The Great Stupa of Dharmakaya
The Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, located at Shambhala Mountain Center in northern Colorado, is the most impressive visible manifestation of Shambhala Buddhism, a tall, beautiful structure that embodies -- both spiritually and physically -- the aspiration to create enlightened society based on ancient (but thoroughly current) principles of human wisdom. A stupa is a traditional Buddhist form for expressing the aspiration to enlightenment in architectural form.
The Great Stupa of Dharmakaya is the largest structure of this kind in the Western Hemisphere. The Stupa has many striking features, including its basic material -- concrete that has been designed to last 1000 years, in the tradition of the concrete used during the Roman Empire, rather than the concrete of the 19th and 20th centuries, which generally is expected to deteriorate drastically within 100-200 years.
This massive project absorbed the intensive personal and financial efforts of many dedicated members of the Shambhala community, capable construction professionals, and others magnetized by this remarkable building for many years from the late 1980s into the 2000s.
In August 2001, the Stupa was consecrated in a major event that drew thousands of people to Shambhala Mountain Center for teachings, ceremonies, and simple curiosity. In August 2006, the Dalai Lama visited the Stupa and received the first annual Living Peace Award from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.
 The Trust's involvement with the Stupa project extended over several years. In 1998, the managers of the project requested $231,000 from the Trust to design, promote, and complete construction of the next phase of the Stupa. The Trust provided $100,000 for that purpose. In 1999, another $100,000 was requested --and the full amount provided -- to complete what was needed through the consecration event in 2001.
In 2000, a further $100,000 was requested for the same purpose, and the Trust allocated $81,500. Finally, later in 2000, another $100,000 was requested -- and provided by the Trust -- to support a salary increase for Stupa staff, help fund the the eighteen-foot gold seated Buddha on the ground floor of the Stupa, and to create a new road and paths around the Stupa.
Testimonials
"One of the Shambhala Trust's most important projects was to seed the development of Shambhala Mountain Center - including the completion of The Great Stupa. Shambhala's largest land center, Shambhala Mountain had always been at the forefront of Sakyong Mipham's vision for fulfilling the sangha's potential to make a difference in the world.
It was my incredible good fortune to have the support of the Shambhala Trust as I began as the director of this project in 1998. For the next three years, it was the Trust's commitment and support - on financial, emotional and advisory levels, that allowed the key steps to be taken that led to Shambhala Mountain's transformation. Who would have guessed how that bud would bloom!"
Jeff Waltcher, CEO,
Shambhala Mountain Development
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