MELBOURNE, 19 November 2023: It is for the second time, I was at The Great Stupa of Universal Companion, Bendigo 164 km from Melbourne. My friend Siddarth Maitrak drove me for about 2 & half hours plus (to and fro) as we discussed Australian and international politics during the drives. Last time a prominent visitor from India was with us, but this time two of us joined many others what the Stupa admin called ‘Healing The Nation Day’ which saw eleven events from 10.30 am to 5 pm.
The place is truly a place in Buddha’s memory and for prayers for those who are in the Buddhist way of life. In fact, spread into 220 acres, the Stupa (Buddhist shrine) is a fitting tribute to Victoria and Australia’s multicultural ethos. It is not necessary to be a Buddhist to visit the place. There are symbols and shrines of other faiths in the sprawling area laced with beautiful stones, exotic plants and one can see even a small lake. The Great Stupa is a bit uphill and reaching was not tough for me.
The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion is the same size and design as the famous 15th century Gyantse Stupa (Kumbum) from Tibet. It is 50 metres square at its base and rises to almost 50 metres high.
This is where the event took place, with a golden dome above and inside in front of the Jade Buddha, the largest such in 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.
The program kicked off with the launch of Chairman Ian Green’s book, ‘Monumental’ about Buddhism and Buddha’s teachings for common people. This unique memoir gives readers a personal account of Green’s journey – from the world of Australian Advertising in the 70s, travels stories from many countries, the creation and tour of the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace and culminating in the building of the Great Stupa for Universal Compassion. Green was interviewed on the stage where he explained his motivation to write the book.
Lisa Chesters, Federal Labor MP from Bendigo addressed the gathering emphasising on the multicultural aspect of The Great Stupa of Universal Companion. Others from different faiths who addressed the gathering included the Aboriginal, Uniting Church, Bendigo Bahai community, Kehhillat S’Dot Zahav, Sri Durga Temple, Bendigo Islamic Community Centre, Victorian Sikh Gurudwara Council, Quang Minh Temple and wrapped up by Medicine Buddha Puja by Tibetan Buddhism.
A surprising discovery at the Stupa was the library, established in 2016 with a focus on Buddhism, Science and interfaith harmony. In 2022, the Stupa received funding from the Victorian Government to build the library. This together with an endowment from the Ribush family, enabled the library to be officially opened in April 2023.
I went around the well stocked library and noticed an audio Gita and a copy of the Holy Quran in the inter-faith section. The section on biographies, audio visual and had lots of interesting stuff to read. The books can be borrowed.
Outside in the open, I noticed a pile of natural stones (See photo), which on enquiry turned out to be small Stupas made by visitors with a wish to get fulfilled. This a place not to be missed.
It was time to drive back to Melbourne. I was leaving behind what I enjoyed.
All Stupa information at – https://stupa.org.au/
