The Mountain-Like Stupa that Brought an Ocean of Dharma

Dolpopa “Seeing Liberation” Stupa of 100,000 Buddhas

Throughout the history of Buddhism, stupas have served as powerful supports for awakening. They embody enlightened mind and provide a direct way for beings to accumulate merit, purify obscurations, and create a connection with the Buddha’s wisdom. Among the many sacred stupas of Tibet, one of the most extraordinary is the Mountain-Like Stupa that Brought an Ocean of Dharma—the stupa of the great Jonang master Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen, the second Buddha from Dolpo. This stupa is not only a monument to a great teacher. It is considered a “seeing liberation” stupa of one hundred thousand Buddhas, meaning that simply seeing it plants powerful seeds for awakening in the minds of those who encounter it.Today, through an extraordinary series of circumstances, the Dzokden Rime Institute has been fortunate to receive several rare replicas of this sacred stupa—objects of immense spiritual power. The mind of a stupa is a represention of the Buddha and in this case it is a representation than none other than a Buddha who defined and articulated the definitive meaning.

Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen and the Jonang Tradition

Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen was one of the most influential masters of the Jonang lineage, renowned for preserving and transmitting the Kalachakra Tantra and for articulating the profound philosophy of Zhentong (Other-Emptiness). His teachings spread widely across Tibet and beyond, revitalizing the Kalachakra lineage and illuminating the deepest understanding of Buddha Nature. Yet the creation of his famous stupa did not arise from fame or ambition. It arose from something far more powerful: devotion to his guru. When Dolpopa constructed this sacred monument, he did so as an offering of love and dedication to his spiritual teacher. In his mind arose the realization arose:

“When I built a mountain-like stupa, an ocean-like Dharma arrived.”

This profound motivation—rooted in perfect devotion and gratitude to his guru—became the karmic cause for an immense flourishing of Dharma. This lead to his important work the Mountain Doctrine. Later generations would look back and recognize how true his words became. Through Dolpopa’s realization and scholarship, the Kalachakra teachings spread widely, benefiting countless practitioners.

---

The Famous “Seeing Liberation” Stupa

Dolpopa’s stupa became famous throughout the Himalayan region and is revered as a “Seeing Liberation Stupa of One Hundred Thousand Buddhas.” Pilgrims believe that simply encountering the stupa creates a powerful connection to enlightenment. Traditionally it is said that:

• Seeing the stupa plants seeds of liberation
• Circumambulating it purifies karma
• Making offerings generates immeasurable merit
• Connecting with it links one to the profound Kalachakra lineage

In recent years, the stupa was carefully renovated in Tibet/China to restore it as closely as possible to its original design. The replicas created today follow this newly restored and historically accurate form.

A Rare Global Project: 800 Replicas

During the restoration of Dolpopa’s stupa, the great Jonang monastery of Dzamthang undertook an extraordinary project. Over several years, master artisans created 800 replicas of the sacred stupa so that practitioners around the world could form a karmic connection with Dolpopa’s realization and the Jonang lineage. These replicas are not ordinary statues. They were consecrated at Dzamthang Monastery on the anniversary of Dolpopa’s Parinirvana in 2025, during ceremonies attended by thousands of monks performing extensive prayers and blessings.

Filled with Sacred Relics and consecrated by thousands of monks

Each of these stupas has been carefully filled with sacred substances and relics of immense spiritual significance according to traditional Buddhist methods. Inside are sacred mantra scrolls, ritual substances, and blessed materials connected to great masters of the Jonang lineage. Among the most precious inclusions are relic blessings associated with the cremation of His Holiness Jigme Dorje Rinpoche, further enhancing the spiritual potency of these sacred objects. Through the extensive consecration rituals performed by thousands of monks at Dzamthang Monastery, these stupas have become living supports of the Dharma, carrying the accumulated prayers, blessings, and aspirations of the monastic community. To receive or enshrine such a stupa is considered an extraordinarily rare and fortunate karmic connection.

Of the 800 replicas created, only a small number have been distributed outside the Himalayan region. The Dzokden community was extremely fortunate to receive approximately twenty of these sacred stupas. Several are already enshrined in Dharma centers around the world, including the Dzokden Rime Institute in the United States, Kalapa in Austria, and Dzokden in Australia, where they serve as powerful supports for practice and devotion within the Kalachakra lineage. With our focus on spreading the teachings of the definitive meaning, the Dzokden Dharma, these stupas have a profound and special meaning for our community and lineage.

A Vision for the Future: Land of Shambhala

These stupas also hold special significance for the Dzokden community in Australia. In the future, Khentrul Rinpoche hopes to build a small replica of Dolpopa’s great stupa at the Land of Shambhala in Australia, creating a powerful place of pilgrimage and practice for the Kalachakra lineage. Such a stupa would serve as a sacred support for practitioners and a beacon of Dharma for generations to come.

Bring Home a Stupa by Supporting the Golden Kalachakra Mandala

Dzokden is currently creating a magnificent golden Kalachakra Mandala statue:

• 1.8 meters tall and wide
• depicting the complete mandala of 636 deities
• a powerful sacred support for Kalachakra practice and realization

This extraordinary statue will serve as a profound support for practitioners and a source of merit for countless beings. To help bring this vision into reality, 17 of the rare Dolpopa stupas will be offered as special thank-you gifts to large sponsors donating over $5000 AUD to the creation of the Golden 1.8 meter tall and wide Kalachakra Mandala.