Hall of Dawn

The Hall of Dawn is designed in the image of a Tibetan monastery, where devout Buddhists would gather every day at the crack of dawn to turn prayer wheels containing mantras (sacred texts). Each turn has the same effect as reciting the mantras a hundred times over.

The more extensive the recital, the quicker they are able to purify negative karma and accumulate merit with the Buddha, resulting in a better chance at enlightenment. This makes the prayer wheels an indispensable part of their lives.

It’s why these prayer wheels are ingrained in the facade of each niche. Recreated with transparent glass, each of the three fully rotatable prayer wheels reveals a kaleidoscope of mantras that help each soul more swiftly reach the crescendo in his or her pursuit of enlightenment.

As each soul recites the mantras, the spiritual resonance he or she gains is collected in the frame of each receptacle. Inlaid with rhinestones like sacred gems embedded in a royal crown, the patternwork is as exquisite as it’s symbolic.

No effort was spared in creating a conducive space for the recitation of the mantras. Each of the three wings of the memorial hall is overhung by a chandelier circled by a billowing sheer drape that softens its brilliance. Together, they simulate the foreglow of dawn.

A monument of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, also watches over the hall from the central wing. Once a prince who undertook a spiritual path to enlightenment (and attained it) by giving up his material attachments and committing to the virtues of ethical conduct, mental discipline and wisdom, he’s the perfect role model for the souls seeking enlightenment.