The art of sacrifice

I was never good at chess but always loved to play.  There are certainly good points and bad points to the game of chess.  But if you don’t get too involved or obsessed with it we can analyze the principles and take only what is good from it.

Value:

The relative value of pieces must first be known.  The pawn is worth one point.  The bishop and knight are worth three points.  The rook is worth five points and the queen is worth nine points.  The king, because he can be captured and the game lost has infinite value.

Once you understand this you can make an educated choice on how to move or capture your opponent’s pieces.  As you learn to make better choices, you can definitely apply this to your life – whether it is raising a family or developing yourself on the quest.  Chess teaches us to utilize our often neglected reasoning skills.

Sacrifice:

Compassion is the understanding or empathy for the suffering of others.  It is regarded as a fundamental part of human love and foundational to the highest principles in philosophy and religion.  It is much needed today in our society yet it starts with a good intention and proper goals in life.

In chess, one of the great tactics is to sacrifice material to gain a special advantage later.  This teaches us a nice lesson not to be greedy solely for the purpose of material gain.  This is the heart of the bodhisattva’s way of life.  He or she lives on good principles and not bad ones that consist of harming others.  In other cultures, this type of hero is called a good Samaritan in Christianity or a Caretaker in the Native American religion.  It is a universal principle that shines through in most religions.

Needless to say, one of the most surprising moves is considered the queen-sacrifice because her value is among the highest.  When executed properly a master will, more often than not, win the game.

“Combinations with a queen sacrifice are among the most striking and memorable.”  -  Anatoly Karpov

There are two types of sacrifices.  The good sacrifice and the bad sacrifice.  The good sacrifice helps gain an advantage later on.  The bad sacrifice is done without proper forethought and planning.  It would be more of an unconscious impulse – something akin to a martyr complex.

In the spiritual world, it is often thought that we must sacrifice our self in order to attain enlightenment.  Of course, this is very true but how you give up your self is very important.  Without the guidance of a guru and without the guidance of proper scriptural sources you may just believe that suicide is the answer.  Therefore, without any consideration you end up seeking your own death without thinking of how it will affect your parents, children or spouse.

You truly will be creating negative karma if you act selfishly and without awareness.  The results of suicide are told over and over that you end up in a hell realm or a bad migration in your next lifetime.  One must contemplate this, consider the consequences correctly and receive proper instruction before one can gain confidence to act correctly in all situations.

Vipashana:

Chess may have a hidden element in it that could be the starting point to proper insight (vipashana) meditation later on.

I always wondered what would happen if two Buddhas played chess with each other.  Who would win?

By studying the texts of the great chess masters, the answer is already known.  They tell us that the perfect game will consist of neither a win nor a loss.  If either player doesn’t make a mistake then the game will certainly end in a draw.

Two important questions:

1. What is his intent?
2. What is his weakness?

If you keep these two questions in mind; you will be ahead of the game.  Often you will just look at your side of the board and rush to make your move.  But each move consists of an intrinsic advantage and weakness.  You just have to discover it.  When you get stuck ask the question, “What weakness did he leave behind?” and you will learn to expand your awareness to his side of the board.

Life stories:

Here are two beautiful stories that hit the essential point.  In the first, we might not see any immediate benefit to the Bodhisattva hero.  On the surface, it just seems like he lost his life.  But it was a conscious act of compassion that eventually leads to his full enlightenment.  In a future life he does awaken to Buddhahood.  Naturally, this act did not go unnoticed by the Buddhas who have the eye of omniscience.  This compassionate action sped up his development as positive karma was created.

In the second story, we see the power of a realized Buddha making a sacrifice with the principle of crazy wisdom.  Since he was a Buddha there were no harmful consequence to him and his action only enhanced and benefited all who heard, saw and believed the display-like miracle.

1.  The touching story of The Hungry Tigress is from the Jataka tales.  This is one excerpt from a collection of past life stories of Shakyamuni Buddha.

The Bodhisattva, in a lifetime before he became the Buddha, came upon a hungry tigress and her cubs.  Seeing the tigress was too weak to hunt, the Bodhisattva sent his traveling companions away to look for food.  While they were away, he threw himself over a cliff, thereby offering his body for food to the hungry tigress and her cubs.

2.  The story of the Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava is part of a long discourse given by the late Khenchen Palden Sherab in 1992 on the life of Guru Rinpoche:

With Guru Rinpoche and Mandarava we see the deep sacrifice of both the master and the disciple.  Wanting to learn the dharma from the Guru rather than lead a worldly life and get married, the princess was sentenced to prison for her actions while he was to be burned at the stake.

“The men ignored her and Guru Padmasambhava was captured.  His hands were bound and they led him off surrounded by hordes of people.  They wanted to make sure that he did not try to run away.  By royal decree, his punishment was to be burned at the stake. Mandarava was sentenced to prison for 25 years, while all 500 of her attendants were sentenced to ten years.  All of this was the king’s decision.  A great quantity of wood was collected from the local households and soaked with sesame oil.”

