TADYATA OM BHEKHANDZYE BHEKHANDZYE MAHA BHEKHANDZYE (BHEKHANDZYE) RAJA SAMUDGATE SVAHA

Medicine Buddha said that even if an animal hears the Medicine Buddha mantra it will never be reborn in the lower realms.

If you don’t purify negative karma, even dying, having cancer, still you have to die because of negative karma, because it is not purified, so you will be reborn in the lower realms as a hell being, hungry ghost or animal, and again and again without end have to suffer. Therefore, you need to purify the negative karma now. If you cannot bear the sickness now how can you bear the suffering of the lower realms? Especially because of the incredible length of time that beings have to suffer in the lower realms. It is a billion times more suffering than all the human problems put together.

Medicine Buddha mantra prevents you from experiencing all these things. So it is much more precious than skies of gold, diamonds and wish-fulfilling jewels—all this wealth means nothing because it can’t purify all the negative karma. Even if you own that much wealth, this one Medicine Buddha mantra is much more precious because it leaves imprints of the whole path to enlightenment in your mind; it helps you to have realizations of the whole path to enlightenment. It ceases all the gross and subtle defilements and makes you achieve enlightenment.

Besides the benefits you receive from reciting Medicine Buddha mantra, also these are the benefits just from hearing the mantra. So therefore this mantra is much more precious than the whole sky full of diamonds and infinite jewels. With the Medicine Buddha mantra you can liberate numberless sentient beings from oceans of suffering and bring them to enlightenment. Therefore, again, reciting even one mantra or hearing just once the Medicine Buddha mantra is much more precious than the sky filled with gold, diamonds, wish-fulfilling jewels and zillions and zillions of dollars.

So with full trust in Medicine Buddha you recite the mantra, knowing that Medicine Buddha will completely take care of your life, heal you. With full trust know how Medicine Buddha is always with you, in your heart, on your crown, in front of you. There is not one second that Medicine Buddha does not see you or have compassion towards you.

One student in Hong Kong does Medicine Buddha practice daily and she had a very heavy brain operation. During the operation she actually saw Medicine Buddha. She had a miracle recovery, as it was a very risky operation, but she surprised all and was able to recover and is still alive. So Medicine Buddha looked after her.

Also one person in Taiwan, he is not Buddhist, he could not move his body, could not get up and he didn’t have any helpers around him. He very badly needed to take his medicine and the medicine was far away in the bathroom. Next to him was a Medicine Buddha statue and when he turned his head he saw that the Medicine Buddha statue was holding his medicine. So he was able to take his medicine. Later he passed away and when he passed away he was able to put his hands in the mudra of prostration at his heart to show that he remembered Medicine Buddha; he passed away peacefully.

So, if you can, do the Medicine Buddha practice.

Also a short way to practice is by reciting the refuge and bodhicitta prayer: “The purpose of my life is to free all beings from suffering and lead them to enlightenment, therefore, I am going to do the Medicine Buddha practice, especially to purify the negative karma, defilements, disease and spirit harm, as well as to do healing, so that I can have a healthy and long life to offer service and actualize the path.”

Visualize Medicine Buddha on the crown of your head or in front of you [at the level of your forehead.] Nectar beams emit from Medicine Buddha and enter your own body and mind like water. It pushes away all the dirty things, like pouring water into a glass pipe; all the dirty water flows out the top. All the disease, spirit harm, negative karma and obstacles are completely purified.

Also think that all sentient beings are in your heart on a moon disc, especially people who have cancer. Think that the nectar is purifying the four things (disease, spirit harm, negative karma and obstacles). All are purified, including your sickness.

If you are doing the practice for someone else, visualize is the same except that you visualize Medicine Buddha above their heads.

At the end dedicate the merits:

“Due to all the merits I have collected in the past and present and that I will collect in the future, may the wish-fulfilling, most precious, ultimate good heart bodhicitta, cherishing other sentient beings and letting go of the I, be generated in my heart and within the hearts of all living beings without delay of even a second. May the bodhicitta that is already generated be increased forever more.

