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Filling and Blessing StatuesFilling and Blessing Statues (en Español)Back to 2011 GalleryOne of the Abbey community’s favorite group activities is filling and blessing the statues and stupas offered to us as well as the personal holy objects brought to us by friends. The care and attention required increases one’s mindfulness and respect for the body and mind of the Buddhas that these statues and stupas represent. It is a very joyful offering to make to the holy beings. ![]() Some of the statues that will be blessed. ![]() Ven. Tarpa explains to some of the retreatants which statues will be filled and blessed. ![]() Big or small is not important when it comes to filling and blessing statues. All are precious. ![]() The Buddhas eyes are covered until they are blessed. ![]() Our Dharma friends from Missoula brought a Buddha statue that will contain these gold wrapped packages of dried food. ![]() Many different mantras go into a statue. Many are placed in specific parts of the body. ![]() The group unwraps incense, a fragrant filling for the hollows of the body. ![]() Amanda and Robin then take the incense and blend it into a fine powder. ![]() Ven. Chodron begins with the head of the statue, which is placed gently upside down. ![]() The objects in the statue must be placed very tightly together so there is no movement. ![]() Tom holds the statue steady and still for Venerable to tightly fill the base. ![]() Venerable finishes the statue filling with powdered incense. ![]() Tamping the incense firmly to fill in the spaces is an important step. ![]() The retreatants finish the filling process by sealing the bottoms with copper bases and epoxy. ![]() A smiling abbess uncovers the faces of the Buddhas after the blessing. Photo Gallery |


















