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

Earth treasure vases

As I was looking around at Dudjom Rinpoche’s website I came across this wonderful project.  Alliance for the Earth is the sponsor for the Earth Treasure Vase Global Healing Project.  From the Earth Treasure Vase homepage:

Meditation and Ceremony

The Earth Treasure Vase meditation and ceremony is deeply rooted in an ancient Tibetan practice, which was transmitted to Cynthia Jurs by Charok Rinpoche in 1990.  The ceremony is done at the Open Way Sangha every full moon when, according to Buddhist tradition, our prayers and intentions are multiplied a thousand-fold.

The story

Cynthia Jurs began a trek into the Solu-Khumbu region of Nepal on a pilgrimage to meet a 106-year-old Tibetan Lama, H.E. Kushok Mangden Charok Rinpoche, a hermit who lived in a cave high in the Himalayas.  He transmitted to her the teachings on the treasure vase and how important it was for the earth and its people.  By filling consecrated clay vessels with prayers and offerings, and ceremonially burying them in the Earth in collaboration with local indigenous elders the healing and protection of the Earth would begin.

Each of the 30 Earth Treasure Vases that were made by Lama Ngawang Tsultrim at the request of H.E. Charok Rinpoche to be placed in certain places in the earth and oceans.  They are filled with offerings until they are completely full.  Lama Tsultrim created these sacred vases in Nepal.  He collected sacred substances from many lamas of all four lineages and embedded them into the clay itself.

Cynthia Jurs, the founder of this projected (and in the video below) stayed in Nepal for two weeks:

“I remember walking up the path…trekking step by step by step…going on this incredible journey to meet this old, wise yogi who lived in a cave.  And thinking what an incredible opportunity is this and what can I ask him?  How can I make the most of this opportunity not just for myself but for others?  And I remember thinking, the earth was hurting. “

Purpose:

The purpose of the Earth Treasure Vase is to bring protection and healing to the Earth and all beings in the area where it is buried.  It is filled with prayers and offerings and placed in the Earth for all time.

The tradition comes from Tibet, where many centuries ago, the Guru Padmasambhava prophesied this remedy for healing the Earth and removing the suffering of all beings in times of degeneration.

An Earth Treasure Vase is said to restore the vitality to the essence of the elements, which have been depleted by pollutants and poisons in the environment caused by materialistic human activity.  Each vase holds the power to pacify anger and warfare, improve health, magnetize abundance, remove obstacles to long life, and increase wisdom for all beings within its sphere of influence.

The Earth Treasure Vase Global Healing Project is creating a mandala of healing and protection around the world in this time of great urgency.  As this group says:

“As we make ready to complete the mandala and carry the final earth treasure vases to key ‘pressure points’ on the planet, we are feeling how very alive this mandala is with possibilities for global dialogue and emerging vision and leadership.”

It looks like 29 vases have been buried to date.  The money for the 30th and final Treasure Vase will be the seed from which 108 new vases shall be made under the direction of Native American potters.  To donate click here:  Donation Page

online cyber-shedra

Namdroling Tibetan Buddhist Center Announces
Cyber-Shedra 2012 with Khenpo Tenzin Norgay
You May Register Any Time Between Now and November 15, 2012

Khenpo Tenzin Norgay

— CYBER-SHEDRA DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM —

Dear Dharma Friends,

Khenpo Tenzin Norgay Rinpoche and Namdroling, Montana are happy to again offer all sessions of the Cyber-Shedra Distance Learning Program. You may begin your studies any time between now and November 15, 2012. Cyber-Shedra is an opportunity to study Buddhist teachings under the guidance of a qualified spiritual master from home when it is convenient for you. This is an exceptionally rare spiritual study opportunity for students whose lives are mixed with the world and worldly responsibilities.

Although the class will begin October 15, 2012, you may enroll anytime until November 15, 2012. Khenpo would like to give everyone time to enroll. Late enrollees will be given all of the information as they register. You may register anytime between now and November 15, 2012.

In all sessions, Khenpo Norgay’s lessons prepare students for and further explain concepts from the texts. He will also send assignments that will help students to explore the texts more deeply. Students are asked to email their assignments back to Khenpo in a timely manner and to email questions as they arise. Specific practices will be given at times to help to deepen the teachings.

