S H R I N E - P R O J E C T 2 0 0 1
Existing shrines with their accompanying back-panels are placed on a low, carpeted platform. A satin backdrop covers the bare wall areas with a valence running along the top. Brocade chevrons depend from all corners. There are broad, full-length brocade panels hanging at each end of the backdrop and at the center.
The platform is constructed of 1/4 inch plywood over 3/4 inch high strapping and faced with 1 and 1/4 inch high molding. The satin wall cover is stapled to wood strips at the top and bottom and hung with nails into the wall. The existing brocaded valence from Karme-Choling is cut into 3 pieces to cover the tops of the hanging backdrops. Wooden box brocaded canopy structures extend out over the shrines.
The backdrop covered area extends the full 18 feet under the span of 3 ceiling beams. The platform is 4 feet deep by 16 feet long. The shrines are 4 feet wide with a 6 foot gap between them.
Lumber - $70 , Hardware
- $50 , Carpet - $80 , Satin - $40 , Brocade - $220 ...
TOTAL: $460
| $70 | $460| |
The reason behind the elaborately designed shrine room with its exotic decorations is to provide a space where we can appreciate the delightfully structured play of brilliant energy that can be perceived when the muddied confusion of our neurotic distortions of reality are let go of in the practice of meditation.
The shrines themselves present the actual qualities of the phenomenal world, free of concept, that have the nature of brilliance, precision and warmth. The surrounding shrine room is the environment of our enlightened lineage that provides the culture of accommodation, encouragement and inspiration along with a certain sense of combining spaciousness with intensity.
This is the atmosphere best designed to give human beings, prone to getting themselves into struggling with self-tied knots, a chance to relax into acknowledging the basic goodness of their world.
If you care to make a contribution toward making this happen, please send it in to the Shambhala Center, Finance Dep't. at P.O. Box 66, St.Johnsbury, VT 05819 and note its dedicated use.