Stupa Tapestries

unity of all things in the world ,zen buddhism

Deep in the jungles of Cambodia lies the majestic temple city of Angkor Wat.

Part view from a Buddha pagoda reaches in unique low angle view symmetrical to the clear sky at Phra Chedi Rai in Wat Pho temple complex, Bangkok.

Frame view from three mosaic tiled Buddha stupas and one iron sculpture on a rock at Wat Pho temple complex in Bangkok, Thailand.

Fourth entrance view to Phra Chedi Rai with stupas against clear sky. Hexagonal pagodas with mosaic in Wat Pho Buddha temple complex.

First entrance view to Phra Chedi Rai with two guardians and three stupa against clear sky. Hexagonal pagodas with mosaic in Wat Pho Buddha temple complex.

Second entrance view to Phra Chedi Rai with two guardians and three stupa against clear sky. Hexagonal pagodas with mosaic in Wat Pho Buddha temple complex.

Third entrance view to Phra Chedi Rai with stupas against clear sky. Hexagonal pagodas with mosaic in Wat Pho Buddha temple complex.

Buddhism and the culture of Asia. Buddhist monks. Secrets of the pagodi and distant monsters. The idea of visiting Asia and the East

Buddhism and the culture of Asia. Buddhist monks. Secrets of the pagodi and distant monsters. The idea of visiting Asia and the East

Buddhism and the culture of Asia. Buddhist monks. Secrets of the pagodi and distant monsters. The idea of visiting Asia and the East

Stupas and mountains at Drak Yerpa Monastery, near Lhasa, Tibet

This image shows the principle prang, the tallest of five, at the Wat Arun temple site in Bangkok. The structure is incredibly ornate, being encrusted with pieces of porcelain and sea shells to create remarkable, repeating patterns over its surfaces. Each tier in the construction has its own pattern. The principle prang is tall, being about 70 metres. I was particularly drawn to the remarkable architectural style of the prang, with an almost Eiffel Tower like profile, with an ever steepening curve as it rises to the top. It was truly stunning to behold, and when set against the deep, deep blue sky—wow!

Beautiful Asia, complex and interesting. Inspiration from traveling in Asia, meeting people, visiting cities and temples.

View of the mountains from Drak Yerpa Monastery

Mountains and valley from Drak Yerpa Monastery

This image shows the principle prang (right) and a lesser prang (one of four), at the Wat Arun temple site in Bangkok. These structures are incredibly ornate, being encrusted with pieces of porcelain and sea shells to create remarkable, repeating patterns over their surfaces. Each tier in the construction has its own pattern. The principle prang is tall, being about 70 metres. I was particularly drawn to the remarkable architectural style of the prangs, with an almost Eiffel Tower like profile, with an ever steepening curve as they rise to the tops. They were truly stunning to behold, and when set against the deep, deep blue sky—wow!

Going on their dear monks. How far is their path? What will they see when passing through cities, forests and fields? Travel inspiration.

Secrets of the East. Ideas of Buddhism. Inspired by a trip to Asia, the culture and religion of Asia

This is an image of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the golden stupa that sits next to it. They are located within the grounds of the Royal Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. The outside of the temple is incredibly ornate with a central tower and multi-tiered roof with amazing gable ends. In capturing this image, I had to focus on the upper elements of this amazing building as because of the extraordinary number of people (tourists) milling around. But that constraint allowed me concentrate on the incredible architectural details of the building.

