B U D D H A B U G G YPagoda Progress Photos
B U D D H A B U G G YThe Buddhist stupa form of architecture is said to have been prescribed by the Buddha Sakyamuni himself. It serves as a sacred structure intended to act as a "broadcast tower" for positive spiritual energy. In Asia, thousands upon thousands of stupas have been constructed over the 2500 years of Buddhist history, mostly following rather faithfully the traditional design popularized in Ashokan India. The pagoda--a multi-roofed tower as developed in China, Korea, and Japan--is directly derived from the finial structure of rings and umbrellas which surmounts the stupas built in the Himalayan countries.
Seattle Art Car enthusiast Dr. Schlock was inspired to build a stupa on top of his Buddha Buggy, Rhonda the Honda, as an act of devotion. Our photographs capture the early stages of construction, as of March 19, 2000. Schlock's pagoda--named the Seattle Dharmadhatu Stupa--now rises some 53 inches (1.35 meters) from the top of the car's roof, as seen here. The finished version includes strings of colorful prayer flags running from hood to pinnacle and down again to rear spoiler on both sides. The building's design is based on the traditional stupa form as interpreted in Nepal over the centuries--somewhat closer to the gradual dome of the Indian stupa than the more cylindrical shape of the common Tibetan stupa, or chorten-- but enhanced with eclectic elements from India and China as well.
Like the traditional temple buildings of Asia, the Dharmadhatu Stupa houses sacred relics in its cubic chamber atop the dome, the Buddha-eyed harmika (reliquary). This space enshrined mystical mantras and sacred objects blessed by Tibetan monks in Dharamsala, India. Eighteen miniature statues placed at strategic points decorated the pagoda, and mantras and mandalas wove a circle of "sacred space" around the car wherever the Wheels of Dharma took it to. A 13-inch porcelain Amitabha sats in a gabled niche at the front of the dome, with a solid brass mandala behind his head. The finished construction was painted white with red and gold accents and blue Buddha eyes. The spindle on top of the pagoda was composed of the customary 13 golden rings, symbolizing the 13 steps of the Path to Enlightenment, and rising to a climactic pinnacle--a flame-shaped mandala centered on the Wheel of the Dharma. For parades, the stupa is rigged with fluttering prayer flags and twirling pinwheels. The speakers blast Bodhisattva over the heads of the adoring crowds.
All photos shown on this webpage are copyright © 2000 by Larry Neilson.
The finished result.
STUPA FACTS and FIGURES:
- Completion date: June 16, 2000
- Weight: 46 lbs. (20.87 kg)
- Platform Size: 36" x 38" (91.5 cm x 96.52 cm)
- Circumference of Dome: 32.5" (82.6 cm)
- Overall Height of Structure: 53" (135 cm)
- Internal Sound System: 80W/channel, 6.5" waterproof nylon speakers, driven by 100W/channel Majestic amplifier and in-dash CD/tape drives with preamp
- Soundtrack: Bodhisattva, by Steely Dan (Parades); Hun-Huur-Tu or Chants of the Gyuto Monks (Displays)
It'll be a stupefying spectacle, folks! Catch our act at Seattle Art Car Blow-Out 2000, the Funky Art Car Fest, and the Port Townsend Kinetic Race!
Kredits:Koncept and Karpentry: Schlock.
Thanks to: Kim David Hall (hardware engineering)
Steve Anderson (sculpting dome)
Bert Bradley (carpentry consultation and tools)
Far East Handicrafts (design assistance)
Terry Robb (sound advice and wiring wizardry)
Special thanks to Lobsang Lama for architectural, ceremonial, and spiritual advice.
