March 22nd (Ostara): Sun-God Obama Returns to Indonesia to Connect with Maitreya/Mithras

This blog entry is some intense food for thought. A rather innocuous family visit to a Buddhist holy site may have more to it than you think.



For pics, go tot he blog. I'll repost the contents below . . .

[link to runningfrombabylon.blogspot.com]

Tuesday, February 23, 2010
FOOTSTEPS UPON BOROBUDUR
Buddhism has been big news lately. On Friday, February 19th, Tiger Woods apologized to “the Universe” and promised a return to his “Buddhist roots.” Who knew? He even acknowledged that this wasn’t a well-known fact in his life.

"People probably don't realize it, but I was raised a Buddhist and actively practiced my faith from childhood until I drifted away from it in recent years.” --Tiger Woods Returning to Buddhist Roots

Woods announcement came on the heels of the visit of the Dalai Lama of Tibet, who visited President Obama in the Map Room of the White House on Thursday, February 18th.

The Dalai Lama is probably the most well-known Buddhist leader in the World. He is to Buddhists what the Pope is to Catholics. He is of the Mahayana sect and his headquarters are in Tibet. It is odd then to see such an important person leaving the backdoor of the White House walking among bags of trash.


We are not through with Buddhists, though. I am not sure how much this event will be covered here in the United States, but Obama is getting ready to make a journey to a remote jungle sanctuary on the island of Java called BOROBUDUR.

BOROBUDUR TEMPLE

Ever imagined you would get to see the most powerful man in the world clad in a Javanese sarong, possibly even donning rubber sandals?

According to Central Java Governor Bibit Waluyp, sarongs will remain the order of the day for all visitors to Central Java’s famed Borobudur Temple, including US President Barack Obama, his wife, first lady, Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia.

“I have received information from the Foreign Ministry that the US President, his wife Michelle and two daughters are scheduled to visit Candi Borobudur on March 22. The [state] visit aside, even the US president’s family must follow the existing regulations applied within the confines of the temple,” Bibit said on Friday. . .

“. . . As long as one is inside the temple, it is mandatory that one wears a batik sarong and rubber sandals. The same rule applies for dignitaries from overseas. In fact, they should be the ones setting the example,” Purnomo told the Jakarta Globe.

“We have made the central government aware of these rules and all parties involved in the planning of the US president’s visit to Indonesia. We are relieved that they understand these rules and have no objections to following them.” --Obama and First Lady to Wear Sarongs for Borobudur Visit (emphasis mine)


There could be several reasons for Obama’s “state visit,” but let’s set those aside. Instead, let’s look at Borobudur Temple in general and its PURPOSE in particular. Perhaps we should ask “what is there” that Obama, “the most powerful man in the world,” is willing to take his wife and children, each “clad” themselves in “a Javanese sarong” with “no objections” as “the ones setting an example.’

Borobudar is a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist monument located in the center of the island of Java. (Yes, this monument is of the SAME SECT as the DALAI LAMA. Hmmm.) The Mahayana sect honors the teachings of Gautama Buddha, who taught his lessons at VULTURE'S PEAK; other sources call it EAGLE'S PEAK. Borobudur has bas-reliefs depicting this.

During the restoration efforts in the early 1900s, it was discovered that there were actually 3 Buddhist temples, Borobudur, Pawon and Mendut, and all three are lined up in one straight line. This suggests that there might have been some sort of ritual relationship between the three temples, that they formed a type of sacred trinity, but the exact relationship is unknown.


Borobudur is arranged in a "mandala" design, which means it is laid out in such a way that it represents the "Cosmic Universe."

One of the most characteristic creations of Tibetan Buddhism art are the mandalas, diagrams of a "divine temple" made of a circle enclosing a square, the purpose of which is to help Buddhist devotees focus their attention through meditation and follow the path to the central image of the Buddha. --Buddhist Art (emphasis mine)

(More about mandalas in the Appendix.)

The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2, 672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. --Borobudar

Borobudur is unique among Buddhist temples because it has a "hidden base," which is called a "HIDDEN FOOT." I find it interesting (most likely no connection) that Obama's Egyptian hieroglyphic name has the letter B as a "foot," and in an odd coincidence, Borobudur and Buddha
both start with B.



I have printed off over 500 pages from the Internet this past week concerning Borobudur. I have struggled on how to compact the information down and can’t seem to without making this post really long (even for me). So here is the compromise: I will give it to you in a nutshell and move on, BUT I will post the most important quotes and insights (with links) to Borobudur at the very end of this post if you want to explore further. I will also include some definitions. (If you don't have time to read much, read at least SUN PATH RITUAL and the UNESCO document.)

Borobudur is a Buddhist shrine, to be sure. This shrine is more than about worshipping Buddha, it is about BECOMING Buddha, the future Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, to be exact. At the very top of this 10-terraced, man-made mountain is a stupa (a bell-shaped structure) that houses the “essence” of Buddha Maitreya. This stupa is considered to be a type of "cosmic womb." Some believe it holds the "embryonic" Maitreya who is waiting to be born. (More in Appendix.)

The 2,672 relief panels teach about a young man named Sudhana who went searching for enlightenment and found it in the wisdom of Maitreya. The panels apparently start on the first level, east side (the side facing the rising sun), and end at the top at the Main Stupa. There are a number of Buddha statues on the first level that are "protectors." Maitreya Buddha is depicted as the "protector" facing the North.

Today’s pilgrims won’t do this next part (and I’m sure we won’t be shown if Obama does it), but originally this temple was built by the kings of the Sailendra dynasty, between approximately 300 A.D. to 900 A.D. These kings were of the “solar god” mentality, believing that they were God-Kings and ordained by the Sun to their kingship. There was a ritual that took place at the very top of Borobudur for each king as he came to power. It involved him “bellowing like a bull” and “calling out to the North” that he was “Lord of the World” and that his father’s spirit now rested in him. (See Appendix, Barabudur, Mendut and Pawon and their mutual relationship section for more notes on this ritual.)

