Update on Rigpa's Stupa Project - with new videos!
Rigpa
Placing the heart and life force of the stupa
In next stages, a set of mandalas were crane lifted from the top level of the temple and placed into the heart of the stupa followed by the sok shying, life force, of the stupa.
The filling of the stupa is underway
Update 13 August, 2024
Led by Tulku Rigdzin Pema Rinpoche and with the participation of retreatants from the Dzogchen Retreat, the throne of the stupa was filled with millions of mantras and other sacred substances.
A big thank you to Christophe Mimouni for his camera work!
VIDEO CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE - IT WILL BE BACK SOON!
Update on the construction of the stupa
Update 13 June
Friday 31 May saw the exciting first step in the construction of the Great Enlightenment Stupa with the placement of the first stone, followed by the placement and filling of the first layer.
The next days saw the first layers added with meticulous precision and love!
Watch how it unfolded.
🪷 You can support the stupa project with your donations: Lerab Ling | Dharma Mati
Placing the first stone of the stupa
Filling and sealing the first layer of the stupa
About Rigpa’s Stupa Project
A stupa is an architectural manifestation of the enlightened mind that symbolises the different qualities of Buddhahood. A stupa is consecrated, not as a structure, but as a living enlightened presence, benefiting beings by creating the cause for good health, peace, prosperity and harmony in the environment.
Preparing the ground
Before any stupa is built, there are a number of preparations made on the precise location where it will be built. Many rituals and practices are performed and the foundations for the actual construction are laid. The teams in Lerab Ling and Dharma Mati, Berlin have already made significant progress preparing the ground where the stupas there will be built. We expect Dzogchen Beara will start this phase at the beginning of 2025.
The Significance of the Design
Building a Stupa is an exact science and the design, proportions, and contents are all described in great detail in the ancient texts. It is the rigorous application of this knowledge that imbues the stupas with its tremendous sacred power. Rigpa has been incredibly fortunate to have the close guidance of Tulku Rigdzin Pema Rinpoche throughout this project to ensure each step is according to tradition.
There are eight shapes of stupas representing the eight great events of the life of Buddha Shakyamuni. The Great Enlightenment stupa will be built in Lerab Ling while Dzogchen Beara will build the stupa of the Descent from Tushita Heaven and Dharma Mati will build the All Victorious Stupa.
Materials
Each stupa will be sculptured in light-grey granite by a manufacturer in Portugal who has been tutored in the ancient art of stupa-making by expert Tibetan lamas. Their workshop has supplied stupas for Dharma centres all over the world and their precision and craftsmanship are exemplary. Granite, a natural stone formed from volcanic magma, is one of the hardest, most resistant as well as incredibly beautiful materials in the world. It is the main component and most solid layer of our planet, the earth’s crust.
Next steps
An exciting next stage in Lerab Ling will be the arrival of 5 trucks with granite components of the stupa, which will be carefully transported by truck from Portugal. This will take place on 29 May and will be the first step in a complex process of assembling the stupa.
A huge crane will lift and place each layer of the stupa, one on top of the other, after which all the relics and other sacred contents will be carefully placed inside according to precise specifications. The first phases of construction will be guided by Lama Wangchen (the main student of Tulku Rigdzin Pema Rinpoche). Tulku Rigdzin Pema Rinpoche will then oversee the final phase of the construction in July, August, and September. We will also benefit from the help of experienced construction experts from Europe.
By September this year, Dharma Mati, Berlin will be constructing their stupa, and in 2025 the granite layers of the stupa for Dzogchen Beara in Ireland will be transported there by truck and ship.
Preparing The Content For All Three Stupas
To guarantee the high quality and keep the costs as low as possible, the stupa project team decided that the production of all the contents of the stupas would be done centrally in Lerab Ling, then be sent to Berlin and Dzogchen Beara for their stupas. Since the end of 2023 the monastic and lay community and many sangha helpers have been working closely together making the zung (rolled mantras), tsa-tsas (mini statues) and sorting the many sacred relics that will go into all the three stupas. This is no small task, and their dedication is deeply inspiring.
Consecrating the Stupas
⭐️ If all goes well, we expect the Lerab Ling stupa to be completed by the end of August, auspiciously during the retreat marking the 5th anniversary of Sogyal Rinpoche’s parinirvana. Once the Stupa has been completed, Tulku Rigdzin Pema Rinpoche will conduct a rabné (blessing).
We hope the Berlin stupa will be consecrated in September. A fuller inauguration of the Lerab Ling stupa will take place at a later date with guest lamas and gathered sangha.
Photos above: Laying the foundations for the stupa at Dharma Mati, Berlin
Photos below: Preparations for the stupa in Lerab Ling
How You Can Help
Participating in the construction of the stupas by making donations or attending one of the ritual activities with an altruistic resolve to benefit all beings, is said to bring boundless benefits for oneself and others for many lives to come.
Over the last year Lerab Ling and Dharma Mati Berlin have already received generous donations that have allowed us to commission the carved stupa from Portugal, buy massive amounts of paper for zung, plaster and paint for tsa-tsas, print millions of mantras and to host many integration retreatants to help bring all this together.
To make an auspicious connection to this project and support these exciting developments:
You can make a donation to the stupa in Lerab Ling directly online or send a message to donations@rigpa.org if you want to make a donation by bank transfer or otherwise.
You can make a donation to the stupa in Dharma Mati, Berlin by PayPal or Bank Transfer
All gifts are deeply appreciated.
Read more about the Stupa Project
Related articles:
Rigpa’s stupa project news (March 2023 update)
