Buddhist Carving
Carved out for the Millennium, this stunning granite rock stands proudly on L’Eperquerie, facing West towards the other islands of Guernsey, Jethou and Herm.
In 1999 a Tibetan Buddhist monk visited Sark, and went all over the island with a friend to find the best spot to make his carving. This was in response to a request by somebody who loved Sark. The spot at L’Eperquerie was chosen for its granite which is hardwearing.
The inscription on the rock is a sacred Buddhist mantra, common on prayer flags, jewellery, ornaments and temples. It is quite hard to translate into English, but literally the six syllables are “Hail the jewel in the heart of the lotus” or “Behold! The jewel in the lotus!”
The mantra ” Om Mani Padme Hum” is chanted as protection against evil and harm.
Find the panoramic photo of the site on our interactive map here . Look to the Northern tip of Sark for a green marker, under Place of Beauty.