The Benefits of Stupas
The minute you see a holy object you create infinite merits,
So, no question, if you actually make prostrations,
Offerings, and so forth, you create far greater merit.
from The Sutra of the Mudra of Developing the Power of Devotion
Even just making one sound, or a cymbal offering
Even just offering one single flower
To the form of one who has gone to bliss (Buddha) on a stone wall,
Even if they make the offering with an angry attitude
Those living beings will gradually see ten million Buddhas.
Anyone who puts their palms together completely,
Or with one palm or just one time bows down in respect
To a stupa which contains relics, even with a distracted mind (without virtue)
Verbally saying “I prostrate to the Buddha” just one or a few times—
All those beings will achieve supreme enlightenment.
from The Lotus Sutra
If even for 10 million eons one explains the admiration (benefits)
Of any human being who circumambulates this stupa of the savior of the world;
One is unable to finish explaining them.
from The Sutra of the Exalted Compassionate-Eye Looking One
Stupas, and other holy objects, bring infinite benefits to sentient beings. Most importantly, for all sentient beings whether they have faith or not, stupas leave imprints of complete buddhahood in the mindstreams of all those who see them, think of them, or come in contact with them in any way. For those devotees who have faith and devotion, and who make offerings to or for a stupa, or recite prayers or make prostrations before a stupa, the benefits are absolutely incredible.
We recognize stupas as being manifestations of the holy mind of the buddhas. Stupas are, in general, filled with the holy relics of buddhas and Dharma masters, as well as collections of sacred texts—that is to say, with the representations of the holy body and holy speech of the buddhas. In this way stupas concentrate the buddhas' blessings like a magnifying glass does the sun, serving as powerful beacons of radiant blessings for all sentient beings.
As this site is still a work in progress, we advise you to learn more about the amazing benefits of stupas as well as find more resources for practices related to stupas here.
For those who hope to learn more about how stupas and other holy objects "work," how these seemingly inanimate objects can be such active sources of blessings for all sentient beings, please read this article composed by Sera Je monk Tenzin Legtsok and published in Mandala magazine.