Sessions 1 and 2

A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life

In Sessions 1 and 2 Khenpo Norgay guides students through Santideva’s classic treatise, the Bodhicaryavatara, A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life.

The Bodhicaryavatara is structured around the Six Perfections of generosity, ethical discipline, patience, zeal, meditation, and wisdom. Khenpo presents lessons that help the student to better understand Santideva’s teachings on these core aspirations of Buddhist thought. In Session 1, students study in depth the first eight chapters on generosity, ethical discipline, patience, zeal, and meditation.

Session 2 covers Chapter 9 of the Bodhicaryavatara, The Perfection of Wisdom. This session may seem more technical and philosophical, but the arguments presented must be seen as an inner spiritual battle. To understand Emptiness, which is the Ultimate Truth, we must cut through all the boundaries of conceptualization. The antidote to all afflictions and craving is the realization of Emptiness. When our minds rest in emptiness, which is the mind’s true nature, all conceptualization will cease, and the inner qualities can be manifested.

Through this session, Khenpo helps students to better understand the Wisdom chapter and to let go of their own conceptualization.

Sessions 3, 4, and 5

Perfect Conduct: Ascertaining the Three Vows

Session 3 begins the study of Perfect Conduct: Ascertaining the Three Vows by Ngari Panchen Pema Wangyi Gyalpo, commentary by H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche. This ancient exposition explains the three levels of moral codes in Tibetan Buddhism: the vows of individual liberation, the vows of a bodhisattva, and the vows of tantra; outlining in detail the meanings of these vows and giving practical advice on maintaining them as tools for spiritual practice and daily life.

Sessions 4 and 5 continue the study that students have begun with Khenpo Norgay of Perfect Conduct: Ascertaining the Three Vows.

Students who have studied with Cyber Shedra since it began, please sign up again for Session 5. Khenpo will finish teaching Perfect Conduct: Ascertaining the Three Vows and then assign new reading.

Interested?

Students are required to have access to a computer in order to participate. All correspondence is completed in English. For those who register before October 1, classes will begin in the beginning of October. You may register and begin the class any time between now and November 15, 2012, though. We request that all students be fully enrolled by November 15, 2012. You may pay by check through the mail or by PayPal.

Please register as soon as possible. To find a biography of Khenpo Tenzin Norgay, details about the course, registration, and PayPal button, please go to http://www.namdrolingmt.org and click on “Cyber-Shedra”.

You will be taken to our new Cyber-Shedra website, where you can click on the Register for Cyber-Shedra button. Please note, that we are switching over to hosting this course online, so students that are registered and paid, will be able to login to the site to view the month’s teachings.

We request that you take the sessions in sequence – a student should take Session 1 before taking Session 2, and take Sessions 1 and 2 before taking 3, etc.

We hope that you will join us in studies this year.

Wishing you all the best,
The Cyber-Shedra Team

For questions, please contact cyshedra@namdrolingmt.org
or phone 406-587-2907

Thank You!

The Maratika cave

Maratika Cave and Maratika Monastery are located in Khotang District of Nepal near Mt. Everest.  Known as Haleshi in the local language it is approximately 185 km south-west of Mount Everest.  It is a special place associated with Guru Padmasambhava and long life.

History of Maratika cave:

Guru Padmasambhava, while in the Kingdom of Zahor, met his consort Princess Mandarava who possessed all the marks of a dakini.  The Guru gave teachings and initiations to Mandarava.  Dakinis appeared in the sky and took Guru Padma-sambhava to Maratika.  Mandarava unable to tolerate palace life without the Guru ran away.  Hopelessly lost she prayed to Guru Padmasambhava who manifested and took Mandarava to Maratika.

“Due to the accumulation of white virtue, just through seeing, hearing, remembering and touching this place, the two obscurations of beings will be quickly purified, one will be looked after by the all knowing one, the Great Master Padmasambhava from Urgyen, and easily attain the state of omniscience.” — His Holiness the Dalai Lama

The Bodhisattva Avaloketesvara and the Dakini Sangwa Yeshe gave long life teachings to the Guru and Mandarava.  After practicing for ninety days the Buddha Amitayus appeared in the sky and gave initiation to the Guru and Mandarava.  They had attained the Vidyadhara of longevity.

