Before leaving the Namo Buddha Seminar in 2003, Thrangu Rinpoche was asked what an auspicious day would be for ground breaking. Thrangu Rinpoche consulted the calandar and said that August 21st, which was auspicious for building because it was the only water and earth day for two months. When the day came two Tibetan lamas who live in Crestone, Soknyi Rinopche and Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, came on to the land with Lama Chodrak and did the ground breaking ceremony because Thrangu Rinpoche was in Europe at that time.