The meaning of stupas

“So which would be more beneficial — building such a stupa, making a statue of the Buddha, or building a residence for the Sangha?” Ananda asked the Buddha.

The Buddha answered, “If someone were to build a huge temple that would accommodate hundreds of thousands of Sangha, and if the same person were to make offerings to the Sangha for day after day for years; or, on the other hand, if that person were to make a small stupa the size of a Myrabolan fruit, and a statue of the Buddha the size of that fruit, making the latter two would be more beneficial.  Both the stupa and the statue represent the Buddha’s mind and body, and since a Buddha has limitless qualities, any worship, any offering made to these two miniatures would be more beneficial.”

The Sutra On The Merit Of Bathing The Buddha

At that time, the World Honored One uttered these verses:

After my death
You will be able to honor my relics
Some will build stupas
Or images of the Tathágata.
At the place of the image or stupa,
One who anoints that spot of ground
With various incenses and flowers
Scattering them over its surface
Uses pure, beautifully scented water
To pour onto the body of this image,
Offers it various flavorful drinks and foods,
Fully maintaining it with oblations,
Eulogizes the virtue of the Tathágata,
Which is endlessly difficult to conceive;
Through the wisdom of skillful means and the supernatural power of the Buddha
Such a one will quickly reach the other shore of Nirvana.
He will obtain the diamond body
Complete with the thirty-two marks of a great person
And the eighty minor signs of excellence.

Project Stupa Fund: click link for photos

The aim of the Fund is to provide the resources for the building of 100,000 stupas around the world, each of a minimum height of 12 feet.  Simply seeing a holy object such as a stupa becomes the cause to achieve inconceivable awakening and enlightenment by purifying defilements.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has already inspired the building of more than forty large stupas around the world, including the Great Thousand Buddha Relic Stupa at Kopan Monastery in Nepal, the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion being built in Australia, the Kalachakra Stupa in the USA, a Kadampa stupa in France, and many other stupas in Nepal, Spain, Italy, France, the United States, Canada, Iceland, Tibet, Australia, and New Zealand.  Lama Zopa Rinpoche tells us:

“Building stupas helps develop so much peace and happiness for numberless sentient beings.  As a result, wars, disease, and desire will all be pacified.  Instead of feeling hopeless, people will gain courage.  This is about peace – for the beings who see it, for the whole country, for the entire world, for all sentient beings.”

In order to create the cause for world peace and eliminate suffering, Lama Zopa Rinpoche wants to build 100,000 stupas worldwide.  The inconceivable merit of building a stupa is not limited to the person who physically builds it; those who support the project financially, materially, or through prayer receive equal benefit!  Help us make Rinpoche’s vision for world peace a reality!

Click to help out:  Stupa fund

Many blessings!
Neo

The great Milarepa

Milarepa is one of Tibet’s most beloved yogis.  He was born in 1052.  When his wealthy father died, Milarepa’s uncle stole all the family’s inheritance.  The mother wanted revenge and coerced her son to find a way to settle the score or else she would commit suicide.

At his mother’s request, Milarepa learned the black arts of sorcery, killing many people associated with his uncle. Later, Milarepa went through much regret and suffering.  All this weighed deeply on his conscience.  He repented and sought out on a long journey to find a highly realized spiritual teacher to alleviate him of his profound mental anguish.

He found Marpa the Translator who treated him very harshly.  This was a special means of purifying Milarepa’s most heinous actions and very heavy karma all in one lifetime.

For a long time Marpa refused to give any teachings to Milarepa, giving him instead a series of increasingly difficult and frustrating tasks.  For instance, he ordered Milarepa to build three towers by hand and when it was completed, ordered him to tear each of them down and place all the stones in the exact spot they were uncovered.

When Marpa still refused to teach Milarepa he went to Marpa’s wife, who took pity on him.  She forged a letter of introduction to another teacher under whose tutelage he practiced meditation.  However when he was making no progress, he confessed the forgery.   The teacher, Ngogdun Chudor, said that it was vain to hope for spiritual growth without the guru Marpa’s approval.  Milarepa returned to Marpa, and after practicing very diligently for twelve years he attained the state of Vajradhara (complete enlightenment).

