分类归档：Stupa Site

Guru Rinpoche Statue Consecration and Teaching

On Friday, July 24, 2026 Karmapa Center 16 will hold a traditional consecration ceremony for a life-sized bronze statue of Guru Rinpoche (the 8th century Indian master who brought Buddhism to Tibet), crafted by an artisan in Nepal, and newly installed in the middle of the pond located on the property. Renowned Buddhist teacher Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche will lead the ceremony on Friday, July 24, and offer a free public teaching on The Life and Teachings of Guru Rinpoche on Saturday, July 25. The events are free and open to the public, and will take place both onsite at the Center, and broadcast live online via Zoom.

Karmapa Center 16 was established near Zion, IL to commemorate His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, the head of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. In addition to the statue, the Center will eventually include a temple with a large shrine room and meditation hall to house the Parinirvana Stupa (a reliquary monument for His Holiness), a library, classrooms, and other associated buildings. The site was chosen because Zion is where the Karmapa passed away at the Cancer Treatment Center of America on November 5, 1981. Karmapa Center 16 will be a pilgrimage site for Buddhists and is intended as a sacred space for everyone; dedicated to cultivating kindness, peace, understanding and compassion.

Considered by many to be a “living Buddha,” the 16th Karmapa was well-known for his great love for animals, especially birds of all kinds. Recent groundwork at the site included an expansion of the existing pond, which will offer a larger resting place for migrating birds such as the Canada Goose and several species of heron, while also providing water to prevent fire in case of emergencies. In keeping with the teachings and example of his predecessor, the current head of the Kagyu Lineage, His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, regularly speaks about the importance of living and acting in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. Therefore, the Center is grateful that this first phase of construction was completed successfully and contributed to the protection of the environment.

Board Advisor Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche recently said, “In my view, anything one can do to extend assistance and support is not only deeply appreciated but is also a powerful contribution toward ensuring that the precious Kagyu lineage and all of its teachings remain present in the world, that His Holiness’ presence may remain uninterrupted, and that the world may continue to experience happiness, well-being, and benefit. That support and the contributions will help this benefit spread throughout the world.”

We hope you can join us onsite, online, or in spirit, for these very special events.

Karmapa Khyenno!

Photo courtesy of The Shambhala Archives. All rights reserved.

Save the Dates

On Friday, July 24th — the 10th day of the 6th month of the Fire Horse Year, an auspicious day in the Tibetan calendar celebrating the birth of Guru Padmasambhava — Karmapa Center 16 will hold a special consecration ceremony of the Guru Rinpoche statue, followed by a teaching the next day.

His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, regularly teaches about the importance of living and acting in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, was well-known for his great love for animals, especially birds of all kinds. We are therefore deeply grateful that the groundwork was successfully completed with the intention of making a meaningful contribution to the protection of the environment. The existing pond was expanded and deepened, and will continue to offer a resting place for migrating birds such as the Canada Goose and Heron, while also providing water to help prevent fire in case of emergencies. 

At the center of the pond now stands the beautifully crafted bronze statue of Guru Rinpoche, which was specially commissioned and made by an artisan in Nepal. 

We are deeply honored that Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche will lead the consecration ceremony on Friday, July 24, followed by a profound teaching on Saturday, July 25.

We warmly invite everyone to join us — onsite or online — to mark this significant next step in the development of Karmapa Center 16, as we continue our work to build the temple that will be the home of the 16th Karmapa’s Parinirvana Stupa, Retreat Houses, and more.

July 24 Consecration Ceremony of Guru Rinpoche Statue

July 25 Teaching by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche

Registration info to come soon…stay tuned!

Guided by Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche, Our Groundwork is Moving Forward

In May of 2015, His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, blessed the proposed site of the Parinirvāṇa Stūpa at Karmapa Center 16. Ten years later, almost to the month, the lamas at the Center held traditional pujas and a Vase Ceremony in preparation for the construction of the temple that will house the Parinirvāṇa Stūpa for His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. From aspiration to manifestation, a decade of collective, continuous, and heartfelt effort led to groundbreaking for the Stūpa Temple, which will house the Parinirvāṇa Stūpa, and other buildings in July, 2025. 

