Part 41 - Stupa in Honour of the Buddha

“Ānanda, as is the procedure followed with regard to the relics of a Universal Monarch, so also should the procedure be followed with regard to the relics of the Tathāgata. A stupa to the honour of the Tathāgata should be erected at the junction of the four highways. People will make offerings of flowers or incense or scented powder, or pay homage, or will reflect on the Buddha’s greatness in front of the stupa, and for such acts of devotion, those people will enjoy benefit and happiness for a long time.”

Four Classes of Persons Worthy of A Stupa

“Ānanda, there are four types or classes of persons who are worthy of honouring by a stupa in their memory. They are:

i) A Tathāgata, the Homage-worthy, and Perfectly Self-Enlightened, ii) A Paccekabuddha;

iii) An Ariya disciple of a Tathāgata; iv) A Universal Monarch.

“Ānanda, on account of what special benefit is a Tathāgata, the Homage-worthy, Perfectly Self-Enlightened, worthy of a stupa? Ānanda, a stupa, in honour of a Tathāgata, arouses in the pilgrims, who visit it, a keen sense of devotion, in the reverential thought: ‘This stupa is a shrine in memory of the Homage-Worthy, Perfectly Self-Enlightened Buddha.’ Having reverentially recalled the memory of the Tathāgata, after the death and dissolution of their bodies, these pilgrims will be bound for fortunate destinations. They will be reborn in the deva realm. Ānanda, it is on account of this special benefit that a Tathāgata, Homageworthy, Perfectly Self-Enlightened, is worthy of a stupa.

“Ānanda, on account of what special benefit is a Paccekabuddha worthy of a stupa? Ānanda, a stupa in honour of a Paccekabuddha arouses in the pilgrims, who visit it, a keen sense of devotion, in the reverential thought: 'This stupa is a shrine in memory of a Paccekabuddha who discovered the four Ariya Truths by Himself (without the guidance of any Teacher).’ Having reverentially recalled the memory of the Paccekabuddha, after the death and dissolution of their bodies, these pilgrims will be bound for fortunate destinations, they will be reborn in the deva realm. Ānanda, it is on account of this special benefit that a Paccekabuddha is worthy of a stupa.”

“Ānanda, on account of what special benefit is an ariya disciple worthy of a stupa? Ānanda, a stupa in honour of an ariya disciple arouses in the pilgrims, who visit it, a keen sense of devotion, in the reverential thought: ‘This stupa is a shrine in memory of an ariya disciple of the Homage-worthy, Perfectly Self-Enlightened Buddha.’ Having reverentially recalled the memory of the ariya disciple, after the death and dissolution of their bodies, these pilgrims will be bound for fortunate destinations; they will be reborn in the deva realm. Ānanda it is on account of this special benefit that an ariya disciple is worthy of a stupa.”

“Ānanda on account of what special benefit is a Universal Monarch worthy of a stupa? Ānanda, a stupa in honour of a Universal Monarch arouses in the pilgrims, who visit it, a keen sense of devotion, in the reverential thought: ‘This stupa is a shrine in memory of a Universal Monarch who lived (and ruled) by righteousness.’ Having reverentially recalled the memory of the Universal Monarch, after the death and dissolution of their bodies, these pilgrims will be bound for fortunate destinations; they will be reborn in the deva-world. Ānanda, it is on account of this special benefit that a Universal Monarch is worthy of a stupa.”

“Ānanda, these are the four types or classes of persons who are worthy of a stupa.”

These were the questions by the Venerable Ānanda and the detailed answers by the Buddha.

(In this connection, it might be asked: “Why is a Universal Monarch who lives and dies a lay person is honoured by a stupa whereas a bhikkhu, though yet a worldling, who is possessed of virtue, is not?”

The answer is that the Buddha did not allow a stupa be built in honour of a virtuous bhikkhu who is still a worldling because that would be too common practice. For, if virtuous bhikkhus were declared by the Buddha to be honoured by a stupa, even in Sri Lankā alone, a great many stupas could be built so that these shrines would be very common. A Universal Monarch is a very rare personage and a stupa built in his honour will be awe-inspiring. However, although a virtuous bhikkhu, who is a worldling, is not honoured by a stupa, he is entitled to funeral rites on the same scales as the honour that is accorded to an arahat at his Parinibbāna.)