Guru Rinpoche was tied in the center and the pyre was lit.  The king ordered that no one be allowed into the area for a week except those who were tending the fire.

“Now while Guru Rinpoche was in the midst of the flames, the fire transformed into water, which soon became a lake encircled on its outer perimeter by a ditch sporting a halo of upside-down flames.  In the center of this beautiful lake there was a wondrous lotus flower and above that, Guru Padmasambhava was sitting in the posture of royal ease, even more glorious than before.”

Sutras:

Vimalakirti explains, in The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti that even sharing the dharma with others is a great dharma sacrifice.  It definitely is not an easy action to perform.

Vimalakirti explains that:

“Those who teach it to others, whether it be no more than a single stanza of four lines, or a single summary phrase from this teaching of the Dharma, will be performing the great Dharma-sacrifice.”

The truth is that obstacles can arise when doing any type of good deed.  Furthermore, it is much harder to spread the dharma that helps liberate sentient beings lost in confusion.  As one common axiom explains:  No good deed goes unpunished.  People often reject unsolicited advice.

Computers:

Most people that love computer programming and chess believe that calculating up to fifteen or twenty moves means more intelligence.  In reality, that is just the power of the intellectual mind and not necessarily intelligence in the sense of having Awareness and Compassion.  For basic game-play, one just needs to utilize three half-moves as the chess coach Bruce Pandolfini advises.  You move once, your opponent moves, then you move again.  This is called a combination.  Only in certain instances does one need to calculate up to ten moves and that usually is near the end of the game.

In Buddhism, there are explicit instructions on how to develop the mind.  With a little thought we can see how our body and mind is also like a computer.  Our ordinary mind, while still unenlightened has a glitch.  The main misconception – the belief in an inherently existent self, needs to be corrected.  Once we can organize our mind properly we surely gain better clarity.  One way to do this is to study and reflect on the scriptural teachings.  And if you are fortunate enough to participate in shedra courses you will be all the better for it.

Final point:

The sutras and tantras tell us that on the eighth stage of a Bodhisattva’s realization there is no longer any separation between meditation and post-meditation.  At that point, there is no compulsive reification of concepts.  What this means is that when you turn away from the chess board, the next moment you no longer have the same habitual thought-patterns going on.  If you lost the game, you can let it go.

In fact, you can let anything go – whatever good or bad things happen, you just abide in the nature of mind.  This is Mahamudra.  In the next moment, you can bring your awareness to the task at hand.  This is something we should all aspire towards.

good luck!
Neo

accumulating mantras

There are a few misconceptions in our western culture about the effects of chanting mantras.  To clear this up, first we need to know there is a difference between worldly mantras and Buddhist mantras.

Certain psychological tantras have told us that mantras will just induce a self-hypnosis.  One one level, this may be true.  It depends on the individual.  On the other hand, we are taught that there is a greater spiritual significance when we chant the mantras of Tara or Avalokiteshvara for instance.  The difference is like night and day.

When a fully enlightened being empowers his mantra it comes from his heart-essence with a good and noble intention.  This type of mantra will benefit your body, speech and mind in countless ways.  Having such a wonderful, skillful method at our disposal will lead to the vast purification of our negative karma.  It will definitely erase negative karmic patterns physically, mentally and vocally.

Unfortunately, if you are not well informed and have chosen a worldly mantra from a deity who is not fully enlightened it cannot be much help.  In fact, it could even harm you if the offended spirit, under the sway of negative afflictive emotions, takes action against you.  You could have obstacles for many years or even a lifetime if you are not aware of this.

We want to choose a mantra to purify our karma, increase our positive spiritual vibration, develop wisdom and generate the compassionate mind to benefit all sentient beings as far as endless space.

Buddhist sutra:

The Buddha explains in the Shurangama sutra what I have said more succinctly and quite powerfully here:

The Buddha told Ananda, “All Buddhas, Tathagatas, speak words which are not false.  There might be another person who had personally committed the four major offenses and the ten parajikas so that, in an instant he would have to pass through the Avichi Hells in this world and other worlds, until he had passed through all the Relentless Hells in the ten directions without exception.

And yet if he could explain this dharma-door for just the space of a thought to those in the Dharma-ending Age who have not yet studied it, his obstacles from offenses would be eradicated in response to that thought, and all the hells where he was to undergo suffering would become lands of peace and bliss.

The blessings he would obtain would surpass those of the person previously mentioned by hundreds of thousands of millions of billions of times, indeed by so many times that no calculations or analogies could express it.

Ananda, if living beings are able to recite this sutra and uphold this mantra, I could not describe in endless eons how great the benefits will be.  Rely on the teaching I have spoken.  Cultivate in accord with it, and you will directly realize Bodhi without encountering demonic karma.”

