Ian Green, a long-time student of both Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, has served FPMT and the Dharma only in big ways: as a founder and director of Atisha Centre in Bendigo, Australia, as the chairman of various FPMT-related boards, and as the director of two of FPMT’s biggest holy object projects: the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion (the largest stupa in the Western world) and the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace (the largest Buddha carved from gemstone quality jade in the world). Lama Yeshe asked for the Great Stupa and Lama Zopa Rinpoche for the Jade Buddha, making both projects not just impressive in scale, but contemporary example sof indefatigable guru devotion., a long-time student of both Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, has served FPMT and the Dharma only in big ways: as a founder and director of Atisha Centre in Bendigo, Australia, as the chairman of various FPMT-related boards, and as the director of two of FPMT’s biggest holy object projects: the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion (the largest stupa in the Western world) and the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace (the largest Buddha carved from gemstone quality jade in the world). Lama Yeshe asked for the Great Stupa and Lama Zopa Rinpoche for the Jade Buddha, making both projects not just impressive in scale, but contemporary examples of indefatigable guru devotion.

In 2/2020 Director Ian Green said being able to share the unveiling with so many people was a joy.

The stupa has is already internationally renowned with tens of thousands of visitors each year. 

"It was always, in my mind, a very, very big international thing but it was only idea," Mr Green said. "It couldn't become a reality until we were here. 

Ian Green with the gold-plated parasol installed on the stupa in December.

"The reason we built it was to inspire people to come here and feel peaceful and compassionate, not just a local thing but an international symbol."

During its construction, which began in 2003, the stupa has also hosted the Dalai Lama in 2007.

"That experience was amazing," Mr Green said. "We have invited him back again but I'm not sure he can come because of his ill health. He's not travelling far distances at the moment.

"(In 2007), the Dalai Lama said. this stupa would be very significant for Tibetan Buddhism and culture but also he hoped it would be a major centre of interfaith. 

"That has inspired us. It's a stupa for everyone, no matter your faith."