"Mighty and Honored World-Honored One, Please explain for our sake: What are the blessings and rewards That come from circumambulating a pagoda to the right?"

Circumambulating a Buddha Stupa, The various merits gained thereby— I shall now describe a small portion; Listen well, every one of you.

All the gods, dragons, yakshas, and spirits Draw near to honor and make offerings— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. In every life and place of birth, One is far from the eight difficult circumstances, Always born where there are no obstacles— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. In every place of existence, Mindfulness and wisdom are never lost, And one is endowed with a beautiful appearance— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. Whether among humans or gods, Blessings and life are long-lasting, And one always gains a great reputation— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. In the land of Jambudvipa, One is always born into the most supreme, Pure and noble family lineage— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. One’s features are always upright and handsome, Wealthy with abundant treasures, Always enjoying large estates— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. Treasures constantly accumulate, Yet without a stingy heart, Bold and generous in giving— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. One’s appearance is pure and subtle, All who see take delight, And the place one dwells is always peaceful— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. One may be a king of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, With a full retinue of wife and children, Mighty and sovereign with power— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. Or one may be a brahmin, Observant of precepts and well-versed, In spells and Vedic scriptures— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. Or one may be a great elder, Noble and wealthy with much property, Granaries and storehouses always full— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. Or one may be a righteous Dharma-king, Sovereign over all Jambudvipa, With the entire realm submitting— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. Or one may possess the seven treasures, A mighty wheel-turning king, Governing all beings by the ten virtues— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. From this life, one ascends to heaven, Always with great majesty and power, With pure faith in the Buddha’s Dharma— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. Once pure faith is quickly established, One is without confusion about the Dharma, Seeing all conditioned things as empty— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. After passing away from heaven, One descends to be born among humans, Entering the womb without confusion— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. While in the mother’s womb, One is unstained by any impurity, Like a pure mani pearl— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. During pregnancy and at birth, It brings the mother constant ease, And breastfeeding is likewise pleasant— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. Parents and all relatives Nurture the child together, And a wet nurse is always near— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. Family all cherish and love one, Even more than one’s parents; Wealth naturally increases of itself— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. Yakshas and all evil spirits Cannot momentarily frighten one, And all needs are spontaneously met— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. After hundreds of thousands of eons, One’s body becomes ever purer, With a perfect and beautiful appearance— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. Eyes pure, long and wide, Like the blue lotus flower, One also gains the pure divine eye— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. Beautiful features ever perfect, All auspicious marks naturally adorn one, And one achieves great power— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. One might be born in Indra’s palace, With great majesty and sovereignty, The foremost in Trāyastriṃśa Heaven— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. Or born in the Suyāma, Tuṣita, Nirmāṇarati, or Paranirmitavaśavartin Heavens— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. Or one might be born in the Brahma Realm, The most sovereign in the Brahma World, Always honored by all the gods— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. For a billion, countless eons, One is always by the wise, Respected and offered to— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. One’s body and clothes, For eons vast, remain ever stainless, Fully endowed with pure qualities— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. One has great energy and effort, Diligently cultivating various practices, Never experiencing weariness— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. Bold and ever diligent, Firm and indestructible, All deeds are swiftly accomplished— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. One has a deep, subtle voice, Which all who hear delight in, Peaceful, happy, and always free from illness— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. As I have thus proclaimed, One rejects the suffering of the three realms, Attaining the wisdom that transcends the world— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. One constantly abides in the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, The Four Right Efforts, And the Four Bases of Psychic Power— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. One fully understands the Four Noble Truths, The Faculties, the Powers, the Seven Factors of Enlightenment, The Noble Path and its Sacred Fruits— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. One extinguishes all afflictions, Fully endowed with great majesty, And the six pure supranormal powers— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. Forever free from greed, hatred, and delusion, And all obstacles, One realizes the Pratyekabuddha’s enlightenment— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. One attains a glorious golden hue, With a body adorned by marks of excellence, Appearing as a teacher of humans and gods— This comes from circling the Buddha Stupa. All of this comes through bodily actions And verbal praise— By circumambulating the Buddha Stupa, One gains these immense benefits.

The various merits of circling Buddha Stupas— As I have heard them, now I say them. Even this brief description cannot fully cover them!