Vietnam starts on biggest jade Buddha statue.

[RedLantern]

Ever heard about the biggest Buddha statue to date from a 35-ton block of jade?
The project attended by President Nguyen Minh Triet,along with Vietnam's Buddhist patriarch.Thich Pho Tue,and several hundred monks.The giant statue was  built as a religious symbol and would be a contribution to culture that would last a generation and be a piece of art of a great cultural value,reported to get the statue into the Guinness Book of records by the jewelry firm Than Chau Ngoc Viet
Measuring 3 meters high,2 meters wide,weigh 16 metric tons and  the biggest jade statue of Buddha, completed in 2011.The previous biggest jade  Buddha in the world is 2.5 meters high and weighs 3.9 ton.

[Rihanna]

Good to know that the statue is completed and has started touring.

Giant jade Buddha to start world tour in Vietnam
Posted on October 27, 2012 Written by thanhniennews

The world's largest jade statue of the Buddha will be displayed around Vietnam from March to May to begin its world tour.

The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace, the world's largest jade Buddha statue, will tour Vietnam from this month

The statue, called The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace, measures 3.5 meters tall, including the lotus base and fan throne, and weighs 4.65 tons.

The statue is modeled on the Siddhartha Gautama Buddha inside the Mahabodhi Stupa in India BodhGaya.

It is carved from an 18-ton Nephrite jade boulder called Polar Pride, found in Canada in 2000 and considered the world's largest piece of pure jade.

The statue initiator, Nepalese Lama Zopa Rinpoche, said it would illuminate the world and bring peace, happiness and solace and help prevent destruction, including war.

Rinpoche, who had reportedly dreamed of a shining jade boulder in Canada before the discovery, persuaded an Australian Buddhist named Ian Green to carve the Polar Pride into a Buddha.

The rock was transported in late 2006 from Vancouver in Canada to Bangkok in Thailand, where Thai sculptors finished the statue a full two years later.

The statue will be displayed in several locations in Vietnam including Quan The Am Pagoda in Da Nang from March 13-15, Dai Tung Lam Pagoda in Ba Ria-Vung Tau from March 21-26, Pho Quang Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Binh District from March 29 to April 5 and Van An Pagoda in Dong Thap Province from May 1-10.

After Vietnam, its first destination, the statue will travel to Australia, the US, Indonesia and other lands before being placed permanently at the Mahabodhi Stupa of the Atisha Center in Australia.

Reported by Giao Huong

[brian]

It is always fascinating to know that a giant statue being built and how appropriate to have it built in Vietnam. Vietnam is one of the growing nation in terms of its economy and tourism. This statue will only benefit many visitors that will be visiting soon due to the large influx of toirists coming into Vietnam. I was tempted to visit Vietnam kast year but did not make it in the end.

Good to know that Dharma will be flourishing in Vietnam soon with this statue being built there. I hope it will bless the land and the people there not forgetting the souls that perished during the warring periods in the 70s.

[Manjushri]

How beneficial to use precious stone and carve it into a holy object of refuge, dedicated to Universal Peace. Lama Zopa Rinpoche is extremely compassionate to have this dedication and benefit for many. Till today, the Jade Buddha has travelled to 15 countries, 66 cities and seen by close to 7million people. WOW! astonishing figure. The holy statue has made its way to Vietnam, Australia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, US, Europe and is now in Malaysia. 

The statue will reside in Australia when the exhibitions are over. Imagine the tremendous amount of merits Ian has generated with the commitment he has fulfilled towards the completion of this wonderful project. The millions of aspirations that has been made infront of this Jade Buddha, and the mindstreams it has blessed.. wow.