The Story of the Amitabha Stupa, Sedona Arizona 1 | Page 6

“A stupa is the ultimate remedy
for the problems of the world.”
–Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche

ity and outreach. Jetsunma has built nearly three dozen stupas, bringing together the talents, resources,
generosity and energy of hundreds of volunteers.
To oversee the building of the Amitabha Stupa, Jetsunma invited one of the foremost stupa builders
in the world: Tulku Sang-nang Rinpoche. Rinpoche
came to Sedona to oversee the Stupa’s construction
and to lead ceremonies that would create the most
auspicious conditions for the building and empowerment of the Amitabha Stupa.
It took 18 months to complete the Amitabha Stupa.
The construction culminated with a three-day consecration ceremony in July and August of 2004.
Since that time, countless visitors from around the
world have come to the Amitabha Stupa looking for
healing for themselves or loved ones, solace from

sorrows, good fortune, long life, help for those dying
or deceased and, most especially, for the ultimate
goal of spiritual awakening. Many have said that
they have experienced the blessing and sacred qualities of the Stupa, taking away a renewed sense of
well being, hope and inspiration.
It is said that just to see a stupa, to walk around it or
to feel the wind blowing by it is a blessing and purifies negative propensities—whether a person knows
anything about stupas or not. But it is possible to
increase the potency of the experience by approaching a stupa with respect and an altruistic motivation
to benefit others.
Traditionally, stupa visitors prostrate, pray, meditate,
make offerings and walk around a stupa in a clockwise fashion. All these activities become the virtue
that helps us achieve our goals and moves us forward on the spiritual path.
It is said that by honoring a stupa, we honor our
own potential for enlightenment. The more we are
focused on the benefit to others, the greater the
blessings for ourselves and all sentient beings.

There are eight types of
stupas in the Tibetan
Buddhist tradition, each of
which corresponds to a stage
in the historic Buddha’s life.
The Amitabha Stupa is
an enlightenment stupa,
which symbolizes both the
goal of spiritual practice and
the removal of all obstacles
and obscurations.