Building a Temple

Building a Temple

Date Posted:
September 2009

Rinpoche said the following after making a donation towards building a new temple.

In the Sutra on the Foundations of Mindfulness (Do drenpa nyershak), it says that having established the temple and the holy objects inside, as well as the rooms and bedding needed by the Sangha, from life to life your virtues will increase, and for ten billion eons your merit will never be lost.

It is said that virtues created with bodhicitta are never lost and increase all the time, so, similarly, the merit from building a temple where the Guru, Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha—the holy objects—abide, will continuously increase from life to life while you are working, eating, sleeping, whatever you are doing.

However many atoms the building has, you create that much merit to be born as a wheel-turning king, deva, or human being. For many eons you will enjoy the results of that merit—temporal happiness and, of course, ultimate happiness, enlightenment.