June, 2000 marks the commencement of our second construction season on the Stupa of Enlightenment. This year we will be working with much smaller volumes of concrete as we complete the gau (statue frame) and lotus rings.

The surface of the stupa will be painted with a white elastomeric paint; then the final crowning features will be added. Rick Seguin of Fredericton has been sculpting the sun, moon and parasol, which will be completed and ready for installation in August.

The front of the gau will be covered with a metal sculpture made in Nepal, that will be goldleafed on site. The statue of Gampopa, beautifully sculpted by Ani Konchok Drolma during the past year, will be cast and on-site by mid-June.

Possibly our biggest challenge this year will be the landscaping of the stupa site, which is cut into the side of a hill. The retaining wall housing the Lojong slogan panels does a wonderful job of protecting the immediate stupa site. However, the surrounding areas need to be terraced and planted.

Further donations are needed to complete the year's work. If funding permits, we will also build a small information kiosk across from the stupa.

by Don Beamish
From the July 2000 edition of The Lion's Roar