Treasury of Compassion: a Collection of Quotes by Great Masters on the Practice of Chenrezi and His Six-Syllable Mantra
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OM MANI PADME HUM the Jewel Is in the Lotus Or Praise to the Jewel In
On the meaning of: OM MANI PADME HUM The jewel is in the lotus or praise to the jewel in the lotus by His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso The Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet It is very good to recite the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM, but while you are doing it, you should be thinking on its meaning, for the meaning of the six syllables is great and vast. The first, OM, is composed of three pure letters, A, U, and M. These symbolize the practitioner's impure body, speech, and mind; they also symbolize the pure exalted body, speech and mind of a Buddha. Can impure body, speech and mind be transformed into pure body, speech and mind, or are they entirely separate? All Buddhas are cases of being who were like ourselves and then in dependence on the path became enlightened; Buddhism does not assert that there is anyone who from the beginning is free from faults and possesses all good qualities. The development of pure body, speech, and mind comes from gradually leaving the impure states and their being transformed into the pure. How is this done? The path is indicated by the next four syllables. MANI, meaning jewel, symbolizes the factor of method- the altruistic intention to become enlightened, compassion, and love. Just as a jewel is capable of removing poverty, so the altruistic mind of enlightenment is capable of removing the poverty, or difficulties, of cyclic existence and of solitary peace. Similarly, just as a jewel fulfills the wishes of sentient beings, so the altruistic intention to become enlightened fulfills the wishes of sentient beings. -
The Meaning of the Short Chenrezig Mantra, Om Mani Padme Hum
Kopan Monastery Prayers and Practices Downloaded from www.kopanmonastery.com The Meaning Of The Short Chenrezig Mantra, Om Mani Padme Hum MANI is method, PADME is wisdom; so MANI PADME is method-wisdom. Buddha revealed the lesser vehicle teachings, the Mahayana paramitayana teachings and the mahayana vajrayana teachings. There is method-wisdom in the lesser vehicle teachings, method-wisdom in the mahayana paramitayana teachings and method-wisdom in the mahayana Vajrayana teachings. So MANI PADME contains everything: the hinayana lesser vehicle teachings of method-wisdom, the mahayana paramitayana method-wisdom and the mahayana vajrayana method-wisdom. By practising method-wisdom together, as signified by MANI PADME, one purifies the stains of body, speech and mind. This is signified by the OM - A U MA - these three sounds integrate to make OM, which signifies the vajra holy body, holy speech and holy mind of Buddha. By practising the method-wisdom signified by MANI PADME together, one purifies one's own ordinary body, speech and mind and they become inseparable from Buddha's vajra holy body, holy speech and holy mind. So the OM - AH U MA - signifies the three vajras. Then, MANI PADME also signifies the mahaanuttarayoga tantra path. What I explained before is general. Now, more specifically, by depending on the path of the generation stage, which is the method of the profound secret mantra that ripens the mind, and on the completion stage, which liberates the mind, you can cease the circle of suffering, the base-time ordinary birth, death and intermediate state; actualize the path-time dharmakaya, sambhogakaya, nirmanakaya; and achieve the result-time dharmakaya, sambhogakaya, nirmanakaya. -
Chenrezig Practice
1 Chenrezig Practice Collected Notes Bodhi Path Natural Bridge, VA February 2013 These notes are meant for private use only. They cannot be reproduced, distributed or posted on electronic support without prior explicit authorization. Version 1.00 ©Tsony 2013/02 2 About Chenrezig © Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche in Heart Treasure of the Enlightened One. ISBN-10: 0877734933 ISBN-13: 978-0877734932 In the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon of enlightened beings, Chenrezig is renowned as the embodiment of the compassion of all the Buddhas, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Avalokiteshvara is the earthly manifestation of the self born, eternal Buddha, Amitabha. He guards this world in the interval between the historical Sakyamuni Buddha, and the next Buddha of the Future Maitreya. Chenrezig made a a vow that he would not rest until he had liberated all the beings in all the realms of suffering. After working diligently at this task for a very long time, he looked out and realized the immense number of miserable beings yet to be saved. Seeing this, he became despondent and his head split into thousands of pieces. Amitabha Buddha put the pieces back together as a body with very many arms and many heads, so that Chenrezig could work with myriad beings all at the same time. Sometimes Chenrezig is visualized with eleven heads, and a thousand arms fanned out around him. Chenrezig may be the most popular of all Buddhist deities, except for Buddha himself -- he is beloved throughout the Buddhist world. He is known by different names in different lands: as Avalokiteshvara in the ancient Sanskrit language of India, as Kuan-yin in China, as Kannon in Japan. -
