HOA_Borobudur_HFY_1105244

Borobudur is a great Buddhist temple founded from the 8th and 9th centuries in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The name 'Borobudur' is derive from the Sanskrit words vihara Buddha uhr, meaning the Buddhist monastery on the hill. It was founded by a king of the Saliendra dynasty. The monument was made of six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. This structure is in the form of a lotus, the sacred flower of Buddha and alike with the concept of mandala.
There are ninety-two Dhyani Buddha statues and 1,460 relief scenes for each direction. 160 reliefs which depicting cause and effect were in the lowest level. While the middle level contains various stories of the Buddha's life from the Jataka Tales and then the highest level has no reliefs or decorations but has a balcony, square in shape with round walls- a circle without beginning or end. The ninety-two Vajrasattvas or Dhyani Buddhas tucked into small stupas at the highest level. Each of these statues has a mudra (hand gesture) indicating one of the five directions: east, south, west, north, and the centre.
Besides being the highest symbol of Buddhism, the Borobodur stupa is also a replica of the universe. It symbolises the micro-cosmos. It is divided into three levels, in which man's world of desire is influenced by negative impulses; the middle level, the world in which man has control of his negative impulses and uses his positive impulses; the highest level, in which the world of man is no longer bounded by physical and worldly ancient desire.
As related to the hero's journey, Borobudur is like the travel of man to become buddha. At first, people will reject to accept the mission but after they awake they will go on their way, overcome the challenge and hardship to complete their journey. The three levels in Borobudur show the hero's journey process. Influenced by others, control themselves, achieve target.

References:
Borobudur (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2012, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borobudur

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