The Shurangama dharani is wonderful to recite and very powerful.  However, it is quite long to memorize.  Fortunately, there are many mantras available such as those of Chenrezi and Tara that are much shorter and quite powerful too.

Benefits of the Mani mantra:

The Late Venerable Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey gave a talk about what the benefits are of the Chenrezi mantra in relation to developing the six perfections:

The mantra OM MANI PADME HUM is easy to say yet quite powerful, because it contains the essence of the entire teaching.

1. When you say the first syllable OM it is blessed to help you achieve perfection in the practice of generosity,
2. MA helps perfect the practice of pure ethics, and
3. NI helps achieve perfection in the practice of tolerance and patience.
4. PAD, the fourth syllable, helps to achieve perfection of perseverance,
5. ME helps achieve perfection in the practice of concentration,
6. and the final sixth syllable HUM helps achieve perfection in the practice of wisdom.

Obstacles in life:

Many years ago, I had many obstacles in my life to such a degree that even my sadhana practice became almost nonexistent.  I got myself into quite a mess.  One day, I felt that I just had enough and made a strong determination to accumulate mantra every day.

I wanted to practice in post-meditation everywhere I went – whether I was eating, working or sitting on the couch watching television.  Since I was a rather quiet person who never wanted to draw attention to himself, I didn’t want to carry my mala around for the public to see.  So, I went online to purchase a digital tally counter that I could keep it in the palm of my hand.  I found a nice one that kept my accumulations private and hidden.

After five months of diligent practice I had an auspicious sign.  That whole year, I went through so much hardship and suffering that it was quite unimaginable to consider all that had happened to me.  The difficulties were to such a degree, that I would never wish this on my worst enemy.  At any rate, after breaking through so much of my own ingrained negative karma I was happy to see a double rainbow outside my backyard.

Digital counter:

Now five years later, technology has come even further and these neat counters are even smaller.  It is sometimes called a finger-counter because the built-in strap wraps around your finger.  One reviewer wrote:

This must be the smallest tally counter you can buy.  It is perfect to keep a tally in an unobtrusive way.  You can wear it like a ring, with the counter facing your palm and you just touch the counter with your thumb.

Some people have the misunderstanding that this product erases its count every once in a while.  Since it does have an auto shut-off function, whenever you leave it untouched for ten or fifteen minutes it will go blank.  The count is stored in its memory, so when you touch the button again it switches back on and it re-appears.  It is a good function for saving the life of the battery.

Make sure you get the right model: E-6 Electronic Tally Counter with Backlight

The other one you may find out there does not have a light function.  With that model, for some strange reason when I put it in my pocket (six times out of ten) when I pulled it out, the counter would erase.  I verified this since the other one I have does the same exact thing.  And I know I didn’t hit the reset button by mistake because it is recessed and not easy to press.  Once, I actually saw it reset in front of my own eyes when I quickly pulled it out of my pocket.  So there must be a malfunction with the electronic part inside.  I hope they realize this and fix it someday because that model is also nice and a much needed tool.

Inspiration:

I write this with the intention to hopefully inspire someone.  I love practicing with a mala and that has many benefits as well.  But when we get right down to it, we need to take advantage of our post-meditation practice.  If you can practice anywhere you go, it is easy to accumulate 100,000 mantras in a month and over time you could have over a million recitations done in a year.

blessings,
Neo

Helpful Bardo Prayers

I wanted to compose something beneficial for those people that have a loved one that has died or is in the process of dying.  Since it is never easy to find what you need at the last minute, I figured it would be proper to put all the texts and information in one place.

This yantra (image at right) is depicted in the classic text called the Tibetan Book of the Dead.  It was also passed down from Yogi C. M. Chen to his disciples.  It belongs to a class of blessing objects called “Liberation through Touch”, meaning that one will gain liberation merely by wearing it.

The central deity is Adi Buddha or Samantabhadra Buddha the supreme dharmakaya buddha.  He is surrounded by all the 100 peaceful and wrathful deities.  The surrounding mantras are associated with the deities in the mandala and the buddhas of the six realms at the outermost circle.

Click here to receive instructions on how to fold it and place it properly on the dying family member’s body: Adi Buddha Mandala Mantra Sheet

The Bardo Teachings:

The following info was prepared by Buz & Joanie Overbeck:

Many westerners, having received teachings on the Bardo states, wonder how these might be applied at the time of their death or the death of others.  Basically, the teachings say that, rather than fearing death, one should approach the Bardo states as opportunities for enlightenment and, in order to be open to these opportunities, one should have prepared through practice during one’s lifetime.

“However, even with no experience whatsoever, if one can die a ‘conscious death’ — calmly and openly with no fear, anger, or attachment—one can still create the conditions for enlightenment or a fortunate rebirth.”

These notes were compiled to help all practitioners attain that goal.

Click here: Bardo Information

Bardo Prayers:

These are the actual root verses that a Tibetan Lama would recite next to the bedside of a dying person.  This is a very important text.  It is called Bardo Thodal or “Liberation upon Hearing” in the Bardo.

