Samye Liberation Gate
The gate is modelled on the
traditional entrance gate found in monasteries in Tibet. The
construction of the gate is similar in design to that of the
immeasurable palace found within a peace mandala. The mandala itself
is painted on the ceiling.
On top of the pillars of the gate on the horizontal beam just beneath the ceiling are several Sanskrit mantras (prayers) with special meanings. On the south side of the beam as you enter the gate from the public road, there is a prayer in tribute to the Three Jewels the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha and also the six-syllable mantra Om mani pemay hung of Chenrezig, the Great Bodhisattva of Compassion. On the inner side of the same beam is a special Chenrezig mantra referred to as the King of Mantras because it is foretold that all those who walk beneath it will become enlightened at some point in the future.
On the left side of the gate, facing east, is the Buddha mantra. On the inside of the same beam is the mantra of Vajrapani, one of the high bodhisattvas, who is connected with the power of virtuous action.
On the right side of the gate facing west is the mantra of Guru Rinpoche or Padmasambhava, the founder of Buddhism in Tibet. On the inside of this beam is the mantra of Manjushri, another high bodhisattva, who is connected with wisdom.
On the back of the gate, facing north, is the mantra of emptiness found in the Heart Sutra. On the inside of this beam is once again the special mantra of Chenrezig. Also on the inside of this beam are Sanskrit syllables denoting the names of the five archetypal Buddhas.
Just beneath the ceiling, below the Sanskrit prayers, are various symbolic paintings. In the four corners at the top of the pillars are paintings of the different animals who appeared in a dream to the great meditator saint, Milarepa, foretelling the future of the Kagyu Lineage. On the inside of the pillars further down, are other animals carved into the sides of the pillars, all of whom have a protective function in warding off negative influences. You can see a white yak, a white hawk and a black scorpion, all of which are different manifestations of Nyenchen Tangla, a mythical king. You can also see also a black crow, symbolising Mahakala, the principal protector within the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. A protector is a manifestation of enlightened energy that wards off and transforms obstacles and negative conditions. The Karma Kagyu tradition is the spiritual lineage of Samye Ling. At the bottom of the pillars are paintings of four great kings who are guardians of the four directions and ward off negative forces.
Next to the gate are two white urns where special fires are lit to make welcoming aromatic smoke to honour senior lamas as they arrive at Samye Ling.
