Living history · Great Stupa · Bendigo
Kalachakra Ceiling Journey
A sacred project revealed slowly through art, faith, devotion, colour, movement and the quiet work of many hands inside the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion.
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2.5+years of continuous painting
60+artists and dedicated volunteers
100hand-painted ceiling panels
20×20msacred ceiling space inside the dome
Why I am documenting it
Not just a filming job. A living history.
I’ve had the chance to work on many creative projects over the years, but this one feels truly special.
I’m deeply grateful to be part of something so meaningful — documenting the Kalachakra Ceiling Project inside the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion.
It is a rare opportunity to preserve the art, faith, people and community effort behind a project created slowly over years.
Rooted in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, this mandala represents universal harmony and peace — a spiritual map of time, space and awakening.
Making the ceiling
Painted slowly. Lifted with devotion.
The installation reveals both the physical scale of the ceiling and the care behind every painted section. These frames keep the machinery, the artwork and the people in the same story.
Inside the dome
Scale, patience and devotion.
Standing beneath the work changes the sense of scale completely. A ceiling this large is not experienced as one image; it is built panel by panel, decision by decision, until the separate pieces begin to read as one whole.
The project carries devotion, patience, compassion, memory and the effort of many people working toward something larger than themselves.
“Each moment shared here is part of a greater journey — a living record of the ceiling coming to life.”
Project timeline
A ceiling coming to life.
This timeline follows the key moments already documented. Open an entry for more context; new milestones can be added as the journey continues.
The first painted ceiling panel is lifted into place.
Day 1 marked the beginning of installation after more than two years of dedicated artistic work.
The first section hangs suspended inside the dome.
Just 12 days into installation, the first section of sacred panels was aligned overhead — a major step toward realising the 20×20 metre Kalachakra Mandala.
The ceiling reaches close to halfway complete.
The intricate panels continued to be lifted into place, with artists and volunteers contributing to the long journey of devotion and artistry.
Kalachakra Retreat for World Peace nears completion.
The retreat ran from 15 September to 19 October 2025, with the end of retreat including a fire puja. This period connects with the wider sacred activity at the Great Stupa.
Long Life Puja for His Eminence Jhado Rinpoche.
A Long Life Puja for His Eminence Jhado Rinpoche was held at the Great Stupa, forming part of the wider spiritual life surrounding the continuing Kalachakra journey.
More of the journey will be added as it unfolds.
New images, video clips and reflections will continue to be shared as meaningful milestones are documented.
Questions
Understand the journey.
Simple context for visitors who want to understand the meaning, location, people and public documentation behind the Kalachakra Ceiling Project.
What is the Kalachakra Mandala?
The Kalachakra Mandala is a sacred symbol in Tibetan Buddhism representing time, cosmos and inner awakening. It is traditionally created in sand; this ceiling version is painted to endure for generations.
Where is the ceiling located?
The ceiling is being installed inside the dome of the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo, Australia.
Who is creating the artwork?
The project has involved more than 60 artists from Australia and abroad, together with many volunteers who have contributed across painting, planning and installation over more than two years.
Why is this project important?
The ceiling is a rare visual expression of Buddhist philosophy and also a gesture of world peace, community effort and intergenerational legacy.
Can I visit the Stupa or see the ceiling?
Yes. Visit stupa.au for current visitor information, retreat dates and public events.
Will the documentation be available to the public?
Yes. Selected video reflections and time-lapses are being shared on this page and through Lens & Moments social platforms so people can follow the journey.
Video & social
See the work in motion.
The video keeps the physical movement of the installation; the social links lead to selected public moments without stacking two very tall Instagram embeds into the page.
A living archive
More clips, reflections and meaningful milestones.
I’ll continue updating this journey as the project unfolds. Thank you for being here — and thank you to the Great Stupa for entrusting me with the opportunity to document this living history.
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