Pilgrimage Reflections #3
A PlaceThat Drew Us Back
Some places are visited once.
Others call you back.
The Temple of 1000 Buddhas in Lumbini was one of those places.
From the first visit, there was a sense that more time was needed—not to see more, but simply to sit. Over the following days, Babita and I returned again and again, each time for an hour of quiet contemplation and meditation.
Nothing was planned about this.
It just happened that way.
A Space That Holds Attention
The temple—formally known as Pal Thubten Shedrub Ling Monastery—is immediately distinctive.
Its Tibetan architectural style stands apart within the Peace Park. For us, there was an immediate sense of familiarity—something recognised without needing explanation.
Inside, the main hall opens into a large, expansive space.
Gold dominates the interior.
Purple walls frame the structure.
Three large golden images of the Gautama Buddha sit at the centre.
The effect is not overwhelming, but steady—an environment that seems to hold attention in place.
The Thousand Buddhas
The temple takes its name from the many smaller Buddha images that line the interior.
Arranged in repetition, they create a visual rhythm—one form, appearing again and again.
There is something in this that quietly reflects the nature of practice:
not a single moment, but many moments, repeated.
Each one similar, yet never exactly the same.
Construction and Intention
Like many temples within the Lumbini Peace Park, this monastery reflects an international contribution to the site, representing a particular lineage and tradition.
Its Tibetan design is not only architectural but symbolic:
- symmetry and structure
- colour used with intention
- space arranged to support stillness and contemplation
These are not decorative choices alone.
But they influence how the space is experienced.
Sitting there, it becomes clear that the environment itself plays a role in practice.
Returning to Sit
We returned several times over the course of our stay.
Each visit followed a similar pattern:
entering quietly, finding a place to sit, allowing attention to settle.
There was no sense of needing to do anything differently each time.
If anything, the repetition itself seemed important.
The familiarity of the space gradually removed distraction.
What remained was simply the act of sitting.
A Lasting Impression
Of all the temples visited in Lumbini, this one left the strongest impression.
Not because it was more elaborate, or more significant in any formal sense.
But because of the way it was experienced.
There was a depth of stillness here that stayed with me—both during the visit and afterward.
Even now, that sense of calm returns at times during meditation at home.
Not as a memory to hold onto, but as something recognised.
Continuing the Practice
Experiences like this are easy to describe in terms of place.
However what remains is not the building itself.
It is the quality of attention that arose within it.
And that same attention is available elsewhere:
at home, in a room, or in the garden.
The setting changes.
My practice continues.
A holy space that allows you to dive inside yourself effortlessly!! OM 🧘♀️
You are so right. A holy place for different religions but also of historical significance because of Ashoka’s success at spreading Buddhism across Asia. Thank you for your insightful comment🙏🕉️