Considering the KING TUT sold in Cairo with NEW "PHARAOH" (RULER) OF THE WORLD on it, Obama going to a "complex" where past rulers declared to the NORTH, I AM LORD OF THE WORLD, isn't comforting. I agree, one says "ruler," the other says "lord," but there isn't much difference between them. If you consider the plaque on the 2-foot Hanuman idol that Obama was given, it has the word "shri" engraved which means "lord" or "master." I really hate coincidences like these!


Cairo isn't the only city that called Obama "PHAROAH" (RULER) OF THE WORLD, Nice, France recently also honored Obama in the same way. Look at the caption of AP photo. Obama is hailed as KING OF THE BLUE PLANET. I've noted in the past that Obama has been depicted as Superman, which symbolizes a "god of the air," BUT this time Obama is holding a tree. This would indicate assumption of power over the earth. I know, I know it is just a float. But keep this mind -- pagans assembled these floats; therefore, they are more "in tune" with the dark side. Evil entities will lie, especially to Christians, but amongst themselves they tend to boast.

As if to make sure it is understood that Obama is the KING OF THE BLUE PLANET, note that Obama is wearing blue. Further the symbol used at Copenhagen Summit on "the planet" was also blue, and Obama was a key speaker at this event. In addition, a "blue spiral" appeared over Norway during the conference.


A float , center, with the theme of 'Yes, we can be ecologist,' depicting U.S. President Barack Obama, makes it way during the 126th edition of the Nice Carnival, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, in Nice, southern France. The carnival celebrates the theme 'King of the Blue Planet.' --AP Photo, Lionel Cironneau.

Note the "collapsing" buildings under Superman Obama. Also note that the "S" that is typically on Superman's chest has been changed to an "O." And take note that this festival took place on the 13th, a number E. W. Bullinger associated with rebellion.

SPEAKING OF "YES WE CAN"

The MY GENERATION clip that was used in the Super Bowl was put together by will.i.am of the Black Eye Peas. Well, will.i.am also put together a music video called "Yes We Can -- Barack Obama Music Video." There is a YouTube clip of about 9 minutes by LuvWorkingAtHome who posted a clip on February 21, 2009, in which LuvWorking showed how when will.i.am's composite piece was played backwards, and she goes thru the steps one by one for all those scoffers out there, that "Yes We Can" becomes "Thank You, Satan." As she says, Strange, But True!

SOMETHING NEW ABOUT DIWALI

The Sailendra dynasty ancestors appear to have been worshippers of Shiva. Some today recognize Borobudur as a Shiva temple.

In October 2009, Obama was the first president to preside over the lighting of the Diwali Lamp. This ceremony was held in the EAST ROOM, btw, (a room that faces the rising sun). A Hindu priest officiated at this ceremony. It is worth noting that this priest came from the SRI SIVA VISHNU TEMPLE in Maryland. (Siva means Shiva.) The “most senior priest” draped Obama in a robe that matched his.

BTW, this particular temple houses the "largest Hanuman in (the) United States of America."

(When I wrote POLARIS -- GATE OF HEAVEN in December, I did not know at that time that Vaikunta Ekaadasi is an important day to Vishnu. I learned at the SRI SIVA VISHNU TEMPLE Website that it falls in December to January and it is when the "gates of Heaven" open for devotees.)


OSTARA

Obama has picked March 22 as the day to visit Borobudur.

There are 8 important dates to Wiccans (shown on their Pagan Wheel), and March 20-23, Ostara, happens to be one of them.


Ostara is the early Germanic goddess of spring. Our name Easter has evolved from the name Ostara. Both Ostara and Easter celebrate the coming of spring and do so with colored eggs and playful (fertile) bunnies. Ostara’s name means “movement towards the rising sun.”

I pointed out in Super Bowl, American Pie, Yellowstone, that Obama used the symbol of the “rising sun” in his campaign. The “rising sun” is also the symbol of the future Maitreya. Obama has even used his image superimposed over the “rising sun.” Now, Obama is picking the date known to Wiccans as the “movement towards the rising sun,” to go to a place that houses the “hope” of the future savior, Maitreya.

Also noted in that post is that Maitreya’s “retreat” in the U.S. is at the entrance to Yellowstone. Like Yellowstone, Borobudur, Maitreya’s“retreat” in Java is also located inside an ancient volcanic caldera. There are 4 volcanoes nearby to Borobudur. One of them is still quite active, Mt. Merapi. The name means "Mountain of Fire".


In the Pagan Wheel of the Year, this is the time when the great Mother Goddess . . . welcomes the young Sun God unto her and conceives a child of this divine union. The child will be born nine months later, at Yule, the Winter Solstice.

Some Ostara Deities to mention by name here include Persephone, Eostre, Aphrodite, Athena, Cybele, Gaia, Hera, Isis, Ishtar, Minerva, Venus, Robin of the Woods, the Green Man, Cernunnos, Lord of the Greenwood, The Dagda, Attis, The Great Horned God, Mithras, Odin, Thoth, Osiris and Pan. --Ostara, aka the Vernal Equinox (emphasis mine)

We should pay attention to the different names that are considered “Ostara” deities.

Thoth of Egypt is known to the Romans as Mercury, the Greeks as Hermes and the Hindus as Hanuman, and I have written extensively about all of these guys as they are really just the same entity, different manifestations.

Odin is the Germanic form of Mercury. He is also known as Woden or Woten, and it has been strongly suggested that Hitler was a secret devotee of Woden. Our day Wednesday is actually named after Odin (Woden's day).

Osiris is the one that Freemasons are expecting to return as the Antichrist. Tom Horn has just written a book about this very topic, Apollyon Rising, 2012, which includes the scary information that a ritual, held outside of public viewing, apparently involves every president after inauguratiion in the hopes that the spirit of Osiris will come upon him.

I wrote about Persephone in TWO STADIUMS -- WHICH ONE ARE YOU? as she was featured (under the name Beatrice) in the Dante’s Inferno advertisement.

