Thiên Bửu Pagoda (Upper)

Thiên Bửu Pagoda (Upper) is an ancient pagoda located in Điềm Tịnh hamlet, Ninh Phụng commune, Ninh Hòa town, Khánh Hòa province. The pagoda was founded by Most Venerable Tế Hiển – Bửu Dương during the Lê Cảnh Hưng era, before 1763 (1).

The pagoda is built in the shape of the character "Môn" (門, meaning "gate"), consisting of the Main Hall, East Corridor, and West Corridor. The Main Hall has three bays and is solemnly arranged. In the central bay of the Main Hall sits a large, gold-lacquered statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, along with many other Buddha statues such as Amitabha Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, etc. The left bay is dedicated to Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, while the right bay venerates Ông, that is, Guan Yu. The West House is dedicated to the first patriarch of Zen Buddhism, Bodhidharma, as well as the ancestral founder and the abbots' memorial tablets.

Within the pagoda are the following couplets:

In front of the ancestral hall of Tổ Phước Tường:

Thiên đạo hoằng khai, thiên cá tu hành thiên cá đắc

Bảo vân quảng nhuận thất trùng lan thuẫn thất trùng tu.

Provisional translation:

The true Dharma opens wide, a thousand practitioners, a thousand attainments

Auspicious clouds spread everywhere, seven rows of precious trees, seven rows of cultivation.

In front of the courtyard:

Điềm lãng phất khai kim thế giới

Tịnh trần lộ xuất ngọc lâu đài.

Provisional translation:

Calm waves open wide, behold the Pure Land

Pure dust emerges from the mundane world.

In front of the triple-arched gate:

Thiên nhân cung kính Thế Tôn, phước huệ viên dung khai giác lộ.

Bửu địa trang nghiêm Phật tổ. nhân duyên thành tựu khải từ môn

Provisional translation:

Heaven and humans revere the World-Honoured One, perfect merit and wisdom open the path of enlightenment

Precious land solemnly adorns the Buddha realm, auspicious conditions fulfilled open the gate of compassion

The right gate "Bồ Đề Viện" (Bodhi Institute) has the couplet: "Đáo thử thiền môn yếu dĩ từ bi khởi niệm" (Coming to this Zen gate, one must begin with compassion)

The left gate: "Bát Nhã Môn" (Prajñā Gate) with the couplet: "Đăng ư giác địa duy kỳ hỉ xả vi tâm" (Ascending to the ground of enlightenment, only joyful equanimity is kept in mind)

Indeed:

Coming to the pagoda gate, bring a heart of joyful equanimity.

Entering the Buddha realm, keep a mind of compassion.

The Bửu Dương Stupa is the resting place of the founding patriarch, Most Venerable Tế Hiển – Bửu Dương. Its structure is in the shape of a gold-coloured octagon standing on an eight-sided pedestal. The stupa is 5.5 metres high, with a lotus model supporting a wine gourd at the top; in total, it has 7 storeys, making 56 faces and 56 corners, with 56 dragon heads attached to the corners. Surrounding the stupa is a wall 1 metre high and 6 tấc (about 24 cm) wide, with four lotus flowers built at the four corners. The uppermost storey, on the three front faces, is decorated with paired dragons vying for a pearl; the remaining faces are adorned with mythical creatures such as qilin and phoenix. The next storey below has 40 faces carved with talismanic characters, and motifs of plum, orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo. The lowest storey at the front bears a stele, while the other 7 faces are inscribed with verses and eulogies in five-character or eight-line form.

Thích Ngộ Tánh