Work starts on temple

People of differing faiths gathered in a heated tent to celebrate religious diversity and recognize the power of understanding and peace Saturday. The group gathered at the Tibetan Cultural Center for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Chamtse Ling Temple.\nThe Chamtse Ling Temple is a structure designed to give people of all faiths a place to find peace and nurture their faith and beliefs. The construction effort is being headed by the Norbu family of Bloomington, which includes the Dalai Lama's brother and Associate Professor Emeritus of Uralic and Altaic Studies Thubten Jigme Norbu.\n"This is a groundbreaking on a dream that Professor Norbu has had for many years, a dream of having a place right here in his adopted homeland that could serve as a center to bring out the positive qualities of community closeness," said Stephen K. Hayes, an American Buddhist who teaches Himalayan techniques of meditation and martial science training at his own school, the Dayton Quest Center. Hayes is involved with the representation of the Norbu family and their efforts to create and expand the cultural center.\nThe temple will primarily be used for Buddhist worship and to house monks while they travel in America. It will be available to anyone who would like to come and practice their faith.\nSpeeches by local religious leaders of various faiths opened the ceremony, each with a few words about their beliefs, a speech, a prayer or just a statement of their support for peace.\n"I am honored to add a Catholic presence to your dedication. We have come here this afternoon to set aside a special place dedicated to peace," said the Rev. Charles Cheesebourgh of the St. Charles Borromeo Church. "A place that when we see it, enter it, pass by or think of, our minds will be drawn to peace." \nSome spoke about the challenge the Norbu family is taking on and the gift the new temple will be.\n"We thank you for your noble venture to provide a sacred space that will encourage dialogue and cooperation among the world's great religions," said Rev. Barbara Carlson of the Universal Unitarian Church.\nVen. Jingdal Dagchen Rinpoche of the Sakya Monastery and an accompaniment of three other Tibetan monks started the groundbreaking ritual itself with a prayer. The deep tones of the prayer filled the tent with an audible energy. Norbu and Rinpoche accomplished the actual digging, performed with golden spades. After the earth was turned, it was blessed with wine and barley flour. They dipped their fingers into the wine goblet and touched their lips, then sprinkled the air with more drops. The same was done with the flour.\n"The flour and wine are used as symbols of feeding all the spirits around us," explained Hayes.\nTwo of the future building's architects, Doug Bruce and Paul Puzzello, were present to explain the structure and its intended design and function.\n"We have been honored to work with the Norbu family to design this spiritual place," said Bruce. "For our office, the design of a temple is the highest form of design we can participate in."\nThey provided floor plans and a conceptual drawing of what the temple will look like upon completion. The final building design will be influenced by the amount of money raised for its construction. \nTo donate to the temple building fund, contact the Tibetan Culture Center and 334-7046 or send donations to Tibetan Cultural Center, P.O. Box 2581 Bloomington, IN 47402.