见佛塔时，当愿众生，
尊重如塔，受天人供。
When seeing Buddhist stupas,¹
[reflect that] ‘May sentient beings,
[attain] deep respect like [the] stupas [do],
receiving heavenly [and] human beings’ offerings.’²
敬心观塔，当愿众生，
诸天及人，所共瞻仰。
[With] reverent hearts contemplating stupas,
[reflect that] ‘May sentient beings,
[be] whom all heavenly and human beings,
together gazed upon with reverence.’³
顶礼于塔，当愿众生，
一切天人，无能见顶。
Prostrating [with] heads [touching the ground] at stupas,
[reflect that] ‘May sentient beings,
[attain crowns that] all heavenly and human beings,
[are] not able [to] see [the] peak [of].’⁴
右绕于塔，当愿众生，
所行无逆，成一切智。
Clockwise circumabulating⁵ at stupas,
[reflect that] ‘May sentient beings,
[of] their practices, [be] without opposition,⁶
[for their] accomplishment [of] all[-knowing] wisdom.’⁷
绕塔三匝，当愿众生，
勤求佛道，心无懈歇。
Circumabulating stupas* for three rounds,⁸
[reflect that] ‘May sentient beings,
diligently seek [the] Buddha path,⁹
[with] minds without [thoughts of] laxity [or] rest.’¹⁰
– 文殊菩萨
(华严经: 净行品: 第132-136偈)
– Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva
(Avataṃsaka Sūtra: Chapter 11 On Pure Practices: Verse 132-136)
1: which contain relics of the Buddha or great Dharma practitioners, that symbolise spiritual progression towards the peak of Buddhahood
2: to support their Dharma learning, practice and propagation
3: as they are excellent examples to follow
4: Stupas resemble the Buddha’s crown that cannot be seen (i.e. ushnisha; 无见顶), that symbolises the unseeable peak of his perfect spiritual qualities, to be fully ‘seen’ only when Buddhahood is personally realised.
5: to express refuge in the Triple Gem (of Buddhas, Dharma and Sangha), as the centre of our lives.
6: by going against the right path personally or be misguided by others to do so
7: of Buddhahood
8: to express refuge in the Triple Gem (of Buddhas, Dharma and Sangha), as the centre of our lives.
9: to Buddhahood
10: yet ever with enthusiastic energy