This text has four sections:

1. Prayer requesting assistance from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
2. Root verses of the Bardo Thodal
3. Prayer for the deliverance from the Bardo’s narrow passage
4. The prayer that protects from fears in the bardos

Click here to download: Bardo Prayers

Five Powerful Mantras:

These mantras are chanted at the time of death.  This text was arranged by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.  These mantras can be chanted for the dying person so that they receive blessings.  It doesn’t matter how close or far away you are.  You can still direct energy and transfer merits to them in this skillful way.

Fortunately, there is one bonus within this text.  There is a special Tibetan script which you can print and then cut out.  Once you have it, then you can place it on the body of the one who is dying.  It will benefit them tremendously so they will have a peaceful death and a higher rebirth in the next life.

Click here to download – Five Powerful Mantras

The Medicine Buddha:

The Medicine Buddha mantra is an excellent way to help your loved one who is in the process of dying or after they have passed.  Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains the following to help us understand the value of the Medicine Buddha practice:

“The Medicine Buddha encompasses all the buddhas.  This means that when we practice the seven-limb prayer and make offerings with the seven limbs, we receive the same merit as we would if we had made offerings to all the buddhas.  Similarly, when we recite the mantra of Medicine Buddha, we collect unbelievable merit just as when we offer the seven-limb practice to Medicine Buddha.”

Guru Shakyamuni Buddha said in the sutra entitled Medicine Guru Beams of Lapis Lazuli:

“Kungawo, do you believe my explanation of the qualities of that tathagata [Medicine Buddha]?”

Kungawo replied to the Bhagavan: “I do not have a two-pointed mind with regard to the teachings of you, the celibate Bhagavan. Why? Because the actions of the tathagata’s holy body, holy speech, and holy mind are always pure, without a single mistake.”

Then Guru Shakyamuni Buddha gave this advice:

“Kungawo, whoever hears the holy name of that tathagata will not fall into the evil realms of the suffering transmigratory beings.”

Therefore, at the time of death, it is excellent to recite both Tathagata Medicine Buddha’s holy name and his mantra in the ear of the dying person.

It is extremely beneficial to recite the mantra and blow it upon meat that you are eating, or even on old bones or the dead bodies of animals or humans.  This action purifies the karmic obscurations of those sentient beings.  It can cause someone who has been reborn in the suffering lower realms to immediately pass away and be reborn in a pure realm or amongst happy transmigrators.  At the very least, it will shorten the duration of their suffering in the lower realms.

Medicine Buddha Sadhana:

For forty-nine days after someone’s death, it is a Buddhist tradition that prayers are done for your loved one.  For each seven day period, within the Bardo (intermediate state), there is a significant transition that occurs for the deceased.  To help them wake up and become more lucid at this time, prayers and mantras can be done to assist them.  These prayers are done before the weekly anniversary of their death.  For example, if someone dies on a Wednesday, it is especially important to do sadhana practice on each Tuesday.

In a general way, the following texts can be recited by anyone.  Just print it out and make it into a precious text for yourself.   The booklet form, however, is a little harder to put together.  I would suggest this short four-page text would be easiest to perform:

1. Medicine Prayers (booklet form)
2. Medicine Prayers2 (normal version)

Remember that reciting the Medicine Buddha mantra definitely brings inconceivable merits for you and your loved ones.

many blessings!
Neo

Six Yogas of Naropa

For the serious aspirant who wants a method that will repair the nervous system in a thorough way one must investigate the esoteric practices of the Six Yogas of Naropa.

The first yoga is called the practice of inner fire referred to as tummo in Tibetan or candali in Sanskrit.  A good introductory book into this wonderful practice is Lama Yeshe’s commentary called “The Bliss of Inner Fire.”

Mastery of inner fire quickly brings the mind to its most refined and penetrating state — the experience of clear light, an extra-ordinarily powerful state of mind that is unequaled in its ability to directly realize ultimate reality.

The Six Yogas:

1. Yoga of Inner Heat or tummo yoga (candali/mystic heat)
2. Yoga of Illusory-Body
3. Yoga of Clear Light
4. Yoga of Dream State
5. Yoga of  the Intermediate State (bardo thodal)
6. Yoga of  the Transference of Consciousness (phowa)

In his teachings, Milarepa frequently referred his tummo meditation as `my short-AH′.  One day his disciple Gampopa told him that when he practiced single-pointed concentration he could remain for seven days in one uninterrupted session.

“So what?” replied Milarepa.  “You sit for seven days but do not experience the clear light.  If you meditated on my short-AH of inner fire you would experience the clear light very quickly.”

If you are serious about gaining proper health and moving forward quickly on your path to enlightenment then it is imperative to seek out a qualified lama to gain empowerment into this ancient tradition.  It will help repair the nerves, open up the heart and quickly gain results in meditation.

