Visit a Buddhist Stupa

Last week, my mom and I did visit a Buddhist Stupa in the town of Benalmadena.  I had heard so much about it over the past several months of living in Spain, but finally we had rented a car and so it was easily accessible.  It was still a form of pilgrimage, although one may view it as a staycation. This Stupa is high in the hills of Benalmadena, surrounded by expensive newly built modern white homes.  

What is a stupa?

“An encounter with a Stupa is an encounter with myth – or as Carl Jung and Joseph Campell might have phrased it, an archetypal truth. What may at first seem only to be an artistic and perhaps nostalgic arrangement of brick, stone or wood may eventually come to be seen as an elaborate vessel, transporting the teachings of the Buddha – Buddhadharma – across three millennia.”

– Buddhist Stupas in Asia: The Shape of Perfection. 2001

Initially what I thought what we were visiting was a Buddhist temple.  But it wasn’t until later I realized that this was to visit a Buddhist Stupa.  Stupas are metaphorical representations of the universe and it’s elements, mandalas, and Buddha himself.  Stupas assist us in our spiritual journey and grant us blessings.  To find out more about this particular Buddhist Stupa in Benalmadena and what stupas are, click here https://www.stupabenalmadena.org/en/stupa/what_is_a_stupa/ .   

Visit a Buddhist Stupa in Benalmadena

As I left the parked car, I passed a tiny gift shop.  The shop attendee stood outside holding her mala beads, repeating silently prayers. I knew her presence here was an act of service.   My gaze was then are pulled to the Tibetan flags that surround the exterior of the temple.  The flags blew in the wind, next to views of the sea, town, and temple.  

My mom was with me, as was my 14 year old dog Bella.  We had planned to take turns holding Bella outside as we visited quickly the Stupa.  Another volunteer monitoring the visitors noted our struggle and signified we could both come in with the dog.  I thought of what an act of kindness this was and appreciated the gesture of brining my pet to this sacred space unannounced.  After a doing meditation, giving an offering, and walking around the Stupa, we left.  I headed back to the gift shop, and wanted to buy a beautiful shawl I saw inside the Stupa.  The volunteer noted I had to return to the Stupa to purchase this.   I ventured back in, this time leaving the dog with my mom.  I thought it would be a quick money exchange.  

Buddhist Etiquette

As I entered, the volunteer was talking to another woman about the Stupa and the history of it.  There were several other visitors present, this included one woman there with a young child around age 4-5.  This child began to cry, and automatically the mother headed out of the door.  I knew she felt shame, embarrassment, and didn’t want to disrupt the other visitors.  Yet, the volunteer walked towards them and welcomed them back in.  She gave the crying child two oranges, she said one could be for her and one was to be offered to the Buddha in front of the temple.  The child stopped crying, and made her offering.  She then began asking for a piece of chocolate, she saw by the offering area.  The mother and volunteer laughed, as she offered the child a piece of chocolate.  

Buddhism in Everyday Life

I witnessed the essence of Buddha with this volunteer who was so welcoming towards this child, mother, me, and my dog.  She was exemplifying Buddhism versus trying to follow “rules” of being the keeper of the Stupa.  I knew with me entering the temple again and purchasing that prayer shawl, I was meant to observe this act of kindness that was so beautiful.  It will stay etched in my mind.  

If we are slow enough to observe our atmosphere, we may start to notice acts of kindness popping up everyday.  What have you seen recently?  Take the time and visit a Buddhist Stupa in your local area.

If you want to explore gratitude practice ideas, check out this previous post here https://amodernpilgrimage.com/gratitude-practice-ideas/