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Ms. Erdenechimeg, Ianzhina Bartanova, and two participants in front of the wall of stupas. Gaden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, June 2020. Photo by Ianzhina Bartanova.
The FPMT center in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, organized a meritorious online art contest in May-June 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. Center director Ianzhina Bartanova shares the story.
Advertised through the Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling Facebook page, the online art contest encouraged everyone to draw the Boudhanath Stupa in Nepal. Ms. Erdenechimeg, a student at the center proposed the art contest to engage children from the Mahayana Children’s Program in meaningful activity while quarantined at home. The idea eventually spread to a much wider audience through word of mouth. More than 140 people participated in the online art contest. The youngest participant was just five years old and the eldest was eighty! Infinite reasons to rejoice!
Boudhanath Stupa drawing by a participant, age 5, Gaden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, June 2020. Photo by Ianzhina Bartanova.
While teaching about the benefit of holy objects—including stupas—at Atisha Centre on March 17, 2000, Lama Zopa Rinpoche said, “So powerful to purify, without hardship, just by going around, by seeing the holy object, even just by seeing and by touching, by circumambulating, by prostrating, by making offering, it purifies inconceivable defilements of negative karma, the cause of the suffering.”
Boudhanath Stupa drawing by a participant, age 22, Gaden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, June 2020. Photo by Ianzhina Bartanova.
Rinpoche also taught, “The most important benefit is that these holy objects help to purify the mind and collect extensive merit so that it is possible for people to have realizations of the path easily. That is the main function of these holy objects—to help us sentient beings have quick realizations of the path to enlightenment, by the power of the holy object.”
Through concentrating on the image of the Boudhanath Stupa, the online art contest participants had an opportunity to purify negative karma, collect vast merit, and plant seeds for full enlightenment. None of the contestants had traveled to Kathmandu, Nepal, but it seems the distance wasn’t an obstacle. This is so relevant these days.
At the conclusion of the online contest, and with the loosening of the quarantine rules, we had a chance to thank all the participants. We offered little gifts of books and sweets to some of the participants in a small ceremony. We shared the benefits of just seeing the Boudhanath Stupa and explained the purpose of the contest. We also devoted time to the practice of rejoicing.
All of the drawings will be placed inside of a large stupa being made by Ms. Erdenechimeg. The entire collection of drawings will be available for viewing in Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling’s library until the stupa is completed.
Boudhanath Stupa drawing by a participant, age 43, Gaden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, June 2020. Photo by Ianzhina Bartanova.
We would like to encourage all FPMT centers to consider involving children and adults in a similar virtuous activity of awakening talent. Drawing holy objects could be a good support for meditation, as well as a joyful and creative introduction to Buddhism for new students.
Boudhanath Stupa drawings, Gaden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, June 2020.
For more information about Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, visit their website:
http://www.fpmtmongolia.org/shedrub-ling-center
Learn more about stupas on FPMT’s Stupas: A Resource Guide.
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