Now that Buddhism has spread all over the world it is much easier to train in the tsa-lung or trulkor exercises instead of having to journey and take much hardship in traveling through the Himalayan mountains.

These advanced sets of physical exercise will help release the tension or knots in the subtle body that prevent a good flow of spiritual energy in the body.  Once you have done this you can literally feel the psychological “armor” that you may have held onto (ever since you were young) melt away forever.

Good luck!
Neo

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

Sungazing method

MH has talked about sungazing as one of the important ways to get back to health.  He always says the modern person spends too much time in indoors, in the dark – and in the long run this is definitely not good for our health.  In the past, he has recommended conceiving children outdoors to create more Aware Beings.  I don’t know much about that but it would be interesting to hear feedback on children conceived under the sun and how they behave in life afterwards.

At the Solar Healing Center website Hira Ratan Manek has one of the better methods for practicing this form safely.  I accomplished three months worth of sungazing which is up to the 15 minute mark and had many good results from it.  Once you start gazing at the sun it will activate the pituitary and pineal glands in the brain.  It will also open up blockages in the spine right away.  Another good quality about the practice is, it will heal and repair the functional channel to improve digestion.

When you gaze directly at the sun, the most important benefit is steadying the eyes.  As a rule of thumb, when the eyes are steady the mind becomes steady.  As we intentionally still our body there is a better chance to deepen our meditative practice and stability can be gained.  A famous quote from the bible says:

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

You can gaze directly or indirectly at the sun.  When you are fully and properly trained, gazing DIRECTLY at the sun will yield the most benefits. In this case you will experience the deepest penetration of light and energy into your system.  When you are not too experienced you can gaze INDIRECTLY and let the light begin to enter your system slower as you stare into the sky alone or look through the leaves of a tree with the sunlight being diffused.

For best results, it has been taught to stand on sand or dirt and not the grass while gazing at the sun.  If you are not sure, try both until you can perceive what is better.  After working with it I am sure you can discern that standing in sand, gravel or dirt is a lot better energetic wise.

The method: Stare at the sun for ten seconds on day one; then add ten seconds to each day.  Blinking is OK.  When finished, palm your hands over your eyes and concentrate on the after-image of the sun until it disappears.

• After 90 days all mental disorders and mental diseases will be cured
• After 180 days all physical disorders get cured
• After 270 days hunger pangs disappear and you attain victory over taste and hunger

Power boost: Looking at the sun for 30 seconds early in the morning reduces melatonin levels right away so your body temperature rises immediately.  This will counteract the tendency to sleep all day like a vampire and you feel super-charged.

It is very important to practice during the safe hours. Research more about it at the HRM website:

“No harm will come to your eyes during the morning and evening safe hours.  The safe hours are anytime within 1-hour window after sunrise or anytime within the 1-hr window before sunset.  It is scientifically proven beyond a reasonable doubt that during these times, one is free from UV and IR rays exposure, which is harmful to your eyes.” — Hira Ratan Manek

RULE: It is import to get thoroughly educated first and NOT exceed 44 minutes as it will be dangerous.

TIPS: I discovered two things with my own observations of this practice.  First, if you bare your teeth to the sun – the bones all through-out the body are infused with healing light.  Second, if you close your eyes and face the sun it feels like an acupuncture session as the individual channels that are in most need of repair get energized.

IMPORTANT: Always palm the eyes afterwards as this will be cooling.  If you are attuned to reiki…the symbols in the palms will add more beneficial healing energy into your eyes and throughout your nervous system.

One last thing, BEFORE each session it is good to drink a glass of water to hydrate your body and AFTER the session it is best to walk on the grass for some time to ground the solar energy that you took in.

Good luck!
Neo

Repairing the auric field

There are some people that are so intuitive to their surroundings that it is a constant struggle to survive in the world.  They can go into a room where a couple had a fight and can just feel terrible negative energies there.  Some sensitive people can examine an object such as jewelry (worn by others for years) and know their life was filled with stress or sadness.  Others can pick up the negative vibrations from the food they eat and note that the chief was angry while preparing that meal.  And still other people will feel that negative entities are “attacking” them or draining away their energy.

Why does this happen? 

While part of this ability is a result of meditative practice, the other part is having a weak constitution.  When your internal subtle-body is not strong or toned, you are more vulnerable to negative energies and outside influences.  A good healer can “see” with their high sensory perception, that the client has one large hole in their aura or many tiny ones all over.  In scientific terms, this would mean that your nervous system is damaged.  In spiritual terms, the channels or chakras are broken and in need of repair.

Some ways that will cause you to have major damage (holes) in your aura are:

• physical and sexual abuse
• substance and drug abuse
• vaccines and medical prescriptions

Many new age books have talked about building a protective shield of light around the body.  This might work for some but it is only a temporary benefit.  The constant attention on that takes away from the necessary work of contemplation.  The superior way is to get to the root of the problem and repair the nervous system.

Once the nervous system is healed, fear of negative entities is no longer a problem – they just bounce off you.

