The Stupa Project
The Place of Parinirvāṇa Is Sacred
His Holiness 16th Gyalwang Karmapa passed away in the American International Clinic (now operating as a location of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America), in Zion, IL, on November 5, 1981.
For Buddhist practitioners, the death of a teacher such as the 16th Karmapa is called Parinirvāṇa — enlightenment, or complete awakening — and the place surrounding the location of such an occurence becomes a holy place. Similarly, Buddhists today celebrate the Buddha Shakyamuni’s parinirvana, or enlightenment, and pilgrims visit the four major sites associated with Shakyamuni Buddha’s life.
Therefore, by building a temple here, students and practitioners from around the world will see this stupa as a holy pilgrimage site and are invited to come to visit the temple, have retreats, visit the city and contribute to the local economy. The retreat center and meditation hall are open to all who are interested without discrimination.
Our teacher the 16th Karmapa said that building stupas are good activities to benefit the environment and beings. In general, a stupa is a symbol for the enlightened body, speech, and mind of the guru — most essentially, the mind of the guru. Stupas are built for the protection of the environment and to prevent natural disasters. It is not an accident that His Holiness attained parinirvana here in Illinois, in the United States. This area is considered to be a sacred site, and we wish to honor His presence there by offering a stupa as a monument to His great being, and as a place for current and future practitioners to gain merit. If one practices at this stupa, following one’s teacher’s advice, relative obstacles are removed and ultimately one can achieve enlightenment.
Phase Two has already started planning and refining the design elements of the Stupa Temple, the 17th Karmapa’s house and finishing the underground construction, engineering and landscaping. A new walking path around the pond with a Guru Rinpoche statue secured in the middle is an inspirational new feature in 2026.
Based on the design of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the appearance of the main hall of the Stupa Temple is modeled after the place where Buddha Shakyamuni passed into parinirvāṇa, the Stūpa in Kushinagar, India.
A stupa stands as a physical symbol for the enlightened body, speech, and most essentially the mind of the guru. Stupas are built for the protection and preservation of nature, warding off natural disasters, as well as a place for current and future practitioners to gain merit. If one practices at this stupa, following one’s teacher’s advice, relative obstacles are removed and ultimately one can achieve enlightenment.
Helping to build the 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 Kagyu in particular, and especially the lineage of the Karmapas.
Phase 3 will finalize the planning/building retreat houses, garage, shed and beautification of grounds for wildlife.
Bhadrakalpa Buddha Statues
As long as the prayers of the Thousand Buddhas of this Bhadrakalpa (auspicious aeon) remain unfulfilled, the teachings of the Karmapas will remain uninterrupted. — Prayer by His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa.
As part of rebuilding Rumtek Monastery, also known as Dharma Chakra Centre, His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ranjung Rigpe Dorje, enshrined a thousand Bhadrakalpa Buddha statues. To follow this lineage tradition, a thousand Bhadrakalpa Buddhas will be placed around the 16th Karmapa’s Parinirvāṇa Stupa inside the Shrine Bulding.
Collumbarium
In addition to a Parinirvāṇa Stūpa Karmapa Center 16 will create the Collumbarium — a space dedicated to Tsa Tsa offerings. Crafted from clay, mixed with relics of a deceased, Tsa Tsa are like small stūpa and offered as a way of honoring and remembrance of a friend or relative.
The space for the Tsa Tsa will be located at the lower level of the Stūpa Temple, immediately beneath the Stūpa of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa. Placing a Tsa Tsa in this space supports those who have passed on to the next life by receiving the blessings of the lineage of the Karmapas, which is a very rare opportunity.
Those represented by the Tsa Tsa as well as those who have a direct or indirect connection to the Karmapa lineage will continue to receive blessings throughout the year due to the twice daily pujas performed with the heart of devotion by the KC16 sangha under the guidance of Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche. Rinpoche will also be presiding over the practices and offerings to the community during the Qingming Festival, KC16’s Annual Parinirvana Anniversary of the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa on November 5, along with other special Buddhist occasions such as Saga Dawa and Lhabab Düchen, all sources of great blessings.
Be part of this historic project.
Please help us manifest this precious monument!
Build the the Parinirvāṇa Stupa Temple together with us!
Donors of $5,000 or more will have their names listed on the stone inscription pillar in the courtyard.
Donors of $100,000 or more will have their names inscribed on a memorial plaque at the entryway of the stupa building.
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