Bendigo - The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion
The Great Stupa is located just outside of Bendigo, and is the largest Stupa being built in the Western world. It will be 50 metres high and 50 metres square at its base and is being built to last 1000 years.
The Great Stupa is the same design and size as the Gyantse Stupa (Kumbum) in Tibet. The Gyantse Stupa is one of the treasures of the Buddhist world.
The Gompa (temple) inside the Stupa will have many features of traditional large Tibetan gompas including large statues of Buddhas and deities. The Gompa will be used for pujas, meditation and teachings. It is also designed to present an overview of Buddhism to visitors.
The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace is the largest Buddha carved from gemstone quality jade in the world. The size and beauty of the statue make it a wonder of the world. The Buddha has been carved from a rare boulder of translucent jade ('Polar Pride') which was discovered in Canada in the year 2000. The Jade Buddha is 2.5 metres high and sits on an alabaster throne of close to 1.6 metres high. The Jade Buddha itself weighs around 4 tonne and is considered to be priceless.
Beautiful gardens surround the Stupa and the Peace Park showcases symbols from many faiths including Catholic, Sikh, Islam, Hindu and Buddhist.
The Great Stupa Walking Trail
1. GANESH TEMPLE
This temple is built in traditional Nepalese style in honour of the Hindu God, Ganesh. Built in memory of Brishti Shresta and dedicated to all known and unknown children around the world who have passed away from brain cancer.
2. QUAN YIN GROTTO
Quan Yin represents the compassionate aspect of the Buddha. This 7-metre-tall statue was sculpted in Vietnam in poly-marble and hand painted here at the stupa.
3. FOUR HARMONIOUS FRIENDS
This life-size statue of the four brothers represents an important Buddhist teaching of working together harmoniously. It has been made by a sculptor from Thailand named Joy. In former times in a jungle near Varanasi, a pheasant, a rabbit, a monkey, and an elephant lived in friendship and harmony.
At first, there was just the bird, and the tree was just a little sprout. The bid was unable to fly, so it could only eat what it could find near to the ground. As the tree grew, it became difficult for the bird to get enough food to eat.
Then, the rabbit come. The rabbit would lift the bird up on his back so that the bird could reach the growing tree. However as the tree continued to grow, it started to become too high for the bird, even on the back of the rabbit.
Then, the monkey came. The monkey could climb up into the tree and drop the fruit from the tree onto the ground for the rabbit and the bird. However, it was difficult to get to the fruit at the very top of the tree.
Then, the elephant come. With the elephant, if all the animals helped each other, they could reach the fruit at the top of the tree; and in this way, there was plenty for all of them to eat. Rather than selfish concern, they were dominated by cherishing others. Also, they were successful because they were willing to ask for help and to receive help. In this way, the bird is considered a hero of the story.
The Four Friends are often used as an example of how the family needs to stay together and help each other. Each member is very different and brings different strengths and different weaknesses, but if they work together, they can accomplish things they could never accomplish alone. As told by Ribur Rinpoche.
4. THE BAHAI STAR
The Bahai faith believes humanity is one family bound together in a global society. Funding was raised by the Bohai community as part of our interfaith installations.
5. THE GREAT STUPA PRAYER WHEELS
Each wheel contains 20 million 'Om Mani Padme Hum' mantras. Spin the wheels clockwise to energise the compassionate energy for the world. Hand-made from copper in Nepal.
6. BODHI FOREST
The Buddha attained enlightenment after meditating under a Bodhi tree. Our trees come from cuttings of that original tree, brought to Australia by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
7. PEACE PARK PRAYER WHEELS
Each wheel contains 20 million 'Om Mani Padme Hum' mantras. Spin the wheels clockwise to energise the compassionate energy for the world. Hand-made from copper in Nepal.
8. GOLDEN THAI BUDDHA
This Buddha statue was offered to the Great Stupa by a benefactor. It was made from fiberglass in Thailand. The Buddha's eyes have been painted by a Tibetan artist.
9. HEART SUTRA WALL
Carved from solid granite in Vietnam, the heart sutra is in English on one side and Vietnamese on the other. This famous sutra of the Buddha is a teaching on wisdom.
10. ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI
St Francis is known as the patron saint of the environment and animals. This statue was offered by the Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst and blessed by Bishop les Tomlinson in May 2018.
St Francis of Assisi is often held up as an inspiring example of someone who most closely imitated the life of Christ in words, deeds and spirit.
St Francis had a deep love for Christ and willingly gave up a life of wealth and social position to embrace a life of poverty, chastity and humility.
He founded a new monastic order commonly known as the Franciscans and is today considered one of the greatest saints in the Christian tradition.
During his life he also developed a deep love of nature and animals and is known as the patron saint of the environment and animals.
Many miracles have been associated with St Francis. In particular, it is known that St Francis had a close connection with all animals, especially birds. When St Francis would give a sermon, it is said birds would come to listen.
11. IK OANKAAR
This mantra is sacred to Sikhs all over the world. It symbolises one with God and one with humanity. It is the first of its kind in Australia and was unveiled in November 2019.
12. WISHING WELL
Ring the bell and a beautiful sound will echo throughout the Peace Park. Toss in a coin and make a with to benefit all beings.
Other features of the gardens and Peace Park include:
THE CHANUKIAH OF BENDIGO
This candelabra derives its form and history from the Temple built on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. It has eight branches and a helper central one called a Shammas. It is used to celebrate the Festival of Chanukah, which in Hebrew means both Dedication and Education. The festival itself is a festival of light, of Dedication of the Maccabees.
Two hundred years before the Common Era, (BCE), the Holy Land was beset by civil war with the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire during which it demanded that its gods should prevail throughout Israel, even into the Second Temple. In 164 BCE the worship of the one God was restored. The force which overcame the desecrators on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, was led by Matthias Maccabee and his son. Their descendants became the Hasmonean dynasty.
It is said there was insufficient oil to light the holy Menorah, but a vial was found in the ruins sufficient to last for eight days enabling sanctification of the proper oil for the Menorah. This Chanukiah refers to those eight days, a light for each one, ignited cumulatively over the eight days of the Festival. May it continue to do so in this Peace Park, commemorating the wisdom of knowledge and dispersal of the darkness of conflict and ignorance.
A A SHA SA MA HA Mantra
This is the mantra of six syllables of clairvoyance. By seeing these letters, after fifteen days it totally purifies any heavy negative karma created in the past.
OM HANU PAHASHA BHARA HE YE SVAHA Mantra
By seeing this mantra 100,000 eons of negative karma and obscurations are purified, as stated in the sutra Phagpa Chulung Rolpai Do.
OM PADMO USHNISHA VIMALE HUM PRAT
Condensed Benefits of Stainless Pinnacle Lotus Mantra
If you recite, or even see, touch or remember this mantra:
1. It purfies the five heavy negative karmas without break which cause you to be born in the most unbearable hell realm
2. You will never be reborn in the lower realms
3. For 100.000 eons you will achieve wheel-turning king
4. If you recite seven mantras each day for transmigratory beings, you get born in the blissful pure realm.
5. II you recite seven mantras and then blow on a conch, drum or other musical instrument, hearing the sound of the conch or drum purifies the five heavy negative karmas without break, and that means hearing it purfies the ten nonvirtuous karmas by the way.
6. If a fully ordained monk has broken any of the four root vows, which causes rebirth in a hell realm, someone reciting this mantra and thinking of that monk causes him to be liberated immediately from the hell realm and get a higher rebirth.
VAJRA FENCE PRAYER WHEELS
This Vajra Fence is a circle of protection that will surround the Great Stupa. Situated against the first terrace rock wall, the Vajra Fence will be filled with over 800 prayer wheels being sheltered by a beautiful slate tile roof.
"Installing a prayer wheel has the capacity to completely transform a place, which becomes "... peaceful, pleasant and conducive to the mind." - Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Prayer wheels are made of various materials containing mantras. Traditionally a mantra is written in Ranjana script or Tibetan script on the outside of the wheel. The mantra Om Mani Padme Hum is written here.
At the core of the cylinder is a "life tree" often made of wood or metal with certain mantras written on or wrapped around it. Many thousands (or in the case of larger prayer wheels, millions) of mantras are then wrapped around this life tree.
Spinning a prayer wheel will have much the same meritorious effect as reciting the prayers out loud, and it's said that the positive merit is released into the area, benefiting countless others.
Prayer wheels are used to accumulate wisdom and merit (good karma) and to purify negativity (bad karma). Prayer wheels are spun in a clockwise direction, to facilitate the reciting of the mantras.
The Vajra Fence Prayer Wheel Project began in January 2024. This project also includes the rock walls across the 3 terrace levels.
Inside the Great Stupa
KSITIGARBHA
Ksitigarbha is known for his great compassionate vow being: "If I do not go to the hell to help the suffering beings there, who else will go?... if the hells are not empty, I will not become a Buddha. Only when all living beings have been saved, will I attain Bodhi (Buddhahood)."
He is therefore often regarded as the bodhisattva of hell-beings, as well as the guardian of children and patron deity of deceased children.
