Here's a photo of the completed Stupa in 1988. When Ani Sherab was here (I tried to coax her into posting to this blog herself, but I am reduced to reporting her stories second hand) she talked about each of the Stupas, and what they represent. Not in the commonly available sense of the eight types of Stupas, the symbolism of their levels and all that. She talked about what each of them represented in the history of KPC Maryland, and in the dawn of Buddhism in the west. This may sound extraordinary, but if you think about it, it truly is!

You may have noted in a post this week (Thursday) that we were given the opportunity to watch the video of the enthronement of our teacher, Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche. That occurred during the time when this Stupa, the Enlightenment Stupa, was being built! That period, (spanning I think only months!) was marked by the creation of virtually all the Tibetan Brocades and ornamentation in the temple, the building of this Stupa under the guidance of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, the enthronement of our teacher, the ordination of our first monks and nuns, and the conferring of the Rinchen Terzod for the very first time in America! How astounding!

This Stupa, according to Sherab's description, represents the anchor for all that activity, and it remains an anchor for all which that activity set in motion, which is nothing other than the establishment of the pure Palyul Lineage in the west! So when you see this Stupa you are seeing living history! Years have passed since then, and all that amazing energy has evolved. The honeymoon is over, and we're all learning what it is to truly live the Dharma, every moment, every day, in the western world, unshielded by the isolation of traditional monastic life. We, as western students, with a western teacher, are living proof the disciplines and practices of this lineage can not only exist in the chaotic materialism of the west, but can thrive! Yes, the Stupa withstood some neglect as we came to terms with the sacrifices involved (it is a life of renunciation, though one learns quickly nothing is renounced that would not be inevitably lost anyway, nothing is abandoned other than the causes for sorrow and suffering).

Now we are maturing (still slowly, slowly) as a sangha, and have reached the point where we can not only build, but we're learning to maintain, to preserve, to accept our roles as stewards of this precious resource. All of the supports here, the temple, the land, the Stupas, even the students, exist with the shared purpose of bringing benefit to all beings, whether human or not, Buddhist or not. As we learn to restore and maintain the Stupas, we are learning to restore and maintain the very presence of the Enlightened Mind in the world. We aren't doing it to impress anyone. We're doing it because we know it works! It really does bring peace, healing, and it really does plant the seeds of liberation in the mindstream of every being that encounters it, whether those beings have any idea it is happening or not!

I write all this today as we move into another week, moving steadily (if not always swiftly) towards the final stage of painting this amazing treasure. We're focused on repairing the concrete, preparing it for a new coat of paint that will allow the structure to breath, while still protecting it from the elements! The benefit one receives from participating in such activity is multiplied every time a being encounters the Stupa and is benefited by it, that includes insects, worms, any being. So do consider coming out and giving it a try. We'll walk you through the steps, and if you prefer to watch, even seeing the Stupa brings great benefit! There are never any strings attached, all you see on these pages is an offering! An offering made by ordinary beings, who having discovered a way to bring and end to suffering, have abandoned their selfish conerns long enough to devote some of their lives towards this effort.

Whether you stay for 10 minutes, or return often, you can know that you too have set aside your selfish concerns long enough to make an effort to bringing an end to suffering, not just for yourself, but for all beings lost in confusion. If the work is too challenging, or if you are unable to get out here, your prayers can contribute to the swift completion of this project! So please do join in this effort! Even if only as a spectator, or direct recepient (by actually enjoying the Stupa!), share in this extraordinary process! This blog, the photos, the sacred structures we are working so diligently to restore, are all here to offer this opportunity to you! Whether here in cyberspace, or live in person in Poolesville, Maryland, it is all here for anyone seeking relief. If it sounds too good to be true, call us on it, come out and see for yourself, or keep checking in here!

For myself, I'll be back out working on the Stupa tomorrow. I'll get some photos of the work Lisa and the gang did yesterday, and we'll see how far we get! : ) By these efforts, may every being without exception be placed in unending joy!