The Seven Treasures Wish-Fulfilling Stupas

七寶如意塔

The Seven Treasures Wish-Fulfilling Stupas is located by the Wisdom Pond, and there is a story behind the Seven Treasures Wish-Fulfilling Stupas.

First of all, Wisdom Pond was discovered as a natural spring in a marshy area. After the spring was discovered, the lake kept getting bigger. Within two or three days of its discovery, the lake's water continued to gush forth, even washing away the soil by the lake. Therefore, Venerable Dayi Shi arranged for the construction of the Seven Treasures Wish-Fulfilling Stupas by the Wisdom Pond to protect its shores. Since the Seven Treasures Wish-Fulfilling Stupas were built by the lake, the water never overflowed again.

What is special about this Seven Treasures Wish-Fulfilling Stupas ? Buddhist stone pagodas are typically composed of various parts, including the base, body, spire, finial, pedestal, and ornamentation. The "base" consists of two parts: the underground foundation and the above-ground pedestal, both of which are connected, forming the solid foundation of the stupas to anchor them securely.

The Seven Treasures Wish-Fulfilling Stupas on Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden has a square-shaped body with a four-cornered Sumeru pedestal, greatly enhancing its stability and making it highly earthquake and typhoon resistant. The upper part of the stupa is designed in a step-like pattern, typical of Tibetan-style stupas. The Sumeru pedestal is adorned with lotus patterns, and the body of the stupa is decorated with auspicious clouds and fierce lions. It has a flat and wide finial with niche doors, which contain carved Buddha images.

At the top of the stupa's finial, there are 13 rings of "ornamental wheels" or "Dharma wheels." The "ornamental wheel" is positioned in the middle section of the stupa's spire and is one of the most important components. In physical terms, the ornamental wheel consists of concentric rings linked together, serving as a symbol to gaze upon and venerate. It plays a role in showing reverence to the Buddha. The number of rings on an ornamental wheel on a stupa is generally determined by the size and rank of the stupa; it can range from three to five rings for smaller stupas and up to thirteen rings for larger ones. Thirteen rings of ornamental wheels are referred to as the "thirteen heavens."

Regarding the Seven Treasures Wish-Fulfilling Stupas themselves, they symbolize the names of the Seven Buddhas of the Seven Treasures: Namo Ratna-ketu Tathagata, Namo Ratna-sambhava Tathagata, Namo Ratna-kara Tathagata, Namo Arya-jña-na-garbha Tathagata, Namo Ratna-vikrama Tathagata, Namo Ratna-ruci Tathagata, Namo Amitabha Tathagata.

A Buddhist stupa is a symbolic treasure in Buddhism, revered by believers. It also possesses a powerful, sacred quality capable of subduing all evil or alien forces and can be used for supplication and seeking help. Therefore, the spiritual benefits obtained by circumambulating a Buddhist stupa while reciting scriptures and turning prayer beads are immeasurable.

So, when you pray, turn your prayer beads, recite scriptures, and walk clockwise around the stupas’ bases. You will undoubtedly have a very auspicious experience! This is the story of the Seven Treasures Wish-Fulfilling Stupas on Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden.

七寶如意塔的位置是在靈泉湖畔。大家知道七寶如意塔是怎麼來的呢？

首先要說，靈泉湖是在沼澤地裡發現的一個天然泉眼。這個泉眼發現以後，湖水越來越大。在發現泉眼的兩三天后，湖水不斷湧現，甚至把湖畔的泥土都沖掉了，所以達義大和尚就安排在靈泉湖畔做了七寶塔，鎮在湖邊。自從湖畔有了七寶如意塔，湖水就再也沒有漫過。

這個七寶如意塔有什麼特別之處呢？佛教石塔常以塔基、塔身、塔剎、剎座、寶頂、相輪等組成。 「塔基」包括基礎和基座兩個部分，基礎是埋入地下的部分，基座是露出地面的部分，兩部分上下相連，堅固完整，作為塔的根基，以固定整個佛塔。

五台山的七寶如意塔是四角須彌座形式的底座，塔身方形，大大加強了塔的牢固性，具有極強的抗地震和抗颱風能力。塔的腰部以上逐層收分如階梯，屬於藏傳的樣式，並且須彌座上雕刻仰蓮花紋，塔身刻有祥雲雄獅等，上有覆缽形塔腹，覆缽扁而寬大，設有龕門，其中雕刻佛像。

塔的寶剎上置13級環相輪，「相輪」居於塔剎的中段，它是塔剎的剎身中最重要的組成部分。相輪在寺院佛塔的實物中，就是一圈一圈的環，環環相連，用在塔上作為一種仰望觀瞻的標識，起著敬佛的作用。一座塔上相輪圈數的多少，一般依塔的形體大小和等級來定，少的有三五圈，多的可達十三圈。十三圈的相輪便被稱為「十三天」。

就七寶如意塔本身而言，象徵七寶如來名號：南無多寶如來、南無寶勝如來、南無妙色身如來、南無廣博身如來、南無離麋畏如來、南無甘露王如來、南無阿彌陀如來。

佛塔是佛教的一種象徵性寶物，供信徒頂禮崇拜；佛塔又是一種具有威懾力量、能夠壓制一切邪惡或異己力量的神聖之物，可供人們祈禱求助。因此，圍繞佛塔轉經所獲得的精神利益是無法估量的。

所以，大家在禱告時須轉動佛珠，背誦經文，繞著塔基順時針走一圈，一定會有非常殊勝的體驗！

這就是五台山七寶如意塔的故事。