“Due to all the merits of the past, present and future that I have collected and that others have collected, however many sick sentient beings there are may they be instantly liberated from their sicknesses and may sentient beings never get sick.

“Due to the merits of the three times, which exist but are empty from their own side, collected by me and all others, may I, who exists but is empty from my own side, achieve enlightenment, which exists but is empty from its own side, and lead sentient beings, who exist but are empty from their own side, to that enlightenment, which exists but is empty from its own side, by myself alone, who exists but is empty from my own side.

“I dedicate all the merits as the bodhisattvas Samantabhadra and Manjughosha realized and in the way that the buddhas and bodhisattvas of the three times dedicate and admire the most.

“Due to all these merits, may I actualize completely the stainless teachings of Lama Tsong Khapa, which unify sutra and tantra in this life, and may those teachings flourish and spread in all directions.”

To get the whole practice:

http://www.fpmt.org/education/prayers/mbpujalttrbklt.pdf

I received this article in the mail and it caught my attention. These days it is very rare to hear the account of practitioners with attainments, so I thought I would share this with you.

In the monasteries, it is very common that through sincere motivation and practice, one can achieve great realizations as taught by Buddha and the lineage Gurus. It is the same whether you come from Mahayana, Vajrayana, Theravadan, or whichever school of Buddhism you practice. In this day and age, it is heart warming to know that Buddha’s teachings are still alive and beneficial to all. Remember, what this practitioner achieved can be achieved with any mantra you sincerely stick to. You can recited migtseyma thoroughly and devotedly, or Tara’s or Setrap’s mantras and gain great results just the same. All mantras have great power and which one is given to us by our teachers or affinity or both, we should devotedly practice daily without disappointment and with stability…but we must be very devoted to it and it will bear great results. I thought I would post this as an inspiration to show an ordinary person can gain these accomplishments through faith and mantra. You can too!! Remember, you can accomplish with any mantra.

Tsem Rinpoche

Orated by Jamyang Dorje Rinpoche of the Taipei Padmakara Buddhist Society

Padmasambhava

Recorded by Pema Tsering on 22 Aug 2007 with due respect

Translated from Chinese into English and editted by Jigme Sherab with due respect

Homage to Padmasambhava and Pema Norbu Rinpoche

May 2006 – In the holy land of Padmasambhava, Bhutan, a blind accomplished master knew his time of his death in advance and sat in crossed vajra posture while passing into parinirvana.

As the author was afraid of gradually forgetting the details of this master’s liberation story over the passage of time, the sublime details of it were committed to paper with one’s own inadequate literary skills.  It is hoped that all those who see, hear or are acquainted with the facts of this history will be filled with deep faith and devotion to Padmasambhava, thereby receiving blessings and accomplishments.

This accomplished adept is a Bhutanese.  When he was alive, people mostly addressed him as “Drubtop” which means someone who has attained realisation. Moreover, due to the fact that he attained realisation and liberation through the recitation of the Vajra Guru mantra, he was also called, “Benza Guru Drubtop”, meaning “The Vajra Guru Siddha”

This accomplished master “Benza Guru Drubtop”, whose external appearance was dirty and unkempt but who, internally, was extraordinarily free and liberated, was previously a visually handicapped beggar who lived in the peripheral slums of Bhutan.

Later, due to the help of Urgyen Lama  (of Sangngak Thegchog Osel Ling Monastery) and Jamyang Dorje Rinpoche, this accomplished master who had went through a difficult life (but with equanimity) was invited  to the monastery where they looked after him as a offering to a most unsurpassed field of merit.  This was the reason that the last 10 years of his life was relatively peaceful and safe.