This is the cave where Guru Rinpoche attained the level of a “Vidyadhara with power over life” through his practice with the consort Mandarava.

blessings!
Neo

Benefits of a Drubchen

Participating in a Drubchen with an altruistic motivation reduces afflictive mental states, restores broken spiritual commitments and allows positive qualities and circumstances to arise unhindered.

Click here to view more Tibetan Buddhist contemporary art.

Definition of Drubchen:

A drubchen is a traditional form of meditation retreat in Tibetan Buddhism that lasts for about ten days.  It involves a large number of lay and monastic practitioners and is led by at least one High Lama.  It is regarded as a very powerful practice as prayer and mantra are recited 24 hours a day.  It is said to act as a remedy to the negative forces at work in the world and to promote inner personal peace, peace within the community, and world peace.

Red Vajrasattva Drubchen:

Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche as a young boy studied with his father and learned his family’s tradition of religious rituals and liturgies, as well as traditional Tibetan medicine.  After being imprisoned in Tibet for ten years, along with his root guru, Tulku Orgyan Chemchok, he spent fourteen years serving Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche at Shechen Gonpa in Nepal.

Guru Rinpoche said that for someone who engages in a group Drubchen (Great Accomplishment), the benefits are the same as practicing alone in a three-year retreat.

The treasure revealer, Padgyal Lingpa, formally recognized Sang-ngag Rinpoche and Chagdud Rinpoche as lineage holders and custodians of his own hidden treasure revelations.  Red Vajrasattva is the heart-practice of these treasures of Padgyal Lingpa, specifically revealed for these difficult and distracting times.

These eight-days of Red Vajrasattva (2012) retreat will be a wonderful and effective way to bring benefit and happiness to oneself and others.  This event will begin September 15th at 9:00 am and end on September 23rd at 1:00 pm.  The empowerment will be given on the first day.  It includes all meals and event fees from the September 15 breakfast through dinner on September 23.

To attend this retreat or donate click here:  Vajrasattva Drubchen

Be well!
Neo

The Hidden Land

The sacred region of Besyul Pema Köd is known as “The Hidden Land,” which is located on a secluded plateau in the Himalayan Mountains.  The Taktshang monastery or “Tiger’s Nest” of Buddhism can be found in Bhutan (Parowan city) on a cliff 900 meters high!  This earthly paradise is often referred to as Pemakö or Pemako.  It is literally translated as ‘Lotus Array’, a region in the North-Eastern Province of Upper Siang of Arunachal Pradesh.

The word “hidden” is significant and has three meanings in the context of Pema Köd.

1. First, the secret meaning of the word implies that the infinite realms of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, by their nature, are hidden, or beyond this dualistic mind, from the beginning.
2. The second, or inner meaning of this word implies that this is a place where maha yogis and yoginis gathered to practice secret tantras and gana chakras.  Thus, except to such highly realized beings, this place is hidden.
3. The third, outer meaning of this word refers to Guru Padmasambhava, who specially blessed this land, protecting and setting it aside in this degenerate time for only those fortunate beings who are karmically connected to it, ordaining that it remain “hidden,” unavailable, to others.

Pema Köd was very much cherished by Padmasambhava.  In many texts, he refers to it as the king of all other sixteen of his hidden lands.  In the Tsa Sum Gongdus, he said:

In this hidden land, all mountains are like blooming flowers.  All rivers spontaneously recite mantras and flow with nectar; rainbows are arched on trees and bushes.  All the oath-bound protectors watch closely and protect true practitioners and punish those who merely pretend to be.  Those who practice sincerely will attain enlightenment in this lifetime.

Pure samadhi will spontaneously arise just by being in this land.  One session of practice in this blessed land is equal to a year of practice in other places.  Those who make three prostrations here will never take lower rebirth.  Those who die after seven steps taken with the intention of arriving here will definitely be reborn in this land.

Those who build stupas and temples, and perform other works of virtue in this land are my messengers.  Therefore, my fortunate sons and daughters, keep devotion to this land.  You will soon realize its significance.

