Bendigo, Australia -- Construction has commenced on the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion which is being built in Bendigo, Victoria Australia. The Great Stupa will be the same size and design as the famous Gyantse Stupa of Tibet. It will be 50 metres in diameter and nearly 50 metres high, thus making it the largest Stupa to be built outside of Asia.

The exact time for the commencement of work on the Great Stupa (10 am on Friday June 4) was selected by Geshe Ngawang Dakpa, a Tibetan Geshe based at Tse-Chen Ling Centre in San Francisco. This date was identified as the "absolute best" or most auspicious date for work on the foundations to commence.

The aim is to make the Great Stupa a Stupa for all Buddhists. More details ca be found at www.stupa.org.au .