The stone carvings adorning Dhvaja Hall’s interior and exterior walls were sculptured from Indonesia’s lava stone; the contents showcased include The Life of Buddha, Ten Ox Pictures of Chan Buddhism and information on Vajrayana Buddhism. These stone carvings not only provide information on Buddhism, dispense wisdom, bestow spirituality, they also add a unique touch of simple ancient colour and artistic taste to the monastery.

The Life of Buddha

A total of 14 stone carvings are used to highlight the life of Buddha, namely Birth of the Crown Prince, Reading by the Ascetics, Palace Life, Renunciation of Worldly Life, Practice of Austerities, Offerings by the White Ape, The Seduction, Attaining Full Enlightenment, The First Turn of the Dharma Wheel, Liberating the Masses from Samsara, The Palace Visit, Rahula’s Ordination, Prince Jeta and Millionaire Anathapindika and Entering Parinirvana.

Ten Ox Pictures of Chan Buddhism

According to historical record, the Ten Ox Pictures were painted by Guoan of Linji School, Yangzhi Sect during the Song Dynasty. He used a young ox herder’s herding process and a series of hymns to describe the ten mind transformation process a practitioner has to go through in sequential order, namely Searching for the Ox, Seeing the Footprints, Seeing the Ox, Capturing the Ox, Taming the Ox, Riding the Ox Home, The Ox Disappears while the Person Remains, Both Person and Ox Vanish, Returning to the Source and Going to the Marketplace to Extend a Hand.
Information on Vajrayana Buddhism

Buddha Mandala Monastery practices both Chan and Vajrayana Buddhism. The 24 stone carvings adorning Dhvaja Hall’s exterior and interior walls are related to Vajrayana Buddhism. They are Vajrapani, Yamantaka, Vajrasattva, Vajradhara, Yellow Zambala, Wheel of Rebirth, Mahakali, Maitreya, Mahakala, The Three Deities, Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara Mandala, Sudhana Visits a Prince, Manjushri, The Five Wisdom Buddhas, Six-Armed Avalokitesvara, Borobudur, The Four Heavenly Kings’ Offering of Alms Bowls, Bodhisattva Practising Austerities, Sudhana Paying Respect to Manjushri, Sudhana Paying Respect to Avalokitesvara, Subduing the Demon, Atisha and his Two Disciples, Three Protective Deities and Two Taras and Dharma Wheel with Buck and Doe.