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Inside
Tikse Monastery is a modern two-storied statue of Maitreya
with compassionate, hypnotic eyes. Maitreya,
the benevolent Bodhisattva of compassion, awaits his rebirth as
the next Buddha. The large statue covered with gold leaf has a
conch shell placed at the highest chakra point--centered
on the forehead-symbolizing his ‘third eye.’ The incorporation
of a conch shell, considered sacred-its spiraling rings symbolizing
the origin of existence--is especially appropriate. The sacred
syllable “Om” is produced when the conch is blown
on ritual occasions. For Hindus, Buddhists and Jains, “Om”
represents the voice of the Almighty.
Tikse,
Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir
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Lindsay Hebberd. All rights reserved. No text or images from this
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