Milarepa composed many spiritual songs that revealed his realizations. This is one of his famous verses:

“Meditate in the unborn nature of the mind:
Like space, no center, no limit;
Like the sun and moon, bright and clear;
Like a mountain, unmoving, unshakeable;
Like the ocean, deep, unfathomable.” – Milarepa

Relics of Milarepa

“I cry, weep and feel a strong sense of faith each time I read or hear the story of Milarepa, the great yogi of Tibet.”
– the Dalai Lama

To watch the trailer on the new movie that came out in 2007 by Shining Moon Productions click on the video below:

Extend your lifespan

“Lord of Heaven, if one hears this Usnisa Vijaya Dharani once, all the bad karma incurred from his previous lives that should cause him to fall into hells will be destroyed altogether.  He will instead acquire a fine and pure body.  Wherever he is reborn, he will clearly remember the Dharani – from one Buddhaland to another, from one heavenly realm to another heavenly realm.  Indeed, throughout the Trayastrimsa Heavens, wherever he is reborn, he will not forget.”

“Lord of Heaven, if someone at death’s door recalls this divine Dharani, even for just a moment, his lifespan will be extended and he will acquire purification of body, speech and mind.  Without suffering any physical pain and in accordance with his meritorious deeds, he will enjoy tranquility everywhere.  Receiving blessings from all the Tathagatas, and constantly guarded by devas and protected by Bodhisattvas, he will be honoured and respected by people, and all his evil hindrances will be eradicated.”

“Lord of Heaven, if someone can sincerely read or recite this Dharani even for a short period of time, all his karmic retribution which would lead him to suffer in the hells, the animal realm, the realm of King Yama and the hungry ghost realm, will be completely destroyed and eradicated without leaving any trace.  He will be free to go to any of the Buddhas’ Pure Lands and heavenly palaces; all gateways leading to the Bodhisattvas’ abode are open to him unobstructed.”

After hearing the above discourse, Lord Sakra immediately appealed to the Buddha, “For the sake of all sentient beings, may the World Honoured One kindly give a discourse on how one’s lifespan can be lengthened.”

The Buddha was aware of Lord Sakra’s intention and his eagerness to hear His discourse on this Dharani and so immediately proclaimed the Mantra thus:

NAMO BHAGAVATE TRAILOKYA PRATIVISISTAYA BUDDHAYA BHAGAVATE TADYATHA, OM, VISUDDHAYA-VISUDDHAYA.  ASAMA-SAMA SAMANTAVABHASA-SPHARANA GATI GAHANA SVABHAVA VISUDDHE, ABHISINCATU MAM.

SUGATA VARA VACANA AMRTA ABHISEKAI MAHA MANTRA-PADAI.  AHARA-AHARA AYUH SAM-DHARANI.  SODHAYA-SODHAYA GAGANA VISUDDHE.  USNISA VIJAYA VISUDDHE SAHASRA-RASMI, SAMCODITE.

SARVA TATHAGATA AVALOKANI, SAT-PARAMITA, PARIPURANI.   SARVA TATHAGATA MATI DASA-BHUMI, PRATI-STHITE.  SARVA TATHAGATA HRDAYA ADHISTHANA DHISTHITA MAHA-MUDRE.  VAJRA KAYA SAM-HATANA VISUDDHE.

SARVAVARANA APAYA DURGATI, PARI-VISUDDHE, PRATI-NIVARTAYA AYUH SUDDHE.  SAMAYA ADHISTHITE.  MANI-MANI MAHA MANI.  TATHATA BHUTAKOTI PARISUDDHE.  VISPHUTA BUDDHI SUDDHE.

JAYA-JAYA, VIJAYA-VIJAYA, SMARA-SMARA SARVA BUDDHA ADHISTHITA SUDDHE VAJRI VAJRAGARBHE, VAJRAM BHAVATU MAMA SARIRAM.  SARVA SATTVANAM CA KAYA PARI VISUDDHE.  SARVA GATI PARISUDDHE.  SARVA TATHAGATA SINCA ME SAMASVASAYANTU.

SARVA TATHAGATA SAMASVASA ADHISTHITE.  BUDDHYA-BUDDHYA, VIBUDDHYA-VIBUDDHYA.  BODHAYA-BODHAYA, VIBODHAYA-VIBODHAYA SAMANTA PARISUDDHE.  SARVA TATHAGATA HRDAYA ADHISTHANA DHISTHITA MAHA-MUDRE SVAHA.

