(From Khenpo Samdup Rinpoche)

Earlier this year, after my mother, Tsundu Wangmo, passed away, His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche enthusiastically expressed the importance of the sacred burial ground, Gar Cemetery, and described the story of its creation:

It is important to provide a sacred place filled with many blessings and to create a mandala where a body can be taken for burial. After my release from prison, I received many special treasure relics. Through these relics and many blessings, Gar Cemetery is a mandala with the symbols of Vajrayogini, representing that everything, blood and bones, is nectar and the non-conceptual. Each body that is taken to the cemetery is like a tsok offering to the dakinis. Everything that is offered is transformed; impure perceptions are transformed to pure perceptions, to nectar, to wisdom. Emotions are transformed to wisdom. Gar Cemetery is very important in making these profound offerings and transformations possible. ~ H.E. Garchen Rinpoche

Garchen Rinpoche’s vision, which he has shared with Khenpo Samdup Rinpoche many times, is to construct a Tara Stupa in the likeness of his first stupa built in the US at Garchen Buddhist Institute in Arizona. In recreating this Tara Stupa at Gar Cemetery, a continuation of Rinpoche’s vast blessings will be of immense benefit, connecting all the world as one mandala.

This Stupa is very special and came into the world after Buddha passed away. The Buddha’s relics were divided and dispersed to eight countries. Representing this, eight kinds of stupas were built. The eight stupas are all included in this Tara Stupa. It contains many blessings and special objects that represent all eight stupas. Seven Buddhas are at the top of the central pillar of the Stupa, including Tara. This Stupa is very useful because when students come here, they can meditate and practice Dharma inside the Stupa, which is also a temple. All of the offerings are inside the Stupa, along with special teachings for people who need mind training practice. … Here, they can come in, sit down, read these mind training teachings and can meditate and practice. Everything is included within this Stupa…
~ H.E. Garchen Rinpoche

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