Mithras, I’ve highlighted, because Mithras is an early name of MAITREYA. They both emerged from the same Persian cult. Mitra was the early form and became known to the Romans as Mithras and to the Aryans as Mitra. Helena Blavatsky, founder of Theosophy in the late 1800s, said that Maitreya was, in fact, Buddha Maitreya once known as Mitra.

Mithras/Maitreya has an interesting legend attached to him. It is claimed that Maitreya dies each MARCH 22, goes to Hell for 3 days and then is resurrected from the dead on MARCH 25. The "rising sun" symbol is not new for Maitreya; ancient Mithras/Mitra was also associated with it and it appears to be symbolic of his death and resurrection.

In the Super Bowl advertisement for Dante’s Inferno, I think it is worth noting that the trailer ends with HELL AWAITS, but on the Internet, it ends with GO TO HELL.

Am I saying that will happen with Obama on March 22? I HOPE NOT. But I have no idea why he picked that particular date (a Wiccan day that means “movement toward the rising sun“) to go to Borobudur (which is where the future Maitreya "the rising sun" is supposed to incarnate through some “lucky” individual). Isn‘t that odd?

From 1905 to 1930, there was a magazine published in Austria called OSTARA. The magazine was named after the goddess Ostara and promoted ideals influenced by Blavatsky’s Theosophic ideas. It was said that this magazine was read by Hitler.

And worse, Benjamin Creme, Maitreya’s spokesman, has claimed that Hitler was the Antichrist and that when Hitler died Maitreya was released to be bigger and better. Now I realize Creme is trying to “comfort” us by letting us know that THE Antichrist is dead, yet to know that Hitler’s death “released” Maitreya tells us that Maitreya was the “spirit” with Hitler. Think about that! Prayerfully and soberly. If Maitreya was in Hitler and is looking for a new home -- then Obama does not need to go where the “future Maitreya” is waiting. Does he? (I plan to look at the Hitler-Maitreya connection further in the next post or two.)

The “mad March hare” is said to be a symbol of Ostara. Interesting because one of the Super Bowl advertisements was for Alice in Wonderland, in which the "March hare" lures Alice underground where she meets the "Mad Hatter" played by Johnny Depp. The movie releases March 5.

Ēostre derives from Proto-Germanic *austrō, ultimately from a PIE root *au̯es-, "to shine" and closely related to the name of the dawn goddess, *h2ausōs, whence Greek Eos, Roman Aurora and Indian Ushas. -- Eostre

Eos, in Greek mythology, is associated with Hesperus, whose name is also Phosphorus. In Latin, Phosphorus is literally Lucifer, or “light-bearer.” Eos preceded Hesperus; Eos goes forth before Lucifer.

Eos has the name Aurora, in Roman mythology. Aurora, too, precedes the "light-bearer."

NEW MADRID

Now, sit up straight and take a look at this.

Early on WEDNESDAY (WODEN'S DAY, btw), February 10, 2010, a 4.1 earthquake rattled Illinois just northwest of Chicago. The USGS later downgraded it to 3.8. The epicenter was triangulated between 3 towns: Sycamore, Virgil, and AURORA.

SYCAMORE is considered a “tree of judgment” of sorts, or at least a tree symbolizing defiance and rebellion. Sue Bradley covered this extensively in 911, THE WATCHMEN AND THE HARBINGERS OF JUDGMENT here and here.

In Dante’s Inferno, Dante pursues his dead wife’s soul into hell where Lucifer wants to join with it so he can rise from the depths. Dante’s Inferno is based on Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. In the original, Dante went to hell but journeyed there with VIRGIL the poet.

When I caught the name AURORA I remembered the prophetic word and map given by pastor John Kilpatrick in May of 2008, about a possible coming New Madrid earthquake.

I took a look at the map and saw what appears to be a heart-shape over the New Madrid Seismic zone. Daniel at prayersforthepeople wrote in his post Collapse, Destruction and Our Back Against Israel:

Natural disasters unlike any seen to date will begin upon her shores causing immense destruction in its wake. She (America) will shake, she will burn, and she will drown. All will know the name of God, but few will run to His Pavilion. The heart of her will be torn; she will lose the lifeblood of her body, left only with her members barely intact. She will be as a ship with no sail, no rudder, and no captain. Alone she will be, accompanied only by the idols she so passionately held. (emphasis mine)


On the map below, I've noted all the “coincidences” to the Super Bowl advertisements, the 2/10 earthquake and the Super Bowl players.

Note that there is what looks like a vein/artery going to the left that touches ST. LOUIS. During the Super Bowl there were a number of BUD LIGHT advertisements. The brewery for Bud Light is in St. Louis. St. Louis also hosts an annual Wiccan/Pagan picnic each year.

The vein/artery that goes to the right touches INDIANAPOLIS (COLTS).

If you draw a straight line from NEW ORLEANS (SAINTS) to AURORA, that line follows I-55 from New Orleans to NEW MADRID, MO, where it jogs slightly westward before heading northeast again to deadend in Chicago, Obama's political home town. I’ve noted I-55 in red marker. The massive earthquake series of 1811 to 1812 (we're coming up on the 200th anniversary next year) gained its name from the town of New Madrid as New Madrid is considered the epicenter of those quakes.

By "coincidence," one of the "Bud" beers advertised during the Super Bowl was "Lightest 55."

In the Simpson's Super Bowl advertisement, at the very end, is the name of the town, SPRINGFIELD. I know that this name is "generic," meaning, that it is never specified in the Simpson's series where SPRINGFIELD is located exactly. However, SPRINGFIELD, IL, lies directly on I-55.

When Pastor Kilpatrick received his dream/vision of a possible New Madrid earthquake, along with the name INDIANOLA, he received the name EUROPA. When he looked these names up, he composed the map that I have inserted above. What Pastor Kilpatrick may not know and I do because I lived near the Missouri bootheel, as it is called, is that Europa is along road 412. At the juncture between 412 and I-55 is the small town of HAYTI. This little farm crossroads (blink and you miss it) utilizes the older spelling of HAITI. Had Pastor Kilpatrick been given the name HAYTI, it would have been entirely possible to assume the island HAITI -- one would have to know to look for HAYTI to pull it up on a map. Had Pastor Kilpatrick been given the name Hayti then when January's devastating Haiti earthquake occurred, it would have been logical to assume that that quake was the fulfillment of Kilpatrick's dream/vision.

