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.
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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- 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. ↩︎