There are many healing modalities for repairing the nervous system.  Each one that I have researched has some unique quality that will provide some results.  Here are the ones that I have personally tried and can attest for.  They are as follows: the Barbara Brennan School of Healing, Feldenkrais Movement therapy, juice fasting, Reiki Tummo, Network Chiropractic, Chi-Lel chi kung, and Fragrant Chi Kung

The one that is of primary importance is the Barbara Brennan School of Healing therapy.  The Barbara Brennan trained reiki-healer will assist you in releasing pain and unnecessary connections from your emotional body.  She will also help you move dark, unconscious energies from your astral and etheric bodies.  Having someone there to help heal your core issues and empower you to bring forth your true Self is so vitally important.

With Feldenkrais Movement Therapy the healer will help you release the stress and strain that has been stored in the muscles, due to habitual contractions held in your body since childhood.  Having someone to assist you to move these old traumatic energies from your body is indispensable for stable progress to come about.

In addition, Juice Fasting helps the body to fully relax, cleanse the blood, and rebuild the organs. While fasting, the nervous system is free and doesn’t collect any forms of entropy with the outside world.  This means that other people’s dense energies such as anger or hatred won’t “stick” to you at all.  Unfortunately, once you start eating food again the problem tends to return but in a less uncomfortable manner.

To get around this problem it is beneficial to upgrade your nervous system in a spiritual manner.  For long-term benefits, I highly recommend becoming attuned to level one Reiki Tummo in order to permanently stabilize your energy field.  With this under your belt you will start to become more self-sufficient and able to handle most difficult situations.  You will immediately be less tired and listless throughout the day.

In addition to all of the above, seeing a Network Chiropractor and practicing Chi-Lel Chi Kung is very helpful for maintaining the strength and functionality of the nervous system by aligning the spine.  When the spine is freely able to adapt through any stressful situation then you are ahead of the game.  You have an edge when your endurance is increased if you need to be on your feet all day long at work.  At the very least, you have an antidote to remove the stress and get back into alignment when things go wrong after a long, hard day.

One of the deeper methods I found to realign and repair the nervous system is a method called Fragrant Buddha Chi Kung.

Performing the movements with Fragrant Chi Kung will:

1. massage the stomach, liver and thyroid with simple arm swings
2. open the diaphragm and unlock the base of the brain
3. ground your body – surprisingly as the arms go up and out, the feet stick more firmly to the floor
4. strengthen the body in a way that one can stand with steadiness
5. activate the glands within the seven chakras due to each twisting movement

Even an old sports injury in my shoulder (a tiny break in the bone), which has bothered me off and on for about seventeen years, is improving as I notice the pain finally subsiding. I would say that consistent practice has started to build new channels around that area.

With all these beneficial qualities about it, I am going to challenge myself to practice it two or three times a day for the next three months.  I already see the possibilities of it regenerating the entire nervous system, teeth and eyes.

Here is a video I created that gives more information on what is needed.  You can also forward it easily to others that you care about.  Whatever you choose to do remember that healing the nervous system is essential to stabilizing your mind and purifying your emotions.

The matrix has you

In order to find a real and lasting happiness we must disconnect from the Matrix or veil that blinds us to ultimate Reality.  But, how do we do that when we have so many worldly obligations to take care of?  One way to begin is by deciding on a game-plan that feels right and works best for you.

Every personal problem has an inherent solution that only needs to be discovered.  The root of most of these problems is a damaged nervous system.  Fortunately, each problem ALWAYS has more than one antidote to choose from.

In the movie “The Matrix” the main character had to undergo extensive therapy to repair his damaged nervous system before his true potential could unfold. As a pre-requisite, he had to undergo acupuncture (remember the long needles) before he was allowed to study (downloading information) and receive the physical martial-arts and advanced mind-training.

Likewise, the root cause of most dis-ease can be traced back to what Tibetan Buddhism refers to as Tsa, Lung or Thigle.  Tsa represents our channels, Lung is our inner wind and Thigle is our vital essence.  If our channels are damaged then the energy cannot flow properly and we open ourselves up to unwanted psychic influences and negative energy.  If we have a wind-disease we often feel extremely cold, introverted, and mentally imbalanced.  And most of us have learned from the ancient Taoist texts that our vital essence is a treasure that we must save, preserve and cultivate.

This purpose of this website is to help anyone find an antidote to life’s problems quickly regardless of their denomination.  It is a result of over thirty years of my research and findings.  As you progress on your spiritual path, it will become clearer to you which method is superior and yields swifter benefits.

Here is a general outline for a thorough process of healing:

1. Become attuned to level-one reiki to swiftly open the central channel or median nerve.  The two that are reputable and authentic are Reiki Jin Kei Do and Reiki Tummo.
2. After that, receive healing from a certified reiki therapist such as a Barbara Brennan School of Healing practitioner.  Their standard of therapy is very high which can repair a severely damaged nervous system on many levels.  Make a commitment to receive weekly sessions for about four to six months.
   
