How to Fill & Bless Buddha Statues - Tenzin Rigchog

Here at Nalanda Monastery we have many years of experience in filling statues and stupas. Through the years the monks have managed to collect all the necessary mantra rolls, ingredients and precious substances needed to fill holy objects in the best way possible. It has become a tradition that has been passed on from the elder Nalanda monks to the younger, and is practiced by our monks community with great care and pleasure, in accordance with the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Step-by-step process explained by Ven. Tenzin Rigchog:
1. When we receive a statue with the request for us to fill and bless it, we first start with cleaning the statue well. Mostly some residue from the mould has been left behind in the statue that needs to be removed first. Traditionally this is done with some soap and saffron water.
2. We paint the inside of the statue red with ecological paint, and while the paint is still wet, cover the inside with powder that contains the six great medicines, other medicinal powders, saffron, the five cow substances' pills, and camphor all mixed together.
3. We make a lid to cover the bottom of the statue since the lids that come with the statue are mostly of poor quality.
4. We do the blessing ceremony called Sung Drub to clear away contaminations and polutions from the statue and the ingredients, and bless them.
5. When the face is already painted, we cover the face well to protect it against damage and place the statue upside down in a container.
6. We start with a pearl or relic pill in the crown of the statue that symbolizes the brain of the buddha.
7. Then we fill the statue with as many mantra rolls as possible. We insert head, throat and heart mantras, the name mantras of the specific buddha the statue represents, the Dharmakaya relic mantra that is especially advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to use as much as possible, and other mantras for auspiciousness.
8. Between every layer of mantras we put fine incense powder to make sure every gap is completely filled. In the lotus we put substances like a precious pill, crushed semi-precious stones, and gold leaf.
9. We cover it with fragrant incense and other substances and finally add the 'five mandalas' with a vajra on top.
10. We cover it with yellow silk and close the statue with the lid using natural glue.
11. We seal the statue to make sure it is completely closed and will never open again.
12. Finally we perform a final consecration called Rab Nä and the statue is ready to be sent back to its owner.
Please visit our website if you want your statue or stupa to be filled and blessed:
nalanda-monast...

[@francoisschick]

Beautiful! Thanks for showing us how the filling is made. I had no idea. All is made with such a good heart! 😊

[@jpvargas5900]

Great job!!! Thank you Ven Rigchok. Terrific explanation!! May all be blessed!

[@מיכאלמרטיןבנדיקטוס]

Thank you, wonderful and helpful :-)

[@dharmvirshinde774]

NAMO BUDHAY NAMO DHAMMAY NAMO SANGHAY BHAVATU SABBA MANGALAM SADHU . SADHU . . SADHU . . . JAI BHIM ..... JAI BHARAT .....

[@dorianleakey]

I knew the process was involved, but this is way beyond what i expected, it was amazing. I have a couple questions, 1) Are different mantras used for different statues, depending on the deity? 2) Are there recomendations for those statues people buy as garden ornaments? My neighbours were throwing one out that came with their house and i rescued it. If i consecrate it it would need more looking after.

[@karchungzhemganglss9083]

Great video.

[@valefor666]

master, a greetings from tucuman, argentina, how do you bless the elements for fill the statue? can you make a video with the right procedure? i will apreciate!

[@wdwdHenry9022]

where can one go and learn to make statues like this?

[@johncena-vu8xl]

Hello i love the statues where can i get them from ? I am new to this and dont have idea

[@juliamilton4377]

Hello dear Ven. Tenzin Rigchog! I am going to try to fill a small stupa, and your video is so helpful, along with FPMT advice on statue-filling. Thank you very very much! However, I do have a question. It's about how you created the seal on the base (from 8:37 mins onward). It sounds like you say, "I used a substance called Miniput". But I am sure I'm spelling that wrong XD Can you kindly tell me what the correct name is? Is it a pipe sealant? (By the way, I have considered just sending the stupa to you for filling; I am not very "handy". But I am scared to ship it -- and more importantly, my precious teacher's ashes -- overseas, in case they might get lost during COVID disruption. It's probably safer to do it here, with as much care as possible. Hence my question!)

[@monasteryNalanda]

Hello Julia, sorry the delay to answer to you. This question it is specific. Can you send an email to Ven Rigchog on [e-mail] to check this, please?

[@lotusman992]

👏👏

[@akilasultana2368]

Oh no the statue I got of Kuan yin is not hollow

[@dracokaiser]

I live in Bloomington Indiana. Do you fly out to the states & do special services for multiple statues?

[@monasteryNalanda]

Hello Draco. Thank you for your message. Yes, we can fly out to different places to do special prayers, but we need to be informed in advance and all the expenses need to be taken care of. If you need more information, you can write to [e-mail]

[@thubtenmunsel8873]

Thank you, wonderful video, I always wondered what the process was for filling statues.

[@purplecloudqigong]

Hi Rigchok! That was very nicely done, short and easy to understand, and all in one take! And a great service idea. You have found a good nicheI will definitely use it if I buy a statue, and recommend it to others. John (ex Losang).

[@sangpopierluigi7594]

Hi big Rigchog, hi Losang: is fantastic "to meet" you again. A big hug. CiaOm

[@ashwinkumar7052]

Beautiful ❤️

[@ColliWobblers-d1b]

excellent and informative video but how do you stop customs from opening and destroying them in the post?

[@sangpopierluigi7594]

Hi dear Rigchog, is very nice to hear and see you. I wish you all the best. I always remember you with admiration. Enjoy CiaOm

[@markusnyman4768]

Which exact glue do you use for sealing the bottom before applying milliput?

[@jeffreychan1559]

You did not recite which mantra to be bless b4 you put in all those bless item thk

[@lubovradol20]

🙏🙏🙏

[@cintalopez-teijeiro5683]

🥰🥰🥰 amazing!!!! I didn´t expect it to be so elaborated and so lovingly made! wow wow wow

[@LoveFromNewYork]

Where one can get the small Buddha statue in your studio?

[@swedendive]

Is a Buddha statue made in resin okej to fill ?

[@sergeantsavage1988]

Can you tell the statues age by chance?

[@akilasultana2368]

I finally found a hollow Kuan Yin statue! Question: Is it possible for the client to be present and help fill their own statue?

[@monasteryNalanda]

Sure

[@SoilZen]

是否能提供中文的字幕？谢谢🙏

[@RosauraYT]

🙏🙏🙏💐💐💐

[@plt9866]

🙏