Since the Haiti earthquake, there has been MUCH speculation if such a thing could happen here. How interesting then to find that a line from NEW ORLEANS to AURORA would pass through a town with the archaic spelling of HAITI.

Indianola, MS, has a curious history. It has had a former name, EUREKA. Considering there have been TWO 6.0 earthquakes off of EUREKA, California, it does seem odd to me that Kilpatrick has noted TWO Indianolas (TWO Eurekas?) on his map. Both Indianolas claim to be named after the same "Indian princess named 'Ola."


Though the 2/10 earthquake did not actually occur in Chicago, the "Windy City" may not be out of the woods yet. Augusto Perez at his Website, THE APPEARANCE, had a prophetic word on 2/9/2005, about the City of Chicago possibly being destroyed by an earthquake.

Look, prophetic words have come forth about New Madrid, and that the division will come because of the goals of the ROADMAP TO PEACE. In addition, I am noting that BOROBUDUR has been called the PATHWAY TO ENLIGHTENMENT as one physically walks out the progression that the seeker must follow to attain enlightenment from Maitreya. As if it were a "Providential nod" to both of these "maps," the meeting between Obama and the Dalai Lama took place in the MAP room of the White House. Guests at the White House are usually received in the Oval Office, but to keep the meeting "low key" (for China's sake -- hope they took note), the White House's MAP room was used instead.


BACK TO BOROBUDUR

For those who read my post TWO STADIUMS, I mentioned the "land shark" skit in which a shark knocks on a "victim's" door and announces, "Candygram!" The BOROBUDUR complex is called a "candi." A message is a "gram." Maitreya is the MESSENGER of the DIVINE LAW that we "unenlightened" humans are SUPPOSED to be following.

I doubt we will see very few if ANY photos of the Obama's at BOROBUDUR. I am sure it will be a "private" family time. There might be a photo or two "officially" released but I am sure they will be very carefully composed so no one "reads" anything into them. (Actually, most of us don't need a photo to understand the purpose of a place or the purpose of a date.) I seriously doubt we will see anything that actually takes place, and I am not saying anything will. I am calling into question the wisdom of visiting THIS PARTICULAR COMPLEX given its purpose for Kings in the past (in which they yelled at the North, “I am Lord of the World”) as well as whose "essence" (Maitreya’s) is there, and I am questioning the timing, particularly as it relates to the Wiccan day of Ostara and the Mithraic date of DEATH (March 22) followed by 3 days in hell before resurrection on March 25. Also, I question the timing of visiting BOROBUDUR EXACTLY 7 days before Passover begins on the 29th. The only thing we can watch for now, if that date comes and Obama actually goes to Java and to Borobudur, is his behavior afterwards.


GEORGIA GUIDESTONES

One more note about March 22. EXACTLY 30 YEARS AGO, TO THE DAY ON MARCH 22, 1980, the Georgia Guidestones (also known as the Ten Commandments of the Antichrist -- Google it) were unveiled. I could write more about this American “Stonehenge,“ and I hope to a subsequent post, but this will have to do for now. Don’t you really hate these odd timings?

And why is that Obama can make time to go to this particular shrine, one that has ties to ancient Persia no less via the entity that is housed at the top, but he won’t make an official visit to Israel?

I hope to be posting additional information on all of this in my next few posts.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

I want to emphasize, I AM NOT PROPHESYING. I do not know if anything will happen at Borobudur. I just want to share with my readers what I am watching and why. If you take time to read through the quotes below, you will probably see, like I did, why alarm bells went off on the "spiritual danger" associated with Borobudur. No one professing to be a born-again Christian would go to Borobudur. (And certainly no Muslim would either.) I’m preaching to the choir here -- be watchful and pray.

APPENDIX -- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND QUOTES ABOUT BOROBUDUR WITH LINKS

Mahayana literally, "Great Vehicle," means "the possibility of universal liberation from suffering for all beings" and "the existence of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas* embodying Buddha-nature." --Mahayana (wiki)
(*A bodhisattvas is one who seeks enlightenment.)

------------------------------------

In Indonesia, ancient temples are known as candi.

Casparis suggested that Bhumi Sambhara Bhudhara which in Sanskrit means "The mountain of combined virtues of the ten stages of Boddhisattvahood," was the original name of Borobudur.

(Borobudur) according to local myth, the area known as Kedu Plain is a Javanese 'sacred' place and has been dubbed 'the garden of Java."

Kedu Plain was once a lake and Borobudur initially represented a lotus flower floating on a lake. Lotus flowers are found in almost every Buddhist work of art, often serving as a throne for buddhas and base for stupas. The architecture of Borobudur itself suggests a lotus depiction, in which Buddha postures in Borobudur symbolize the Lotus Sutra,* mostly found in many Mahayana Buddhism (a school of Buddhism widely spread in the east Asia region) texts.
(*Sutra means something close to "teaching," but more like a set of rules or formulas.)

Borobudur is built as a single large stupa, and when viewed from above takes the form of a giant tantric Buddhist mandala.

The Sailendras were known as ardent followers of Lord Buddha.

Following the major 1973 renovation funded by UNESCO, Borobudur is once again used as a place of worship and pilgrimage.

Once a year, during the full moon in May or June, Buddhists in Indonesia observe Vesak day commemorating the birth, death, and the time when Siddhartha Gautama attained the highest wisdom to become the Buddha Shakyamuni. Vesak is an official national holiday in Indonesia and the ceremony is centered at the three Buddhist temples by walking from Mendut to Pawon and ending at Borobudur. --Borobudur

------------------------------------

Stupa literally means "heap," and it is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, once thought to be places of Buddhist worship, typically the remains of a Buddha or saint. Stupas are an ancient form of mandala.

The most elaborate stupa is the 8th century Borobudur monument in Java, Indonesia. . . The main stupa itself is empty, symbolizing complete perfection of enlightenment.

