Tara Sanctuary

from our photo gallery a few photos. If you click on any photo you will see an enlarged version:

The Tara Sanctuary was started in June 1999 and at the turn of the century the Tara Bells greeted the new millennium. Here is a little excerpt from what Rainer wrote about the bells at that time:

Bells are a precious, complex musical instrument and a piece of art created in a 500 year old tradition of bronze casting, each process taking up to two months time. Bells are not bought off the shelf, they are a one off creation and there is no bell combination that sounds alike. Several bells sounding together harmoniously in ever changing rhythm and sound sequences. Each bell contains a multiple sound structure in itself, usually in a minor key - the main sound impression being perceived by us internally and not measurable by any instrument. The final bell tuning therefore happens within. It is a sound that deeply touches us and has for centuries, before time was invented as a meter to determine our lives. Bells are a symbol.

The bell sound also depends on many other factors such as the bell tower and the way the bells are hung in a wooden bell housing to guarantee the fullest unfoldment of a rich sound to touch the hearts of the listeners.

I would like you to imagine to be called by the bells of the Tara Chapel drifting down from the Pukewhakataratara hillside to call you to stop and listen - to be touched again like in the old days by the true beauty of ancient church bells!

Perhaps these bells could become a kind of inner conscience that reminds us of the limitations of our power over time; a conscience that wants to be part of our everyday life in those moments where we have always chosen something seemingly more important.....a Call to Awaken.

These bells of the Tara Chapel are ringing for you and me, resonating with our souls.

At this point we would like to acknowledge some of the people who have contributed to this project in a major way.

Reinhard Kanuka-Fuchs as the architect continues to support the sanctuary in its various stages to this day. We thank him for both his professional excellence and support as a friend.

Alan Drayton and his builders erected the shell and had to overcome many unusual challenges. Their energy is embedded in these buildings.

Max Walls and his team of stonemasons have shown wonderful skills and tenacity. Their work will be admired for centuries.

Many, many others are and were involved, their contribution will be remembered.

Last but not least is the question: where did the inspiration for all this come from? The answer lies in the word inspiration. When you look at the buildings, when you feel them from the inside, when you hear the sounds, it is as if they had always been there. A truly inspirational process.

The building process continues. The machines have gone, gentle stone chipping can be heard under the mountain. Slowly and artistically the stone walls develop, each stone manually faced with chisels and carefully put in place.

The four stained glass windows with symbols of the major religions are now finished. Stephen Hutton, the creator of these stunning windows has put them in place. No doubt that for centuries they will be admired and will inspire many generations to come.

The windows are in the four major directions. Beginning in the east, honouring the element air, the colour is yellow. Here Judaism and Christianity are represented symbolically.

In the north, the colour is red (the element of fire in our hemisphere). The ancient Persian religion of Zoroaster and Islam and Sufism are honoured.

In the west the colour is blue and the element water, with the sacred OM sign representing Hinduism and the simple lotus; Buddhism.

In the south, the element is earth and the colour is green. This window honours all the earth based paths, all the indigenous cultures from the Maori to the Celtic. It especially celebrates the ancient goddess traditions which were widely spread over our beautiful planet.

The borders of all the windows are a spiral portraying the koru, symbol of the unfolding perfection of life.

Here are the windows. If you click on them they will enlarge for a better view: