The Garden of Infinite Compassion honors the Dalai Lama's visit to the Wood River Valley. A contemplative garden by design, it is a place to seek both inner and outer repose. The natural serenity and beauty of the garden enables us to abandon worldly distractions and inner worries, thus unearthing the restorative powers of a quiet mind.
During a private ceremony on September 13, 2005, the Dalai Lama consecrated and blessed the Tibetan Prayer Wheel. The 400 pound, hand carved Prayer Wheel was crafted by Buddhist monks in Dharamsala, India and is one of only two prayer wheels in North America blessed by His Holiness. The gift of the Prayer Wheel was accompanied by a larger message of healing in the wake of the September 11, 2001 tragedies. It serves as a reminder for community members and visitors alike to promote global peace and harmony through their daily actions.
The Garden was designed by Martin Mosko, a prominent landscape architect and ordained Buddhist Monk from Boulder, Colorado. Martin sited the location as far away as possible from the traffic noise on Highway 75. Within thirty days he designed the garden, personally selected the stones, oversaw their placement and the entire construction process from start to completion. The construction was accomplished by Big Wood Landscape in the miraculous time of four and a half weeks.
The Sawtooth Botanical Garden is honored to be chosen as the site for the Prayer Wheel and to have the opportunity to create a very special place for people of all faiths to come, reflect and find peace.
