Although, on some levels, it may be said that what we understand as stupas actually exist in infinite variety, our general, common knowledge is of eight different types, commemorating or symbolizing eight different events in the life of the Buddha.
However, there is a ninth type -- seemingly rather rare -- of which there are at present but a handful in the world, and this is the Kalachakra Stupa.
Reportedly, the first to be constructed is at Bokar Monastery in India (1988), followed by one in East Tibet, one in Hawaii (1991), and then one in Spain (1994). The next was built in Dharamsala, followed by one in Austria (2002). The largest one in the world, at Spiti, was consecrated in July 2009 by the Dalai Lama. There are indeed a few others, but not many.
The question I would like to put before the house is this: why don't we have one or more under construction in the mainland United States? I know we have one in Hawaii (1991), and another one in Indiana, but is there any new construction?
Anybody know where to get some engineering drawings for one of these?
3 reader comments:
Dear Tenpa Rinpoche,
first of all, nice to read your blog everyday and enjoy it very much. I have a question that I find no answer to it.
You talk a lot about the "false Jetsunma" refered to Akhon Lhamo, which was recognize by Penor Rinpoche, who also recognized other "controversial" tulkus as Steven Seagal. My question is: if they´re fake, how can such a great lama do that mistake? and if they´re not fake, how can a tulku, a highly realized practitioner, beheave like that?
I know it can be a difficult stuff to understand for a low-class practitioner like but please, I would like to hear your opinion about that. Most of the tibetans seems to be too polite talking about this questions... :)
All the best, and thank you in advance!
warm regards and yours in the dharma,
Dani
The Kalachakra stupa in Velez-Malaga, Spain is very nice, with good proportions.
Why not contact Wojtek Kossowski, who was the architect for this and numerous other stupa projects. I believe his email is wk@mk-architekten.de
-Konchog
Kalachakra stupa in Boston: http://www.kurukulla.org/stupa-project-kurukulla-tibetan-buddhist.php
Post a Comment