Then the Buddha told Lord Sakra, “The above Mantra is known as the ‘ Purifying All Evil Paths’ Usnisa Vijaya Dharani’.  It can eliminate all evil karmic hindrances and eradicate the suffering of all evil paths.”

“Lord of Heaven, this great Dharani is proclaimed together by Buddhas as numerous as eighty-eight kotis (hundred million) of the grains of sand of the Ganges River.  All Buddhas rejoice and uphold this Dharani that is verified by the wisdom seal of the Maha Vairocana Tathagata.  This is because the Dharani is proclaimed to remove all sufferings borne by beings in the evil paths, to liberate them from painful retribution in hell, animal and King Yama’s realms; to deliver beings facing immediate danger of falling into the sea of birth and death (samsara); to assist helpless beings with short lifespans and poor fortune and to deliver beings who like to commit all kinds of evil deeds.  Moreover, because of Its dwelling and being upheld in the Jambu-dvipa world, the power manifested by this Dharani would cause all beings in hells and other evil realms; those with poor fortune and revolving in the cycles of birth and death; those not believing in the existence of good and evil deeds and are deviated from the proper path, to attain deliverance.”

The Buddha then told the Four Heavenly Kings, “Please listen attentively, for your benefit as well as for the benefit of all beings with short lifespans, I will now explain the method to uphold this Dharani.  On a full-moon day – the 15th day of the lunar month, one should first bathe oneself and put on new clean clothes, uphold the profound precepts and recite this Dharani 1000 times.  This will cause one to lengthen one’s lifespan, and be permanently free from the sufferings of illness; all one’s karmic hindrances will be completely eradicated, One will also be liberated from suffering in hell.  If birds, animals and other sentient beings hear this Dharani once, they will never again be reborn in these impure and gross body forms once their lives have ended.”

The Buddha further added, “If one can chant this Dharani 21 times daily, one is worthy of accepting all the immense worldly offerings and will be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss after one’s death.  If one chants this Dharani constantly, one will attain Maha Parinirvana and be able to lengthen one’s lifespan besides enjoying the most extraordinary bliss.  After one’s life is over, one will be reborn in any of the wonderful Buddhalands, in constant company of the Buddhas.  All Tathagatas will always give discourses on the profound and wonderful truth of Dharma and all World Honoured Ones will bestow predictions of enlightenment upon one.  The light illuminating from one’s body will pervade all Buddhalands.”

To read the full sutra click here:  THE USNISA VIJAYA DHARANI SUTRA

UPDATE:  If you want to hear how this long-mantra is pronounced correctly, then click here: Usnisa Vijaya Dharani video

Good Luck!
Neo

Liberation upon seeing

Even as a child Migyur Dorje frequently had visionary experiences, such as one of Padmasambava from whose hand motion he instantly understood how to read and write.

Migyur Dorje met his root teacher, Mahasiddha Karma Chagmed, at age 10.

For a year, he received all the traditional transmissions and teachings, and then the two entered into three-year retreat.

This terma revelation (below) by Terton Migyur Dorje, is written in dakini script (yellow letters outlined in orange on blue background).

“Those who see this script will not experience the three lower realms and will be liberated from the fear of falling into the lower realms; will be purified of the five poisons and freed from the results of one’s karma; will be freed from the fear of remaining in samsara.” — Terton Migyur Dorje.

History:

During his retreat, Migyur Dorje experienced a nearly uninterrupted visionary flow, with each deity bestowing a specific method of accomplishment.  All of this was written down by Karma Chagmed and collected in 13 great volumes known as “Nam Cho” or Space Treasures.  These termas contain a complete path to enlightenment from preliminary practices through profound methods of Dzogpa Chenpo, the Great Perfection.  Migyur Dorje practiced, fully accomplished and realized each of these secret treasures.

Migyur Dorje died at the age of 23.  During his cremation, astonishing signs appeared.  Rainbows arose in a pristine clear sky, Migyur Dorje’s heart and tongue remained untouched by the flames, and his bones were marked with the vowels and consonants of the Tibetan language.