A very important element in every Stupa is the TREE OF LIFE. It is a wooden pole covered with gems and thousands of mantras, and placed in the central channel of the stupa. It is placed here during a ceremony or initiation, where all the participants hold colorful ribbons connected to the Tree of Life. Together all make their most positive and powerful wishes, which are stored in the Tree of Life. In this way, the stupa is charged up and will start to function.

(The) stupa symbolizes the time the 35-year-old Buddha reached enlightenment under the bodhi tree. . .

The shape of the stupa represents the Buddha . . .-- Stupa

------------------------------------

Borobudur, Path to Enlightenment, Wall Street Journal, 13 September 2008

------------------------------------

Borobudur was constructed during the eighth century as a guide to the Noble Path of the Buddha. (Noble -- Nobel? --GG)

The grandeur of Borobudur is something immense, sphinx-like, incomprehensible and yet so fascinating. It overpowers with a sense of our own incapacity to give a description…. Its enigmas are too many and too great for us to solve, and yet it exercises such a powerful charm, lays such a hold on the mind that we are irresistibly compelled to use all our powers to discover something of its mysterious being. »» Nicolaus J. Krom

Upon clearing the site, the discoverers were able to discern the foundations of a stepped pyramid, which provides the framework for a series of galleries that collectively contained 1,300 beautiful bas-relief carvings that if placed end-to-end would span a distance of more than 1.5 kilometers. The walls of the monument’s galleries in turn were designed to support no less than 432 cave-like niches, each of which contained a stone image of the Buddha. Near the top of the pyramid, the exploration team uncovered three round terrace platforms, each of which supported a series of bell-shaped chambers called stupas. Residing within each of the half-dome shells was a statue of a Buddha displaying the symbolic hand gesture known as the ‘Turning of the Wheel.’ --Borobudur: Pyramid of the Cosmic Buddha

------------------------------------

Based on inscriptions (at Borobudur) construction of Borobudur was probably begun around 760 A.D. and completed about 830 A.D., the Golden Age of the Sailendra dynastry. . . The Sailendras were of foreign origin; either from South India or Indo-China. . . Under their rule, the island were major centers of Buddhist scholarship.

Beginning in the 8th century, Javanese craftsmen hauled andesite, volcanic stones, from nearby rivers and streams, fashioned them into blocks, and fitted 1.6 million of them together without using mortar. Originally, the temple was covered in a hard, white plaster called “vajalaypya,” or “plaster as hard as diamond.” -- Building Borobudur

------------------------------------

Borobudur was built from nearly two million stone blocks of andesite, a bluish-gray volcanic stone.

At first sight, the square galleries are an overwhelming mass of images depicting the activities of gods and mortals. There are more than 1,300 narrative panels illustrating the life of Buddha and Buddhist texts, the largest and most complete collection of Buddhist reliefs in the world. Originally, there were over 500 statues of the Buddha,* 432 seated in lotus position on the square terraces and 72 meditating inside the bell-shaped stupas on the top terraces. There are no elaborate carvings on these three upper levels.

Sir Thomas Raffles, the British governor of Indonesia responsible for the excavation of Borobudur in 1814, speculated that Borobudur may have originally been a holy place for believers of the Mahayana branch of Buddhism. --Borobudur, revealed

------------------------------------

(It is) a mountain of a thousand statues . . . Borobudur (is) the largest Buddhist temple in the world, and the most unusual.

"The resemblance of the images which surround this monument to the figure of Buddha, has introduced an opinion that Borobudur was exclusively confined to the worship of that deity."--Sir Thomas Raffles

In 1968, UNESCO undertook an ambitious project: SAVE BOROBUDUR. Millions were poured into restoring the temple complex.

In the words of Professor Soekmono, the Indonesian archaeologist who directed the Borobudur Restoration Project: "Borobudur has resumed its old historical role as a place of learning, dedication and training. We might even conclude that the builders of the monument hoped and planned for such continuity. An excellent training program, either for the pilgrim-devotee or for the field technician, is always based on a wish, a fervent wish, that the trainee will achieve what is projected. For the ardent Buddhist it is the Highest Wisdom that leads to the Ultimate salvation, and for the technician the highest degree of expertise that leads to the appropriate fulfillment of his duty. In both cases, Candi Borobudur is the embodiment of such a deeply felt wish. It is a prayer in stone." -- Borobudur, Pathway to Enlightenment

------------------------------------

Borobudur, a Buddhist stupa in the Mahayana tradition, is the largest Buddhist monument in the world.

Some scholars think that this massive monument is a gigantic textbook of Buddhism to help people to achieve enlightenment. To read this Buddhist textbook in stone requires a walk of more than two miles. . . Borobudur perfectly reflects the Buddhist cosmology.

Viewed from above, Borobudur takes the form of a giant mandala, symbolically depicting the path of the bodhisattva from samsara to nirvana, through the story of Sudhana described in the . . . the Avatamsaka Sutra. -- Borobudur Temple, Sacred Destinations

Huh?

Let’s take this one word at a time -- it is important.

Mandala: a depiction of the cosmic universe usually drawn in squares and circles by Tibetan monks.

Bodhisattva: seeker of enlightenment; postpones attainment of nirvana in order to help others become enlightened. They are the legendary figures of Mahayana Buddhism.

Samsara: a cycle (or wheel) of birth, misery and death caused by karma.

Nirvana: enlightenment that comes from letting go of worldly desires and cravings; it is the highest stage of bliss. (It is NOT paradise like some non-Buddhists believe.)

Sudhana: a young man who seeks the perfect teacher who can reveal to him the knowledge of enlightenment. This spiritual journey takes Sudhana to more than 50 teachers until he finally meets Maitreya, the future Buddha, who has the knowledge he seeks. --Buddhism for Dummies (pg 86)

Avatamsaka Sutra: It is the story of Sudhana going through 10 stages and finding the wisdom of Maitreya.

So let’s re-interpret the “visual language” of Borobudur.