Opening Speech Liao Yiwu
About the 17th Karmapa Liao Yiwu On the morning of 4 June, 1989, a contingent of over two hundred thousand soldiers surrounded the Chinese capital of Beijing, where they opened fire on unarmed protesters in a massacre at Tiananmen Square that shook the entire world. On 5 March of that same year, there had been another large massacre in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, news of this earlier event had been effectively suppressed. Because of the absence of the Western news media, the PLA’s cold- blooded killing of Tibetan protesters was never recorded on camera. The holy city of Lhasa was about ten times smaller than Beijing at that time, and Bajiao Square where the massacre took place was about ten times smaller than Tiananmen Square, and yet over ten thousand peaceful protesters assembled in that narrow square, where they clashed with some fifteen thousand heavily-armed soldiers. As a result of this encounter, more than three hundred civilians lost their lives, another three thousand were imprisoned, and the “worst offenders” were subsequently sentenced to death. The Jokhang Temple located next to the Potala Palace was attacked and occupied by army troops because it was flying the Snow Lion Flag of Tibetan independence, and it was burned to the ground along with its precious copy of the Pagoda Scriptures, a text which symbolizes the dignity of Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism. Tens of thousands of Tibetan Buddhists stood in the street bewailing the loss of their sacred text, and the lamas continually tried to rush into the burning temple to rescue the scriptures, but were shot down amidst the flames. -
Buddhist Archeology in Mongolia: Zanabazar and the Géluk Diaspora Beyond Tibet
Buddhist Archeology in Mongolia: Zanabazar and the Géluk Diaspora beyond Tibet Uranchimeg Tsultemin, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Uranchimeg, Tsultemin. 2019. “Buddhist Archeology in Mongolia: Zanabazar and the Géluk Dias- pora beyond Tibet.” Cross-Currents: East Asian History and Culture Review (e-journal) 31: 7–32. https://cross-currents.berkeley.edu/e-journal/issue-31/uranchimeg. Abstract This article discusses a Khalkha reincarnate ruler, the First Jebtsundampa Zanabazar, who is commonly believed to be a Géluk protagonist whose alliance with the Dalai and Panchen Lamas was crucial to the dissemination of Buddhism in Khalkha Mongolia. Za- nabazar’s Géluk affiliation, however, is a later Qing-Géluk construct to divert the initial Khalkha vision of him as a reincarnation of the Jonang historian Tāranātha (1575–1634). Whereas several scholars have discussed the political significance of Zanabazar’s rein- carnation based only on textual sources, this article takes an interdisciplinary approach to discuss, in addition to textual sources, visual records that include Zanabazar’s por- traits and current findings from an ongoing excavation of Zanabazar’s Saridag Monas- tery. Clay sculptures and Zanabazar’s own writings, heretofore little studied, suggest that Zanabazar’s open approach to sectarian affiliations and his vision, akin to Tsongkhapa’s, were inclusive of several traditions rather than being limited to a single one. Keywords: Zanabazar, Géluk school, Fifth Dalai Lama, Jebtsundampa, Khalkha, Mongo- lia, Dzungar Galdan Boshogtu, Saridag Monastery, archeology, excavation The First Jebtsundampa Zanabazar (1635–1723) was the most important protagonist in the later dissemination of Buddhism in Mongolia. Unlike the Mongol imperial period, when the sectarian alliance with the Sakya (Tib. -
Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, Revised Edition
REVISED EDITION John Powers ITTB_Interior 9/20/07 2:23 PM Page 1 Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism ITTB_Interior 9/20/07 2:23 PM Page 2 ITTB_Interior 9/20/07 2:23 PM Page 3 Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism revised edition by John Powers Snow Lion Publications ithaca, new york • boulder, colorado ITTB_Interior 9/20/07 2:23 PM Page 4 Snow Lion Publications P.O. Box 6483 • Ithaca, NY 14851 USA (607) 273-8519 • www.snowlionpub.com © 1995, 2007 by John Powers All rights reserved. First edition 1995 Second edition 2007 No portion of this book may be reproduced by any means without prior written permission from the publisher. Printed in Canada on acid-free recycled paper. Designed and typeset by Gopa & Ted2, Inc. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Powers, John, 1957- Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism / by John Powers. — Rev. ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and indexes. ISBN-13: 978-1-55939-282-2 (alk. paper) ISBN-10: 1-55939-282-7 (alk. paper) 1. Buddhism—China—Tibet. 2. Tibet (China)—Religion. I. Title. BQ7604.P69 2007 294.3’923—dc22 2007019309 ITTB_Interior 9/20/07 2:23 PM Page 5 Table of Contents Preface 11 Technical Note 17 Introduction 21 Part One: The Indian Background 1. Buddhism in India 31 The Buddha 31 The Buddha’s Life and Lives 34 Epilogue 56 2. Some Important Buddhist Doctrines 63 Cyclic Existence 63 Appearance and Reality 71 3. Meditation 81 The Role of Meditation in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism 81 Stabilizing and Analytical Meditation 85 The Five Buddhist Paths 91 4. -
