Stupas are memorials of Enlightenment.
When the Buddha knew he was entering nirvana, he gave instructions that his body was to be cremated and his relics to be divided and enclosed in stupas. These holy monuments were designed with deep symbolism and sacred geometry.
There are two relic stupas in KMSPKS. One commemorates our founder Ven Sik Zhuan Dao. The second stupa is dedicated to the second abbot of the monastery Ven Seck Hong Choon.
A landscape with stupas becomes more calming, peaceful and joyful. Filled with Buddhist relics and holy objects, circumambulating stupas brings immeasurable merits and quickens one’s path to Enlightenment. Circumambulation is done by walking around in a clockwise direction, keeping one’s right towards the stupa.
佛塔原来是指为了安置佛陀舍利等物,而以砖等构造的建筑物,但是到了后代,多于“支提”混同,而泛指于佛陀生处、成道处、转法轮处、般涅槃处、过去佛陀经行处、有关佛陀本身谭的圣地、辟支佛窟、乃至为了安置诸佛菩萨像、佛陀足迹、祖师高僧遗骨等,而以堆土、石、砖、木等筑成,作为供养礼拜的建筑物。
根据《摩诃僧祇律》卷三十三,《法华义髓》卷十一等的记载,则应以舍利之有无,来作为“塔”与“支提”的区别。凡有佛陀舍利者,称为塔,无佛陀舍利者,称为支提。
佛塔也称作“浮图”,又作“佛图”、“浮屠”,是佛陀的两一个音译,另也指佛寺、佛塔。在《佛说十二游经》中说:“为佛作精舍,作十二佛图寺、七十二讲堂、三千六百间屋、五百楼阁。”《大智度论》卷十一也说:“阿瑜伽王一日作八万佛图。”卷十六则说:“或焚烧山野及诸聚落佛图、精舍。”等说即指寺塔。而俗话所说:“救人一命胜造七级浮屠”句中的“浮屠”即是指佛塔。