Viewed from above, Borobudur takes the form of a drawing of the cosmic universe, symbolically depicting the path the seeker of enlightenment takes from the wheel of karma to enlightenment by following how Sudhana reached enlightenment -- by finding it in Maitreya. -- GardenGirl


------------------------------------

(R)ecords revealed no consensus on the meaning of the name "Borobudur." Two alternatives were proposed based on Javanese manuscripts from 842 AD: "the mountain of the accumulation of virtue on the ten stages of the Bodhisattva," or "the mountain which is terraced in successive stages." Sir Thomas Raffles, the British governor of Indonesia responsible for the excavation of Borobudur in 1814, thought that "boro" might mean "great" and "budur" might correspond to the more modern Javanese word "buda," interpreted as "The Great Buddha." One Javanese expert indicated that "boro" is related to the word for "monastery," and "budur" is a place name. This would suggest that Borobudur means "Monastery of Budur." -- Borobudur, historical records

------------------------------------

The name of Borobudur, as some people say, means a mountain having terraces (budhara), while other says that Borobudur means monastery on the high place.

Borobudur is constructed as a ten-terraces building. . . Each terrace symbolizes the stage of human life. In line with of Buddha Mahayana, anyone who intends to reach the level of Buddha’s must go through each of those life stages. . . All relief panels in Borobudur temple reflect Buddha’s teachings. For the (sic) reason, this temple functions as educating medium for those who want to learn Buddhism. --Borobudur, the Biggest Buddhist Temple in the Ninth Century

------------------------------------

The panels of Borobudur depict a branch of Buddhism known as Mahayana Buddhism, which developed around the beginning of the Christian era. In Mahayana Buddhism, the ideal is to become a Bodhisattva, an enlightened being who rejects personal salvation and returns to life in order to help others reach Nirvana. The journey up Borobudur shows the way to become a Bodhisattva through good deeds, contemplation and meditation.

Borobudur is a place of pilgrimage rather than of worship, a training center for those who wish to achieve Enlightenment. The student is guided along successive terraces and staircases to the uppermost level, walking in a clockwise direction – the outside world blocked from sight by the balustrades – and experiencing physically as well as spiritually the long hard journey in search of ultimate truth. -- Borobudur, guide to enlightenment

------------------------------------

Candi Mendut has three big statues, one of which is “Maitreya, a savior of human beings in the future.” --Candi Mendut

------------------------------------

It could be said that Borobudur is a symbol of (the) cosmic mountain. . .

Borobudur . . . belongs to Buddha Mahayana.

Borobudur is facing to the East . . .

The lower relieves (sic) of the main wall contained the same story (of the Buddha). The upper relieves (sic) also had the same story as the lower one. The story contained the life of Buddha consisting of 120 frames until he began teaching Buddha religion. The first frame began from the South of the stairway of the curved gate at the East, and follow the path of the sun . . .

Casparis suggested that Borobudur was one time a place for praying. --Borobudur Temple

------------------------------------

The striking thing about Borobudur, the “mysterious” Buddhist temple in Central Java . . . is its huge Main Stupa, together with its 72 Buddha statues, each equally surrounded by a stupa-like structure. It is the most striking thing about Borobudur. . . (I)n the center of this huge mandala-building the Main Stupa is situated. It is symbolizing something (much) bigger than (individual) Enlightenment. It goes beyond personal attainment.

Borobudur was originally built as a Hindu (Shiva) temple. Its traces go further back though. The architecture has strong similarities with a mesopotamian Ziggurat (pyramid) temple. And Mesopotamia was the cradle of Mother Worship.

Isn't Maitreya the Messenger of the Mother, after all?

On Java, the archaic concept of the Mother and Her Son/Messenger has found its most prominent expression. Hence Great Mother Buddhism -- with Maitreya as its Green Messenger -- is considering Borobudur . . . as the main earthly Center of its universal worship. It is one of the most sacred places on earth. The one that include the promise of a New Era. -- Borobudur, World Holy Site

------------------------------------

On the first terrace of Borobudur are small Buddha statues in niches.

These (Buddhas) are called Manushi Buddha, which manifested themselves as worldly beings. Manushi Buddha protects the temple from each directional point. Maitreya (protects) the North. . . --The Buddha Statues, Candi Borobudur

------------------------------------

Even without knowing how and why, everyone falls under the charm and the influence which this temple exudes, so that without realizing it one is carried to where the artist wanted the visitor to be." --J. L.A. Brandes, Candi Mendut: Womb of the Tathagata

------------------------------------

BARABUDUR, MENDUT AND PAWON AND THEIR MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP by J. L. Moens, August 1950

Budur . . . according to Stutterheim can connect with the Malaysian budua ("to protrude," to emerge) indicating a swelling." [pg 8] (Interesting the connection between "budur," "budua," and "to emerge --bud-- as I noted a connection in BLACK EAGLE between BUD LIGHT and BUD, as in to emerge. --GG)

A mandala was designated as "ur" in the Buddhism of the Shailendras, which is the common Dravidian word for "city." [pg 10] (Again, in BLACK EAGLE, I noted a connection between the BEER SUMMIT and the meaning of the city of UR. --GG)

The Shailendras, who were ritually born on the "Loftiest of Mountains" (Shailendra) and had descended from it. [pg 10]

(T)he South Indian word ur = city, was given the additional meaning of mandala or circle of gods. [pg 11]

Barabudur, the "sanctuary at Budur," . . . would have been erected as THE sanctuary of the Buddhist sect. [pg 12]

The members of this dynasty (Shailendra) considered themselves to be the heirs of the Buddha, who's Dharma (teaching) . . . they held. As such they were great promoters of the Buddhist faith as well as of the society based on this creed. They were prepared to carry the holy burden of the Buddhahood, just as the Barashivas had done for their Supreme deity and who "had carried" Shiva's linga (phallus) as their insignia. It is an easy guess what would have been the equivalent symbol of the Javanese Buddhist dynasty. These priest-sovereigns would have opted for the Buddha's crown (diadem), (being) the symbol of Kingship and Omniscience. [pg 14]

