At White Buddha Temple
Open on Instagram ↗BIJALA · TIBETAN JEWELRY
The Wish
Locket®
A beautiful wish.
Stylish like you.
Fine blessed mineral & crystal grains from a completed sand mandala at White Buddha Temple, sealed inside each necklace. The monks placed them in our hands; we made something for you to keep close.
Visit White Buddha TempleBrilliant Diamonds
Sapphire Dome
WHITE BUDDHA TEMPLE · QINGHAI
Our visit to
White Buddha Temple
On the eastern shore of Qinghai Lake, twenty monks of the Gelug tradition gathered for a sand mandala ceremony. We joined them from 4–18 December 2025.
These are our photographs of those days: the temple hall, the courtyard, the coloured grains taking shape.
MAHĀVAIROCANA · THE GREAT ILLUMINATOR
Mahāvairocana
and the mandala
The monks made a Vajradhātu, or Diamond-Realm, mandala for Mahāvairocana—the Great Illuminator Buddha. In this tradition, he represents awakened wisdom and sits at the centre of the mandala.
A mandala gives form to an enlightened world. Its circles surround a palace with gates; every colour and pattern belongs to a carefully ordered whole. It is made for meditation and ritual.
The fine blessed mineral & crystal grains in your necklace were once part of this mandala.
See the mandala in Brilliant Diamonds
MAKING THE MANDALA
Making the sand mandala
With fine metal tools, the monks patiently draw each coloured line. A line becomes a pattern; the patterns become a mandala. We filmed them at work so you could see how it took shape.
In the temple courtyard
The prayers, the work, the walks through the courtyard. These are the days behind each necklace.
AT THE END OF THE CEREMONY
Returning to water
The monks sweep away the mandala, gathering the fine blessed mineral & crystal grains for the closing ceremony.
In this tradition, letting it go is a reminder that everything changes. Returning the mandala to water carries its blessings beyond the temple.
From their hands to yours
From their hands
to yours
They gave us a portion of the completed mandala. We wanted to make something beautiful enough to honour it, and personal enough to wear every day.
We designed the necklaces in New York. Tibetan craftspeople in Qinghai shaped the silverwork, with a centre you can turn between your fingers.
A little blessing for yourself, or for someone you love.
The Wish Locket®
Choose your necklace
Brilliant Diamonds
$219.00 ↗A mandala-inspired outline, set with moissanite. Two carats of fine blessed mineral & crystal grains, on a fine chain.
Shop Brilliant Diamonds
Sapphire Dome
$79.00 ↗Five carats of fine blessed mineral & crystal grains beneath crystal glass. An engraved reverse, a turning centre and a black woven cord.
Shop Sapphire DomeAvailable in 18K Gold Vermeil and Polished Sterling Silver. Both have an Ag 925 sterling silver base.
THE BIJALA TOUCH
Turn the wheel.
Turn your luck.
Before you step out. Before something new.
Turn the centre, take a breath, make a little wish.
From the ceremony
Films from our visit
Films from our visit to White Buddha Temple, 4–18 December 2025, from making the sand mandala to the closing ceremony.
@bijalacorpThe closing days, by the water
Open on Instagram ↗In the temple courtyard
Open on Instagram ↗Gathered for the ceremony
Open on Instagram ↗Inside the ritual
Open on Instagram ↗
Our promise to White Buddha Temple
Our promise to White Buddha Temple
From every batch of Wish Locket® pieces, we will donate 5% of proceeds to White Buddha Temple, where the mandala is made and the fine blessed mineral & crystal grains are blessed.
A blessing, given
For someone you want to keep close.
Each piece arrives in a Bijala box, with a Tibetan handwoven dust pouch, care instructions and a card tracing its source.
For a birthday, a new chapter, or just because.