“Benza Guru Druptop” was not born blind. It is said that his visual impairment was the result of curses wrought by mantras which his enemies had inflicted upon him.  Before he went blind, he was just a common farmer who belonged to the Bon religion.  At that time, the farmer did not understand the vast qualities of Padmasambhava and had even entertained sacrilegious views towards Guru Rinpoche and slandered him with negative speech.

To recover his sight, the farmer had approached many doctors who were unable to help.  With no other resort, he asked several spiritual friends and masters for advice on what spiritual practice to do in order to recover his sight.

Finally, he listened to some masters’ advice and decided to start reciting the Vajra Guru mantra (OM AH HUNG BENZA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUNG), relying on it as his sole practice, and eventually he went on to achieve an astounding level of realisation.

When “Drubtop” started to recite the Vajra Guru mantra,  his faith in Padmasambhava began to ripen and increase.  Due to his blindness, day or night was not much difference to him and he began to recite the mantra diligently day and night without distinction.

When he completed a hundred million recitations, “Drubtop”’s prayer-wheel, which he rotated as he recited the mantra, began to drip inconceivable nectar.   It is well known that prayer-wheels contain dry paper rolls and it is impossible for water to drip from it out of thin air, yet his prayer-wheel began to manifest such a strange phenomenon.  This demonstrated the authencity of the results of “Benza Guru Drubtop”’s practice and also showed how wonderful Padmasambhava’s blessings were.  After that, he did not slow down, but instead continued to recite the mantra diligently, praying to Guru Rinpoche with great faith.

When “Benza Guru Drubtop” had completed the mantra 300 million times, in a dream-like state, he personally met the Lotus-Born Guru and received a prophecy, thereby attaining an inconceivable level of realisation.

Padmasambhava told “Benza Guru Drubtop”, “If you live on for 7 more years, your eyesight will be recovered.  The reason for you having lost sight in both eyes is that you previously believed in the Bon religion and especially, you had disparaged and despised (noble beings), causing confused inter-dependent phenomenon to arise.  Now although you have seen me, due to that karmic obscuration, you will not be able to immediately regain your eyesight.”

Thus “Benza Guru Drubtop” was not able to recover his eyesight even though he had seen the Guru Rinpoche.

In the mysterious state, Guru Rinpoche also asked “Benza Guru Drubtop” to make a special dharma hat as a auspicious interdependent-arising, which the blind “Benza Guru Drubtop” made himself from bronze pieces without anyone’s help.

Benza Guru Druptop

In spite of “Benza Guru Drubtop”’s inner realisation and his extraordinary clairvoyance due to Guru Rinpoche’s blessings,  due to his external visual handicap, no-one was willing to look after him properly.  Thus he wandered around in the region of “Chim” in Bhutan.  The locals called him “Benza Guru Drubtop”.

“Benza Guru Drubtop” knew of a secret method to reverse obstacles which the Lotus-Born Guru had personally transmitted to him.  It could swiftly remove all heavy illnesses or urgent calamities befalling a person.  This method is special but inelegant.  It required that “Benza Guru Drubtop” make a special kind of torma and recite a short ritual, the specifics of it is only known to himself, and then he must strip naked and while totally nude take the torma to a nearby triple-intersect junction.  This method is quite powerful, all the people for whom the “Drubtop” had performed this ritual, recovered from their problems without exception.

Besides this, everytime someone requested the “Benza Guru Drubtop” for any help, his way of divination was also different from others.  He did not need the use of any divination apparatus, nor did he require the person to say much, but would be able to know the intentions of the person and be able to speak out the intimate details of the supplicants’ residence, environment and all other kinds of details, including those personal secrets that the person requesting did not want revealed.  Evidently, the “Benza Guru Drubtop” had attained great clairvoyance of knowing others’ minds due to the blessings of Guru Rinpoche.  He was also widely acknowledged as “Drubtop” due to this.

“Benza Guru Drubtop”’s inner secret realisation did not cause him to try to improve his own living conditions but instead he regarded poverty and suffering as not being any obstacle or problem impeding him.

