Meeting with His Holiness of the 17th Karmapa in India

My Pilgrimage to India.

I am so honorable and very glad indeed for having a private audience with His Holiness of  the 17th Ogyen Trinley Dorje Karmapa at his Maha Bodhi Stupa Temple in December 2008.

The Principle of The Dakinis

The Principle of The Dakinis  [For General Introductions Only]

Dakinis are depicting in a female form and the Sanskrit word is Dakini. In Tibetan its literally means “Khandro”. Khan meaning sky and Dro meaning traveling. Taking it together, Khandro means one that can move or travel through the sky or space. It's very important we think about this literal meaning in trying to understand Dakinis.

The unenlightened Dakinis are termed as worldly dakinis because they are still caught in the cyclic world of Samsara. Worldly dakinis are found in human form as well as in astral (lunar) form and could have a form of a beautiful fairy-like being or a demonic flesh-eating being.

A female practitioner who has attained some capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of things but not yet fully liberated from Samsara is as well considered to be a worldly dakini. 

The worldly dakini, are the five evil Tseringma sisters, the lotus born Guru Rinpochi Padmasambhava has tamed the five evil Tseringma sisters into protectors. Example of a worldly dakini is a celestial messenger falling into the category of a protector Bodhisattva performing beneficial actions. Another example might be a great human practitioner that has accomplished with some insight skilled, but who is not yet released from suffering. 

The following are the enlightened Wisdom Dakinis :-

1] Green Tara

2] White Tara

3] Kurukulle

4] Vajrayogini

5] Singhamukha

6] Machig Labdron

Both the worldly dakinis and enlightened wisdom dakinis can have supernatural powers. You may recall the story of Tilopa where he encountered a number of various dakinis. The worldly dakinis who had control over sight and sound bombarded him with mirages after which he met the dakinis embodying the five activities and finally he met with the enlightened wisdom dakini in the heart of the mandala. 

The Dakinis are born in three manners:

1. Spontaneously enlightened ones arise from Sabogakaya's unfoldment from Dharmakaya.
2. Those born in heavenly realms. Those who are born from within the heavenly realms and those who reach the heavenly realms though their own attainment.
3. Finally, those born by realization of mantra. These are humans who have reached various levels of inner realization.

There are many different and levels of enlightened dakinis. Dakinis in general can be a guiding light along the path removing physical and spiritual hindrances and they can play a great part in an individual's attainment of enlightenment. 

They are the forces that awaken dormant (hidden) qualities of spiritual impulses or desire hidden in the subconscious. It is the dakini's inspirational or motivation influence that can open one and remove obstacles, but it is the Wisdom Dakinis that we should be interested in learning about and who we can rely on to truly release us from Samsara. 

We take refuge in the Guru or Lama as the root of blessings because it is he or she that imparts or convey the knowledge, methods and wisdom that will enable us to obtain liberation. 

We take refuge in the yidam as the root of accomplishment because it will be through our practice of the yidam that we will be able to realize the nature of our mind. We take refuge in the dakas and dakinis as the principle of wisdom as the root of all Buddha activity.

* Footnote

Please consult your Guru or a qualified lineage master for Vajrayana practice! Should a devotee even want to start studying and contemplating the Vajrayana practice, then it is truly necessary to first have completed the preliminaries and to be certain and sure that bodhicitta has arisen and developed in one’s mind.

Vajrayana features countless skillful and powerful methods which, if they are practiced in the proper way, can make the process of accumulation and purification incredibly swift and direct. It is absolutely necessary to have the pure motivation and to know that Vajrayana practice is not carried out to increase one’s own power and profit.
 

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

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

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

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.

*Note*

I do not own or infringe any copyright of these pictures.

Pictures courtesy and credit to the rightful owners.

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.

The Ideology of Tibetan Buddhism

When in Buddha hood, one is freed from all mental obscuration, one is said to attain a state of continuous bliss mixed with a simultaneous cognition of emptiness, the true nature of reality. In this state, all limitations on one's ability to help other living beings are removed.

Tibetan definitions of Buddhist

The Tibetan term for Buddhist which is literally and internalist and more precisely, Tibetans specify two alternative criteria for being Buddhist:-

a)    Formal and having taken refuge

b)    In belief and acceptance of the there marks of existence.

According to tradition, after meditation and the Buddha concluded that everything in the physical world and everything in the phenomenology of psychology is marked by these three characteristics and all phenomena other than Nirvana are marked by three characteristics, sometimes referred to as the Dharma seals, that is impermanence dukkha (uneasiness), and anatta (not-self).

Anica (Sanskrit –anitya) 
All things eventually cease to existence or impermanent

Dukkha (Sanskrit – Duhkha)

Nothing in this physical world or psychologically realm can bring lasting satisfaction.

Anatta (sankrit – anatman) 

All composite, con substantial, phenomenal temporal things from microcosmic , physical body which are impermanent. 

Nirvana

Is peace and termed as other shore from samsara.

Transmission and Realisation (lungtok, lung-rtogs)

Authenticity of the oral lineage is a prerequisite for realization, hence the importance of lineages oral transmission is more important than the printed word derives from the earliest Buddhism, The person from whom one hears the teaching should have heard it the lineages transmission from Gurus or lamas.

By reading a teaching is helpful but no substitute for obtaining a transmission of it, and who holds the lineage of transmission making oneself more ready for realization of such teaching.

Preliminary Practices of Vajrayana

Vajrayana is said to be the fastest method for attaining Buddha hood but it carries the caution that for unqualified practitioners it can be dangerous. Even for a qualified advanced practitioner, to engage in Vajrayana without having received the appropriate initiation or known as empowerment from a qualified lama or Guru.

Without the basis of these three in particular to practice Vajrayana and the guidance from a qualified Guru it can be dangerous just like a kid attempting to ride a vehicle. Without training in the preliminary practices, the ubiquity of allusions to them in Vajrayana is meaningless and even successful Vajrayana initiation becomes impossible.  

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.