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Sacred Site

Rangjung Rigpe Dorje was the first Karmapa to display parinirvāṇa outside of Tibet. There is no coincidence that His Holiness did so here in Zion, Illinois, consecrating this site as sacred. The Parinirvāṇa Stūpa will be a physical commemoration of His Holiness, encouraging and allowing visitors to make a direct connection with him. 1

“There is a spiritual power in the earth of a sacred place, and it influences the activities performed there,” Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, advisor to KC16, once said. “A sacred place has the energy to bring more joy, compassion, love and awakening from a deep state of delusion. …when we recollect the life-example of His Holiness, full of loving-kindness and compassion, we can extract blessings to manifest those teachings in our own life.”

Stūpas not only represent the enlightenment and/or the life activities of great lineage masters like the 16th Karmapa, they also benefit and protect the environment, and offer a source of merit for countless beings, now and in the future.

Throughout the construction of the Temple and other buildings, we remain steadfast in our commitment to honor the vast love and care that His Holiness embodied for all beings. There are and will be necessary changes to the land, yet we are inspired by the blessings the Temple will bring for the birds and other animals who live here, and for the practitioners and pilgrims who visit or stay for retreats. 

First next steps

Before the engineers and construction team could begin their work, the site needed clearing. The first step, taken by our devoted volunteers and kind friends from Asia, was to respectfully take down the prayer flags marking the circumference of the Temple. It was a poignant moment to see the flags removed, after their sending prayers and blessings on the wind for so many years, yet it meant an exciting move closer toward the building of the Temple.

Next, with great care, the lamas gently cut the grasses—revealing the spaciousness and beauty of the grounds—to prepare the land for the engineers, workers, volunteers, and machines to lay the necessary pipes, pumps, and underground infrastructure. 

With utmost attention and prayers, we are now enlarging and deepening our beautiful, natural pond that has long been a peaceful refuge for birds and other beings at KC16. The change will continue to bring well-being to countless creatures, and if needed, serve as a source of water for the future Parinirvāṇa Stūpa Temple. 

Next spring or maybe sooner, we will place a statue of Guru Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche) in the center—the heart—of the pond and humbly dedicate it to the benefit of all who visit. We hope it will help make the future residence of the 17th Karmapa a calm and inspiring place for His Holiness whenever he honors us with a visit. 

A Meaningful Journey

As the work continues, each small action becomes part of a steady, meaningful journey, moving the project forward day by day, week by week, with the support and aspirations of you, all our friends and community around the world. Under the caring guidance of our president, Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche, we can move not only this project forward, but also find inspiration to progress on our personal spiritual path and bring our shared aspirations for the world to fruition.

Every step, both seen and unseen, inspires confidence, trust, and devotion. All the ongoing groundwork is in service to the Karmapa lineage and the enduring presence of the teachings. Our shared project is dedicated to the benefit of beings for generations to come. Your continued support makes it all possible; it is deeply appreciated and gratefully received.

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  1. The aspiration of Karmapa Center 16 is to establish a place for pilgrimage, meditation, retreat, study, and refuge, in honor of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. Building a Temple for His Holiness the 16th Karmapa’s Parinirvana Stupa will offer powerful connections with the compassionate life example and teachings of HH the 16th Karmapa. Creating this temple will fulfill vast aspirations to benefit beings and encourage individuals to visit for pilgrimage, study, and practice of the dharma in general, the Kagyü in particular, and especially the lineage of the Karmapas. ↩︎

Fourteenth Story Update: Guru Rinpoche blessing statues formed from KC16 earth

(From right to left) Soil, mold for the statues, statues made of blessed earth, and finally statues painted in gold

Last week, soil samples from deep within the land at KC16 were taken as the next step for our engineers and architects to move forward with foundation plans. The contractors gave us the surplus soil, which Drupon Rinpoche and the Lamas on site have been using to construct small Guru Rinpoche statues from the blessed land. They say the soil is so good that nothing extra was needed to hold it together or be strong enough to create the statues. Due to the blessings of the land as the Parinirvana site of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, and being blessed by the 17th Karmapa, this earth is saturated with blessings!