What did not change was that he continued supplicating Guru Rinpoche day and night, reciting the Guru Rinpoche mantra respectfully and so when he passed into parinirvana, a conservative estimate of the number of Guru Rinpoche mantras he had recited in his life amounts to more than 600 million.

Unlike others, he was not interested in promoting his own diligent efforts at practice or his miraculous responses , instead “Benza Guru Drubtop” benefitted beings in a spontaneous and extemporaneous way.  Thus, most of the people who knew him did not know how profound his inner realisation was.

Most people only regarded his external style and occasional obstacle-averting rituals as a sign that he was merely a practitioner with some achievements.  Most of his secret conduct and responses, he would only tell to Urgyen Lama and a few close friends who had faith.

Although he was a siddha, he did not alter his clothes or appearance, but remained like a beggar, allowing others to make offerings and making-shift of whatever they offered to wear.  Although he was invited to stay at Sangngak Thegchog Osel Ling Monastery, and could have chosen to have better living premises and conditions, he only preferred to live in a dilapidated corner of the monastery and sleep in his own old covers, using yellowed and hole-ridden blankets and pillow.

“Benza Guru Drubtop” would only accept others’ clothing and food.  If someone offered his cash notes or coins, he will recite mantras and blow on them as a blessing, before returning them to the offerer, telling him not to use the money but to keep it on the body as a blessed artifact for protection.  When one offered him a khata, it was the same case.  This showed that “Benza Guru Drubtop” has already viewed all wealth as nothing, with no desire or wish for anything.

The author once requested one of the abbots of the monastery, Jamyang Dorje Rinpoche, to make some money offerings, but was instead met with laughter from Rinpoche who said, ‘“Benza Guru Drubtop” does not want money, how to make offerings to him? If you want to give him clothings or other things, he may not accept, or he may just bless them and return them to you. if you want to offer food, he is now provided food by the monastery, so he may not enjoy what you offer him.  Apart from his meals, he doesn’t really accept any other food.’  Hearing this, the author felt deeply that this siddha master was truly without needs or wants and was worthy of respect and veneration.

Seven days before he demonstrated impermanence, the “Benza Guru Drubtop” informed the abbot Urgyen Lama,”I am going to leave this world to go and see Padmasambhava.”  At that time, the abbot felt that Drubtop was still healthy and thought that he was merely joking.  He did not pay much attention to this remark.  “Benza Guru Drubtop” then confidently told several monk friends that, “Urgyen Lama does not have freedom over birth and death, but I do.  He will not understand my meaning…  the dharmakaya is beyond death, because I have realised the dharmakaya, there is really no death to speak of for me!” Totally unschooled and who had not studied any dharma teachings, sutras or commentaries, yet, “Benza Guru Drubtop” was able to make many such statements that utilised the expressions of the Dzogpa Chenpo realisations.

Benza Guru Druptop

With nothing special happening, apart from those monk-friends who knew about it being worried that “Benza Guru Drubtop” would manifest death, others did not feel that the Drubtop would really be able to predict his own time of death, and be able to leave this world with such ease and freedom.  Seven days later, in the clear gentle light of dawn, “Benza Guru Drubtop” sat in crossed-vajra posture and impertubably released his intent into the dharmadhatu.  At that moment, a gentle tremor in the earth could be felt.

After his parinirvana, the usually-deserted monastery was thronged by more than 3000 people trying to pay their respects.  After he passed away, everyday at dawn, there were three birds flying in to circumambulate his body three rounds before flying off.  These were said to be dakinis paying their respect.

“Benza Guru Drubtop” passed away exactly 7 years from when he received the vision from Padmasambhava, thus fulfilling the prophecy that he would “recover his sight”.  Because now, he would have no body to obstruct him from going to the Sangdok Palri Pureland to see Guru Rinpoche.

The author wishes that this extraordinary account of a recent Guru Rinpoche siddha would encourage all sentient beings to give rise to faith and supplicate Guru Rinpoche, ultimately attaining the same state as him.

(Colophon:  As the English translator was himself inspired by this account of the Vajra Guru Siddha, he decided to render it into English so that it would be accessible to more people.  It is his sincere request that if there are those who have read this account and felt that it benefitted them, to please circulate it to others and do a recitation of a 100,000 of the Vajra Guru mantra for the benefit of all beings.  By this translation, may more people come to know the benefits of reciting the Vajra Guru mantra, do its practice and quickly attain realisation.)

Source: http://bodhiactivity.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/hello-world/

Can you believe that there is a cat in South Korea who is vegetarian and prays?

This video is of the vegetarian cat who goes by the refuge name, 解脱 (Free oneself). A nun rescued the male cat a few years ago, and it has been living in the temple with many other nuns since then. Every day without fail, the cat will go to the prayer hall, sit on a cushion with its paws placed in front and eyes staring at the Buddha statue as if he is praying!! Very interesting!

The cat will only leave the prayer hall after many hours. Sometimes, when the Chief Nun wants to bring it out to play, he refuses to go. It just sits at prayer hall and stares at the Buddha statue.

A few years back when the Chief nun rescued the cat, she instructed the cat not to make any noise in the temple compound, not to eat meat and not to kill any beings…the cat listened and complied! Until today, he does not eat meat…even when a piece of fried chicken is placed in front of the cat, he does not get tempted! This vegetarian cat has also not gone against the other rules set by the Chief Nun.

The video also shows a visitor to the temple who was so curious and impressed with the cat to the point she prostrated to him!!

Could you have imagined that a cat could be vegetarian, pray and refrain from killing any beings?

I have added a video below, as well as the translation. Do watch how well-mannered this cat is. He can sit in front of the altar for hours throughout the day, looking at the Buddha statues on the altar.

Tsem Rinpoche

Question: Torn between my personal dream and my parents’ wishes, what should I do?

Answer:

Dear JJJ,

I really sympathise with you over your dilemma but rest assured that you are not the only one in this predicament. In the past, parents even dictated what profession their children should follow and who and when they should marry.

In your case, I would advise you to follow the middle path, and seek a compromise. That is, please your parents by following a profession that will make them happy. Remember that there are many well-paid service-oriented jobs. Some NGOs, for example, pay salaries comparable with the private sector.

You can, in the mean time, do voluntary work with charitable organisations to gain experience and make contacts. You can eventually get a high paying job with the UN, for example, serving both your desire to help mankind and fulfilling your parents’ wishes. This will take time, of course, but patience is a virtue.

At the same time, remember that serving mankind need not be dramatic, going into war-torn areas and risking your life, but there are socially acceptable jobs like teaching, which is also serving mankind, without posing a danger to yourself. Over time, you may be able to persuade your parents to allow you to follow your heart’s desire, but do not go against them now. My advice is, make a choice that will eventually create a win-win situation. With the Blessings of the Noble Triple Gem,

Yours in the Dhamma

Ven K Sri Dhammananda

Ven. Dr K Sri Dhammananda Maha Nayaka Thera (1919-2006). Picture by Jeff Ooi

Question: If we do something wrong but we do not know that it was wrong (because nobody ever told us), are we wrong?

Answer: Put another way, you are asking, if we do something wrong without knowing it is wrong, do we accumulate bad kamma?

Well, if we are unaware of the action, e.g. if when driving at night, we run over a snake and kill it, we do not accumulate bad kamma because there was no intention to kill.

But if we do anything wrong knowing that we are doing it for our benefit, whether it is killing, lying or stealing, then we are guilty because our actions deprive others of their peace of mind and happiness.

It does not matter whether we are taught about it or not. Certain actions are wrong and apply to all beings. Kamma is action and re-action. If you walk into a hole, you will fall in. You cannot say that it is unfair because you were not looking and it is not your fault. Of course, the effect of the bad kamma depends on several factors, e.g. the quantum of greed, hatred or anger involved; the amount of effort put in to carry out the action and the degree of suffering which was created by the action.

Not all wrong actions bear the same kammic effect. Certain wrong actions (e.g. killing) are wrong in all societies and at all times. Others are wrong because of social constraints (e.g. stealing, speaking falsehoods) and can vary according to the place, the mitigating circumstances and period in which we are living. Bad kamma does not always produce identical consequences.

Rinpoche touched briefly on the visualization one does when performing the Guru Yoga, its benefits as well as the importance of Guru Yoga practice in Tantric Buddhism. This is however just a very condensed explanation of the Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga and a much more detailed teaching by Rinpoche is available on YouTube and on his official website. In the second video, Rinpoche explains on the significance of the color of Je Tsongkhapa’s pandit hat which is yellow.

The Relationship between Lama Tsongkhapa and Maitreya Buddha

Click here to view the embedded video.

Why is Lama Tsongkhapa’s Hat Yellow?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Unlike previous editions of GSDP which were held annually at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall along Jalan Maharajalela in Kuala Lumpur, this year’s GSDP was held at Kechara’s new Gompa at Sunwaymas, taking advantage of a larger floorspace which included booths and tents that were erected on the grounds just outside the Gompa.

Each Kechara department had their own dedicated booth showcasing their respective activities, programs and products to the public. GSDP 2011 also featured various lucky draws and contests.

GSDP 2011 takes on some Chinese New Year flavor with rows of red Chinese lanterns.

The Buddha comes with bling. One of the various altars at GSDP 2011 featuring Tsongkhapa.

Light offerings.

The flea market

Kechara In Motion (KIM) booth.

Kechara Media & Publications products on sale.

Promotional material at the Kechara Animal Sanctuary (KAS) booth.

Dogs for adoption at the KAS booth.

Tara statue.

Handicraft items for sale at the Manjushri Kids Class (MKC) booth.

Dzambhala shrine.

Kechara volunteers.

Puppy for adoption at KAS.

Explore the wonders of spirituality!

Candles and light offerings were to be found everywhere.

Kechara volunteers sharing a light moment.

Guests were treated to food, drinks and cultural dance shows. The new Kechara Gompa houses three of the largest Tibetan Buddhist statues in Malaysia — a 10 feet tall Tsongkhapa statue, a 7 feet Vajrayogini statue and a 7 feet Setrap statue. The following are photos from the event. Click on the images for a larger view.

A guest looking at some exhibits at the gallery showcasing the life of H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche

Kechara Media and Publications writer and editor Kok Yek Yee bringing a group of journalists from the Chinese media on a tour of the gallery

An image of H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche in his younger days

Margaret Lee, a long-time student of H.E. Tsem Rinpoche, performing the Vajrayogini dance on the outdoor stage

Members of Kechara's Manjushri Kids Class performing a tea light candle dance

Kechara members performing a traditional Tibetan dance

H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche arriving at the event

Rinpoche performing prayers at the ribbon cutting ceremony

The crowd waiting to get into the Gompa

The crowd filing into the Gompa

H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche officially receiving the keys to the new Gompa by the organizing committee

Rinpoche signing the plaque officiating the launch of the Gompa

Rinpoche stops briefly to chat with the crowd before leaving the Gompa hall

Maintain the state of undistractedness, and distractions will fly away.

Dwell alone, and you shall find the Friend.

Take the lowest place, and you shall reach the highest.

Hasten slowly, and you shall soon arrive.

Renounce all worldly goals, and you shall reach the highest Goal.

If you follow this unfrequented path, you will find the shortest way.

If you realize Sunyata (the absolute Emptiness), compassion will arise within your hearts;

and when you lose all differentiation between yourself and others, then you will be fit to serve others.

- Jetsun Milarepa