Hopedance

When my friends Marge and Wes came to visit last month, we went to visit Rigdzin Ling*, the Tibetan Buddhist center, down the road. On making our way to the stupas, I began to speak about the blessings that these sacred representations of enlightened mind radiate to all who see, hear, or touch them.

Although much of the knowledge we have on stupas comes from Buddha’s teachings, they are non-denominational in their intent and effect. They have the power to purify negative past deeds, avert obstacles to our good intentions, increase one’s lifespan, health, and wealth, and awaken us to our true nature. In these teachings on stupas, it is written that even those who never see the stupa but are touched by a wind which has blown past it receive its blessings. Wes felt the power of these beautiful monuments of enlightened mind to radiate peace and harmony in our world and asked me to write “a little something” for HopeDance. My knowledge on this is very limited, and if there are any mistakes I am solely responsible, but I will share what I know.

A stupa is “a representation of enlightened mind,” and so is not necessarily physical. Those I speak of here are the constructed, physical kind. The builders of stupas agree to a certain restricted diet and take certain vows. Detailed instructions were given as to the proportions, the materials, and the offerings to be placed inside. Stupas can be tiny or huge. It’s the proportions that matter. The eight at Rigdzin Ling are about 30 feet tall.

Encased in the four-sided concrete base are physical weapons: guns, knives and such. In this context, they are used not as objects inflicting more pain and suffering but as representations of that energy in ourselves that can slice straight to the truth, cutting away all the illusion and exposing our true nature of love and openness. They are used as reminders that we need to bring out the big guns of introspection, compassion, wisdom, joy, and equanimity when the distractions and desires of our lives begin to overwhelm and drain our spiritual focus and resolve.

Above the weapons are offerings of food, common and exotic from all over the globe, precious jewels, and the bones and relics of enlightened beings (and many things of which I am not aware). None of these are visible to as we look at the beautiful rounded middle of the stupa enclosing these offerings to all the enlightened ones. It’s not that enlightened beings really need our offerings. It’s that we need to develop our generosity and stretch past our limitations, and so we offer what at first can seem impossible.

There is a pole that runs through the center of the stupa, a physical representation of the basic space of all phenomena: pure naked awareness of who we are, beyond form. Also inside are rolls and rolls and rolls of paper covered with sacred words, mantra. Words hold vibration and power.

Each fold and shape on the monument embodies a teaching of the path to freedom from suffering (the four noble truths, the 12 links of interdependent origination etc.) Coming to a point, the top of the stupa is crowned with a quarter-moon and crystal ball, symbols of our true unadorned nature.

At the last, the stupa is consecrated by the prayers and aspirations of all the participants: “May this physical representation of enlightened mind awaken all of us to what we really are. May this stupa be of vast benefit, purifying negativity, alleviating suffering, and dispelling obstacles to peace and harmony. May it strengthen the health, happiness, and well-being of all.” There are also specific rituals and prayers passed to us from Buddha to consecrate and bring the stupa to life.

So it is a very great and precious feat to build, to finance, or to simply see or walk around a stupa. If such an opportunity crosses your path, partake of what a stupa can do and magnify your own aspirations for peace and happiness.

Meanwhile, they stand in silence among us. Radiating those blessings “endless and boundless.”

* Rigdzin Ling was founded by Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche. More information on stupas can be found in the Mirror of Freedom booklet #13 “Stupas: Incalculable Sources of Blessing.” Contact www.tibetantreasures.com.