Stupa and Shrine Hall

When a great teacher passes away, his body is no more, but to indicate that his mind is dwelling forever in an unchanging way in the dharmakaya, one will erect a stupa as a symbol of the mind of the Buddhas.

~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

One of Rinpoche’s root teachers and major influences was his late father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, one of the most respected Dzogchen masters to escape from Tibet. Traditionally, stupas can have eight major meanings, each with a corresponding design.  Dedicated to Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, a stupa was built in the style of The Stupa of Enlightenment.  In 2005, a consecration was held on the land. This ceremony was presided over by several Rinpoches and lamas, and attended by hundreds of people.

Jangchub Chörten ~ The Stupa of Enlightenment

The Stupa of Enlightenment, Jangchub Chorten, Winter 2013

The stupa was constructed to very precise specifications and filled in the traditional way with tens of thousands of tsa-tsas (miniature replicas of a stupa containing relics of the Buddha and mantra scrolls).  This beautiful stupa creates the opportunity to accumulate merit by making offerings and circumambulating the sacred site. Pervaded by blessings or spiritual influence, the environment around a stupa provides a particularly auspicious and peaceful place to meditate.

Sacred Relics and Contents Contained in

the Stupa of Enlightenment

During the consecration in March 2005, enlightened beings were invited to reside in the stupa through an elaborate puja performed by Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, Bardor Tulku Rinpoche and other attending Rinpoches and lamas. Whoever circumambulates, prays, or makes aspirations at the stupa will make connections with these enlightened immaterial beings, and their wishes have a chance of being fulfilled.

This description of the Jangchub Chörten Stupa of Enlightenment and its contents was compiled by Tsoknyi Rinpoche and Tashi Lama.

SACRED RELICS

• Relics Offered by Tenga Rinpoche: Ringsel of Buddha Shakyamuni; Relic of the 7th Karmapa Chodrak Gyatso; Relic of Buddha Hosoung; Relic pill from the Century Collection of the treasure house of Tsurphu Monastery
• Relics from Tashi Jong:  Bumnga or “500,000,000”~A pill created from many holy objects; Vajrasattva pill blessed with millions of mantras chanted by great masters; Rainbow pill ~ If taken before dying, it protects one from falling into the 3 lower realms.
• Relic of Milarepa: A piece of his meditation bell
• Relic of Tilopa: A deer hide that he used for his sitting meditation
• Relic of the 16th Karmpa: A “Black Pill” ~ The most important blessing pill of the 16^th Karmapa
• Relics of Khamtrul Rinpoche: Pieces of his robe, his bones and his hair
• Relics of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche: Pieces of his robe, his bones and his hair
• Relics of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche: His robe and hair; Adeu Rinpoche’s hair; Nyoshul Khen’s robe and hair
• Relic of Tsoknyi Rinpoche I:  Hair
• Relic of Jigme Lingpa:  A piece of his flesh
• Relics of Khamtrul Rinpoche I & Jabyang Khyentse Rinpoche I:  Pieces of their robes
• Relic of Chokling Lingpa I:  Hair
• Relics from Adeu Rinpoche’s Treasure Collection:  Body/speech/mind/quality/and activity pills ~ Adeu Rinpoche collected as many sacred treasures and relics from Tibet as he could, then made these pills, which he blessed in pujas.

 

SACRED CONTENTS

• Treasure Container (Nyojin Pangzod): The main part of the stupa that holds many kinds of precious metals, stones, grains, plants, medicines, clothes, and a collection of earth and water from holy places around the world.
• Auspicious Vase (Tashi Terbum): A vase filled with precious substances from around the world, along with all the essential mantras and charkas, prepared by many venerable Rinpoches and blessed in pujas. The purpose of creating this container is to bring prosperity and longevity to the region in which the stupa resides, preventing any sickness or disease, bringing harmony and a healthy spirit to the residents of the area.
• Below this main container rests the ground subjugation. Many weapons are buried in the base of the stupa that symbolically pacify all negativities such as war, natural disasters, disharmony, sickness, and famine.  Above the main container are 20,000 tsa-tsas or miniature replicas of a stupa that contain relics and mantra scrolls made by students in Crestone.
• The Life Force Pole (Sok Shing) extends vertically from the base through the center of the stupa.

• Pills, texts, and mantras related to the body are secured on top of the pole;
• Pills, texts, and mantras related to speech are secured below the body objects;
• The mind pills, texts, and mantras, are secured below the speech objects;
• And the activity pills, texts, and mantra are secured below the mind objects.

• Representations of Enlightened Speech:

• Kanjur ~ A complete set of the Buddha’s oral teachings in 110 volumes;
• Tengyur ~ The commentary by the Buddha’s senior disciples in about 300 volumes;
• Damgnakzod ~ The entire collection of all the Nyingma teachings on skillful means;
• Gaychenkangzod ~ The vast oral treasure of the Nyingma tradition in CD format;
• Kabum ~ A full collection of the oral teachings of Mipham Rinpoche;
• Drukpa Kagyu Dharma Treasure ~ Compiled by Drugpa Kagyu masters like Adeu Rinpoche and Tsoknyi Rinpoche, in 110 volumes.

Shrine Hall/Tent

Shrine Hall on Yeshe Rangsal Land

 

 

The first Shrine Hall on the Yeshe Rangsal land was a Tibetan tent in 2008.

The tent was modernized in 2012.

 

The new permanent teaching tent was completed in 2022 and seats approximately 170 people. The tent provides a place where students can gather together for intensive group practice, teachings and small seminars.  Students who wish to practice in an intensive, solitary retreat may now reserve a retreat cabin located on the Yeshe Rangsal land, or the Lama House, a short distance from the land. Please click HERE for more information on individual retreats.

Learn how you can help to further support Rinpoche’s projects.