The Peace Stupa
The Peace Stupa stands on a mountain 316 meters high overlooking the lake Balaton. It is Europe's largest stupa standing 30 meters high and 24 meter wide. The Stupa contains the teachings and relics of Buddha, a “tree of life” 24 meters high. The statue of Buddha was created in South Korea.
The Stupa symbolizes the mind of Buddha and hiswisdom, compassion and love toward all livingbeings. I t symbolizes peace, bliss and enlightenment. Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14 Dalai Lama, consecrated the Stupa on the 17 of June, 1993 with great joy. This monument was erected through the initiative of the Korean Buddhist monk, Venerable Bob Jon. Ven. Bob Jon is the president of the Buddhist Peace Stupa Foundation in Hungary. The Tibetan monks offered tremendous help and support in the realization of this project. In1990, the mayor of Zalaszántó, Mr. Huszti Zoltán Ferenc, suggested Ven. Bob Jon the hill Világosvár for the “lighthouse of peace”. Hungarian architects and builders designed and built the Stupa, with public and private supports from Hungary and Austria. The works were started in March 1992 and completed by the end of September. The creation of this sanctuary of peace would not have been possible without the considerate support of the councillors and villagers of Zalaszántó and the Upper Balaton Forestry and Wood Processing Estate. The building cost amounted to approximately 40 million forints. Generous donations came from South Korea and several European countries. May the rays of peace shine from the stupa, here in the Park of Human Rights, and reach the minds of mankind all over the world. At the request of Ven. Bob Jon (Sunim), the presidentof the Peace Stupa Foundation, His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang appointed Ven. Lama Konchok Lhundup and Ven. Lama Konchok Jigme as resident Dharma-teachers at the Peace Stupa in 2004. Under the direction of Ven. Bob Jon, the two resident Lamas began an overall renovation of the Stupa in 2006. With their hard work and dedication and the support of many dharma friends, the Stupa was completely renovated within the same year. His Holiness the Drigung Kyabgon Chestang performed an elaborate consecration of the renovated Stupa on the 21st of April, 2007 followed by a week of great teachings.