Migyur Dorje had many lineage-holding disciples in Tibet, but the Nam Chö practices were upheld primarily by the Karmapa’s monastery at Kathog and the Palyul monestary.  The Palyul lineage was founded by two of Migyur Dorje’s heart students – the great Vidyadhara Kunzang Sherab and his sister, the first Ahkon Lhamo.

The Nam Chö revelations have been the principle practice of Palyul and have been transmitted pure and unbroken to the present day Palyul throneholder, Penor Rinpoche [now Karma Kuchen].  According to His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, thousands of people have attained the rainbow body through the powerful method of Nam Chö .  That is why the Palyul lineage has become known as the tradition of accomplishment.

Hagiography:

To read the Terton’s outer biography click here: Melodious Sound of Thunder  It’s a very big file so give it a minute to upload or right click the link and hit ‘save link as’.

Additional:

Purchase the Liberation Upon Seeing: Bumper Sticker

Purchase the Liberation Upon Seeing: T-shirt

Inspirational:

Here is a short video (3:47) that I designed to be meditative as well as provide information along with wonderful music/vocals by artist Mercedes Bahleda:

My Reincarnation

MY REINCARNATION is an epic father-son drama, spanning two decades and three generations, about spirituality, cultural survival, identity, inheritance, family, growing old, growing up, Buddhism, Dzogchen—and past and future lives. The film follows the renowned reincarnate Tibetan spiritual master, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, as he struggles to save his spiritual tradition, and his Italian born son, Yeshe, who stubbornly refuses to follow in his father’s footsteps.

Khyentse Yeshe was recognized at birth as the reincarnation of his father’s uncle, a high spiritual master who died at the hands of the Chinese in Tibet. But while Yeshi longs for a normal life, he cannot escape his destiny…

“The film is a wonderful way for people to be introduced to the Dzogchen Teachings. The film shows the real method of practice integrated in ordinary life, not just in a ritual way.”  — Chögyal Namkhai Norbu

Support this project by creating a good root of virtue for yourself here:  My Reincarnation film

The Medicine Buddha

The Buddha – our enlightened essence – is known as the great healer, the energy which releases all beings from affliction. According to the Tibetan tradition, the Buddha emanated as Bhaishajyaguru, the “master of remedies,” thousands of years ago.

The master of remedies holds in his right hand a sprig of aurora, or cherubic Myrobalan, from which much of Tibetan medicine is compounded.  His hand faces outward, symbolizing his bestowal of boons.  In his left hand he holds a bowl containing three forms of ambrosia: the nectar that cures disease and resurrects the dead; the nectar that counteracts aging; and the supreme nectar that illuminates the mind increasing knowledge.

He established the Tibetan medical tradition in the form of texts known as The Four Tantras of Secret Instructions on the Eight Branches of the Essence of Immortality, which are more commonly referred to as Gyushi, “The Four Medical Tantras”.

The mantra of medicine Buddha is:

TAYATA OM BEKANZAY BEKANZAY MAHA BEKANZAY RADZA SAMUDGATAY SOHA

Medicine Buddha is also called Bhaishajyaguru Vaiduryaprabha, the healing master of Lapis Lazuli Radiance.  Like Amitabha he wears the robes of a monk.  He holds the myrobalan plant which is used to heal mental and physical disease.  Traditionally medicine Buddha is depicted with seven other Medicine Buddhas including Shakyamuni Buddha.  Tibetan medicine is based on teachings given by Medicine Buddha.  The root of all illness is explained to be the three primary delusions of attachment, hatred, and ignorance.

From the wonderful Medicine Master Sutra:

“Manjushri, when that World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, was practicing the Bodhisattva path in the past, he made twelve great vows that enable all sentient beings to obtain what they seek.”

The first great vow:  ‘I vow that in a future life, when I attain anuttarasamyaksambodhi, my body will shine with dazzling light that will illumine measureless, countless, boundless worlds.  My body will be adorned with the thirty-two heroic features and the eighty subsidiary characteristics, and I will enable all beings to become as I am.’

The second great vow:  ‘I vow that in a future life when I attain Bodhi, my body will be as bright and clear as vaidurya, flawlessly pure, vastly radiant, majestic with merit and virtue, abiding at ease, adorned with blazing nets brighter than the sun and the moon.  Beings dwelling in darkness will be illuminated and will succeed in all their endeavors.’”

