Karma Berchen Ling

The dream became a reality. In the mornig at 9 am after Lama Ole finishied the non-stop meditation on the Buddha aspect of Kalachakra our wonderful stupa was inaugurated. The ceremony was headed by Lama Chogdrup Dorje and Lama Ole Nydahl. The weather changed completely during the inauguration, everything was very auspicious. Everyone, without whom this special event would not have been possible was thanked. Read more...

Since this afternoon a beautiful Buddha statue is gazing from the stupa. The stupa is also being blessed by a non-stop Kalachakra meditation guided by Lama Ole and Lama Chogdrub Dorje.
We started yesterday in the morning and continued through the rest of the day and also the night. The meditation will finish together with the stupa empowerment that will take place tomorrow at 9 am.

Today, Lama Ole and Lama Chogdrub Dorje put the tree of life into the stupa. Filling the stupa with the tree of life is one of the most important moments in building a stupa. Also, on the same day the whole building of the stupa has been finished. Lama Ole unveiled the beautiful umbrella and now the stupa is shining through the whole valley. To participate in this event, many friends from all over the world has come and now we are already more than 1800 people.

Yesterday, the biggest element of the granite construction has been placed on the stupa. The top of the bumpa weights 8 tones! It has arrived on a big lorry together with other elements.
In the meantime our KBL fridge became an ideal place for tormas storage. The tormas were used for blessing pujas that were held during last days.
Today, the big statue of the Buddha is being filled. We also expect that more than 800 friends will arrive today to participate in the ceremony of putting the life tree into the stupa.

On the night of August 14th we had a very unusual event – we had a video conference with Lama Ole in Europe Centre. So the friends in Allgäu could see us gathered around the stupa. For such a remote place where there is not even a phone line, it was very special.
We showed a presentation with the latest images from the stupa. At the beginning, pictures from Tsechu Rinpoche and Lama Ole were to be seen, because we could feel their presence all the time.
In this way, we also showed how the infrastructure looks like – we already enjoy the new kitchen and cafeteria.

Yesterday, the stupa became one level higher. There was also a blessing-ceremony to eliminate the obstacles. The stupa starts looking more and more like a stupa and… it is so beautiful.
Beside that activities, the gompa tent was set up. At the moment we are 160 people on site and everything is now waiting for all the people from all over the world.

The course preparations are running at full speed, right now. Today the kitchen will be set up (3 days in advance!). The water tanks are already waiting for the yogi bathrooms that are being installed. Also the dining tent is almost ready as well as the gompa tent.
Meanwhile, the stupa waits for the next filling that will happen on Friday 13th of August.
This gives us the whole next week to try out how well everything works.

Yesterday, we had the next important moment in the stupa building process. This time, the Mandala of Kalachakra was put in the lotus flower lever. To make it possible, the lotus had to be lifted and installed. It was amazing to observe the huge pieces flying in the sky – as well as the two eagles that appeared during the ceremony of placing the mandala. Read more...

The last day, we continued with the filling of the Kalachakra Stupa. We started the work yesterday at 7:30 am and continued almost without a break for 23 hours. The work was very smooth and joyful, and everybody had a chance to participate. When the chamber was closed, we could turn our heads to admire a beautiful sun-rise. Read more...

In the recent days more and more helpers came to the site. At many places there is hard work going on.
Right now, the granite slabs are attached to the stupa. The material came from Poland some days ago with a heavy duty truck. Some parts of it are so heavy, that it takes 12 men to carry them.
Two days ago, the team has arrived, which aims to put up the tents at the site and at the location next to Karma Berchen Ling.
The finishing of our long term project, the strawbales-house behind the kitchen insprired us to use the material for another little house down at our neighbours place, as well.