seven days a week, sometimes late into the evening, sculpting clay and cement. Many people helped when they could, coming on the weekends or spending weeks at a time. It took the team of artists approximately three months just to complete the halo.

When the Chagdud Gonpa lamas arrived for their month-long training, it felt like a family reunion. I look forward to returning to Brazil soon to help Rinpoche with his upcoming projects.

By Glenn Sandvoss

2002 Spring

The Akshobhya Statue

As it was my first visit to Khadro Ling I was completely awed by what has happened there, although I should not have been surprised, knowing the way that Chagdud Rinpoche is able to manifest his ideas. I can only liken the Khadro Ling phenom-ena to my idea of a pure land.

I had traveled to Khadro Ling to help Rinpoche construct a large Akshobhya statue: I had worked with Chagdud Rinpoche On other projects; this statue would definitely be the most elaborate. The Akshobhya statue—a seated figure atop a large throne with a nimbus—stands approximately thirty feet high, with the main figure being nine feet high. One of the most unusual features of this particular statue is the “Six Ornament” halo. The halo is composed of six different mythical figures: an elephant, amagical antelope, a dwarf, a water cannibal, a naga, and a garuda.The six figures represent the six perfections of enlightened mind.The halo rises approximately fifteen feet high and is twelve feet across. It is placed behind the main figure and rests on the throne.

We agreed that the best way to sculpt the halo would be from clay and then make the silicone molds from these. The final product would then be cast in cement and placed on the throne behind the statue. One of the questions we had as we headed into the project was where we could possibly sculpt such a large clayhalo. This dilemma was solved when Chagdud Khadro kindly offered us the use of her living room. As soon as the room was cleared we started to work. In the course of the project we used approximately 1400 kilos of clay and 800 kilos of silicone. It proved to be a time-consuming and expensive process, but it enabled us to get very good detail and now have the molds for creating more halos for future statues.

Rinpoche and the crew worked seven days a week, sometimes late into the evening, sculpting clay and cement. Many people helped when they could, coming on the weekends or spending weeks at a time. It took the team of artists approximately three months just to complete the halo.

When the Chagdud Gonpa lamas arrived for their month-long training, it felt like a family reunion. I look forward to returning to Brazil soon to help Rinpoche with his upcoming projects.

By Glenn Sandvoss

2002 Spring

The Akshobhya Statue

As it was my first visit to Khadro Ling I was completely awed by what has happened there, although I should not have been surprised, knowing the way that Chagdud Rinpoche is able to manifest his ideas. I can only liken the Khadro Ling phenom-ena to my idea of a pure land.

I had traveled to Khadro Ling to help Rinpoche construct a large Akshobhya statue: I had worked with Chagdud Rinpoche On other projects; this statue would definitely be the most elaborate. The Akshobhya statue—a seated figure atop a large throne with a nimbus—stands approximately thirty feet high, with the main figure being nine feet high. One of the most unusual features of this particular statue is the “Six Ornament” halo. The halo is composed of six different mythical figures: an elephant, amagical antelope, a dwarf, a water cannibal, a naga, and a garuda.The six figures represent the six perfections of enlightened mind.The halo rises approximately fifteen feet high and is twelve feet across. It is placed behind the main figure and rests on the throne.

We agreed that the best way to sculpt the halo would be from clay and then make the silicone molds from these. The final product would then be cast in cement and placed on the throne behind the statue. One of the questions we had as we headed into the project was where we could possibly sculpt such a large clayhalo. This dilemma was solved when Chagdud Khadro kindly offered us the use of her living room. As soon as the room was cleared we started to work. In the course of the project we used approximately 1400 kilos of clay and 800 kilos of silicone. It proved to be a time-consuming and expensive process, but it enabled us to get very good detail and now have the molds for creating more halos for future statues.

Rinpoche and the crew worked seven days a week, sometimes late into the evening, sculpting clay and cement. Many people helped when they could, coming on the weekends or spending weeks at a time. It took the team of artists approximately three months just to complete the halo.