The third great vow:  ‘I vow that in a future life when I attain Bodhi, I will, by means of limitless, unbounded wisdom and skill-in-means, enable all sentient beings to obtain an inexhaustible supply of material necessities so they are without the slightest want.’

The fourth great vow:  ‘I vow that in a future life when I attain Bodhi, I shall lead those sentient beings who practice deviant paths to reside in the Way of Bodhi, and those who travel on the vehicles of the Hearer or Pratyekabuddha to abide in the Great Vehicle.’

The fifth great vow:  ‘I vow that in a future life when I attain Bodhi, I shall enable limitless and boundless numbers of sentient beings who cultivate Brahma conduct within my Dharma to perfectly uphold the three clusters of precepts without exception.  Should there be any violation, upon hearing my name, they will regain their purity and not fall into the evil destinies.’

The sixth great vow:  ‘I vow that in a future life when I attain Bodhi, if there are sentient beings whose bodies are inferior and whose faculties are imperfect, who are ugly, dull, blind, deaf, mute, deformed, paralyzed, hunchbacked, or afflicted with skin disease, insanity, or various other sicknesses and sufferings, upon hearing my name they shall all become endowed with upright features, keen intelligence, and perfect faculties, and they shall be free of sickness and suffering.’

The seventh great vow:  ‘I vow that in a future life when I attain Bodhi, I shall cause sentient beings who are oppressed by many illnesses and who are without aid, without a place to turn, without a doctor, without medicine, without relatives, and without a family, who are poverty-stricken and filled with suffering to be cured of their sicknesses upon having my name pass by their ear, so they are peaceful and happy in body and mind.  They will have a family and relatives, and acquire an abundance of property and wealth, and even realize unsurpassed Bodhi.’

The eighth great vow:  ‘I vow that in a future life when I attain Bodhi, if there are women who give rise to a deep loathing for their female body and wish to renounce it because they are oppressed and disturbed by the myriad sufferings of being female, upon hearing my name, they will be able to turn from women into men who are replete with male features and ultimately realize unsurpassed Bodhi.’”

The ninth great vow:  ‘I vow that in a future life when I attain Bodhi, I shall liberate sentient beings from the nets of demons and the bonds of external sects.  If they have fallen into the dense forests of evil views, I shall lead them to have proper views and to gradually cultivate the practices of Bodhisattvas so they will quickly realize unsurpassed, proper and equal Bodhi.’

The tenth great vow:  ‘I vow that in a future life when I attain Bodhi, I shall cause sentient beings who fall into the hands of the law and are bound, interrogated, whipped, fettered, imprisoned, sentenced to execution, or subjected to endless disasters, hardships, abuse, and humiliation so that they are torn by grief and distress and suffering in body and mind, to obtain, upon hearing my name, liberation from all worry and suffering by means of my blessings, virtue, and awesome spiritual power.’

The eleventh great vow:  ‘I vow that in a future life when I attain Bodhi, I shall cause all sentient beings who are so plagued by hunger and thirst that they create all kinds of bad karma in their quest for food, upon hearing my name and single-mindedly accepting and maintaining it, to be filled with delicious food and drink and afterward, by means of the flavor of Dharma, to settle in ultimate peace and happiness.’

The twelfth great vow:  ‘I vow that in a future life when I attain Bodhi, if there are sentient beings who are poor and without clothes so that day and night they are troubled by mosquitoes and flies, and by cold and heat, upon hearing my name and single-mindedly accepting and maintaining it, they shall obtain all kinds of fine and wonderful garments that accord with their tastes, as well as a variety of precious adornments, flower garlands, fragrant balms, and the enjoyments of music and various kinds of talents, so that all their hearts’ delights will be fulfilled.’

“Manjushri, these are the twelve sublime and wonderful vows that the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, One of Proper and Equal Enlightenment, made while cultivating the Bodhisattva Way.”

“Moreover, Manjushri, if I were to speak for a eon or more about the great vows made by the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, when he practiced the Bodhisattva Way and about the merit, virtue, and adornments of his Buddhaland, I could not finish.”