  • Blessed earth and gold statues
  • Abundance of Guru Rinpoche statues!

Reminder! KC16 is co-hosting Tara Drupchen with Nalandabodhi International/Nalandabodhi Seattle and Nalanda West from September 24-27. The Tara Drupchen will be especially dedicated to overcoming the current pandemic, to all beings suffering directly or indirectly from it, and to dispelling fear in our world. For registration information email: communications@nalandabodhi.org.

Fourth Story Update: James Gimian Shares His [Video] Recollections About His Holiness the 16th Karmapa

“The 16th Gyalwang Karmapa seldom gave Dharma teachings through words but taught intensively through physical gestures and tamed beings through his mere presence. One of his major activities was to liberate all those who saw him … so there is undoubtedly great value in any visual connection made with him.”*

— His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

During this difficult time of the global coronavirus pandemic, we can find solace and inspiration by seeing images, watching videos, and perhaps recalling one’s own experience of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa. His spontaneous and joyous actions benefited beings wherever and in whatever way conditions permitted, despite any obstacles. 

We are pleased to present a way to visually connect with the 16th Karmapa by sharing photographs and videos about him. Contemplating his life and the lives of other lineage masters can benefit our mind stream and help us find the courage to open our hearts as we move through distressing times. When we benefit ourselves in this way, we are better equipped to support others both directly and indirectly.

We hope these offerings about His Holiness are indeed uplifting and an inspiration for yourself, your family, friends, colleagues and communities. We will soon include new ways to share acts of kindness so that those positive actions may ripple outward to be felt far and wide.  

This week’s video features James Gimian, who first became involved with Buddhism in 1972, as a student of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Two years later, he held a lead role during His Holiness the 16th Karmapa’s first visit to the United States for the ten day Dharma Festival in San Francisco, in 1974. In the video interview Mr. Gimian, who is the publisher of Mindful Magazine, describes how His Holiness was a vital catalyst for introducing Buddhism to the West by facilitating “the diaspora of the teachings coming to the west.” 

Knowing that His Holiness was instrumental in the blossoming of Buddhism in Western culture, Mr. Gimian also recognizes how the Stupa in Wadsworth, in the Heartland of America, will serve as “ground zero for the dharma becoming deeply rooted in North American soil.” 

The story of His Holiness’ positive influences on those who cared for him at the end of his life in Illinois, reminds us of the power we all have to make a difference in the lives of others and vice versa. It made us think with tremendous gratitude and prayers for the safety of the millions of brave and selfless pandemic healthcare workers around the world. We can also follow His Holiness’ example and express gratitude, kindness, joy, generosity, and compassion in our everyday interactions regardless of challenging circumstances. We can be the positive change we all long for.

We give great thanks to everyone who has generously donated to help bring this vision to fruition by supporting our campaign for the Stupa. While the campaign will continue through June, we understand that making a donation is not possible for many at this time. Should you be able to give or feel moved to support the campaign at any point, your gift will be gratefully received.

We wish you all good health and well being, and look forward to sharing more about His Holiness with you next week.

*Excerpted from Dharma King: The Life of the 16th Karmapa in Images

James Gimian shares the significance of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa’s visits to North America. Video produced by Sam Scoggins. (Click on photo to view video)

The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa visits The Karmapa Center 16

The Karmapa Center 16 was honored to receive a visit from His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, August 30–September 1 in Wadsworth, Illinois. His Holiness arrived early evening on Thursday August 30th. Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche, staff and friends of KC16 were overjoyed to receive His Holiness and His Entourage for tea and rice followed by dinner.