In degenerate times, Guru Rinpoche’s blessings are very powerful.  One of the eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche is Dorje Drolo.  Dorje Drolo brings Guru Rinpoche’s enlightened power to liberate beings to their utmost intensity.  So by constructing a Dorje Drolo stupa in Guru Rinpoche’s Hidden Land, we are ensuring that the blessings are very swift and radiating to every direction.  The power, swiftness and profundity of Guru Rinpoche’s blessings in holy places like Pemakod is amplified tremendously.

At the request of his root teacher His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, and with the blessing and encouragement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Khenpo Tsering Dorjee Rinpoche built a Palyul Temple called “Negsang Dongak Jangchub Dharje Ling Nyingma” Monastery in Tuting, Pemakod.  On February 6-8, 2011, the Temple was consecrated by His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, Supreme Head of the Palyul Lineage.

Many other high dignitaries attended (including the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh and the Representative of the Tibetan Government in Exile) as did Khenchen Rinpoche’s disciples from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and elsewhere, and thousands of people from Arunachal Pradesh and other parts of India.

Important Links:

Support the Pema Kod Stupa Project

Photos of the Palyul Temple consecration

Videos: Bhutan (Shangri-La) and Hiking up to Tiger’s Nest

Many Blessings!
Neo

Dorje Drollo stupa

The Namdrol Pemay Gatsal (Lotus Grove of Liberation) at Pema Osel Ling holds a mandala of the eight traditional types of stupas representing the eight miraculous events in the Buddha’s life. In the center of the mandala is a Red Dorje Drolo stupa, which subdues negative forces and liberates upon seeing.

Story of the stupa:

“When such stupas hold transcendent buddhas’ sacred relics, they become sublime supports, the highest field for embodied beings’ cultivation of merit. Moreover, in general, each Buddhist way, great and small, has its own path’s belief system and characteristic manner of identifying stupas; this specific instance concerns one of the series that is commonly known as:

‘The eight stupas of the Joyous Buddha‘

1. When our teacher Powerful Sage attained perfect, manifest enlightenment under the tree of awakening, it is said that King Bimbasara and others constructed the Stupa to Subdue Negative Forces or the Stupa of Awakening.

2. When the Buddha was born in Lumbhi Gardens, it is said that King Shuddhodana and others constructed the Source of Joyous Buddhas Stupa or the Lotus Mound Stup

3. When the Buddha turned the Wheel of the Teachings in Varanasi, it is said that the Five Excellent Individuals constructed the Wheel of the Teachings Stupa or the Auspicious Many-Gated Stupa.

4. When the Buddha defeated non-Buddhist teachers in Sravasti’s Jéta Gardens, it is said that the Lichavis constructed the Miracle Stupa.

5. After the Buddha taught in the heavens, he returned to humans’ land in Kashi. It is said that the people of Kashi then constructed the Descent from the Heavens Stupa.

6. When the sublime pair of Buddha’s disciples repaired the schism caused by Devadatta in the Spiritual Community, it is said that the people of Maghadha constructed the Reparation of the Schism Stupa.

7. When the Buddha extended his life three months after the layman Chunda in Vaishali asked him to do so, it is said that the people of that town (or, according to some, the gods) constructed the Blessed Longevity Stupa or the Stupa of Total Victory.

8. When the Buddha transcended suffering in the town of Kushinagar, it is said that the Mallas constructed the Stupa of Transcendence

Further, it is said that in this world, the first among the Victor’s stupas is the Lotus Mound Stupa. Among this series of eight, this account centers upons the special support mentioned above as the Stupa to Subdue Negative Forces.”

Colophon:
“The Stupa to Subdue Negative Forces was consecrated on September 5, 2002, at the isolated retreat center of Péma Osel Ling in the western United States.  On completion of that ceremony, some of my spiritual brothers and sisters encouraged me to write the story of the stupa to inspire others’ confidence.

Respecting their wishes, I, holder of the title Lama Tsédrup Tharchin, gathered the essential points and put them in context, in the wish that this text should prove entirely virtuous.”

