The Story of the Amitabha Stupa, Sedona Arizona 1

Building the Bumpa Building the rounded dome, or bumpa, on the top of the Stupa’s throne was perhaps the most formidable task in the entire construction process. Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche asked the crew to leave an opening in the front of the bumpa to serve as the access point for filling the upper chambers with offerings. This opening was later closed off to create a concave space to house the high relief of Buddha Amitabha. Because the opening would destabilize the form during the concrete pour, it had to be temporarily closed off and filled with a water and sand mixture. The mixture had a density similar to concrete, which kept the bumpa form stable and circular. Another challenge was to create a form for the stupa’s faceplate that would frame the image of the Buddha and connect tightly to the bumpa. Computer Aided Design (CAD) software helped to determine the appropriate shape.

The Story of the Amitabha Stupa, Sedona Arizona 1 | Page 21