Phil Nedo Foundation

Merit Field

According to stories, before the historical Buddha Shakyamuni attained Paranirvana, he took his outer yellow robe and folded it until it formed a rough cube. Then he took out his begging bowl, turned it upside down, and put it on top of the cube. He instructed his disciples to keep his ashes in 8 of these stupas to commemorate his 8 Great Deeds.

Stupas are places where the energy of the Buddhas is all abiding; physical embodiments of the Enlightened Minds of the Buddhas, the perfection and balance of compassion and wisdom. They represent victory over suffering and ignorance. They are roadmaps to Enlightenment, with each part symbolizing the different elements and their relationship to the enlightened mind, the different teachings of the Buddhas, and the different steps on the path to Enlightenment.

In one of the stories, Shakyamuni Buddha was asked by his disciple Ananda, “What would be more beneficial? To make a spiritual monument–a stupa–or make a statue of the Buddha or build a residence for the Sangha?” Buddha answered, “If that person were to make a small stupa the size of a Myrabolan fruit, and a statue of the Buddha the size of that fruit, making the stupa would be more beneficial because both the stupa and the statue represent the Buddha’s mind and body, and since a Buddha has limitless qualities, any worship, any offering made to these two miniatures would be more beneficial.”

The Philippine Nedo Foundation has long aspired to put up a stupa for the benefit of the whole country and all sentient beings. This dream has always been in the heart of Ven. Nedo Rinpoche, who always knew and believed that having a stupa in the Philippines would greatly help alleviate the suffering of all beings in the country and the whole world. Rinpoche’s dream is now shared by the lamas, officers, and members of the foundation as well as all the other devotees, practitioners, and the lay sangha in the Philippines.

During Karmapa’s visit to the Philippines in 2012, His Holiness visited the prospective site for the stupa. He approved the location and told Nedo Rinpoce to go ahead and purchase the land. On the day of Kutampa, the birthday of Buddha Sakyamuni, in the month of Sagadawa in 2014, a pledge was made to buy the land for the stupa project. This year, a group from the foundation went to Sikkim to pay tribute to its founder, Lama Choyeng Dundrup, and to offer the contract for the land purchase to Nedo Rinpoche. Rinpoche, accepting the offering, joyfully declared that the project for the Lhabab Chorten in the Philippines had finally begun.

How can building a Stupa benefit you?

Merits Field

Merits Field Merits Field is a noble project of the Phil Nedo Foundation in Trece Martires, Cavite.  Merits Field shall be a holy place which will contain spiritual monuments for the Buddha – the main Lhabab Chorten, 8 types of Buddha stupa and a Buddhist Retreat Center.   The objective of Merits Field is to provide a sacred, safe and auspicious space for people of all walks of life to:
  • Connect to their Buddha nature (which is present in all beings); 
  • Generate merits (positive deeds);
  • Purify negativities;
  • Start the process of being liberated from suffering;
  • Finally to attain perfect enlightenment.
  Generation of merits may include activities such as:
  • Offering of prayers for all beings;
  • Attending spiritual retreats and services.
  Activities to purify karmic stains may include:
  • Meditation;
  • Circumambulation of the Stupa;
  • Prostration to release negativities of body, speech and mind;
  • Chanting of Buddhist sacred mantras.
  Some benefits of a stupa are:
  • Protection from all forms of danger;
  • Liberation from mental suffering and development of inner peace;
  • Development of virtues of loving-kindness, compassion and wisdom.

Chorten (Stupa)

A Stupa is a spiritual monument to commemorate Buddha’s enlightened body, speech and mind.  It represents a path to enlightenment.  Enlightenment refers to an awakened mind and victory over suffering and ignorance.   Simply put, a Stupa becomes a home for all the Buddhas from ten directions and three times.  It will radiate immense positive energy. A stupa may last a hundred years, however the merits generated in the construction of a stupa lasts for all of eternity. It is said that “You can’t take your money with you when you die.”  There is actually a way to bring wealth in the afterlife.  Supporting the construction of a stupa is like investing time, effort, money and resources in something tangible yet holy.  Since the stupa represents Budhha’s enlightened body, speech and mind, it can be a tool for enlightenment.  Seeing a stupa plants a seed of enlightenment in a person’s being.  Therefore, people who contributed for the building, construction and maintenance of the stupa invested in the enlightenment for all beings, hence merits generated become limitless and eternal. 

Items for Sponsorship

TSA-TSA

Tsa-tsa refers to small clay or plaster images that are molded in the shape of deities, bodhisattvas, or symbols of the Dharma.  Tsatsa making is a practice of offering and accumulation of merit that can benefit practitioners through developing mindfulness, concentration, and a deep sense of devotion to the Buddha and his teachings and creating positive karmic imprints which can lead to a better rebirth in the future. It is a simple yet profound way to cultivate devotion, merit, and spiritual connection in Buddhism.   Thousands of tsa-tsa will be placed inside the stupa to generate immense positive energy.  Each set of tsa-tsa is available for sponsorship at Php 1,000/set. 

Thousand Golden Buddha Statues

The concept “1000 Buddhas” in Buddhism refers to the idea that there have been and will be many Buddhas, or enlightened beings, who appear throughout time and space to teach the Dharma to sentient beings. Each Buddha is considered a unique manifestation of ultimate reality, and each one teaches the same essential truth, though their methods and teachings may differ. The Thousand Buddhas emphasizes the universality and timeless nature of the Buddha’s teachings and the potential for all beings to attain perfect enlightenment.  Each Buddha statue is available for sponsorship at P45,000/statue.

Mantra

Mantras are sacred syllables, words, or phrases that are recited or chanted in Buddhism. Calming the mind, developing concentration, and cultivating a deeper connection with the divine which leads to inner peace and tranquility are some of the benefits of mantra recitation. Mantras have the power to purify negative karma, protect against negative influences, and increase positive qualities of compassion and wisdom.   Mantras are often placed inside stupas as a means of generating positive energy and blessings. This creates a powerful field of positive energy that can benefit all beings in the surrounding area.  Each mantra roll is open for sponsorship at Php 3,000/roll.

Khorlo (Prayer Wheel)

Khorlo or prayer wheel is a symbol of the Dharma, the Buddha’s teachings, and represents the path to enlightenment. By contemplating on the symbolism of the wheel, practitioners can develop a deeper understanding of the nature of existence (the continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, known as samsara), and the potential for liberation from this cycle through following the Noble Eightfold Path (right understanding, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration), represented by the eight spokes of the wheel.  The wheel also serves as a reminder of the impermanence of all things, and the need to continually work towards spiritual development. Ultimately, the Khorlo is a powerful tool for inspiration and guidance on the path to awakening.  Each set of Khorlo is available for sponsorship at Php 100,000.

Ongoing Project Developments

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Stupas are places where the energy of the Buddhas is all abiding; physical embodiments of the Enlightened Minds of the Buddhas,the perfection and balance of compassion and wisdom.

 

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