Kagyu Shenpen Kunchab (KSK) is a
Tibetan Buddhist
Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...
center of the
Kagyu School located in
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe ( ; , Spanish for 'Holy Faith'; tew, Oghá P'o'oge, Tewa for 'white shell water place'; tiw, Hulp'ó'ona, label=Tiwa language, Northern Tiwa; nv, Yootó, Navajo for 'bead + water place') is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. ...
. The temple complex features the
Kagyu Shenpen Kunchab Bodhi Stupa, a tall
stupa
A stupa ( sa, स्तूप, lit=heap, ) is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as ''śarīra'' – typically the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is used as a place of meditation.
In Buddhism, circumamb ...
. The primary practice of the temple is that of ''
Avalokiteśvara
In Buddhism, Avalokiteśvara (Sanskrit: अवलोकितेश्वर, IPA: ) is a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. He has 108 avatars, one notable avatar being Padmapāṇi (lotus bearer). He is variably depicted, ...
'', the
bodhisattva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva ( ; sa, 𑀩𑁄𑀥𑀺𑀲𑀢𑁆𑀢𑁆𑀯 (Brahmī), translit=bodhisattva, label=Sanskrit) or bodhisatva is a person who is on the path towards bodhi ('awakening') or Buddhahood.
In the Early Buddhist schools ...
of
compassion
Compassion motivates people to go out of their way to relieve the physical, mental or emotional pains of others and themselves. Compassion is often regarded as being sensitive to the emotional aspects of the suffering of others. When based on n ...
. The popular Tibetan female bodhisattva
Tara is also honored.
Kagyu Shenpen Kunchab was founded in 1975 by Tibetan lama
Karma Dorje, who was sent to establish a Buddhist center by his teacher,
Kalu Rinpoche
Kalu Rinpoche (1905 – May 10, 1989) was a Buddhist lama, meditation master, scholar and teacher. He was one of the first Tibetan masters to teach in the West.
Early life and teachers
Kalu Rinpoche was born in 1905 during the Female Woo ...
.
Kagyu Shenpen Kunchab Bodhi Stupa
The Kagyu Shenpen Kunchab Bodhi Stupa stands in height with a bronze spire.
Lama Karma Dorje started building the stupa in 1983 together with local practitioners. The stupa was finished in 1986 and was consecrated by H.E. Kalu Rinpoche.
The stupa contains
Buddhist relics
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gr ...
and the interior is brightly painted with Buddhist deities.
See also
*
Buddhism in the United States
The term American Buddhism can be used to describe all Buddhist groups within the United States, including Asian Americans, Asian-American Buddhists born into the faith, who comprise the largest percentage of Buddhists in the country.
American Budd ...
*
List of Buddhist temples
This is a list of Buddhist temples, monasteries, stupas, and pagodas for which there are Wikipedia articles, sorted by location.
Australia
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brazil
* Khadro Ling Buddhist Temple, Três Coroas, Rio Grande do Sul ...
References
Notes
Works cited
*
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Further reading
*
External links
*
*
{{Coord, 35, 38, 6.31, N, 106, 2, 26.91, W, display=title
1975 establishments in New Mexico
Asian-American culture in New Mexico
Buddhist temples in New Mexico
Kagyu monasteries and temples
Tibetan Buddhism in the United States