Hawaii Buddhists Building Sacred Tower for HHDL

As reported on KPUA.net

PAIA, Hawaii (AP) -- A sacred tower is being built in the former sugar plantation town of Paia on Maui in preparation for a visit from the Dalai Lama.

The Tibetan Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, is expected to arrive on Maui for two days on April 24th and 25th in 2007.

The Dalai Lama has visited Oahu and the Big Island twice, but he has never been to Maui. Maui Dharma Center leader Gyaltsen Tamang says the structure will be a sacred spiritual monument and an architectural expression of the teachings of Buddha.

When completed, the Lha Bab Stupa will be 27 feet tall and include an indoor base with a prayer wheel and a middle chamber to hold relics. Miniature clay shrines, or "tsa-tsas,'' will be placed in the stupa along with handmade tiny prayer scrolls, or "zung.''