Drak Yerpa Monastery, near Lhasa, Tibet

Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu

Wat Phra Kaew is regarded as the temple of the Thai people. and is a major tourist attraction in Thailand. which everyone who goes to this place Had to pick up the camera to take a picture. same as me

Inspiration of a trip to Asia and the East. Visiting Temples and Monasteries. Temple Child Watching - A Happy Childhood

Kuthow Pagoda is a series of Buddhist stupas in Mandalay

This is one of the earliest 16th-century extant images of the rarely represented Buddhist goddess Ushnishavijaya. She embodies a magical spell (dharani) recited by practitioners to reach liberation through the accumulation of merit. The power of multiplication in Buddhist merit making is suggested by the many small stupas (chaityas), which symbolically evoke the donation of one hundred thousand stupas. Multi-armed and multi-headed, Ushnishavijaya, white in color (like the autumn moon), is seated in the central stupa, flanked by red and green bodhisattvas and surrounded by the guardians of the eight directions and representations of Tara. As a manifestation of the Buddha’s head protuberance, or ushnisha, she is associated with wisdom.

A Buddhist monk making a kora at Bhoudhanath

Pilgrims Circumambulating two stupas and spinning pray wheels. The stupas may contain the remains or object of revered monk. Shygatse, Tibet

Boudhanath Stupa (or Bodnath Stupa) is the largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. It is the center of Tibetan culture in Kathmandu and rich in Buddhist symbolism. The stupa is located in the town of Boudha, on the eastern outskirts of Kathmandu. All visitors should walk round stupas in a clockwise direction, usually three times as this monk is doing.

A young monk has a bit of fun scampering up and down a temple in Bagan, Myanmar

Deer are a direct reference to the Buddha's first teaching in the Deer Park, Sarnath, also called Dharmachakra Parivartan. The suggestion is that so wondrous was the Buddha's appearance and peaceful his presence that even the animals came to listen. In the Tibetan tradition, a monastery which holds the Kangyur and Tengyur collections of texts would have this symbol of deer on both sides of the Dharma-wheel on the roof. This shot includes a Tibetan woman.

We spent many hours on the road in Amdo heading from Xining in the northeast to Mount Amnye Machen in the south. It was an uncomfortable, bumpy journey, but the breathtaking scenery made you forget about leg cramps. As the mountains rolled by the window, occasionally a stupa would punctuate the landscape. These structures contain sacred Buddhist relics and symbolize the Buddha’s presence in the world.

We spent many hours on the road in Amdo heading from Xining in the northeast to Mount Amnye Machen in the south. It was an uncomfortable, bumpy journey, but the breathtaking scenery made you forget about leg cramps. As the mountains rolled by the window, occasionally a stupa would punctuate the landscape. These structures contain sacred Buddhist relics and symbolize the Buddha’s presence in the world.

The Ruwanwelisaya is a stupa in Sri Lanka, considered a marvel for its architectural qualities and sacred to many Buddhists all over the world. It was built by King Dutugemunu c. 140 B.C., who became lord of all Sri Lanka after a war in which the Chola King Elara, was defeated. It is also known as Mahathupa, Swarnamali Chaitya, Suvarnamali Mahaceti (in Pali) and Rathnamali Dagaba. The stupa was an ancient ruin in the 19th century. After fundraising efforts by Sinhalese bhikkhu, the stupa was renovated in the early 20th century. The Ruwanveli Seya Restoration Society was founded in 1902 and the final crowning of the stupa took place on 17 June 1940.

Bagan, located on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries. Bagan became a central powerbase in the mid 9th century under King Anawratha, who unified Burma under Theravada Buddhism. It is estimated that as many as 13,000 temples and stupas once stood on this 42 sq km plain in central Burma. Approximately 2,000 remain today, in various states of disrepair. Some are large and well maintained, such as the Ananda Pahto, others are small tumbledown relics in the middle of overgrown grass. Despite the majesty and importance of Bagan, UNESCO did not include it on its World Heritage Site, beca...

Ambasthala Dagaba is situated on the plain close to the peak of the mountain, and is said to have been built by King Makalantissa. The ruins show that there has been a house built encircling the stupa. The Dagaba itself is said to enshrine the relics of the great Apostle Mahinda. It is here that King Devanampiyatissa first met Arahant Mahinda. The traditional spot where this meeting took place is marked by the Ambasthala Dagaba. It is not known for sure what the pillars were used for. Some suggest offerings.