effulgent at Jokhang Temple
Faith is fundamental to all religions, though it may be expressed differently. While various religions have distinct practices, at their core, believers hold onto their anchors with utmost sincerity. The holy land of Tibet radiates spirituality, and the Jokhang Temple stands as the epicenter of faith in Tibetan Buddhism. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the temple bustles with activity each morning as locals flock to pay homage to the Jowo (Supreme) Rinpoche – the revered 12-year-old Buddha statue considered the holiest object in all of Tibet. Steeped in myth and history, the statue is believed to have been carved during Buddha’s lifetime by a celestial artist.
From the entrance, we saw the devout Tibetans prostrating themselves on the crowded road, a testament to their unwavering faith. The parikrama, or sacred circuit, continued throughout the day. Almost all of the Tibetans carried prayer beads as they entered the temple, and for some, the prayer wheels kept rotating, symbols of their constant devotion. In front of the Jokhang Temple, the courtyard was filled with people prostrating incessantly, showing their reverence to the Triple Gem – the Buddha, the Dharma (the teachings expounded by the Buddha), and the Sangha (the monastic order of Buddhism).
Inside the temple, the altars, including the main one with the Jowo Sakyamuni, had a long line of devotees waiting to pay their respects. Even a glimpse of the statue radiated divinity, touching the lotus of my heart. I remembered the lines from the glorious speech of Swami Vivekananda at the World Parliament of Religions (now the Chicago Art Institute) in 1893: “We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn: ‘As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.’”
In this moment, I felt a deep connection to my own faith. I prostrated myself symbolically, with my hands folded in respect, before the Supreme Rinpoche. The experience was identical to the holiest temples of Hinduism I have ever visited, a testament to the universal nature of true devotion.