His Holiness came to make a good auspicious connection for the success of the building of the Parinirvana Stupa for His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. On the bright sunny morning of Friday, August 31st the 17th Karmapa conducted a smoke puja and planted an evergreen in an auspicious location near the future stupa site. A sun halo sparkled overhead as devotees relaxed in the fields and gardens after the event.

KC16 hosted a dinner on Friday evening to the music of sandhill cranes and cicadas. Wadsworth Mayor Glenn Ryback, Board Trustees Doug Jacobs and Jim Zegar along with local friends and supporters enjoyed conversation, laughter and dining on the lawn with the 17th Karmapa, Ponlop Rinpoche and Drupon Rinpoche.

His Holiness returned for lunch on Saturday to give some words of advice for the project.

Photos courtesy of Lama Tenzin Namdak, Acharya Lama Jampa and Damayonti Sengupta.

Stupa Land Successfully Purchased!

IMG_20160606_134359

The Karmapa Center 16 is pleased to announce that at the end of May we successfully purchased the beautiful 10-acre prairie land, farmhouse and outbuildings in Wadsworth, Illinois! Blessed by His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, the future site of the parinirvana stupa dedicated to His Holiness the 16th Karmapa is one major step closer to fruition.

Sincere thanks to all of you whose incredible generosity enabled the second challenge grant success thereby achieving the funding goal for the land purchase. Phase One of the three-phase project is now complete. How marvelous and auspicious!

New Challenge Grant for the Start of 2016!

As previously announced, thanks to all of your contributions so far, we are 86% of the way to our goal of purchasing the land for The Karmapa Center 16 memorial stupa hall.

We are now thrilled to announce that another generous donor and her company have offered a $100,000 Challenge Grant for the remaining funds to purchase the land and cover operating costs for the first half of the 2016! We have two months from January 31st to meet this challenge, or until March 31, 2016, during which period any donation will be doubled by this kind benefactor.

We gratefully celebrate the wonderful auspicious connections that have already made with His Holiness the 16th Karmapa and the project to memorialize his life and activity at the location of his Parinirvana.

We ask that you please continue to help spread the word to anyone who may share a connection with or interest in this project. Be part of this unique and auspicious endeavor—please help us meet this challenge!

Help Make The Karmapa Center 16 Happen
Please Donate Today!

Join our campaign to purchase The Karmapa Center 16 land by October 31st, 2015

His Holiness, the 16th Karmapa with Chogyam Trungpa RInpoche in the United States.

We have an incredible opportunity to purchase the Wadsworth, IL land located 5 miles west of the 16th Karmapa’s parinirvana at the cancer center and blessed by the 17th Karmapa. We invite you to join us in this auspicious undertaking to establish this pilgrimage site in North America!

As we complete ecological and traffic studies to prepare for the county and village meetings and permit approval process, we are simultaneously fundraising to purchase the land. To date, approximately $300,000 has been raised… 

in order to close on this property, we require an additional $650,000 by October 31, 2015.  

How can I help, you ask?

We’re so very glad you did! There are several ways to make a connection to the project and contribute meaningfully:

  • Donate in the following ways:
    • Online
    • Write a check to “The Karmapa Center 16” and mail to: 41230 Kilbourne Road, Wadsworth, IL 60083
    • Wire transfer or direct deposit by contacting us at info@karmapacenter16.org, Subject line: DONATION
  • Spread the word
    • Tell your friends!
    • Share the news on social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn
    • Contact us at info@karmapacenter16.org for brochures/pledge card packages to distribute
  • Share your stories, experiences, pictures and memories with the 16th Karmapa by emailing us at info@karmapacenter16.org
    • Video yourself sharing the story
    • Write your story
    • Scan your pictures or memorabilia

We look forward to hearing from you!

HHK blesses proposed Stupa ground
HHK17 blesses the proposed HHK16 parinirvana stupa ground at The Karmapa Center 16