UPDATE:

“Manjushri, if you see a man or a woman who is ill, you should single-mindedly and frequently clean and bathe him and rinse his mouth. Provide him with food, medicine, or water that is free of insects, over any of which the dharani has been recited 108 times. After the sick person has taken it, all his sicknesses and sufferings will be gone. If this person has a wish, he should recite this mantra with utmost sincerity. Then he will obtain whatever he wished for, and his life will be prolonged and free from illness.”

CLICK HERE: to read the Medicine Buddha Dharani

Benefits of stupas

From the Legend of Maha Buddha stupa:

“When Mahakashyapa Buddha was preaching, the Benefactress Jadzima, who begat four sons, built the Jarungkhasor Stupa [below] in the district of Maguta, in the Kingdom of Nepal.  Great Guru!  If you could speak to us of the fruit of the aspiration generated by the constructors of that first Great Stupa, then we, having built this Great Monastery of Samye, knowing how to pray, may become full of confidence and faith in the future.  So that we may be devoted, we entreat you to describe in detail the result of building that first Great Stupa of Jarungkhasor.”

The Great Guru replied, “Listen and give me your full attention O Great King! After the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the past, present and future were absorbed in their reality into the receptacle of Pure Mind forever, this Great Stupa could grant any supplication and fulfill every aspiration immediately and effortlessly for it became as the Wish Fulfilling Gem, the Yeshey Norbu.

The benefits and favours received by any living creature who with a pure heart prostrates himself before the Great Stupa, circumambulates it and adores it are inconceivable and incalculable beyond the expression of the Buddhas of the past, present and future, for these stones were laid in order to bring inconceivable joy to humanity.

As this Great Stupa is the receptacle of the Mind of the Buddhas of the past, present and future, so it is the plane of adoration of both mundane and supramundane beings; to both men and gods, whatever supplication is made and whatever prayer is offered, all wishes will be granted and even supreme realization and spiritual power may be obtained.”

Stupa: these are the merits gained by walking around the stupa

SACRED SYMBOL OF ENLIGHTENMENT

“When you circumambulate a stupa you will be honored by gods, nagas, yaksas, gandharvas, and asuras, by garudas, kinnaras, and mahoragas.

“Circumambulating a stupa will have this result:  mindfulness and clear perception; a radiant appearance and intelligence; and you will be honored everywhere.

“Circumambulating a stupa will have this result:  a very long life – a lifetime more like that of a god – in which you will obtain great renown.

“Circumambulating a stupa will have this result:  Flesh-eaters and other demonic beings will not harm you, and you will live a life of flawless enjoyment.

“Circumambulating a stupa will have this result:  You will gain the power of Brahma himself in the world of Brahma, and you will be worshiped by many tens of millions of gods.

“Circumambulating a stupa will have this result:  For one thousand times ten million kalpas – and one hundred times one hundred billion more – you will be endowed with wisdom and always honored.

DEFINITION:  Circumambulate – to walk or go about or around, especially ceremoniously.

The Resultant Fruit: of circulating around the stupa

Master Padmasambhava said to king Trisong Deutsen:

“There is no difference between the merit of those who make offerings while I am here and those who make offerings after my nirvana, if their virtuous intentions are the same.

If there is a man who made a wish to the great stupa, no matter if it is to request for oneself or to request for other – all can be instantly fulfilled.  If there is a man who made offering to the abbot of the great stupa, in the future rebirth shall have no hunger, no thirst, no diseases and no illnesses.  If there is a man who made offering to the great stupa with fragrance flowers, he will have auspiciousness and peace, and shall become wealthy, successful, with good health and longevity.

If there is a man who made offering of incense to the great stupa, he shall receive immaculate activities (business and career).  If there is a man who offer lamps, it shall shine brightly all darkness of ignorance.  If there is a man who offered libation, shall be separated from affliction and painful suffering.  If there is a man who offered food, shall accomplished samadhi and be separated from hunger.

“If there is a man who offered melody music to the great stupa, shall be able to propagate the sound of dharma throughout the ten directions.  If there is a man who offered drum and melody sounds, shall obtain vast wisdom and prosperity.  If there is a man who offer the sound of bell, shall obtain a soft and harmonious voice, which is the voice of brahma.”