His short mantra OM AH KSHITI GARBHA THALENG HUM is used for any difficulties or problems in any situation. Even reciting the mantra only four or five times is very powerful.
The statue, which was made in Vietnam according to the exact instructions of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, took over 2 years to make. In total, four prototypes were produced before production commenced.
Ksitigarbha will be filled with treasures, mantras. a sokshing and be completely painted and decorated before being consecrated in a special ceremony.
BABY BUDDHA
Legend has it that when the Buddha was born in Lumbini Grove (Nepal) he and his mother were showered with perfumed blossoms, and streams of sparkling water poured from the sky to bathe them. The baby Prince immediately took seven steps, at each step a lotus flower sprang from beneath his feet. With one hand pointing towards the ground, he said:
"Heaven above and earth beneath, I am the Honoured One, the One who liberates all who suffer in the Three Realms."
After the death of the Buddha, it became a tradition to bathe a statue of the baby Buddha to commemorate his birth. If done with proper motivation and visualisation, it is believed that this can also help to cleanse and purify our negative karma.
DZAMBHALA
Guardian and Protector of Wealth & Lord of Water,
Also known as Jambala, Kuvera and Vais'ravana, He is the Buddhist guardian of all wealth, spiritual and material. He protects from the suffering of poverty, be it spiritual or material, Dzambhala carries in his hand a fruit which is said to be a lemon (jambhara) which represents "bearing the fruits" of our efforts by gaining spiritual wealth through the teachings of Buddha. In his left hand he holds the jewel spouting mongoose to symbolise good fortune about to come.
Dzambhala is rotund and well fed, which was a sign of wealth and wellbeing in ancient times. When we are blessed with spiritual and physical wealth, we are then able to practise generosity diligently and accumulate virtuous deeds. Wealth and abundance is not just monetary as we can give charity in the form of time, patience and compassion to other sentient beings with the intention of enriching another's life, therefore enriching our own life.
100 ARM CHENREZIG
This 1000 Arm Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit) represents the compassion of the fully enlightened mind. Chenrezig is the special deity of Tibetans and Mongolians, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama is seen as a manifestation of Chenrezig.
The arms and eyes of the statue signify the readiness to benefit sentient beings. Como Rinpoche wrote this special verse of prostration to Chenrezig:
Your thousand arms signify a thousand wheel turning kings, Your thousand eyes signify the thousand buddhus of the fortunate eon; You manifest in whatever aspect is needed to subdue sentient beings: To you, pure Compassionate-Eyed One, prostrate.
The statue is based on the Chenrezig at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore. It is 5.5 metres wide and over 7 metres high. It is made from Poly-Marble by sculptors in Vietnam.
The mantra of Chenrezig is OM MANI PADME HUM.
JADE BUDDHA
The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace is the largest Buddha carved from gemstone quality jade in the world. The size and beauty of the statue makes it a wonder of the world. The Buddha has been carved from a rare 18 tonne boulder of translucent jade ("Polar Pride") which was discovered in Canada in the year 2000.
The Jade Buddha project began in early 2003 and the following 5 years were devoted to raising the funds to pay off the purchase of Polar Pride, selecting the best jade master carvers, shipping the boulder to Thailand, preparing a total of 4 prototypes, carving and polishing the Jade Buddha. The Jade Buddha was completed in December 2008. He stands at 2.5 metres high and sits on an alabaster throne of close to 1.6 metres high. The Jade Buddha itself weighs around 4 tonne and is considered to be priceless.
Commencing in March 2009 the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace toured the world with the objective of inspiring everyone who sees it to find peace. He travelled to over 120 cities in 20 countries and over 11 million people have seen him. The Jade Buddha came to his home at The Great Stupa in May 2018.
PADMASAMBHAVA
Padmasambhava (meaning "Lotus-born") was an 8th century Buddhist master from northwest India who was asked by King Trisong Detsen to help found Buddhism in Tibet. Padmasambhava brought the first wave of Buddhism from India to Tibet. Tibetans call him "Guru Rinpoche" or "Precious Teacher" and venerate him as the "Second Buddha".
Following the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche we based this 4-metre high statue on the Guru Rinpoche statue in His Holiness Dalai Lama's temple in Dharmasala. Lama Zopa advised that we should build the stupa around this statue as Guru Rinpoche's energy would help us overcome obstacles to the speedy creation of the Great Stupa. The statue was made in China in 2004 with the help of a monk from Mongolia.
Padmasambhava holds a staff with three heads representing youth, adulthood and death. On top of the staff is a trident which symbolises victory over the 3 poisonous minds, greed, aversion and ignorance. The statue is made from brass and covered in 24 karat gold leaf. In June 2007, Padmasambhava was blessed by His Holiness the Dalia Lama during his visit to the Great Stupa.
