get into my heart, and continue to manifest in (shokshing), rising within the tapered spire, and
my life. supporting the luminous pinnacle of the shrine.

A significant monument by itself, this massive
The Palace of Awakened Mind
“spine,” was cut from a 110 foot Oregon Incense

Cedar tree, and is now oriented to the same
Approaching The Great Stupa, we are greeted
compass direction in Colorado as it stood for
by a fourteen foot gleaming bonze Buddha
centuries in Oregon. It gleams lacquer-red,
standing overhead, gazing benevolently down,
covered with thousands of hand-caligraphed,
hands open in gestures of fearlessness and
gold leafed, sacred inscriptions. The finished
generosity. Sculpted by the project’s art director,
beam epitomizes the devotion that went into this
Joshua Mulder, this classically styled figure
building, and the uncompromising,
seems to accept and protect everyone
impeccable tradition of Tibetan Buddhist sacred
approaching its holy abode.
art.
Aside from being a spiritual landmark and a

burial reliquary, The Great Stupa lives up to
Sky-Pointing Jewel Pinnacle
its name by doubling as a three-story museum,

housing some of the finest new sacred Tibetan
The brilliant golden spire of The Great Stupa
Buddhist sculptures and wall paintings in the
represents the ascent to enlightenment, which
world. Indeed, entering the multi-colored main
Trungpa Rinpoche called human wholeness. The
portico brings us before an even larger Buddha,
pinnacle is crowned with a graceful garland-
the twenty-foot
shaped “parasol” (symbolizing compassion), a
Shakyamuni, seated in teaching position. The
crescent moon (representing awakened mind or
statue impressed me greatly, even before I
Bodhicita ) cradling the sun-disk of highest
learned that Trungpa Rinpoche’s cremated
knowledge (Prajna), and topped off by the
remains rest in the very heart of the huge figure.
perfect wish-fulfilling jewel of awakened mind.

Within the spire are treasure boxes filled with
Spectacular Vision
sacred texts, prayer flags, thousand year-old

relics,
One floor above the main assembly hall stands
silver, gold, precious jewels, and seeds from the
a most striking Tibetan Buddhist statue. Leaping
still-living Bodhi tree in Bodgaya, India,
up before you, larger than life, are the super-
beneath which the Buddha achieved
human, “semi-wrathful” meditation deities,
enlightenment. Though it weighs several tons,
Chakrasamvara and Vajrayogini. Naked,
the welded aluminum pinnacle appears to float
entwined, eyes locked, sexually merged , they
effortlessly in space above the stupa and all who
arise as one; he, fierce and red - embodying
view it.
uncompromising wisdom - and she, intense blue
- ultimate compassion in action. The vision of Are we enlightened now?
their spectacular union has an indelible effect on

the mind of the beholder. So powerful and
After a full day admiring The Great Stupa of
significant is this statue - and so alien to western
Dharmakaya, circumambulating it, and
religious iconography - that only initiated tantric
touring the three-story sacred Buddhist art
practitioners are routinely permitted to see it.
gallery within, I felt profound reverence,
My friend Amy said "It brought a very
peace, and joy. What were totally unexpected
emotional response... fear, love, longing,
were the after-effects of this pilgrimage. Since
passion, awareness. My eyes were opened.”
returning home, I find not only the image but the

experience of The Stupa coming back to me
Life Force Pole
often: I feel it as a blend of great gratification,

satisfaction and motivation.
The highest room in The Great Stupa reveals

the base of its internal 57-foot Life Force Pole
My friends also felt this”after-glow” of her
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