On 21 February, His Majesty the Fourth King gave a speech inviting the people of Bhutan to lend their energy and strength to a royal initiative at Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC): Project 108. “We must do it to prove to ourselves that, as we face the challenges ahead, there is no limit to what we can achieve when we stand together,” he stated, under no illusions about the scale and ambition of this project.
Project 108 is a construction of 108 Jangchub Chortens, positioned in single file or procession along the mountain ridgeline overlooking Mau Chu (Maukhola) River. The completion date is 1 November of this year, when all 108 chortens will be raised simultaneously: an unprecedented project for the Bhutanese nation and people to date. The completion date is 1 November of this year, when all 108 chortens will be raised simultaneously: an unprecedented project for the Bhutanese nation and people to date.
The “chorten” is the Himalayan word for “stupa” and is used in Bhutan, Tibet, and Nepal. It literally means “basis of offering.” Stupas are perhaps the oldest Buddhist structures with an ancient history dating back to the Buddha-era, when the Buddha’s relics were first enshrined in mound structures. Chortens are an iconic feature of the Bhutanese landscape, and can be seen on mountain passes, at village entrances, and along pilgrimage routes. And specifically, the Jangchub Chorten means “Stupa of Enlightenment,” the most significant of the eight classical types of chortens, marking the moment the Buddha attained enlightenment.
Each chorten will stand 15 meters tall. This means that the chortens will be higher than a Bhutanese three-story building, which will make the procession of 108 chortens an incredible visual mark on the Mo Chuu landscape. Furthermore, 108 chortens at this height, if stacked vertically, would rise 1.62 kilometres into the sky (nearly twice the height of the Burj Khalifa).
The sacred symbolism of the number 108, from its mathematical perfection to its use in Buddhism and Hinduism, is well known. The projected timeline of the project is to first undertake extensive advance preparation comprising of over 40,000 volunteers, before being completed together on the day of 1 November. 1 November will mark the culmination of months of logistics, craftsmanship, volunteer energy, and aligned intention. The foundational plans are already in preparation. The engineering, sourcing of materials, and vendor discussions are already undertaken, with eminent Buddhist masters being consulted for their input. Since February, digging along the Mau Chu River’s bank has commenced thanks to the hard work of volunteers with spades and other tools.
Project 108 is a collective offering to the world, and as mentioned, will need at least 40,000 trained volunteers working in coordinated teams across all 108 sites. In other words, Project 108 will mobilize a workforce comparable to the Great Pyramid and the Taj Mahal in a single coordinated day.
In the Buddhist tradition, building a chorten is one of the most meritorious acts a person can undertake, a gift of spiritual benefit not just to those who build it, but to everyone who encounters it. For those interested in further information about this initiative, and how you could contribute, please email: [email protected].
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