CHAPTER 2: Buddhism in Indonesia |Buddhist Stupa| Ancient Bali| Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche

***Listen till the end to get a better understanding. Half knowledge is worse than no knowledge.
Pura Pegulingan: Traces of Buddhism in Balinese History. The video discusses an upcoming Puja in Bali

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Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche would be conducting a massive puja in Bali at Pura Pegulingan temple this December. During his first visit last decade to Indonesia, Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche recognized the deep spirituality of these ancient lands and the unbroken living tradition on the island of Bali which shares old roots with Buddhism. A grand puja is planned for the end of this year, like a feast in a joyous meeting of distant relatives, Rinpoche invites all who knows him to follow in the blossoming of these activities.

Date: 27 Dec 2025 – 4 Jan 2026 (Daily 8am – 5pm)
Venue: Pegulingan Temple, Tampaksiring, Bali
Prayers/Pujas conducted
1. Namgyalma (Ushnishavijaya) Puja
2. Buddha Shakyamuni Shower of Blessings Puja
3. Vajrayogini Puja
4. Vajrakilaya Puja
5. Guru Rinpoche Tsok Offering
6. Mahadevi Fire Puja
7. Mahakala Puja
8. King Gesar Sang Offering
9. Naga Puja
Senior Buddhist Lamas from Kanying Shedrub Ling, a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal will be invited for this puja.

•⁠ ⁠Spiritual Significance: The Puja aims to raise awareness about the deeper meaning of prayers, reconnect with the feminine divine, and thank Mother Nature, promoting coexistence and respect for all living things (1:37-2:20). It also seeks to highlight Asia's rich spiritual traditions and enlighten Balinese people about their island's profound spiritual history beyond tourism (2:29-3:17). The event will take place at Pura Pegulingan, described as the only standing stupa of the Vajrayana tradition built by practitioners rather than kings (3:22-3:42). A core message is the importance of unity, trust, genuine motivation, transparency, and mutual respect within the community (3:45-4:18).
•⁠ ⁠Pura Pegulingan Temple The stupa features 13 layers, which are significant for Vajrayana realization (5:22-5:47). The temple is located near Tirta Empul (5:54-6:04), and DKYR describes it as a place of profound peace (6:41-7:26) with welcoming caretakers (7:44-7:58).
•⁠ Motivation: Rinpoche, of Tibetan descent, is fascinated by history, spirituality, and cultural similarities (9:21-10:41). His research into ancient spiritual origins in India led him to discover important sites like Pura Pegulingan (10:46-11:41). He recounts his journey to find the stupa and the profound sense of calmness and presence he experienced there (11:49-13:44). He also expresses a personal interest in visiting war-torn areas to offer prayers for positivity, forgiveness, and letting go (14:20-15:12)

Background Info:
Pura Pegulingan was rediscovered in 1982 during the construction of a Padmasana Agung (grand shrine) in Tampaksiring, Gianyar. According to the Lontar Usana Bali, the temple was originally built during the reign of King Masula Masuli in 1100 Saka (1178 AD). Its construction formed part of an ambitious temple-building project that also included Tirta Empul, Mangening, Tirta Kamandalu, Pura Penataran Wulan, and Puser Tasik, planned in collaboration with Mpu Raja Kertha. The lontar describes the project as a communal effort (gotong royong), involving contributions from communities across Bali. Builders sourced paras stone from Blahbatuh, Pejeng, and Tampaksiring, and the construction reportedly took about three years to complete.

Archaeological Discoveries:
Excavations at Pura Pegulingan uncovered significant Buddhist artifacts, including:
Miniature stupas and Buddha statues
A box inscribed with a Mahayana Buddhist mantra in Sanskrit
62 clay seals, metal plates, and bronze fragments
Vajra, incense pots, and other ritual items
These finds indicate that the temple was once an important Buddhist sanctuary, possibly used for Tantrayana practices.

The archaeological relics at Pegulingan Temple indicate that Buddhism has been present since the 8th century AD. These relics are still well preserved by the local community, which is predominantly Hindu. The harmony between Buddhism and Hinduism remains a lasting tradition, as both Buddhist and Hindu priests come together during religious celebrations, demonstrating unity and mutual respect.

#vajrayana #rinpoche