3. Choose a movement therapy such as Feldenkrais Movement Therapy or the Anat Baniel Method which is key for building new neural pathways within the nervous system.  Again, work with this trained healer once a week for many months.
4. Then, pick a chi-kung practice such as Chi-Lel QiGong (LCUPCD), Fragrant Chi Kung, or Chinese Health balls to help maintain the strength of your spine and nervous system.
5. Lastly, begin a meditation routine to calm and investigate your mind.

As you are working to improve yourself, it is a great idea to follow MH, the Master Herbalist, and research his information on the Curezone in order to help yourself and family learn the old-fashioned remedies used for healing all diseases as well as burns, scars, colds, fevers and broken bones.

Remember to have a right motivation and not stray into any sort of spiritual materialism as it has been said that:

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” — Matthew 6:33

Here is a short video (0:57) I created to inspire you:

Fragrant Chi Kung

In 1988 a new form of chi kung, called Fragrant Qigong (Xiang Gong), began to be taught openly in China after being kept secret for centuries.  It has been reported that those performing this particular chi-kung will begin to smell a sweet fragrance emanating from the body.  I haven’t noticed it myself because this tends to occur more often when done in a group setting.  To me, there are more important physical, mental and emotional benefits to be had from it.

From the Chinese Health Website:

“Fragrant Qigong (Xiang Gong) is one of the easiest yet most powerful styles of Qigong.  Fifteen simple arm movements, twice a day, no concentration required, no special breathing, can be done sitting and watching TV or chatting, yet it is known to treat almost any disease humankind may suffer from.  With the exception of late stage cancer, schizophrenia and emergencies like heart infarction, poisonous snake or spider bites or rabies, which are contraindicated, there are stacks of successful case histories to support this claim.  Among them, stroke, cancer, allergies, asthma, diabetes, depression, ulcers, stones, epilepsy, even deafness and blindness (including congenital).”

The story:

Around 1938, at the age of twelve, Master Tian Ruisheng was diagnosed with an incurable skin disease.  A Buddhist monk happened to knock on the door and requested to stay the night.  The parents agreed but explained they couldn’t attend to his needs properly because of a family matter.  He asked them what was wrong and when he found out he wished to take a look at their son.  They agreed to let him do so.

After he diagnosed the son, the Buddhist monk asked permission if he could do a healing session.  The monk treated their son with certain hand positions, sounds and a high level of the Fragrant Chi Kung practice.  The monk successfully cured the son much to the delight of his parents.  Later, the monk chose to make the boy his successor in one condition.

It has been said that, if he would keep the practice hidden for fifty years he would teach him the secrets of this ancient art.  Only after a half a century has passed, he should come out and help others who were suffering.  And this is just what happened.  In 1988 Master Tian Ruisheng started teaching this form of chi-kung to the public.

Healing levels:

There are three levels to this Fragrant Qigong.  Each level has 15 different movements which takes about 10-15 minutes to execute.  The practice is done once or twice a day but no more than three times a day.  It also can be done either in a seated or standing position.

• On a purely functional level this practice will open up and adjust the spine.
• On an inner level it opens blockages in the body and organs.
• On the deepest level it churns the central channel in order to heal the broken channels (nadis) so that they realign and return to normal functioning.

These movements will unblock the spine in difficult or troublesome places such as the neck.  It will also massage the stomach, liver and thyroid with simple arm swings.  You can feel that right away.  I would go on to infer that all the glands are activated within the seven chakras due to each twisting movement.  This makes sense since the fragrance would be emitted from the pineal or pituitary glands.

The nadis are also healed and repaired in a unique way; as you may perceive from each movement.  These nadis are energy channels in the body in which prana flows and connects to all the chakras like a network or web.  Ayurveda mentions 72,000 different nadis and in Tibetan Buddhism it mentions 84,000 nadis.

Here, I found a wonderful copy of an Adobe file of the Fragrant Chi Kung with specific illustrations and explanation of all the moves.  It goes hand in hand with watching the video as it fills in some remaining questions.

If you have been attuned to Reiki, the effects of this practice are multiplied greatly.  This is due to the fact the palms of the hands are facing each other in most of these movements.  Just as in Chinese Acupuncture, the hand can be used to diagnose disease; likewise it can be used to heal.  Therefore, when the Reiki symbols in the palms activate as they face each other, all areas of the body can be infused with healing energy.

Important Results: 

1. There is an immediate increase of WARMTH in the body.  Those that are depressed and suffering from a cold disease will be greatly benefited by it.
2. Your auric field is fully CLEANSED of dirty, stagnant chi.

It is remarkable to experience this positive effect right away since we live in a time where we can more easily contract drib, or what the Tibetan Masters refer to as moral defilement, by associating with degenerate people.  It will also cleanse you of computer, cell phone or other harmful electronic frequencies that tend to mess up your natural energetic field.

