Religious Experiences in America

A chorten or Stupa is one of the foremost religious monuments of Buddhist tradition. It symbolises the Buddha’s body which it is said was in perfect propotions. The architecture of a Chorten developed from the pre-Buddhist Indian grave-mound, under which saints and ascetics were buried. These saints bodies were seated on the ground and covered with earth. These were known as tumuli and were regarded as holy. And with time these transformed into destinations for pilgrimage for the devout and spaces of practice for students of spirituality.

The most beautiful stupas I have seen belong to the Buddhist tradition. They feature larger than life images, colourful murals and paintings and eye-catching geometrical patterns and mesmerizing designs. The space around the stupa is laid out in such a way that a sense of peace and calm pervades the atmosphere and every visitor feels it. One of the reasons I feel that there has been renewed interest in Buddhism world over with more and more people endorsing the peaceful religion.

Here are some pictures of beautiful chortens I have seen in the mountain kingdom of Bhutan.

Read More on: Buddhanet.net