The 4 elements are the basis for understanding suffering and liberating oneself from suffering.
The Site:
The Path:
Fenway Kenmore parking lot
Boston, Massachusetts
Earth – inertia, solidity
The pilgrim will have to choose to disengage from a state of inertia and begin a journey. The beginning of this journey will be marked by passing through the torii gate. The topography slopes uphill adding to the effect.
At the beginning of Yawkee Way there will be a bin of rocks with various “thought” words carved in them. The pilgrim will pick one of the rocks that speak to them and start down the path. Down the path there will be sandboxes that have a few larger stones in them with engraved phrases. When the pilgrim finds a phrase that speaks to them they can place the rock in the sandbox in any way they seem fit. This act harkens back to the Tibetan tradition of the rock piles. The practice of stacking the rocks in these formations deals with patience, balance, meditation, and prayer.
Along the path there will be light boxes that the pilgrims can sit on to think or rest.
Water – cohesion
Marking the start of this path, there will be a bin of sand. A monk will pour a cup of sand onto a 12 inch wooden circle and hand this to each pilgrim. Each pilgrim will create his or her own sand “mandala.” The pilgrim can sit on the light boxes to do this. When the mandala is finished the pilgrim will walk to the water trough and pour the sand into the running water. This is a meditation on impermanence and cohesion and is believed to spread the blessings indicated in the sand throughout the water.
Fire – heat, caloric value
Marking the start of this path, there will be a large fire. Each pilgrim will receive a candle from a monk, which they will light from the central fire. They will burn their candle and use it as a guide to walk down the path. The path will host an armature of sculptural metal candleholders indicative of Buddhism symbols. When the pilgrim is ready they can hang their candle thus illuminating the way for other pilgrims.
Wind/Space – vibrations, the void, enlightenment
The path will end at the gateway to the precinct marked by a strong building edge and a monumental spiral structure. The pilgrim will step into a realm marked out by large prayer flags. As they enter they will receive a paper bodhi leaf onto which they can inscribe a peace message. At the high point (topographical) of the site the podium for the Dali Lama will be located. It symbolizes the bodhi tree that Buddha meditated under to achieve enlightenment. Each pilgrim is invited to place his or her leaf on the podium. After this they can find a seat.
Fifteen minutes before the speech, the Dali Lama will walk the pilgrimage path and experience the mark left by the pilgrims. He will speak from under the bodhi tree like in the traditional Buddhist painting.