It is always best to find a teacher to show you the movements directly in person in order to gather the transmission and correct any mistakes in your form.  Nonetheless, here is a gentleman that shows the form fairly accurately:

Principles of health

MH, at the Ask Barefoot Herbalist forum, always says that few people are willing to self-experiment with herbs and juice fasting.  I would say it is even harder to discern properly what true health really is.  In 2005, following the Dr. Hay protocol, I completed the 21 day Orange Juice fast and lost a pound a day in the process.  It is no easy task to accomplish.  However, to complete such a fast is the only way to obtain a proper BASIS for what is healthy for the body and what is not.

Many years later I fell off the path and started eating meat again.  I got bored and didn’t even feel like drinking distilled water anymore so I decided to do the Wiley Brooks challenge.  The diet would consist of eating one McDonald’s quarter pounder with cheese and a large diet coke on a daily basis for seven days.  This was quite crazy to consider and I do NOT advise anyone to just do it.  But for me, it was a lesson in discernment through Crazy Wisdom.

The Buddha taught the middle path and it makes sense since being a raw foodist was one extreme and the other was eating meat every day.

Like many philosophers say, you have to follow the PRINCIPLES of life to obtain excellence.  Even Josh Waitzkin, the famous Chessmaster, is one of the rare few who can easily explain how to play chess properly by following the exact principles to it.  Likewise, when following the Buddha dharma one must know, understand, and observe the ethical principles (precepts) to achieve the proper results.

So when I did the Wiley Brooks diet, over time, I would come to discern the differences and similarities between these two health protocols.  Unfortunately, the hair growth and strong feeling while on his diet was not enough to produce any incredible long-term results.  Not to mention the harmful side effects such as the tightening up of the channels and drying up of the lymph nodes would eventually lead to kidney pain.  A short time later a full detox would get me back to normal.  The Wiley protocol was a dead-end.

But the real measure of health came later when taking MH’s 2010 Longevity Spices for Life.

The three signs that the body is rejuvenating properly are the skin becomes clearer, the hair grows in thicker and darker and the teeth become whiter.  This is very important to understand.

On the right path toward rejuvenating the body, the nails will begin to feel stronger and take on a clear sheen to them and will not look cloudy.  The hair will become thicker and filled with life-force and appear wet and not dry.  And lastly, the teeth will become pearly white and not look sickly yellow.

With this known, you have a tool to gauge where you are at. But one needs to study extensively the PRINCIPLES of health.  I advise anyone to start reading MH’s 108 Pages booklet and the Dr. Hay book, Health via Food to get started.

Understanding the way food combining works, advocated by Dr. Hay, is the correct PRINCIPLE for obtaining healthy blood and therefore a healthy body which is more alkaline in nature.  For some, food combining is one of the hardest things to maintain but the rewards are great.  Others have had problems keeping track of the rules so they are encouraged to follow a mono diet.

The mono diet is the surest way to get back to health without making any mistakes!  What is a mono diet?  You eat only one type of food per meal and eat as much of that as you want till you are full.

Your first meal may be a fruit such as strawberries and you eat all the strawberries your heart desires.  The next meal may be almonds and you can eat all the almonds you want till you get full.  The reason for getting back to basics this way is your body won’t turn acidic on a mono diet.  The stomach now has a chance to be restored to its original healthy state.  The fault of incorrect food combination is: when you combine protein and carbs your stomach turns acidic.  This in turn, causes the lymph nodes to activate and the toxins go up and out the head rather than down and out the body in the correct way.  Since the stomach is overwhelmed and can’t handle the excess acids to digest foods properly… weight-gain and disease settles in.

So, the first step is researching the PRINCIPLES to good health.  Next, learn the proper rules to food combining.  Then, get educated on why juice fasting is important to rid yourself of environmental toxins from the air we breathe and the harmful chemicals and metals we have ingested over the years.

Once you accomplish a juice fast – whether it is for 7 days or 14 days this alone will help you discern the BASIS of what is normal health for you and nobody else.

Others have gone on to accomplish 21, 40 and even 108 days with ease because it is not a strict water fast that leaves your muscles atrophied.  The almonds eaten on the fast supply the body with enough protein so the muscles get what they need.  Lastly, find a middle path that works for you.  Even if that means on occasion you eat meat or junk food, now you have a suitable method to get back on track.  If you get sick…a three day OJ fast is part of your tool-bag to achieve health quickly.

The body is specially designed.  When you live by the laws of nature you experience health much faster than if you go against nature.  As you live in harmony with Nature you will begin to see how strong, resilient and efficient the body works.  These are the inner workings of true health that people have forgotten to pass down from one generation to the next.

Others suggest that this information has been suppressed time and time again.  Of course, one shouldn’t place too much importance on the body in exclusion to mind and energy work.  But when you master the body, it is much easier to forget about it and focus on the more important task at hand – enlightenment itself.

Good luck!
Neo