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At one time, Shakyamuni Buddha with a retinue of bodhisattvas, arhats and deities were residing at the Celestial Realm of the Thirty-Three Gods. A question was put forward by Avalokitesvara to Lord Buddha - the Great Shramana - on how merits can be gained by the construction of a stupa. Shakyamuni Buddha responded by proclaiming the Essence of Dependent Origination Dharani:

“All phenomena arise from causes - ye dharma hetu prabhava
The Tathagata has taught these causes - hetun tai khen tathagato hy avadat
That which brings cessation to these causes - tekhen tsa yo nirodha
This too has been taught by the Great Shramana - evam vadi maha shramanah”

“Avalokitesvara, dependent origination is the dharmakaya - the Truth Body - of all the tathagatas. “

“One who has recognises dependent origination sees the Buddha.”

“Avalokitesvara, if a devout son or daughter of the noble family erects in a remote place a stupa - even one no bigger than the size of a gooseberry fruit, with a central life-tree pillar the size of a needle and a parasol no bigger than the flower of the bakula tree - and insert within the stupa, this essence of dependent origination dharani which is inseparable from the dharmadhatu (the sphere of absolute reality) he or she will generate the merit of Brahma and reborn after passing with store of great fortunes equal to that of the gods of the Pure Realms of Suddhavasa.”

After the Blessed One proclaimed in this way, the hearers, bodhisattvas, the whole assembly, and the universe of gods, humans, asuras, and gandharvas rejoiced and praised the words of the Blessed One.

- Extract from a teaching by Lama Dondrup Dorje Rinpoche. The full text is available to read under the feature of Gateway to Tibetan Buddhism. Click here to see the full list of articles available.