Click here for the full (five chapters) of The Legend of Maha Buddha Stupa

For the benefit of all beings

His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche was born in 1936 in Nangchen, Kham in eastern Tibet.  When Garchen Rinpoche was seven years old he was brought to Lho Miyal Monastery after he was recognized by the former Drikung Kyabgon Zhiwe Lodro where he was instructed by Siddha Chime Dorje.

At the age of 22 (after completing a two and a half year retreat) he was imprisoned by the Chinese for 20 years and put in a labor camp during the Chinese Cultural Revolution.  During that time he met with Khenpo Munsel who became his root guru.  Khenpo Munsel was a Nyingma master who taught him during the whole 20 years of his imprisonment.  During that time, while enduring the labor camp hardships, Garchen Rinpoche kept on practicing in secret, according to his guru’s instructions until he achieved realization of the lama’s wisdom mind which Khenpo Musel called “an emanation of a Bodhisattva.”

Since his release from prison in 1979, Garchen Rinpoche has made great effort to rebuild the Drikung Kagyu monasteries, reestablish the Buddhist teachings, and build two boarding schools for local children in eastern Tibet.  Rinpoche is the founder and spiritual director of the Garchen Buddhist Institute in Chino Valley, Arizona.

It is said in the Sanghata sutra, “If all the sentient beings of the million world-systems were pratyekabuddhas, compared to the mass of merit of one who makes charity to all of them, the mass of merit produced by one who makes charity to one bodhisattva would be much greater.”  To read more about him and offer a donation click here:  Garchen Rinpoche movie

In his past life he was recognized as an incarnation of the acharya Aryadeva Bodhisattva, a disciple of Nagarjuna.  At birth he was able to hold a staff, and he chanted the six syllable mantra.  His mother was too frightened to tell others of her son’s abilities.  Later, he practiced Mantrayana at Tsari, Tibet.  While residing at a cave of Gar at Dagpo, all the gods and demons of Tibet gathered round him.  At first they drew sharp weapons and wounded him, but later took refuge in him, offering the mantras of their lives.

“The cause of happiness is love.  The cause of suffering is self-cherishing.” — Garchen Rinpoche

“Imprisoned for twenty years, in the prime of his life.  He witnessed the death of so many friends.  What kind of person would you become if this happened to you?  Would you dedicate your life to the benefit of all beings?  Here is the remarkable story of a man who did just that.”

Pilgrimage to Zabbulung

From the Jnanasukha community:

When we visited Shang Zabbulung in western Tibet in 2009, the abbot requested that we translate the Pilgrimage Guide to Zabbulung.  This Tibetan text is a compilation of three texts.

A preliminary translation is now complete and we have 35 pages of wonderful information that we look forward to publishing later this year.  The following is an excerpt from the first text, which itself was extracted from the 60th chapter of Prophesies for Future Practice Places.  The speaker is Guru Rinpoche himself, advising King Drisong Detsen to practice in Shang Zabbulung:

“The sublime sacred place of Zabbulung is meaningful merely to see, hear about, think of, and touch … just seeing this place increases one’s happiness and virtuous practice.  One’s experiences and realization of meditative concentration are enhanced, positive conditions manifest spontaneously, wealth and good fortune increase, and one has numerous devoted celestial attendants.  Distractions are few, so one’s meditative concentration improves.  One is free of the eight fears, attendants gather, and all one’s wishes are fulfilled in accordance with the Dharma.  Like a fabulous wish-fulfilling jewel, whatever one needs and desires showers down like rain from the sky, and one’s fine qualities expand like the waxing moon.

The assemblies of outer and inner peaceful and wrathful deities dwell here, so it is equal to the twenty-four sacred lands.  Dakas and dakinis always gather here, so it is equal to the eight great charnel grounds.  All the buddhas of the three times watch over and bless this place, and its solid and enduring rocks are immutable, so it is the same as the center of the world, Bodhgaya.  Beings born here are noble Mahayana heroes and heroines, so it is equal to the Oddiyan Vajra Cave and to Mount Potala, which formed from light issuing from the ring of hair between the eyebrows of the Mighty Lord of the World, Avalokitesvara.  Numerous assemblies of Secret Mantra deities dwell there, making it equal to the actual Glorious Drepung.  The Wheel of Mahayana Dharma was turned there, so it is equal to the actual Vulture Peak Mountain.