When the Chagdud Gonpa lamas arrived for their month-long training, it felt like a family reunion. I look forward to returning to Brazil soon to help Rinpoche with his upcoming projects.

By Glenn Sandvoss

2002 Spring

The Akshobhya Statue

As it was my first visit to Khadro Ling I was completely awed by what has happened there, although I should not have been surprised, knowing the way that Chagdud Rinpoche is able to manifest his ideas. I can only liken the Khadro Ling phenom-ena to my idea of a pure land.

I had traveled to Khadro Ling to help Rinpoche construct a large Akshobhya statue: I had worked with Chagdud Rinpoche On other projects; this statue would definitely be the most elaborate. The Akshobhya statue—a seated figure atop a large throne with a nimbus—stands approximately thirty feet high, with the main figure being nine feet high. One of the most unusual features of this particular statue is the “Six Ornament” halo. The halo is composed of six different mythical figures: an elephant, amagical antelope, a dwarf, a water cannibal, a naga, and a garuda.The six figures represent the six perfections of enlightened mind.The halo rises approximately fifteen feet high and is twelve feet across. It is placed behind the main figure and rests on the throne.

We agreed that the best way to sculpt the halo would be from clay and then make the silicone molds from these. The final product would then be cast in cement and placed on the throne behind the statue. One of the questions we had as we headed into the project was where we could possibly sculpt such a large clayhalo. This dilemma was solved when Chagdud Khadro kindly offered us the use of her living room. As soon as the room was cleared we started to work. In the course of the project we used approximately 1400 kilos of clay and 800 kilos of silicone. It proved to be a time-consuming and expensive process, but it enabled us to get very good detail and now have the molds for creating more halos for future statues.

Rinpoche and the crew worked seven days a week, sometimes late into the evening, sculpting clay and cement. Many people helped when they could, coming on the weekends or spending weeks at a time. It took the team of artists approximately three months just to complete the halo.

When the Chagdud Gonpa lamas arrived for their month-long training, it felt like a family reunion. I look forward to returning to Brazil soon to help Rinpoche with his upcoming projects.

By Glenn Sandvoss

2002 Spring

The Akshobhya Statue

As it was my first visit to Khadro Ling I was completely awed by what has happened there, although I should not have been surprised, knowing the way that Chagdud Rinpoche is able to manifest his ideas. I can only liken the Khadro Ling phenom-ena to my idea of a pure land.

I had traveled to Khadro Ling to help Rinpoche construct a large Akshobhya statue: I had worked with Chagdud Rinpoche On other projects; this statue would definitely be the most elaborate. The Akshobhya statue—a seated figure atop a large throne with a nimbus—stands approximately thirty feet high, with the main figure being nine feet high. One of the most unusual features of this particular statue is the “Six Ornament” halo. The halo is composed of six different mythical figures: an elephant, amagical antelope, a dwarf, a water cannibal, a naga, and a garuda.The six figures represent the six perfections of enlightened mind.The halo rises approximately fifteen feet high and is twelve feet across. It is placed behind the main figure and rests on the throne.

We agreed that the best way to sculpt the halo would be from clay and then make the silicone molds from these. The final product would then be cast in cement and placed on the throne behind the statue. One of the questions we had as we headed into the project was where we could possibly sculpt such a large clayhalo. This dilemma was solved when Chagdud Khadro kindly offered us the use of her living room. As soon as the room was cleared we started to work. In the course of the project we used approximately 1400 kilos of clay and 800 kilos of silicone. It proved to be a time-consuming and expensive process, but it enabled us to get very good detail and now have the molds for creating more halos for future statues.

Rinpoche and the crew worked seven days a week, sometimes late into the evening, sculpting clay and cement. Many people helped when they could, coming on the weekends or spending weeks at a time. It took the team of artists approximately three months just to complete the halo.

When the Chagdud Gonpa lamas arrived for their month-long training, it felt like a family reunion. I look forward to returning to Brazil soon to help Rinpoche with his upcoming projects.

By Glenn Sandvoss

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