Translated
to English by
“The Jade Buddha will illuminate
our entire universe; it will bring extraordinary joy and happiness to all
beings, and will be an instrumental part in alleviating the devastation, and
harmful destruction everywhere, including war-torn damage.”
This Buddha statue, sitting on a
lotus-blooming throne, was carved from an intact block of nephrite jade which
was proudly named “the Polar Pride”. This block of gemstone-quality jade was
found in the Northern Yukon territory of Canada in 2000; it weighed 18 tons
with sparklingly brilliant colours, and not a single blemish throughout its
perfect clarity. It took 8 long years, 30 workers and numerous well-known
sculptors and many Buddhist scholars from Thailand, Nepal, and Australia… to
finish this magnificent and massive statue, which measures 4-meter tall, and
weighs 4.5 tons. The beautiful artwork was rightly name “The Jade Buddha for
Universal Peace”, and it will participate in a traveling exhibition worldwide.
The statue symbolizes Sakyamuni
Buddha in a full-lotus sitting position, with a very balanced and beautifully
carved body features, and with a deep jade green lustre that is quite pleasant
and refreshing to the viewers’ eyes. This Jade statue has the honour of
becoming one of the world’s great wonders, and gains the incessant attention of
all Buddhists worldwide. In the great Sutra, Buddha had said: “By just
merely glancing at a sacred object, one already acquires plenty of merits. On
the other hand, by respectfully prostrating and gratefully making offerings to
the sacred statue of Buddha, one would earn exponential and inconceivable
merits.”
Mr. Fred Ward, the famed
gemologist (gemstones expert) declared that this was “an amazing discovery of
the century.” Likewise, Mr. Kirk Makepeace, the stone excavation authority, and
director of the company that found the Polar Pride, ascertained that this
gigantic block of ornamental jade should be qualified and included in the
precious items of value for mankind. He declared that the use of this
rare jadeite boulder should be dictated by the world, and so he would share it
with the entire universe, instead of profiting from it for his own company. The
work that came from his finding is appropriately named “the Jade Buddha for
Universal Peace.”
THE ITINERARY OF THE EXHIBITION
Vietnam was the first country to
receive and display this revered and record-shattering sculpture. The city of
Da Nang and Vung Tau were the first places to exhibit the Jade Buddha to start
its long traveling showcase all over the world in the next few years. Then at
Saigon, the eminent statue was on display for worshiping at Pho Quang Temple in
Tan Binh district, and Hoang Phap Temple in Hoc Mon district during April of
2009. Then it was respectfully welcomed to the Van An Temple of Dong Thap City
in early May, 2009.
Once completed its exhibition in
Vietnam, the Jade Buddha will travel to Australia, and will be available for
veneration at many large temples and other Buddhist institutions in Sydney,
Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. In the year 2010, the Jade Buddha
will arrive to the United States of America as well as other countries
including Indonesia, Myanmar, New Zealand, and Taiwan.
This sculpture of Sakyamuni Buddha
was a replica of a statue being worshiped in the Mahabodhi Stupa at Bodhi-Gaya
in India, where Buddha attained enlightenment, under the direct supervisory of
the Venerable Dalai Lama, and technical guidance and administration of Lama
Zopa Rinpoche.
After the completion of this world
tour, the splendid sculpting religious icon will reside at the Great Stupa of
Universal Compassion in Bendigo, Australia. This is one of the largest stupa in
the western countries outside of Asia.
The Jade Buddha will be a representation
of world peace, and will be a positive inspiration and joyful motivation in the
lives of all humankind for many generations to come.
“By just merely glancing at a
sacred object, one already acquires plenty of merits. On the other hand, by
respectfully prostrating and gratefully making offerings to the sacred statue
of
Viên Minh