The mountains are shaped like stupas, so it is equal to the actual Swayambunath.  At its center, there is a five-peaked white snow mountain, so it is equal to the actual Wu Tai Shan.  All classes of deity come before one to make offerings, so it is a spontaneously-accomplished Heaven of the Thirty-Three. Mahayana Dharma activities are constantly maintained, so it is equal to Tushita Heaven.  Resouces and treasures are bountiful here and the local deities are strict, so it is equal to the Palace of Changlochen, the buddhafield of Vajradhara.  I, Padma, practiced here, so when beings of the future practice here, they will reach accomplishment . . . Surrounded by protective foothills and rocky mountains . . . it is a sacred hidden land. . . Water, wood, and resources are bountiful; whatever one needs abounds in this supreme sacred place. . . Awareness is clear and boundless.  This is the king of all practice places, and the banner of its renown pervades the ten directions.

If you stay at this supreme sacred place for seven days, you will be inseparable from me, Padma, so you will reach the Realm of Bliss in actuality.  If you hear about the supreme sacred place of Zabbulung, you will be reborn having brought an end to cyclic existence.  If you touch the soil, stones, or wood from Zabbulung, you will be released from harm caused by minor elemental spirits.  If you lay eyes on the supreme sacred place of Zabbulung even once, you will perceive the truth of the first bodhisattva level.  If you think of glorious Zabbulung, the mamos and dakinis will grant their accomplishments.

If you spend three days in glorious Zabbulung, you will be liberated from harm caused by subtle elemental spirits.  If you stay for five days, psychotic episodes and fits will be dispelled.  If you stay for seven days, leprosy and skin infections will be cured.  If you stay for nine days, evil spells will be averted.  If you stay for eleven days, subjugating activities will be accomplished.  If you stay for fourteen days, magnetizing activities will be accomplished.  If you stay for seventeen days, enriching activities will be accomplished.  If you stay for twenty-four days, pacifying activities will be accomplished.  If you stay for an entire month, as soon as you cast off this body made of the four elements, you will reach buddhahood in the Realm of Bliss (Dewachen).  If you stay for a whole year, even if you were able to weigh them on a scale with Mt. Meru, the positive effects would be impossible to measure.  Even if you were able to count all the drops in the ocean, the positive effects of staying here would still be impossible to count.

The supreme sacred place of glorious Zabbulung is a palace of victorious great bliss.  Its fine qualities are difficult to describe or fathom—Sovereign King, do your practice here!”

All photos taken in 2009 at Shang Zabbulung; last photo is the Enlightenment Cave of Yeshe Tsogyal where she attained the rainbow body, as did her consort Atsara Sale.

Remember the Kindness

This date (January 17, 2011) marks the twenty-third anniversary of the dissolution of the physical manifestation of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche.  It’s an excellent time to remember his kindness, make offerings, and offer supplications.

His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche lived from 1904-1987.  At one time, he had vowed to benefit all beings for as long as this aeon lasted.

In his previous life, he was identified in the 18th century as Dudjom Lingpa who was a mind manifestation of Padmasambhava; Yeshe Tsogyal’s speech emanation; and Keuchung Lotsawa’s body emanation.

As Guru Rinpoche told Yeshe Tsogyal, an individual would be born who would be the Master of the 1002 buddhas of our aeon.

Among Rinpoche’s several names are Yeshe Dorje, Wisdom Vajra, a name given in a prophecy by dakinis; Jigdral, Fearless, a name given by XV Karmapa, and Dudul Lingpatsel, the name given to him by the dakinis in his role as a treasure revealer.

Other incarnations include:

1. Drukpa Kunley “the Divine Madman” (1455 – 1529)
2. Mahasiddha Saraha (the 8th century)
3. Humkara one of the eight vidyadharas of India
4. Arhat Sariputra “foremost in wisdom” under Shakyamuni Buddha

Click on his picture above for an outstanding blessing and pointing out instructions.

More info:

Download: Seed of Threefold Faith: A Supplication Based on the Liberation Story of the Great Incarnate Treasure Revealer, Jigdral Yeshe Dorje Drodul Lingpa Tsel

Texts: http://dudjom.blogspot.com/

Facebook: excellent collection of photos.

Purchase: Video teaching about His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, 2004.