To pacify mental illness and help change the world for the better…make a donation by clicking here:  Vajrayana Foundation

Best wishes!
Neo

Offerings to stupas

The Great Stupa at Og Min Ogyen Mindroling Monastery in Dehradun, India.

“It has long been the tradition that wherever the teachings of the Buddhas have been revered and practiced, communities of followers have built reliquary monuments known in Sanskrit as stupas and as chörtens in Tibetan. 

And wherever they have been built, they have been regarded as sacred, for like religious images and scriptures, they represent aspects of enlightenment.” —His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama

 

The Stupa: Sacred Symbol of Enlightenment

From the book Crystal Mirror 12 by author Elizabeth Cook:

1. Whoever offers prayers finds immediate fulfillment of his wishes for both himself and others.
2. Whoever offers flowers to the Great Stupa obtains ease and contentment, prosperity and health.
3. Whoever offers incense achieves pure action.
4. Whoever offers lamps has the darkness of unknowing illuminated.
5. Whoever offers perfume is freed from anxiety and suffering.
6. Whoever offers sacrificial food lives a life of (concentration) free from hunger.
7. Whoever offers music to the Great Stupa spreads the Vibration of Dharma throughout the ten directions.
8. Whoever offers the sound of cymbals obtains deep and strong understanding and prosperity.
9. Whoever offers the sound of tinkling bells obtains a gentle and sweet voice – the sacred tones of Brahma.
10. Whoever offers a mandala to the Great Stupa attains perfect virtue and understanding as fruit of social interaction and meditation practice.
11. Whoever offers a mandala of the five precious stones – gold, silver, turquoise, coral, and pearl – is free from poverty and misfortune and becomes a master of the inexhaustible ethereal treasury.
12. Whoever offers a mandala of the seven precious things enjoys the riches of the kingdom of temporal existence and acquires the Divine body with the seven limbs of adoration in the realm of sublimity.
13. Whoever offers a mandala of the seven spices of life is freed from disease of body, emotion, impulse, and consciousness, from fatal diseases, and all sickness.
14. Whoever offers a mandala of the five essentials of existence is released from the manifold sufferings of pride, envy, hatred, lust, and lethargy and attains the Buddha Body of the Five Transmuted Lineages of Amitabha, Amoghasiddhi, Vajrasattva, Ratnasambhava, and  Vairocana.
15. Whoever offers a mandala of the five grains reaps a harvest from the seeds shown.
16. Whoever offers the five kinds of incense to the Great Stupa becomes attractive and loved by all.
17. Whoever offers the five kinds of perfume obtains a clean house untroubled by unpleasant odors.
18. Whoever offers the five divine gifts accumulates the merit, and his power, glory, pleasure and worldly goods increase.
19. Whoever offers the celestial parasol and victory banner has the tension of passion alleviated and becomes worthy of honor and reverence.
20. Whoever offers embroidered hangings or a divine ensign obtains happiness. wealth, and abundance, and is free from the fear of fire, water, lions, elephants, retribution, snakes, temptresses, and thieves.
21. Whoever offers a rosary or crown attains the ecstasy of men and gods and is bejeweled with the seven precious things.
22. Whoever offers a lamp experiences, in a vision, the reality of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the ten directions.
23. Whoever offers mustard oil is freed from the veil of lethargy.
24. Whoever offers a butter lamp irradiates the ten directions with the light of dharma.
25. Whoever restores the Great Stupa accomplishes the four forms of Buddha Activity, attains every aim conceived and receives the highest understanding.

The Dakini lineage

The dakini principle is the female embodiment of enlightened energy.  It is sometimes referred to as khandro in Tibetan language.  Khandro  means ‘she who traverses the sky’ or ‘she who moves in space’ or simply ‘skydancer’.  Knowing this principle is a catalyst for change and deep realization for the aspiring yogi who has respect for her loving kindness and wisdom.

Ngak’chang Rinpoche says:  “The khandro principle is what provides the inspiration for realisation – the innate magical quality of the phenomenal world in all its limitless variety.”

For men this can be perceived in female qualities – as wisdom display.  This is called: seeing the world as the dance of the khandro.

For women this can be perceived in male qualities – as method display.  This is called: seeing the world as the dance of the pawo.

