ONE OF THE MOST PACIFISTIC AND COMTEMPLATIVE OF RELIGIONS DISCOVERED IN ANDALUSIA THE TRANQUILLITY ASPIRED TO BY ITS PHILOSOPHY. FOR THE LAST TWELVE YEARS, BENALMÁDENA HAS BEEN HOME TO THE LARGEST BUDDHIST TEMPLE IN THE WEST.

The late (and perhaps now reincarnated) Buddhist Master Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche visited Spain for the first time in 1990. On that first occasion, Rinpoche succeeded in initiating a large group of individuals who attended the Karma Guen, a Buddhist meditation centre located on the outskirts of Velez-Málaga.
Four years later, the Master Rinpoche erected his first stupa there. It was to be followed by 16 others. After obtaining Spanish residency, Lopon began to visit the country more frequently. As a result, many more people approached him, got to know him, and learnt and assimilated Buddhist philosophy. Out of this close connection between Rinpoche and Spain, in particular the south of the country, was born the idea of creating the Stupa of Enlightenment. Fruitful conversations led to the construction of the largest stupa in the West.

Rising to a height of more than 33 metres, the Stupa of Enlightenment is visible from along the entire stretch of coast between Fuengirola and Benalmádena, thanks not only to its size, but to its golden pinncle and its immaculate whiteness, which make it shine out in the distance, particularly at dusk.
The base of the temple is square measuring 25 metres on each side, and houses a six-metre high meditation room occupying an area of 100 square metres.
The Stupa also contains various murals illustrating the most transcendental episodes from the life of the Buddha, scenes painted by artists from the Himalayas.
It is a monument symbolising the concepts of harmony, prosperity and peace, with origins dating back over 2500 years.