Jade Buddha for Universal Peace - MAIN PAGE

As Orange County Commissioner, District 5, I am honored to represent Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the citizens of Orange County to participate in this auspicious Opening Ceremony. We welcome the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace on its tour across the United States and beyond, to spread peace and happiness across the world.

I grew up in Orlando when it was a homogenous community of mainly Protestant, Catholic or Jewish faiths. I am glad to see that as our population has grown, our community has become more diverse and is richer for this diversity.

In America we are free to practice our faiths according to individual conscience. We have opportunities such as this to appreciate both our differences and our shared values such as peace, compassion and good will. And we can learn from others' honorable traditions and perspectives.

For this occasion, I was reading about the Jade Buddha and what Lama Zopa Rinpoche says about the value of holy objects: “Just by holy objects such as the Jade Buddha and the Great Stupa existing in the world, it makes it easier to change the distracted negative emotional thoughts, the ignorant nature of the mind that harms you and harms the world - and find peace and happiness.”  Lama Zopa Rinpoche believes that this Jade Buddha will inspire all beings to follow the peaceful path.  In his words: “It will illuminate the world and bring inconceivable peace and happiness and help prevent the destruction that is happening so much in the world, including war.”

The people of Orange County are honored to have this opportunity to join people around the world experiencing this messenger of peace. Already this spectacular Jade Buddha has been seen by millions in Viet Nam and Australia since the start of its world tour in 2009. Once the tour has ended, the Buddha will move to its final home at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Australia. Here it can be a symbol of peace to inspire the world for millennia to come.

The Jade Buddha has been called a wonder of the world for its size and beauty. It is remarkable in many ways…starting with its origin. In the year 2000, the gem world was amazed with the discovery of the largest boulder ever found of gem-quality polar jade. This Jade was found to be the highest quality Nephrite and is so green, clear and vibrant that it was unlike any other jade ever found. Inspired by its location in Arctic Canada, it became known as “Polar Jade”. This 18-ton boulder was named Polar Pride and called “the find of the millennium”.

The Jade Buddha is remarkable also for its exquisite design. It was carefully modeled after the Buddha universally recognized by all Buddhists, with its trademark smile of serenity and look of compassion.

Its execution was entrusted to the most highly regarded master carvers in Thailand. As a result, the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace may be the largest and most beautiful Buddha carved from gemstone-quality jade.

Jade has influenced civilizations in Asia, South America and the Pacific since the beginning of history. People have found value in it as a tool, a healing stone and as a connection to the gods - and so it has been valued above other worldly possessions.  The tour of the Jade Buddha is meant to teach us to value peace above all worldly possessions - and in doing so, would be worth far more than the $5 million at which it has been valued.

The presence of the Jade Buddha of Universal Peace brings great credit to Orange County. It is hoped that the Buddha’s presence will inspire everyone who sees it to find peace in their home, their schools and work, their family, and in their own heart.

The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace is a project of The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bentigo, Australia. We are pleased to welcome the Chairman of the Great Stupa, Ian Green, who, while generously acknowledging widespread support from many people, has guided this endeavor on the journey from inception to this beautiful symbol of peace.

We welcome the Bikkhus and Bikkhunis from temples across the United States and various Chinese, Laotian, Thai, Korean, Tibetan, Sri Lanka and Cambodian temples across Florida. We are honored that by their cultivation of mindfulness and wisdom, and by their presence, they enrich our Sangha and help our community join in a common purpose of world peace.

Thank you also to the leaders and people of Bao An Temple who have joined in this endeavor and presentation of today's beautiful ceremony.

It is my honor on behalf of Orange County to join you in welcoming the Jade Buddha on this mission of universal peace. We appreciate the opportunity to share this ceremony with you.