Khandro Déchen continues:  “Script of this variety is known as ton-dröl, which means liberation through seeing.  Through seeing this script our consciousness is seeded with the cause of our eventual liberation.”

An excerpt from A Honey On the Razor’s Edge:

“When a man loses contact with his inner-quality, his outer-quality becomes distorted.  Disconnected from his inner khandro (his secret wisdom) his outer-quality becomes distorted.  What should be spontaneously manifested compassion, becomes neurotic assertiveness.  This assertiveness ranges from dominance to violence, depending to what extent his inner khandro has become occluded.  With regard to his spiritual life, he could becomes an academic or a great debater.  He could become a cosmic gorilla with spiritual muscles – a guru who claims to be the world teacher.

When a woman loses contact with her inner-quality, her outer quality becomes distorted.  Disconnected from her inner pawo (her secret compassion) her outer quality becomes distorted.  What should be spontaneously manifested wisdom, becomes decorativeness.  This decorativeness ranges from inconsequentiality to superficial obsession with surface appearance, depending to what extent her inner pawo has become occluded.  With regard to her spiritual life, she seems satisfied to arrange the flowers in the shrine room.  She becomes a delicate devotee.  There is no sense that she will ever actually practise; but if she does, she cultivates beautiful experiences with which to ornament her psyche.”

Marpa Lotsawa (1012–1097)

Poem by Marpa:

Although all practitioners have a lineage,

If one has the Dakini lineage, one has everything.

Although all practitioners have a grandfather,

If one has Tilo, one has everything.

Although practitioners have a lama,

If one has Naro, one has everything.

Although practitioners have teachings,

If one has the hearing lineage, one has everything.

All attain the Buddha through meditation,

But if one attains Buddhahood without meditation,

There is definite enlightenment.

There is no amazing achievement without practice,

But there is amazing achievement without practice.

By searching, all will find enlightenment,

But to find without searching is the greatest find.

The Buddhist Enumerations

The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism: It’s Fundamentals & History by Dudjom Rinpoche is a must have for serious scholars or practitioners within Tibetan Buddhism.

It is two volumes combined into one book.  The first is the Fundamentals of the Nyingma School and the second is the History of the Nyingma School.  This is where you can find detailed accounts of lineage information and hagiographies of some important and wonderful masters.

One of the most useful parts within the book is the numerical categorization of Buddhism in general.  It sports 181 pages just for this section of the Glossary of Enumerations.  It progress from the two accomplishments all the way up to 6,400,000 verses of the great perfection teachings.

Here are some samples:

• two accomplishments
• two Buddha bodies
• two truths
• two kinds of selflessness
• three kinds of discriminating awareness
• three kinds of mandala
• three uncompounded entities
• four essential recollections
• four eternalistic schools
• four extremes
• four fearlessness
• four great modes of liberation
• four guardian kings
• four kinds of birthplace
• four kinds of desire
• four great axioms of madhyamaka
• four perverted views
• five buddha families
• ten powers
• ten sciences
• twelve modes of dependent origination
• seventeen form realms
• eighteen distinct attributes of the Buddhas
• eighteen schools
• twenty-four pure lands
• fifty-one mental events
• eighty minor marks of a buddha
• one hundred treasure-finders
• two hundred and fifty disciplines of the vinaya
• 21,000 kinds of desire, hatred, and delusion
• 84,000 doctrines of the vehicles
• 6,400,000 verses of the natural great perfection

Ascension of the masters:

One of the most intriguing categories is how a highly realized master dies in Tibetan Buddhism.  It is important to note that this is only explained in Vajrayana Buddhism.

This account has caused other faiths to investigate the dharma to determine the validity of Christ’s ascension into the sky.

Four ways of death:

1. dissolving into space
2. cremation
3. death in the manner of an awareness holder
4. celestial flight

Described respectively as follows: (1) the body and mind dissolve in the emptiness of the buddha-body of reality, (2) as the space within and without a vase merge when the vase breaks, (3) one passes away like a fire with no more fuel, space is filled with light and one dies like an awareness holder, (4) even though one dies, one need not relinquish the body and so one dies as a sky-farer

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