"Maha Bodhivastu is more than just a monument in isolation of what is going on in our times. It is a Mandala which is both a symbol of our collectiveness and interdependence and it IS our collectiveness manifest. That is why I say Maha Bodhivastu already exists. The process and the final stages is what we are after as this empowers and assures the change we all need at this time. Each action we... take with determination and fearlessness gives back to us immense confidence and treasures on the levels of form (physical reality), speech (vibratory reality) and Mind (all pervasive openess reality). This IS the way we can win in this transformation from slavery to actual collective liberation."
- Lama Rangbar Nyimai Özer -

Mandalas and Stupas both large and small yield incalculable merit energy. For this reason, many wisdom representatives from foreign countries have constructed stupas in America. Commonly constructed in Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Nepal, China, and Tibet, according to Buddhist thought, stupas and Mandalas increase collective wisdom, compassion, enlightened activity, and energy, thereby decreasing the likelihood of misfortunes such as famine, wars, or damage from floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes. America has been a stable and influential power in the world. However, the longevity of this stability is indeterminate. In recent decades, America has moved the world towards a very interdependent economic system. Because of this interdependence, if the people of the United States experience fear, uncertainty, and economic downturns, it will negatively affect the peace and prosperity of the entire planet. A major stupa mandala located in the United States will have a beneficial impact for all people around the world. Although the Bodhivastu stupa Mandala will be placed in America, it is important that people from all over the world recognize the importance of joining this collective work of empowering all people and express their wishes for peace and prosperity by supporting and joining in the construction of the stupa, and to enjoin their friends from other countries in supporting this project.

We find ourselves living in difficult and uncertain times marked by fear, doubt, and deep-seated anxiety. Although we seek happiness, our environmental conditions press us into frantic, unsatisfying motion yielding the opposite result. When we examine our own actions, we sometimes see that they only add to the problems, and true insight into solutions elude us. Now, there is an amazing and unprecedented opportunity for all of us to connect in a manner like never before. This collective empowerment process can become the sole determining factor in facing our extinction or our liberation and prosperity.

The issues we currently face were predicted long ago in various prophecies. The need for this Mandala; its timing, location and nature were also predicted as a means to assist us in these times. Padmasambhava, (circa 700 AD) predicted many of the ailments and problems we are now faced with:

"In the future, due to humankind's inappropriate behavior, there will arise new diseases and plagues without name nor cure. People will change clothing styles weekly and actors will become government leaders. The power of the five elements - earth, water, fire, air and metal - will decline, becoming unstable and creating frequent and massive floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and storms. People's minds will become unruly as the five poisons of mind-arrogance, grasping, jealously, torpor, and hatred-increase, while their moral conduct declines. As people will cease to be able to discriminate between right and wrong, people will be supported for their evil actions and ridiculed for their ethical moral conduct. "
- Excerpts from the "Pema Katang" written by Padmasambhava -

Padmasambhava, was also known as the second Buddha prophesized by Lord Gautama Buddha in the Parinirvana Sutra, and as Guru Rinpoche. He revealed hundreds of prophecies about our modern times, for example the most famous:

"When the iron bird flies and horses have wheels, the Mongols will invade the country of Tibet and Tibetans will be spread over the face of the earth like ants."
- Padmasambhava circa the 700 AD. -

Guru Rinpoche not only made accurate predictions about our modern times, but also left us with many treasures and remedies that have been revealed by great meditation masters of this and past generations (tertön). These include terma herbal medicine formulas for the control of new types of diseases, prayers to stabilize and pacify the mind, and prophecies for construction of special sacred geomantic structures-pure energy generators - needed as powerful antidotes for the instabilities of our modern times.

Click here for Lama Rangbar Nyimai Özer's comments on prophecies in general and prophecies concerning the Maha Bodhivastu Phunstok Chorten.