. . . by means of these temples they clarified the Doctrine and the words of the Great Master. [pg 15]

The winding terraces have been fenced off by high balustrade walls, so that they have become galleries arranged into processional walkways, which of course must be secluded from profane eyes. [pg 20]

The balustrades are only discontinued by gateways at the places where the staircases rise to cut through the walls. As a result, the uninterrupted sound of the voices of the preaching stupa-Buddhas in the Akanistha Heaven can also unimpededly reach humanity seeking (the message of) salvation through these portals situated at the four points of the compass. [pg 21]

. . . one could communicate with "the higher regions" . . . (the deceased) are still present within the limits of the atmosphere (and) this location . . . is indicated on the summit of (Borobudur). [pg 21]

Maitreya himself, who has not yet appeared as the Preacher of the Law, will also proclaim the new salvation-sutra. . . [pg 23]

Maitreya belongs to the Tathagata of the North. [pg 24]

The unfinished image, which according to him (Hartmann) once must have been hidden in the stupa, was meant to express the "bodilessness" of . . . Buddha . . . that Buddha is present in "indefinite form." [pg 33]

During the extra-terrestrial preaching, . . . the Blessed are covered with light, a phenomenon that . . . starts ahead of the preaching, as if to announce it. Although not mentioned in the extracts used by Bosch, the Buddha does of course take on a jewel-adorned shape again . . in order that the similarly dressed gods and bodhisattvas (seekers of enlightenment) may see and understand him. [pg 46]

The original tribal sanctuary (at Borobudur) commemorated exclusively the descent of the Buddha from the heavenly regions, accompanied by the gods Brahma and Sakra, to accomplish his salvation-work. [pg 58]

Bharabuddas took onto themselves as a dynastic duty, while awaiting the arrival of Maitreya. [pg 59]

Their tribal sanctuary (Borobudur) would be completed in such a way to also serve as a commemoration monument for the Buddha's preaching. [pg 59]

The two-stupa types that are relevant for us [here] are those that were built in commemoration of the Buddha's Descent from Heaven and his Preaching of the Law. The type with the stairs running uninterruptedly on all four sides of the terraced-pyramid (like Borobudur) has been called the stupa of the Budda's (descent from the sky). . . Thus also Maitreya will one day descend from his Tushita-paradise to deliver the salvation as the Buddha had done on earth. [pg 60]

. . . at the top level (at Borobudur) the stairs ended. Here the young Buddha became reborn and hence he descended along one of the stairways to the earth below. [pg 60]

From an Indonesian perspective the sovereign's "descent" from the mountain was seen as a ritual birth, reflecting a relationship with that ancestral mountain. [pg 61]

. . . it [the central stupa] was the mystic embodiment of the transcendental Buddha, to which the kings returned after their death.. . . From an Indonesian perspective, he (the king) went to the Happy Abode of the tribal ancestor, where the soul returned after [it] had jumped down from the western side of Barabudur. Thus the Buddhist mandala of the transcendental Buddhas could also be seen by the Indonesians as the mausoleum of the Bharabuddas. [pg 61]

. . . preaching of the Buddha in particular was commemorated at Barabudur . . . This transcendental preaching formed the core [point] of the Buddhism of Barabudur. [pg 62]

. . . the massive edifice of Barabudur not only was the spiritual center of the realm, but also the political center of the kingdom. [pg 63]

. . . the new Buddha was a Redeemer-deity with the character of . . . Shiva [pg 64]

The lowest terrace (of Barabudur) was rebuilt to (provide for) the cankrama ("walking meditation") of the Buddha, on a lower level than that of the original, and through its fencing off by high balustrade walls upon which 104 Buddhas of the Past were installed. [pg 65]

Pawon was built for the king's inauguration (ceremony) [pg 65]

THE SUN PATH RITUAL

The sovereign ritual is in fact two-fold. It includes the magical birth ritual, together with the monarch's consecration both as Buddha and as King. . . in the course of time the ritual was systematized and focused on the circular course of the Sun as a consequence of the supernatural quality of the kingship that was transferred onto the Buddha. [pg 66]

The complete dynastic ritual was represented as a symbolic solar cycle. [pg 67]

According to these Buddhist conceptions, the Shailendra-king was, in fact, the "incarnation" of the Supreme Being, although being referred to as its "emanation." It is therefore possible without much objection to consider the Supreme Being as the mythical tribal ancestor of the illustrious dynasty. [pg 68]

Then the crown prince is reborn on the (top terrace) as the young Buddha-monarch, and facing the east he cries out: "I am the eldest in the world." [pg 70]

. . . the re-born Buddha must (go to) the top of the eastern staircase -- "The east!" . . . with his face to the west, he lets out the cry: "I am the eldest." [pg 71]

Now he has become the father reborn! Coming from the west he has won the heaven in the same way as the one who comes from the east conquers the world. He therefore descends in the east to the earth along the eastern staircase! From a Buddhist point of view nothing more was left of the father at that supreme moment, because the latter's subtle transformation body had now wholly transposed onto the son, his (spirit) was reborn in the son. [pg 71]

When the young crown-prince has reached the (top terrace) in complete conformity with the birth stories of Buddha, he will have taken 'seven steps' towards the cosmic north in the polar axis; four strieds on the square terraces and three on the circular ones . . . the bodhisattva (seeker of enlightenment) took 'seven steps' to the north . . . He inspected (on this highest spot) every region of the sky while emitting the bellowing of a bull. The bull was here to be considered as the Leader of the herd, in other words as the Lord of the World. [pg 71]

At the end of his seventh step, he emitted "the cry of commandment" for all to hear. . . "I am on the summit of the world." Thus, . . . Maitreya's birth takes place. he will also take seven steps and say: 'This is my final birth.' The South-Indian prasada (temple) of seven storeys, which represent the seven tiers of the cosmos, of which the highest in the cosmos lies in the north, would accord with the construction of Barabudur. . . [pg 72]

During the rebirth ritual the Buddha takes here seven big steps, but in reality they are taken in an upward direction towards the cosmic north . . . [pg 72]

