A BUDDHIST lama, who is a former actor and member of his country’s parliament, has been behind the planning and design of Ireland’s first Tibetan temple. Planning permission is being sought for the new €1 million development at west Cork’s Dzogchen Beara buddhist centre where ancient skills, not normally associated with building projects in this country, were used to draw up the blueprints.
Geomancy, described as a system of divination that employs the scattering of pebbles, grains of sand, or seeds on the earth and then the interpretation of their shape and position, was central to the plans which have been submitted to Cork County Council.
Centre director Matt Padwick said the temple, which will accommodate 250 people, will be built using conventional methods under the guidance of buddhist masters. Once planning is approved, the construction should take 18 months, he said.
"The new temple will act as a purpose-built space for the well-established programme of weekend retreats, daily meditation classes and a variety of community-based functions," he stated.
One of the main planners is Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche, described on the centre’s website as "a uniquely qualified Tibetan master who has supervised numerous temple projects" by using the ancient art of ‘geomancy’ and following the advice laid down in traditional texts.
The temple plan was first mooted in June 2008 and €100,000 has been donated through a fund-raising drive. In May 2009, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche visited Dzogchen Beara to advise on the temple, especially its design, location and orientation.
Rinpoche starred in the critically-acclaimed Phorpa (The Cup) which was shown at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival. He was a member of the Tibetan parliament from 1994 to 1996 and was re-elected in 2001 and 2006.
The 14.5-metre-high temple will be built, subject to planning permission, overlooking the meditation garden at the Beara centre.
The temple will be built "in the style of a traditional Tibetan monastery, a unique form of architecture that is an inspiring symbol of the Buddha’s teachings," those behind the project state.
Anyone making a donation to the €1m project "will be listed in a ‘founder’s folio’ that will be kept in the shrine of the future temple."