Lawkachantha Datpaungsu Pagoda

Article by Kyaw Myaing

Many of us who left the homeland for various reasons, be it economic or political, feel homesick now and then. It is true that you can get anything in the US, that is what people say. For me it is quite different. In spite of being surrounded by so much wealth, tall buildings and all sorts of modern conveniences, there is still something missing.

What I miss most of all is the peace of mind. I remember my visits to the Shwedagon padoda in Yagon. Some people in Myanmar walk to the Shwedagon early in the morning as they get exercise as well as great merit once they are on the terrace of the great pagoda.

As soon as I get to the terrace, the vibrations change. I could hear the temple bells, prayer groups chanting the parittas or the water sellers making supplications on behalf of the donors at various corners of the pagoda.

My favorite time of the day is around 7 or 8 p.m. after the sun goes down and the terrace starts to cool. At that time you see the serious meditation practitioners go quietly to their favorite corners to count their beads. After arranging the bamboo mat, the meditator will light a candle, offer flowers and then sit down to pray before he starts to do the seitbadee (prayer beads). Many devout Buddhists believe that the spiritual vibrations that you get on the Shwedagon Pagoda and elsewhere are not the same. This is because the Shwedagon Pagoda is a place where unseen beings such as devas and Brahmas come to worship the relics of the four previous Buddhas who gained enlightenment in the Badda Kabar (the planet earth).

Now you might me wondering what all of this has to do with the Lakachantha Datpaunsu Pagoda. The reason is simple. The Lawkachantha Datpaungsu Pagoda which will be built in Englishtown of New Jersey will be in the same shape as the Shwedagon Pagoda. This pagoda will be built by the America Burma Buddhist Association Inc., NY. In addition to the Pagoda, a building will also be built to provide accommodation for people who wish to meditate. The meditation centre in New Jersey is open to people of all faiths and meditation instructions are given by the presiding Sayadaw U Pyinna Thiha in the Mahasi tradition.

There is a plan to put 2500 small Buddha statues made of brass inside the pagoda to mark the 2500 years of the Sarsana. It is learnt that those who wish to donate money for the building of the pagoda may donate US $ 500 for each Buddha statue. This money will be used for buying a Buddha statue and the rest will be put in the general pagoda building fund.

When this pagoda is built, the Burmese community in New York and New Jersey will have a place for worship and meditation. In this way, all of us who feel homesick and wish to do meditation on the terrace of the Shwedagon Pagoda can at least have a feeling of consolation as we will be able to do works of merit at the Lawkachantha Datpaungsu Pagoda.

According to the Buddhist scriptures there are four types of cetis.

1.     Dhamma ceti - where Buddhist Pitakas are enshrined.

2.     Datu ceti - where the relics of the Buddha are enshrined.

3.     Paribawga ceti - where personal articles of the Buddha such as staff, robes, water filter or Bodhi trees are enshrined.

4.     Okedeiktha ceti - a place where Buddha statues are kept.

As far as the Lawkachantha Datpaungsu Pagoda is concerned, there are plans to enshrine 2500 small Buddha statues made of brass as well as larger Buddha statues on each side of the pagoda. However, to live up to the name of Datpaungsu, there are plans to enshrine the Buddha’s dat-taws (Buddhas relics) as well as the dat-taws of some of Buddha’s chief disciples such as Shin Moggalana, Shin Sariputtara and Shin Baku.

With this article, I urge all Burmese people who are living abroad to join us in this meritorious deed of building this Lawkachantha Datpaungsu Pagoda by sending in donations or volunteering your time for the fund-raising activities.

I am in the process of forming a group of volunteers who will help me in doing fund-raising activities on the Internet. If you are interested in joining this group, please contact me at kyaw@ayezay.com. There is so much we can do using the networking facilities provided by the Internet.

Together let us make this dream come true.

Let us help in building a small pagoda in the likeness of the Shwedagon Pagoda in New Jersey. If we are able to build this pagoda, we will be able to contribute towards making this world a better place to live in.

By starting with inner peace we will surely be able to promote world peace. That is what the word “Lawkachantha” means.

"Buddha Sarsana Siran Deithtatu" - May the Teachings of the Buddha live forever!!