What’s Inside a Buddha? More Than I Ever Imagined

Today I visited the Wangduechhoeling Palace in Bumthang, Bhutan and learned that Buddha statues—yes, even the giant ones—often have scriptures and sacred objects placed inside them.

It turns out these inner contents are called a zung, or inner relic. When a statue, stupa, or religious structure is created, it’s not considered spiritually “complete” until the zung is inserted in a ceremony of consecration. This isn’t just symbolic decoration—it’s believed to imbue the object with actual spiritual power, enabling it to bless anyone who comes into contact with it.

At the heart of this process is something called the sogshing, a wooden core placed inside the hollow statue. Imagine a slender wooden pillar with a tapered top and a vajra at the base, painted a deep red and inscribed on all four sides with mantras. This sogshing forms the inner spine of the statue.

Wrapped around it in silk are layers of sacred items, such as:

• miniature statues (often of Yeshey Sempa, considered the main relic),
• sacred relics,
• precious metals,
• gemstones.

Then the surrounding space is filled meticulously with rolled mantras, sandalwood, incense powders, and other offerings. Only when everything is in place is the base sealed and the entire statue formally consecrated.

I had always thought of large Buddha statues as either solid or hollow, and quietly empty inside. Realizing that many of them contain carefully arranged scripture, relics, and symbolism made me realize they’re not just objects of devotion—they’re vessels.

From now on, whenever I see one, especially the towering giants, I’ll wonder what prayers and relics are quietly sitting inside, radiating meaning outward.