HOLY RELICS
The Great Stupa has one of the largest collections of Buddhist relics in the world. The holy relics include those of the Shakyamuni Buddha, Kasyapa Buddha, disciples of the Buddha, the 16 Arhants and several modern-day masters. The relics have been offered from many Buddhist traditions including Burmese, Chinese, Thai, Tibetan and Mongolian.
Relics are found in the ashes of the fire after a great spiritual master's body is cremated. Sometimes looking like pearls or crystals these relics are reputed to embody the essence of the realisations of the holy person. That is why relics are venerated in Buddhism.
With this is mind, you will gain a very powerful blessing by visiting these relics. Feel free to circumambulate or prostrate or to make offerings. There are however no strict formalities and just being in the presence of the holy relics is a blessing. Simply be respectful and mindful and experience the relics in whatever way is appropriate for you.
GREEN TARA
Tara means Rescuer and is a female aspect of the Buddha, she can manifest in a variety of forms, her purpose is to help living beings gain lasting freedom (liberation) from suffering.
One of her origin stories say she emerged from the tear of Avalokitesvara (Chenrezig) who cried when looking upon the immense suffering of living beings (sentient beings), therefore Green Tara is associated primarily with the engaging or active aspect of great compassion.
Green Tara sits on a lotus which represents her freedom from defilements, her left hand is in the vitarka mudra (teaching mudra) which represents wisdom and holds the stem of a Utpala lotus flower representing realisations, while her right hand is in the varada mudra (mudra of generosity) representing great charity, also holding the stem of a Utpala lotus flower.
She sits with left leg drawn up representing merit and wisdom and her right leg extended which represents her subduing of obstacles and her wish to swiftly come to the aid of living beings.
A great number of Indian Pandits and yogis and countless Tibetan Lamas have developed realisations and even become enlightened by relying on the different aspects of Tara.
Green Tara's mantra is OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SVAHA
This truly beautiful statue of Green Tara was carved In Thailand from an offcut of Polar Pride Jade and weighs 92 kg.
THE BIRTH OF A STUPA
A stupa is the most sacred monument for Buddhists, symbolising the enlightened mind of the Buddha and the path to enlightenment. The first Buddhist stupas, built in a shape of a mound, housed the relics of the Buddha Shakyamuni following the instruction he gave his followers before his death.
Over the centuries stupas evolved across Asia, reflecting various local influences. They vary in size and shape, but usually have a wide square base, a rounded middle, and a tall conical section at the top. It is widely believed that walking around (or circumarnbulating) a stupa in a clockwise direction while reciting mantras generates great merit.
In Tibet, stupas were built in eight different styles, corresponding to the eight great events of the Buddha's life and their associated pilgrimage spots. The most complex, called a kumbum, featured several shrine rooms filled with Buddhist sculpture and paintings. The greatest kumbum was the stupa in Gyantse in Central Tibet, built in the 15th century, and known as the Golden Temple of the Hundred Thousand Buddhas.
When Lama Yeshe visited Australia in August 1981, he shared his vision that a Buddhist centre with a great stupa will be built here on the outskirts of Bendigo. A few years later Lama Zopa Rinpoche envisaged the design of the stupa as a kumbum, closely following the Gyantse stupa. He stated; The West needs more holy objects (...) Just seeing, touching or even dreaming about such a great stupa, can be the cause for Enlightenment.
In preparation for the building of the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion the proposed site was confirmed by senior Tibetan monks. Later ritual mantras were recited, and various substances, including precious metals, gems, and sacred Buddhist items were interred in the ground.
When completed, the Great Stupa's exterior will be an exact replica of the Gyantse Stupa. At nearly 50 metres high, and its four sides each being 50 metres long, it is the largest Buddhist monument in the Western world. When viewed limn above, the geometry of the stupa as a sacred mandala can be clearly seen. It represents a spiritual journey, starting from the lower levels of attainment and working up to highest stages of enlightenment.
StupaView Cafe
StupaView Cafe is an extension of The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion which provides visitors with delicious coffee, decadent desserts and mouth-watering lunch options. There is indoor and outdoor seating.
Construction is taking place on a progressive basis as funds become available.
Opening Hours:
Opening Times
Cost:
Self guided tours are by donation.
Photos:
Location
25 Sandhurst Town Road, Myers Flat 3556 Map
✆ (03) 5446 7568
Email Enquiry
Web Links
→ www.stupa.org.au
→ Great Stupa of Universal Compassion on Facebook
→ The Great Stupa Walking Trail
