May 7th...Patience, impermanence, and the purification of Stupas...

I worked all day, while at the temple Khenpo Norgye was giving empowerments. Though no physical work on the Stupas occurred today, I wanted to share how they continue to work even when us practitioners are elsewhere. Here's a quote from "Benefits and Practices Related to Statues and Stupas" by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, reprinted here with permission from from FPMT (thanks for letting me share such a treasure!).

"Those who work to build and work to actualize these holy objects will bring these beings to enlightenment (referring to visitors mentioned in an earlier paragraph). So anyone who sees it, touches it, remembers it, even dreams of it will have the seed planted for their own enlightenment. As well, prostrating and so on to the stupa helps bring them to enlightenment. By having the Sacred Relic mantra within the stupa, any animals, ants, butterflies, etc. that go around the stupa even just once are purified of their negative karma to be born in the hot hells.
Even if we all die, as long as the holy objects that we have created last, our work, our effort [to create the holy object], is still benefiting sentient beings continuously. For all the many hundreds and thousands of years that the stupa will last, every day it will liberate sentient beings in silence...without words...without our talking Dharma to them. You see, just by seeing the stupa, the minds of the sentient beings who come here are purified. So many negative karmas are purifed."

I can attest to this in the first person. I can tell you without doubt or hesitation, to spend a few moments contemplating the image of a Stupa will pacify an inflamed mind. (I know because I've experienced this...it is real). I read in another book (I'll find the quote eventually) about how a great master (Atisha I think) use to carry a devotional Stupa with him where ever he went, so whenever his mind gave rise to something negative, he could look at the Stupa and purify it instantly, never giving that negative seed a chance to grow. I am not enlightened, and have no realization at all, but I do know that looking at the image of a Stupa will settle one's mind, it will reduce anger, will pacify desire, and will soften disappointment into compassion. It happens. It's as easy as remembering to look, as remembering to come and visit, to just remember the medicine is right here, ready and waiting to help you.

Khenpo teaches again tomorrow, so no physical work on the Stupas. We'll be back to work on Monday. Consider coming on out to join us! The benefits mentioned above are true for repairing Stupas as well as building them! And trust me, there is immense benefit just being around them. Whether you're Buddhist or not, whether you think this is just a bunch of spooky wierdo stuff or not, if you look at the Stupas, even the images on this page, for even a short time, I guarantee you'll experience a difference. It works for insects, animals, it works regardless of your mind's nature, whether you are kind or whether you are savage, it will bring you benefit. It is astonishing to me that such a precious, abundant source of blessing exists at all, and it is my greatest joy to have the chance to serve my teacher by doing the best I can to restore them, so beings for as long as suffering exists will have something so easy to turn to, waiting for them, existing for them, never judging, always offering relief. So from the Stupa Crew, please do keep visiting! We really do all of this for you, whoever you are!