Stupa

Karmê Chöling is the auspicious place where the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche first established his teaching seat in North America. It is also the sacred site where his body was cremated. After the cremation, his ashes were to be placed in a number of stupas throughout the Shambhala mandala, which would act as lightning rods for gathering and radiating awakened energy. It is now time to build a stupa at Karmê Chöling.

Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche has requested that we build a magnetizing stupa in a "power spot" that is visible from the road and easily visited. Eva Wong and the Sakyong have determined this location, and the site was blessed on May 6, 2006. The stupa will be about 50 feet high, and will house relics of the Vidyadhara.

The spot where the Purkhang now stands is planned to be made into an "inner" shrine, to be visited mainly by people practicing at Karmê Chöling. The shrine will be a simple house of Tibetan and Japanese design with large windows, heating, and space for practice. Inside will be a brass stupa about eight feet high, also containing relics of the Vidyadhara.