Buddhist temple opens in town

Pairs of shoes lined the entryway to the Chamtse Ling temple Sunday as Buddhist worshippers gathered for the first teaching in the shrine room celebrating the public opening of the center.\nHis Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet Tenzin Gyatso dedicated the temple in a ceremony Sept. 7, but Sunday marked the first day the public was welcomed inside.\n"It's a very special temple," said Sandy Belth, a volunteer at the Tibetan Cultural Center. "It's an interfaith temple so people from all religions are welcome to come here."\nBloomington resident Jeff Reagle was one of many visitors to sit on a pillow and listen to readings and discussion during the hour and a half ceremony.\n"It's hard to believe it's actually here in Bloomington," Reagle said. "It's absolutely amazing." He also commented on the temple's effect on the community. "More people realize what they're trying to bring up here -- peace and compassion," Reagle explained. "I think it's bringing the community closer together."\nA $1.2 million project, the temple has been under construction since October 2001. Finishing touches were completed the morning of the dedication, said Mike Wysong, owner of Bluegill Construction, the primary builders. \n"It was a great honor that was given to us thanks to Mr. (Thubten) Norbu," Wysong said of the retired IU professor, founder of TCC and the brother of the Dalai Lama.\nDave Hagemeyer, owner of Hagemeyer and Company, Inc., assisted with the construction. However, both Wysong and Hagemeyer agreed that two other men had more difficult jobs.\nTamdin Tsering and Tenzin Jamyang, both Tibetans living in India, completed the temple's woodcarvings and painting all by hand.\n"It's important to have good motivation and heart when you create this," woodcarver Tsering said through interpreter Tenzin Namgyal. "Spiritually, it has a lot of meaning and importance."\nTsering is a teacher at a carpentry institute in India and travels to various locations carving wood for similar temples. Using less than 20 tools including a saw, hammer and chisel, he constructed the altar at the front of the shrine room and incorporated intricate details along the sides.\n"It's definitely a labor of love," said Wysong. "(Tsering) will work for hours on end and smile the whole time."\nPainter Jamyang was also satisfied with the finished product as he spent four months decorating the walls and structures in the lobby and shrine room of the temple with little help. Using a range of vibrant colors and a stencil, Jamyang included bells, flowers and gems in the borders, which line each wall. \nHe said the three jewels represent objects of refuge used in Buddhist teaching. Quotes from Buddhist scripture are written in gold in several places as well.\n"We can share the Tibetan culture with other faiths," said Jamyang of his work.\nThe TCC grounds are open to everyone daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information on the center, visit http://tibetancc.com. Weekly teachings will be held Sundays at 1 p.m. at the Chamtse Ling temple, resuming on Sept. 28.\n-- Contact staff writer Michelle Perry at meperry@indiana.edu.