. . . Having arrived again in the east -- now in his status as young Monarch -- he descends the staircase towards the stone encasing (the hidden foot), by means of which he indicated that his "descent from the holy Mountain" has been achieved and that from now on he will be involved in the human sphere, although he himself stands above it. This is indicated by the leveled walking path on the stone casing. At this level he also makes (an official walk) around Borobudur and in this manner takes possession of his State in all four compass directions. [pg 72]

This symbolic conquest of the State indeed has to precede the king's inauguration. Moreover did not the Monarch, who was an indirect emanation of the transcendental Buddha, in other words, 'who was his descendent,' wished the public to witness this through his circumambulation on the stone casing? [pg 73]

. . . in the older Buddhism the contact with the supernatural was established by means of its magical projection, into one or another concrete object. It is therefore possible for this last to be an image, such as a certain Buddha-figure, which thanks to its ritual consecration, has something of his person within it. [pg 73]

The . . . rites for the young king are executed in the Mendut (temple) in the presence of the Maitreya-Buddha image. [pg 74]

By these two ordinations, it is ascertained that the King . . . will also spread the doctrine within his realm by proclaiming the Law . . . and stimulate adherence to the Doctrine through the construction of temples that will clarify the Message of the Master and hence shall find easier acceptance. [pg 74]

After the young king has made his (walk) on (Barabudur) he has ended up in the east and then descended the staircase to the leveled procession path that links Barabuddur with the temples Pawon and Mendut to the (north) east. Thereby starts . . . the Buddha's long, sacral walk. This walk finishes approximately 3 km further (down the path) at the Mendut, the eastern terminus, where the young Buddha is consecrated as [the Buddhas of correct and harmonious knowledge] . . . his status is now confirmed. [[g 76]

He has now obtained the spiritual omnipotence over his realm; he shall cause justice, prosperity and peace to rule . . . [pg 76]

After the consecration of the ruler . . . the central stupa of Barabudur -- one could almost say Royal Stupa, which is a reservoir of the Dharma (teaching), also becomes the reservoir of the king's royal power, supported by his Buddhahood. The monument is therefore both the symbol of the Doctrine and of Regal-power. [pg 77]

END OF SUN PATH RITUAL

Maitreya is also colored yellow-gold. [pg 88]

Maitreya too will preach the Lankavatara-sutra* when he appears on the earth. [pg 88]

(*This lankavatara-sutra is the "doctrine" that was preached in Lanka before it was destroyed by a volcano and then sunk into the depths of the ocean. Lanka was set on fire by Hanuman. Some mythologies, scholars and researcher believe Lanka to be another name for Atlantis as well as the Garden of Eden. It appears to me that the "teaching" that occurred before Noah's flood will be taught once more when Maitreya appears. --GG)

-----------------------------------------

UNESCO restored CHANDI BOROBUDUR by Dr. Soekmono. Here are some excerpts from their documentation on Borobudur. UNESCO uses 'chandi' instead of 'candi.'

Chandi Borobudur has no inner space, no place where devotees could worship. Most likely it is a place of pilgrimmage, where Buddhists can seek after the Highest Wisdom. The passages all around the edifice, successively mounting to the uppermost terraces, are evidently meant for ritual circumambulations. Guided and instructed by the narrative reliefs, the pilgrim proceeds from one terrace to another in silent contemplation. [pg 3]

The sequence followed by the pilgrim in ancient times remains the same for present day visitors. [pg 3]

Moens suggested that - on the analogy of the South-Indian Bharasiwa, denoting the ardent adherents of the Hindu God Siva - our monument was associated with the Bharabuddha or zealous upholders of the Buddha. The name "Borobudur" would then be a contraction of Bharabuddha with the Tamil word ur for 'city' added on, thus meaning 'The City of the upholders of the Buddha.' [pg 14]

The vertical division of Chandi Borobudur into base, body and superstructure, making the stupa merely the top of the monument, perfectly accords with the idea of the chandi as representing the cosmic mountain. The three superimposed parts represent the three Spheres of the Universe: the bhurloka or the Sphere of the Mortals, the bhuvarloka or the Sphere of the Purified, and the svarloka or the Sphere of the Gods.

The chandi also has internal symbols of the three spheres. In the centre of the base is a pit, at the bottom of which a ritual deposit box was placed. The box contained the pripih which consisted of several pieces of metal, precious stones and various seeds, symbolizing the earthly elements. Over the pit, in the temple chamber, the image of the God was enthroned. In the superstructure of solid stone, a small space was reserved for another pripih which represented the divine elements.

During the ritual ceremonies the deity descended from his temporary abode in the small space in the top of the chandi to the temple chamber, and imbued the statue with his spirit. At the same time the earthly elements from the pit in the base of the chandi provided the statue with a temporary body. Complete with body and soul, the statue came alive. It was no longer an inanimate object, but a living God, who could receive homage and communicate with the officiating priest. [pg 17]

The reliefs on the 'hidden foot' are devoted to the inevitable law of karma. [pg 21]

Before leaving the Tushita heaven the Bodhisattva entrusted his crown to his successor, the future Buddha Maitreya. [pg 21]

Sudhana's encounter with the Bodhisattva Maitreya, who is destined to become the human Buddha of the future, marks the end of his wanderings as depicted along the second gallery of Chandi Borobudur. [pg 34]

. . . Chandi Borobudur, like all chandis, symbolizes the Cosmic Mountain, which is in turn the symbol par excellence of the Universe. [pg 38]

Casparis had to assume that Sailendra Buddhism could be understood in terms of ancestor worship . . . the idea of a terraced mountain is obviously contained in the original name of Chandi Borobudur. And since, in the prehistoric culture of Indonesia, a stepped pyramid is the particular symbol of the abode of the ancestors in the mountains, it can plausibly be argued that ancestor worship played a significant part in the designing of the monument. . . Chandi Borobudur has a two-fold origin, in Mahayna Buddhism and ancestor worship. [pg 40]



Posted by GardenGirl at 2/23/2010 10:41:00 AM