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Buddha "Tongil Daebul"
Shinheungsa Temple Bojeru - Seoraksan
This statue represents the crucial wish of the Korean people for the reunification of the divided country.
Sinheungsa, sometimes spelled Shinheungsa, is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It is situated on the slopes of Seoraksan in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, South Korea.
Sinheungsa is located in Seoraksan National Park, and many tourists hiking Seoraksan up to Ulsanbawi (peak) pass by the temple on the way.
The Great Unification Buddha, a 14.6-meter, 108 ton gilt-bronze Buddha statue, called "Tongil Daebul", sits atop a 4.3-meter high pedestal, of the same material, making the total height 18.9-meter, excluding the lightning rod and nimbus.
The lotus pedestal is flanked with 16 delicately engraved panels and the forehead of Tongil Daebul is adorned with eight 8-centimeter stones of amber, with a single piece of jade in the center that is 10-centimeter in diameter.
Tongil Daebul sits with legs crossed and half-closed eyes in meditation, his lips displaying a perceptible smile. A flowing robe with gentle folds, revealing the right shoulder, drapes the Buddha's robust torso. The hands of Tongil Daebul are positioned in the mudra symbolizing the "enlightened one."
Contained within the hollow statue are three pieces of the Buddha's sari, remains collected after his cremation, donated by the Myanmar government, and the Tripitaka, the original Buddhist scriptures.
This statue represents the crucial wish of the Korean people for the reunification of the divided country.
The Kenduli Mela in Birbhum is most well known for the gathering of the Bauls, a group of mystic minstrels who travel throughout the land singing songs and playing music that transcend all religions and scriptures.. They are the bearers of a unique musical tradition, who are identified by their saffron attire and distinctive musical instrument, the Ektara.
Kenduli, birth place of the famous poet Jaidev in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. Kenduli is at a distance of about 42 km from serene Shantiniketan, Rabindranath Tagore's abode of peace.
The Baul community earns their livelihood by singing. The most interesting characteristic of their songs is that they convey profound philosophical view points of life using simple expressions.
The Kenduli Mela in Birbhum is held on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. This occurs each year in mid January.
Megan Bartlett (left) and her sister, Hannah, read the scripture lesson for the May 14 worship service at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Megan--who was born with Down syndrome--and Hannah are the daughters of the Rev. Laura Jaquith Bartlett, the worship and music director of the gathering. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.