Tara’s Pure Land

The Zhitro Temple, Columbarium & Cremation Grounds

Imagine a gently sloping hill below Ekajati Peak where the whispering wind in the pine and cedar trees carries the wisdom of generations. Picture a serene setting where the beauty of Tara Mandala’s unspoiled nature is the eternal resting place for those who have walked the path of the Sacred Feminine. It is here, on the ancestral lands of the Ute and Pueblo people, where the first-of-its-kind Zhitro Temple and Columbarium will sit spectacularly under the big sky at the charnel grounds above the Trikaya Tara Temple, with vast views of the surrounding hills and mountains looking East toward the rising sun, bathing the temple with streams of light.

The Tara’s Pure Land will offer members of the Tara Mandala Sangha a sacred, secure, and inspiring environment in which to place their ashes and be remembered and connected in perpetuity. Taking shape in traditional Buddhist mandala form with a glorious statue of Vajrasattva yab yum at the center, the Zhitro Temple and Columbarium will be designed for rituals and contemplative practices that allow us to deeply reflect on aging and death and the loving memories of our fellow Sangha members. 

Enabled by generous contributions from the Tara Mandala Sangha, the sacred space of the Zhitro Temple, columbarium, and surrounding area––replete with “MANI” walls and prayer wheels––will fulfill the legacy of our founder, Lama Tsultrim Allione, celebrate our interconnectedness as a spiritual community, and offer the boundless gift of our practice aspirations for the benefit of future generations.

The Memorial Stupas will line the niches of the Zhitro Temple and columbarium holding the ashes of our departed Sangha members. These stupas are crafted of fine brass and precious stones with an engravable plate to hold personalized inscriptions. Our community will offer an internment ceremony and practice when placing your ashes in Tara’s Pure Land.

Traditional Cremation ceremony will be open to our spiritual community soon.

To receive updates and get more information, please contact us here.

(Note: The word “Zhitro” refers to a cycle of teachings revealed by the Tertön Karma Lingpa, and reflects the union of Rigpa and Emptiness and the non-duality of birth, death, and life experiences. We are fortunate to have Lama Gyurme collaborating with Lama Tsultrim and architect Courtney King on the design of the Zhitro Temple and Columbarium and surrounding grounds.)