Post by Neo on Nov 23, 2020 17:20:37 GMT -5
The benefits I will explain to you are not just what I think the benefits are. Rather, when I was asked to explain the benefits I had to do some research in order to make things authentic and proper. I did this research in the Kangyur, the texts containing the original teachings of the Buddha. I won't have time to go into the fine detail but I will explain the important points.
The first stupa came about because of an experience Ananda, Buddha's constant attendant, had one day. On this day Ananda was going for alms. He came to a family who were building a house with many doors. Considering the shape and number of doors he thought, "Maybe these people are making a residence for the Sangha." Then he thought to himself: "What would be more beneficial? To make a spiritual monument -- a stupa -- or to make a statue of the Buddha, or to make a residence for the Sangha?" He wanted to know which of these would bring the most benefit.
He took the alms given by the family and went back with the question in his mind. When he saw the Buddha he told him what he had seen. He said, "There are people making a building. I thought maybe it was a residence for the Sangha. Would it be more beneficial to make a temple for the Sangha, or to make a stupa the size of a myrabolan fruit (a small medicinal fruit)?" He went on, "Any stupa must have a central axis called a 'life tree' (srog.shing) . A needle could be the srog shing. A stupa always has an umbrella on top. That could be a small flower. So which would be more beneficial -- building such a stupa, making a statue of the Buddha, or building a residence for the Sangha?" Ananda asked the Buddha.
The Buddha answered, "If someone were to build a huge temple that would accommodate hundreds of thousands of Sangha, and if the same person were to make offerings to the Sangha for day after day for years; or, on the other hand, if that person were to make a small stupa the size of a Myrabolan fruit, and a statue of the Buddha the size of that fruit, making the latter two would be more beneficial. Both the stupa and the statue represent the Buddha's mind and body, and since a Buddha has limitless qualities, any worship, any offering made to these two miniatures would be more beneficial. ~ teaching given by the Venerable Thupten Rinpoche
The first stupa came about because of an experience Ananda, Buddha's constant attendant, had one day. On this day Ananda was going for alms. He came to a family who were building a house with many doors. Considering the shape and number of doors he thought, "Maybe these people are making a residence for the Sangha." Then he thought to himself: "What would be more beneficial? To make a spiritual monument -- a stupa -- or to make a statue of the Buddha, or to make a residence for the Sangha?" He wanted to know which of these would bring the most benefit.
He took the alms given by the family and went back with the question in his mind. When he saw the Buddha he told him what he had seen. He said, "There are people making a building. I thought maybe it was a residence for the Sangha. Would it be more beneficial to make a temple for the Sangha, or to make a stupa the size of a myrabolan fruit (a small medicinal fruit)?" He went on, "Any stupa must have a central axis called a 'life tree' (srog.shing) . A needle could be the srog shing. A stupa always has an umbrella on top. That could be a small flower. So which would be more beneficial -- building such a stupa, making a statue of the Buddha, or building a residence for the Sangha?" Ananda asked the Buddha.
The Buddha answered, "If someone were to build a huge temple that would accommodate hundreds of thousands of Sangha, and if the same person were to make offerings to the Sangha for day after day for years; or, on the other hand, if that person were to make a small stupa the size of a Myrabolan fruit, and a statue of the Buddha the size of that fruit, making the latter two would be more beneficial. Both the stupa and the statue represent the Buddha's mind and body, and since a Buddha has limitless qualities, any worship, any offering made to these two miniatures would be more beneficial. ~ teaching given by the Venerable Thupten Rinpoche
Source: