The Living Journal - The Indestructible Path

Vajrayana, refers to the third vehicle of Buddhism, often known as Lamaism, which originated in Tibet in the eight century and gradually spread to its neighboring countries. Vajrayana is made up the three Yanas of Theravada and Mahayana traditions, Vajrayana which is also regarded as Tantric or Esoteric Buddhism. 

To practice it, one must have the skillful guidance of an accomplished Lama or Guru because its emphasis is mainly on ritualistic ceremonial actions and practices which involve the body, speech and mind technique, the body being valued as the proper vehicle for salvation.

Beginners to Buddhism are advised to have thorough in the Hinayana before moving into Mahayana. Only when their foundations are strong enough and they have gained sufficient of wisdom should they consider entering the Vajra path. It may be a vehicle that promise enlightenment within a single-life time and many are therefore likely to be attracted to it.

The training in Vajrayana must always be carried out under the direction of a Guru or Lama since it entails a variety of complicated ritual practice and it is not advisable for anyone to practice them by reading from any text books alone.  Vajrayana or refers as a Diamond vehicle teaches that every Buddhas or Bodhisattva is associated with a particular mantra, mudra, which recite or performed correctly, can link one with the Deity in question and partake its transcendental powers.

A mantra consists of a number of syllables which when translated literally, may be quite meaningless, but it can be extremely effective when pronounced by one who has undergone the proper training and discipline and is familiar with its operations. Mantra, when uttered correctly, can have the  power drive off evil spirits or thwart the actions of black magic sent by enemies, It must be WARNED that mantras should not be learned from text books or freely used.

The Vajrayana practitioners should be able to keep his or her personal practice, the Vajrayana vows and any teachings that one has received, secret and sacred. If one were to share with all and sundry, this will break the power of one practice and their vows and one will then take a longer time to fulfill their aspirations.

Not all Vajrayana teachings are suitable for beginner, if the practitioner were to share inappropriately, one may harm the listener by causing him or her to develop a negative view towards the teaching, and, towards the practitioner himself or herself. By doing so, the students will create negative karma which will be an obstacle to their practice. Yes you can or may discuss topics with your Vajra friends or share with your Guru or Lama, but not with everyone.

The Living Journal - The Precious Gurus.

Many beginners who have an interest in practicing the Dharma, generally do not know how or where to begin, and therefore, he or she would rely heavily on Dharma books. This has both its advantages and disadvantages, because in Tibetan / Vajrayana Buddhism, there are many esoteric teachings that have been published and are inappropriate reading material for the beginner.

Why ? The reason is when the beginner read and it creates confusion and doubts, and may prevent him or her from following the Buddhist path.
For examples, the image of a wrathful deity and the image of a Yam-yum union consort that may confuse the new students:-

[1] Wrathful deity one might think they are demons and  based on their terrifying appearance. In Fact, their terrifying appearance is meant to frighten forces of evil and to protect the Dharma.

[2] Yab-yum [male-female in an union consort position]

It represents the primordial union of wisdom and compassion, depicted as a male deity in unwholesome act with his female consort. The male figure represents compassion and skillful means, while the female partner represents insight.

In fact, unlike other traditions,Vajrayana Buddhism, places great emphasis on the concept of the Guru or master. A Guru is the guide that the student relies on to steer them to the right path. 

In Buddhism, we take refuge in the Three Jewels - the Buddha, Dharma and Shangha. But in Vajrayana, we also take refuge in the three roots. The root of one's blessing is the Guru, the root of all accomplishments is one's Yidam, and the root of all activities is the protectors and Dakinis. 

There is a saying in Tibet- if you see your Guru as a Buddha, you will receive the blessing of a Buddha.So the level of one's achievements depends on the strength of the student's faith and devotion. If these two qualities are not present, then you will receive nothing at all. 

Thank you for reading, may you find peace and joyfulness.With your support it helps to spread the Dharma and as well, turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

Jang Chub Sem Chog Rinpoche

Ma Kye Pa Nam Kye Gyur Chiang

Kye Pa Nyam Par Mey Pa Yang

Gong Nay Gong Du Phel War Shog.

May the precious Bodhichitta arise

Where it has not arisen

And where it has arisen may it not decrease

But increase further and further.

Nagarjuna's Dedication of Merit
So nam di yi tham chay zig pa nyi
Thob nay nye pa'i dra nam pham jay nay
Kye ga na chi'i ba lab thrug pa yi
Si pa'i tso lay dro war drol war shog.

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.
Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.
May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

 

Shakyamurni Buddha Day Coinciding with Partial Solar Eclipse

Tadyata Om Muni Muni Maha Muniye Soha

September 13, 2015 is the new moon day and it’s the Shakyamurni Buddha day according to the Tibetan calendar. On this day, the auspicious Buddha day is coinciding with a natural phenomenon as follows:-

1. Shakyamurni Buddha new moon Prayer Day. 
2. Partial solar eclipse.
3. [The maximum eclipse is at 06.55 GMT, with a magnitude of 0.788.It is visible from Southern Africa, Southern Indian ocean and Antarctica]

On this day,  the effects of  positive or negative actions are said to be multiplied by * Hundred million times during Solar and lunar eclipses according to the Vajrayana Buddhism. If you have committed a positive good action, and you will be blessed with the positive Hundred million times of positive Karma actions, but if one has committed the negative actions and it will be multiplied by Hundred million times of bad and negative action. 

The power of prayer is well known over centuries and in all different religious beliefs. According to Buddhism, the world in which we live and all that happens to us is a result of our past actions. Past harmful actions create unhappy results and skillful actions create happy results. 

           Tadyata Om Muni Muni Maha Muniye Soha

One way to purify obstacles we experience due to our past harmful action is through prayers and pujas. A puja is a special ceremony in which prayers are offered to the Buddhas to request their blessings or invoke their help. But most importantly, making prayers and offerings to the enlightened beings, and to the Sangha community generates and increases merit, our positive potential. Merit is needed to have success in all activities. 

Shakyamurni Buddha's holy sacred relics.

Pujas are performed to avert and clear the three types of obstacles which arise due to the lack of merit, which prevent us from achieving our worldly and spiritual goals. Removing these obstacles will help us to achieve happiness and good fortune in all our activities.

How to request a Puja

While some prayers are of universal benefit, there are others that help with specific problems. It is always advisable to ask a lama or other knowledgeable person for advice on what puja is suitable for one's specific situation or problem.

        Shakyamurni Buddha's holy sacred finger relic

There are three types of obstacles:

1. Affecting our  day to day life,relationships, business, and finances. 
2. Affecting mental and physical health in the form of strong emotions, confusion, and associated physical problems.
3. Obstructing the attainment of wisdom, experienced as difficulties in Dharma practice.

Pujas can be performed for various purposes:

1. To help pacify their mind, and decrease fear during the time of death.
2. To bless and guide their mind to a higher state of rebirth and liberation. 
3. To remove obstacles to mental and physical health.
4. To remove obstacles to success in all activities, be they worldly or spiritual.

Thank you for reading , may you find peace and joyfulness. With your support it helps to spread the Dharma and as well, turning the Dharma wheels to the world. 
Nagarjuna's Dedication of Merit
So nam di yi tham chay zig pa nyi

Thob nay nye pa'i dra nam pham jay nay

Kye ga na chi'i ba lab thrug pa yi

Si pa'i tso lay dro war drol war shog.

Nagarjuna's Dedication of Merit [English translation]

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.           With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

Why Doing Prostration?

In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, there are two forms of prostration. They are: short and full prostrations. 

(1) It helps to overcome from your ego and deluded pride, and makes you peaceful and humble. 

(2) In short prostration you touch the five points of your body on the ground - forehead, two hands, and two knees. 

(3) In full prostration you lay down your whole body on the ground like a tree trunk falling on the ground. It is best to ask your teacher to teach on how doing it properly and traditionally. 

When is the right time to make Prostration?

You can do at any time of the day or night. However, doing prostration on a particularly sacred or holy day is extremely powerful and effective. Due to the sacredness of the day, the merit or virtue created through the practice of prostration becomes much more powerful. 

It is said in the Sutra that your merit and virtue become a thousand times stronger compared to the rest of the time. So, doing more prostration on a sacred day is important. For instance, doing more prostration on the day of a full moon generates greater merit. 

What should one recite when making prostrations 

There are several mantras, and prayers that one can recite while doing prostrations. Your mind must be filled with mantra sound or mantra syllables. Or one should recite the following mantras mindfully with a feeling of respect and humility. Also, one should have a feeling of regret towards the negative actions that one has committed in the past followed by a firm resolution and feelings of admiration to enlightened beings’ spiritual qualities.

Mantras.

(1) Tayatha - Om Muni Muni Maha Muniyeh Soha  [ Sakyamuni Buddha ]

(2) Om Benza Sattva Hung Phet  [ Vajrasattva Bodhisattva ]

(3) Om Mani Pad Me Hum  [ Cherenzig / Avalokestisvara / Kuan Yin Pusa ]

(4) Om Ah Hung Benza Guru Padma Siddhi Hung [ Guru Rinpoche ]

One can recite any of the above mantras when you do prostration. It is important and highly beneficial when you employ your body, speech, and mind during the entire prostration time. Bodily perform the prostration, verbally recite the mantra, and mentally reflect on the meaning of the mantra. 

The benefit of making prostrations

The practice of Prostration is one of the most effective ways to generate merit and virtue. Doing prostration is not that difficult and painful. In general, there are many benefits to making prostrations. However, the following are some of the most prominent: 

• Purification of negativities and karmic obscurations created over the series of past and present lifetimes. 

• Accumulation of merit for uninterrupted spiritual growth and to gain swift spiritual realization.

• It implants the seeds of the three Kayas within your mind stream. 

• It helps to overcome from your ego and deluded pride, and makes you peaceful and humble. 

• It releases physical and mental tension and knots .

• It unblocks and clears out the psychic nervous system and other channels through which the vital energy flows.

• It creates lightness, agility, flexibility, or even suppleness in your body by getting rid of physical lethargic feelings. 

• It burns fats in your body and helps one lose weight. It also helps to increase your digestive function. 

• It cures many of the chronic illnesses primarily caused by karmic debts. 

• It reshapes your body and mind, since the prostrations are a good exercise in the ordinary sense, and in the ultimate sense it is a yogic training of body and mind to lay down the groundwork for a sound base for spiritual development.

You will most likely feel an incredible contrast in your body, speech, and mind subsequent to making  21 or 108 prostrations each day for two to three weeks.

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Thank you for reading, may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps to spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta
For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen
May it arise and not decrease
But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit
By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.
Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.
May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.
With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note
I do not own or infringe any copyright of the picture(s).
Picture(s) courtesy and credit to the rightful distributors and or studios.
Picture(s) is/are intended for editorial use only.

Join Me The 1,000,000 Long Life Prayer For His Holiness The 17th Karmapa Part 3

Good news never comes late. For your general information, as of to date, I have received a few responses from the readers here to participate in this meaningful project!!  

The are few responses readers are coming from - Australia, Malaysia and last but not least, Scotland UK.

I am hoping that you will be my next person who will respond to this project and am is waiting to see this "astonishing" news come next.

I am writing this and invite to any of my readers to participate in this long life prayer project , Please join us in hands in hands to achieve this remarkable one million prayer project for His Holiness's well-being.

Long Life Prayers For His Holiness The 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje

MI  CHÉ  TAK  PA  RANG  JUNG  CHÖ  KYI  KU 
Naturally arising Dharmakaya, unchanging and ever-present, 

GYU  TRUL  ZUK  KYI  KUR  ZHENG  KAR  MA  PAY 

Karmapa, you appear as the form kayas' magical illusions. 

SANG  SUM  DORJÉ  KAM  SU  RAB  TEN  CHING 

May your three secret vajras remain stable in the realms 

TA  YÉ  TRIN  LÉ  LHUN  DRUB  PAL  BAR  SHOK 

And your infinite spontaneous activity blaze in glory.

Your Full Name	Birthdate	No. of  Prayer Completed	Country	Email Contact
Thubten Choeyang		* 3,240 (March 14)	Malaysia

* Update note:- I had just completed the 3,240 Long Life Prayer counted on March 14, 2015. 23.35pm.

3,240-1,000,000=996,760 the remaining no of counts to be achieved on May 31, 2015. 

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Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.

Gelup Lineage

The head of the Gelup Lineage - His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is both the head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet. He was born on 6 July 1935, to a farming family, in a small hamlet located in Taktser, Amdo, northeastern Tibet.  At the age of two the child, who was named Lhamo Dhondup at that time was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and patron saint of Tibet. 

Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity.

List of the previous His Holiness the Dalai Lama

No.	Name	Birth Place
1.	Gedun Drupa (1391-1474)	Shabtod (U-tsang)
2.	Gedun Gyatso (1475-1542)	Tanag Segme (U-tsang)
3.	Sonam Gyatso (1543-1588)	Tolung (U-tsang)
4.	Yonten Gyatso (1589-1617)	Mongolia
5.	Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (1617-1682)	Chingwar Taktse (U-tsang)
6.	Tsangyang Gyatso (1682-1706)	Mon Tawang
7.	Kelsang Gyatso (1708-1757)	Lithang (Kham)
8.	Jamphel Gyatso (1758-1804)	Thobgyal (U-tsang)
9.	Lungtok Gyatso (1805-1815)	Dan Chokhor (Kham)
10.	Tsultrim Gyatso (1816-1837)	Lithang (Kham
11.	Khedrup Gyatso (1838-1856)	Gathar (Kham)
12.	Trinley Gyatso (1856-1875)	Lhoka (U-tsang)
13.	Thup Gyatso (1876-1933)	Thakpo Langdun (U-tsang)
14.	Tenzin Gyatso (1935- ) Dedication of merits May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.	Taktser, Kumbum (Amdo)

Sakya Lineage

The Head of the Sakya Lineage - His Holiness the Sakya Trizin Rinpoche

His Holiness was born on the 7th of September 1945, the 1st day of the 8th Lunar month in the year of the Wood Bird at the Sakya palace in Tsedong. 

Immediately after his birth, in accordance with age old traditions to increase his wisdom, the syllable DHIH was traced on his tongue and profound rituals were performed. 

Many signs traditionally associated with auspiciousness were observed on this day: the milk collected from a 100 different dri (female yaks) and a statue of the Guru Padmasambhava were miraculously offered to the Palace.
Initially given the Sanskrit name Ayu Vajra, His Holiness was only later given his actual name of Ngawang Kunga Thegchen Palbar Trinley Samphel Wangyi Gyalpo, when his father Vajradhara Ngawang Kunga Rinchen gave him his first major initiation, that of the Nine Deities of Amitayus, when His Holiness was only four years old, he received the major initiation of the peaceful and wrathful aspects of Vajrakilaya and many other profound teachings from his father.

Dedication of merits

May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.

The Prophecies And The Karma Kagyu Lineage

His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapal Rangjung Rigpe Dorje(1924-1981)

His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje 

Origin of the Karma Kagyu Lineage

The Karmapa (officially His Holiness of the Gyalwa Karmapa) is the head of the Karma Kagyu, the largest sub-school of the kagyupa itself. The historical seat of the Karmapas is Tsurphu Monastery in the Tolung valley of Tibet. His Holiness' principal seat in exile is the Dharma Chakra Centre at Rumtek Monastery Sikkim India. 
His regional monastic seats are Karma Triyana Dharmachakra in New York , Dhagp Karyu ling in France and Tashi Choling in Bhutan. Due to a controversy within the Karma Kagyu school over the recognition process, the identity of the current 17th Karmapa is disputed.

The Prophecies 

The Lord Buddha Shakyamuni has foretold the coming of the Karmapa in various sutras and tantras. Only a few of the Buddhist masters are prophesied in the sutras and tantras and the Karmapa was certainly one of them.

From the Samadhiraja Sutra (The King of Samadhi Sutra):

Two thousand years after my passing,
The teachings will spread in the land of the red-faced ones,
Who will be the disciples of Avalokitesvara
The bodhisattva Simhanada, known as Karmapa will appear.
Possessing mastery over samadhi, he will tame beings
And establish them in bliss through seeing, hearing, recalling and touching.

From the Lankavatara Sutra (Descent Into Lanka Sutra):

Wearing monastic robes and a black crown,
He will perform unceasing benefit for beings
Until the teachings of one thousand Buddhas disappear.

From the Mulamañjushri Tantra (Root Tantra of Mañjushri):

Endowed with a name beginning with "Ka" and ending with "Ma",
There will appear an individual who illuminates the teachings.

The Karmapa's arrival was also prophesied by the great Indian mahasiddha, Padmasambhava in various termas.

The source of the oral lineage is traditionally traced back to the Buddha Vajradhara, was transmitted to the Indian master of Mahamudra and tantra Tilopa (989-1069), through Naropa (1016-1100) to Marpa. These forefathers of the and Milarepa Kagyu lineage are collectively called the "golden rosary". The 2nd Karmapa, Karma Pakshi (1204-1283), is often said to be the first person ever recognized and empowered as a tulku, a reincarnated Lama.

List of the previous H.H. Karmapas

1) Dusum Khyenpa (1110-1193)

2) Karma Pakshi (1204-1283)

3) Ranjung Dorje (1284-1339)

4) Rolpe Dorje (1340-1383)

5) Deshin Shekpa (1384-1415)

6) Thongwa Donden (1416-1453)

7) Chodrak Gyatso (1454-1506)

8) Mikyo Dorje (1507-1554)

9) Wangchukl Dorje (1556-1603)

10) Choying Dorje (1604-1674)

11) Yeshe Dorje (1676-1702)

12) Changchub Dorje (1703-1732)

13) Dudul Dorje (1733-1797)

14) Thekchok Dorje (1798-1868)

15) Khakyab Dorje (1871-1922)

16) Ranjung Rigpa Dorje (1924-1981)

17) Ogyen Trinley Dorje(1985)

Dedication of merits

May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.

Nyingma Lineage

1930-2008 (Parinirvara)  

His Holiness was the head of the Nyingma Lineage - 11th Mindroling Trichen Rinpoche has Prinirvana on 09/02/2008 in Dehra Dun India at the age of 78.

The Biography of His Holiness 11th Mindroling Trichen Rinpoche
Born in 1930 at Lhasa Tibet 
Father H.H Mindrolling Dondrup Wangya.
Extensive teachings and empowerments from many exceptional Tibetan masters. 

Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodro, Sechen Kongtrul the great, Minling Chung Rinpoche, Minling Khen Rinpoche, Sechen Rabjam Rinpoche, Dordzin Namdrol Gyatso, Dordzin Dechen Choedzin and Gelong Kunzangla are some of the renowned masters with whom he studied.

The Parinirvana of His Holiness

7:00pm evening of the 3rd day of the 1st month of Miracles in the year of the Earth Mouse 
(9 February 2008), without even the slightest discomfort, with a face even more radiant than before, and with a smiling countenance, Kyabje Rinpoche gazed lovingly at all those surrounding him. With the aspect of resting, Kyabje Mindrolling Trichen Jurme Kunzang Wangyal displayed the final activity of transferring his enlightened intention to another realm, in order to turn the minds of those to be tamed towards the dharma.

Dedication of merits

May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.