The Bodhisattva's Eye Gratitude Pagoda

　　It carries profound symbolism, rich cultural heritage, and is imbued with the deep and extensive essence of Tibetan Buddhism and the ancient, weighty traditional architectural style. The Gratitude Pagoda of the Bodhisattva’s Eye stands solemn and resplendent in gold, consisting of four parts: the base, the pedestal, the spire, and the crown. The pagoda has 13 steps on each of its four sides, representing the path to enlightenment. The four pagoda pillars symbolize the “Four Great Elements” through their structural forms: the vertical structure represents “Earth,” the columnar structure represents “Water,” the square gilded container structure represents “Fire,” and the towering spire structure represents “Sky,” forming what Buddhism calls the “Union of the Four Great Elements.” This structure reflects the arrangement of the material elements of nature and symbolizes the essence of life. The 6-meter-high copper treasure vase at the top symbolizes the Six Realms of Rebirth: the realm of gods, asuras, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and hell. The four walls of the pagoda are painted with enormous Buddha eyes, representing the Five Eyes of Buddhism (the fleshly eye, the heavenly eye, the wisdom eye, the Dharma eye, and the Buddha eye)—specifically, the Wisdom Eye. The Wisdom Eye signifies the eye of wisdom, also called the spiritual eye, representing the Buddha’s wisdom, compassion, and enlightenment. It symbolizes the Buddha’s gaze upon all directions, warning people that good and evil actions bear karmic consequences. Only by ceasing evil and practicing good can one escape suffering and find joy; only by harboring gratitude can one bring hope. The Wisdom Eye possesses a powerful insight that pierces through life and the universe. The circular mark between the eyes represents the symbol of complete enlightenment in Buddhist teachings. The “?”-like mark beneath the Wisdom Eye is the Nepali numeral for “one,” reminding people of the non-duality of worldly phenomena. It signifies that compassion and wisdom must be united in action, symbolizing harmony and unity. When viewed from above, the entire pagoda resembles a mandala, symbolizing perfection and completeness, representing a harmonious and whole universe. The square gilded container adorned with Wisdom Eyes houses the Tibetan Buddhist canon—the Kangyur and Tengyur. Passersby who walk beneath it once are believed to have recited the entire canon, gaining the ability to discern right from wrong, repent past misdeeds, dispel disasters, and accumulate merit. The red square base of the gilded container, shaped like three sides, represents the “Three Realms” in Buddhism: the realm of desire, the realm of form, and the realm of formlessness. These also symbolize the heavenly realm where deities and sages reside, the human realm or the real world, and the terrifying underworld-like realm of demons.

　　 The Bodhisattva's Eye Gratitude Pagoda stands 33 meters tall, symbolizing the geographic elevation of 3,300 meters of the coastal Tibetan city. The 53-meter circumference of the four pagoda pillars represents the year of the establishment of Gangca County—1953. The 31 bronze bells hanging from the edge of the gilded canopy emit clear, tinkling sounds, representing the 31 administrative villages of Gangca County, where people of all ethnic groups pray for peace and prosperity for all under heaven during the county’s leapfrog development. The inscriptions “Gangca” and “The Party’s Grace Is as Deep as the Sea” displayed between the pillars reflect the aspirations and beautiful visions of the people of the coastal Tibetan city, who, under the Party’s benevolence, strive for ethnic unity, social harmony, and the building of their homeland.

　　On that day, I closed my eyes in the incense haze of the scripture hall and suddenly heard the sacred words you chanted.

　　That month, I turned all the prayer wheels, not to pray for the dead, but just to touch your fingertips.

　　That year, I prostrated myself along the mountain path, not to pay homage, but just to feel your warmth.

　　In that lifetime, I circled mountains, rivers, and stupas, not for future rebirths, but just to meet you along the way.

　　 A devout believer, he burned incense in the scripture hall, turned prayer wheels, prostrated himself, and worshipped the stupa, pouring out his heart to the Buddha. Amid the passage of time, he savored the long-lost luster of days gone by. Wrapped in a layer of mystical “veil of emotion,” we sense the piety of Tsangyang Gyatso, this saint of poetry, toward the Buddha. Within the mysterious world of the Potala Palace, he composed poem after poem—some gentle as flowing water, others soul-stirring. Yet this immensely talented figure was like a soft, fleeting rainbow, briefly gracing the long river of history before vanishing swiftly, leaving behind for us, 300 years later, exquisite verses and endless sighs. To commemorate this sage of the world’s poetry, the warm, simple, and hardworking people of Gangca adapted to local conditions and created with ingenuity the uniquely designed Tsangyang Gyatso Cultural Square. Here, the world can immerse itself in Tsangyang Gyatso’s sacred cultural paradise, appreciate the world’s most beautiful love songs, and savor and perceive the most charismatic aspects of the master’s character.