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Overview
• History •
Land •
Main Temple
•
Stupa •
Vajra Temple
Odiyan is
named for the ancient kingdom of Oddiyana located in the northwestern
corner of the Indian sub-continent, almost directly across
the globe from today's Odiyan. Known as the “Land of
the Enlightened”, Oddiyana was a repository of Buddha's
teachings and the birthplace of Padmasambhava, the founder
of Buddhism in Tibet.
- Odiyan founder, Tarthang
Tulku |
About Odiyan
On a Northern California coastal ridge once sacred to the native
Americans, the
Buddhist Center of Odiyan has been taking form since its founding
in 1975 by
Tibetan Lama, Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche.
Modeled after Tibet’s first monastery, Odiyan
is built as a three-dimensional mandala.
A mandala is a sacred, symbolic form that represents the qualities
and structure of
the mind and the entire cosmos, according to Tibetan Buddhism.
The Odiyan Mandala preserves the sacred architecture,
art, and texts of enlightenment
for the future, while offering an immediate opportunity to make
the work of preservation
a dynamic spiritual practice.
A large collection of Buddhist art, rare texts, several
large temples and other buildings
are all housed at Odiyan, located on about 1000 acres in rural Sonoma
County, California.
At present, Odiyan is home to long-term students, community members and residential
volunteers working on the construction of Cintamani Temple, text preservation and other projects.
Odiyan is currently closed to the public.
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Main
Temple
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Enlightenment
Stupa
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Vajra
Temple
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Cintamani
Temple
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Land
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Purpose
Odiyan preserves the heritage of Tibetan Buddhism for all who may
benefit from its
priceless storehouse of wisdom. Through the reproduction of sacred
symbols, texts and
art, Odiyan creates a means for interested Westerners to access
Buddhist teachings.
The tremendous beauty of the land and temples inspires inquiry into
the deeper
significance of human life.
The Odiyan community’s dedication of time and
energy to the continuation of the teachings
of Enlightenment provides the foundation for personal transformation
as well as the
establishment of a Western sangha (community of practitioners).
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