The lotus grows in the mud - working on the third level of the Stupa

Click here to read about the project 

to build the Stupa of All Buddhas

The lotus grows in the mud....  
The days are dark, cold and rainy, but inside my heart the sun of faith shines unobstructed and inspires me to keep going despite the difficulties, limited funds, and the low level of interest for this project.

In the photos you can see how me and uncle Victor work on the third level of the Stupa of All Buddhas. 

We also made two concrete ring beam arround the base of the Stupa and we plastered the first two levels before we started the third. A final plaster will be made when the Stupa is finished. 

The two concrete ring beams around it help to prevent water infiltration. As you can see, the top of the Stupa is covered now because it has rained a lot lately. However, I look forward to the time when it will be completed and I feel encouraged by the invisible protection and inspiration I receive daily:

The second level of the Stupa of All Buddhas is finished

Click here to read about the project 

to build the Stupa of All Buddhas

I have just finished the second level of the Stupa of All Buddhas and as you can see the construction rises towards the sky, taller than before. This time the bricks were filled mostly with Nembutsu sheets sent by members of Amidaji from Latin America and Spain together with various mantras related with other Buddhas that were sent by Buddhist friends from other schools. 

After much thought I decided that the next phase will be to plaster the exterior and interior of these two levels and then continue with the third level which will also be plastered on the inside and outside, so any little help from you, readers of this website and Dharma friends, is welcomed and appreciated. 

After the third level is finished, I proceed with buying and making all the necesary sacred items that will be placed inside the Stupa like for example, hundreds of small statues of Amida and various Buddhas. After I gather everything, I fill the Stupa, seal it with a roof  and make a consecration ceremony. When the funds allow it, I will also add various decorations and improvements. 

Please click here if you wish to donate and support 

the next phase of the construction of the Stupa of All Buddhas,

Any little help is useful and very much needed.
Gratefully yours in Namo Amida Bu,
Josho Adrian Cirlea

with "uncle" Victor, my co-worker at this Stupa

The first level of the Stupa of All Buddhas is ready

Click here to read about the project 

to build the Stupa of All Buddhas

As you might know, I built the concrete platform in May (click here to read about this). These days I started the work on the first level of the Stupa of All Buddhas. Many bricks, sacks of cement, gravel and various materials were needed as well as the help of a paid worker. The first level is very thick, as you can see in the photos bellow and features an interior space where I will place various sacred objects, statues and sutras. 

For now I placed small statues of Amida and various Buddhas (Mahakala, Tara, Ksitigarbha, Shakyamuni, Jambhala, Padmasambhava, White Tara, Namgyalma, etc), Nembutsu sheets, mantras, etc in the brick holes later filled with cement.

The first Buddhist stupa in Bucharest - Romania

Homage to all Dharma gates taught by Shakyamuni

and to all authentic lineages of transmission.

Homage to Amida Buddha

whose Name is praised by all Buddhas!

I was blessed with the opportunity to give a little help to my Buddhist friends from The Garden of Maitreya - FPMT Bucharest who built their first stupa. You are always welcome to visit it when you travel to Romania. Here is their website (English and Romanian) and their article related with the stupa
https://gardenofmaitreya.com/2026/09/01/bucharest-has-a-stupa

As I have repeatedly said, I believe that non-asiatic Buddhists should stop wasting their energy, wealth and work in asiatic countries and focus on the establishment of Buddhism in their own countries. 

We must have our own sacred places and pilgrimage routes in Europe, USA, South America etc, and support/visit each other in a true nonsectarian spirit because Buddhism is not the property of anybody and beings with different karmic affinities must be helped to find their own place witthin the Buddha Dharma. 

I do this in Romania, by constantly helping, promoting and visiting through pilgrimage on foot all places related with Buddhism, no matter to which school they belong and I hope that others will follow my example. I exclusively rely on the Dharma Gate of the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha and do not mix it with other practices, but I show respect and support all Dharma Gates and authentic lineages of transmission because they all originated from the same Buddha and they can all can lead beings to Liberation if they are practiced properly.

Yours in Namo Amida Bu

Please read my article

Do not despise other Buddhas, Dharma Gates

 and Buddhist teachings because you have faith in Amida 

If you can, please support the Stupa of All Buddhas that I am trying to build at Amidaji temple with a donation:

Any little help is useful and deeply appreciated.
Yours in Namo Amida Bu

Against the superstition of auspicious/inauspicious days

 

Question: I saw many Buddhist calendars on various Buddhist websites who mention “auspicious” or “inauspicious days” for doing various activities from cutting one’s hair, to Dharma activities. What is the view of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism on this matter?
 
My answer: I am glad to say that in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, and based on the words of Shakyamuni Buddha himself, we do NOT believe in propitious/auspicious or unpropitious/inauspicious times. The Power of Amida and all Buddhas surpass any influence caused by spirits, gods, bad energies, elements, etc that might create unpropitious times.

Propitious/auspicious or unpropitious have a meaning only for superstitious samsaric beings who don't experience the Power and guidance of Buddhas in their lives. However, for those who take refuge in the Buddhas, in the Dharma and Sangha, who say the Name of Amida or any Buddhas or their mantras, such things have no influence and must be treated as mere illusions in an illusory world composed of illusory phenomena.

Here are just two quotations from the sutras used by Shinran Shonin in his works:

NEWS! The first Buddhist Black Metal album - To Receive The Adamantine Heart by Urschwur (Horai Alessandro Coletta)

Dear friends,

I am happy to share with you this great news! Many of you  already know that we at Amidaji are very strict about the doctrine and how this is to be explained and transmitted, but very relaxed when it comes to the method of transmission. 

Music is an important expression of the human soul and also a vehicle. Since ancient times people have expressed their feelings but also their convictions and meditations through music. I, for example, am a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist who enjoys Black Metal and like me there are many. So, why not having Black metal music with Buddhist lyrics that talk about one's experience of being a bombu (a person filled with blind passions) and having faith in Amida Buddha? For many years I talked with various people about this possibility.

To many it sounded strange but some were happy about it, and yet, nobody dared to do something...until Horai Allesandro Colleta did it and he did it in a great way! 

Horai Alessandro Coletta during
hisstay at Amidaji where he
received theThree Refuges

So, I invite you, dear readers and Dharma friends who like this type of music, to listen to and follow Horai's Buddhist Black Metal project -  Urschwur and his first album - To Receive the Adamantine Heart. 

You can follow him on YouTube  and Instagram  where you can also find news about his activities and concerts. 

At this link  https://remoteradiancerecords.bandcamp.com you can also order his album, T-shirts and various items related with his project. 

And you can write to him personally at his email: horaisattvahr@gmail.com

Also, please read his interview in the Lunatic Magazin that I am sharing with you bellow this video. It is filled with many profound insights into the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist teachings and Horai's deep religious experience.

Namo Amida Bu