The Tulku System in Tibetan Buddhism: Its Reliability, Orthodoxy and Social Impacts
The Tulku System in Tibetan Buddhism: Its Reliability, Orthodoxy and Social Impacts By Ramin Etesami A thesis submitted to the graduate school in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts at the International Buddhist College, Thailand March, 20 Abstract The Tulku institution is a unique characteristic of Tibetan Buddhism with a central role in this tradition, to the extent that it is present in almost every aspect of Tibet’s culture and tradition. However, despite this central role and the scope and diversity of the socio-religious aspects of the institution, only a few studies have so far been conducted to shed light on it. On the other hand, an aura of sacredness; distorted pictures projected by the media and film industries;political propaganda and misinformation; and tendencies to follow a pattern of cult behavior; have made the Tulku institution a highly controversial topic for research; and consequently, an objective study of the institution based on a critical approach is difficult. The current research is an attempt to comprehensively examine different dimensions of the Tulku tradition with an emphasis on the issue of its orthodoxy with respect to the core doctrines of Buddhism and the social implications of the practice. In this research, extreme caution has been practiced to firstly, avoid any kind of bias rooted in faith and belief; and secondly, to follow a scientific methodology in reviewing evidence and scriptures related to the research topic. Through a comprehensive study of historical accounts, core Buddhist texts and hagiographic literature, this study has found that while the basic Buddhist doctrines allow the possibility for a Buddhist teacher or an advanced practitioner to “return back to accomplish his tasks, the lack of any historical precedence which can be viewed as a typical example of the practice in early Buddhism makes the issue of its orthodoxy equivocal and relative. -
Avalokiteshvara Visualization Meditation the Meditation for All Beings Throughout Space As Transmitted in Tibet by Tangtong Gyalbo
Avalokiteshvara Visualization Meditation The Meditation For All Beings Throughout Space as transmitted in Tibet by Tangtong Gyalbo 1. START: Repeat the Refuges and Bodhisattva Vow: “I take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and the Sangha until I am enlightened. May all actions I undertake – giving, moral conduct, forbearance, energy, meditation, insight – cause me to accomplish Buddhahood, in order to help all beings." 2. Undertake this Visualization (in the Mind's Eye) “I, place on top of my head a white lotus and moon, on top of that the mantra `hrih'… From which appears Avalokiteshvara. White, luminous, emanating five color light rays. Smiling, he watches with loving kindness. Of his four hands: the first two are palms together, and the lower two hold a crystal rosary and a white lotus. He is adorned with silk, ornaments, wears a deer skin across his chest, and has a crown with Amitâbha on it. He sits in lotus position, leans against a pure moon. He has become the essence of all refuges." 3. [While holding visualized bodhisattva in mind:] Activation of the Bodhisattva's Compassion Repeat 3, 7 or 108 times: "I revere noble Avalokiteshvara, who is perfect, white, whose head is adorned by the Perfected Buddha, And who watches beings with boundless compassion." 4. The Bodhisattva's Compassionate Insight PERSONALLY Incorporated [Visualize primary color light rays emanating from Arya's body entering one’s body, dissolving all impure karma and mistaken ideas, while repeating this mantra for 3, 7, or 108 rosary cycles:] “OM MANI PADME HUM” ↓ AT THE END, REALIZE: Sights, sounds, and thoughts are empty, becoming undifferentiated. -
Entering Into the Conduct of the Bodhisattva)
Dharma Path BCA Ch1.doc Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpocheʹs Oral Explanations of Khenpo Kunpal’s Commentary on Shantidevaʹs Bodhisattvacaryavatara (Entering into the Conduct of the Bodhisattva) Notes: ʺText sectionʺ‐s refer to Khenpo Kunpalʹs commentary on the BCA. ʺBCAʺ refers to the Bodhisattvacaryavatara, by Shantideva. The text sections relating directly to the individual stanzas of the BCA, which are the subject matter of Dharma Path classes, begin on ʺText section 158ʺ below. Dzogchen Khenpo Chogaʹs Oral Explanations, starting with ʺText section 37ʺ below are explanations both of the original BCA text, and also of Khenpo Kunpalʹs own commentary on this text. For more background on these teachings, see also Dzogchen Khenpo Chogaʹs ʺIntroduction to the Dharma Pathʺ available online at the Dzogchen Lineage website at: http://www.dzogchenlineage.org/bca.html#intro These materials are copyright Andreas Kretschmar, and are subject to the terms of the copyright provisions described on his website: http://www.kunpal.com/ ============================================================================== Text section 37: This word‐by‐word commentary on the Bodhisattva‐caryavatara was written by Khenpo Kunzang Palden, also known as Khenpo Kunpal, according to the teachings he received over a six‐month period from his root guru, Dza Paltrul Rinpoche, who is here referred to as the Manjugosha‐like teacher. These precious teachings are titled Drops of Nectar. The phrase personal statement connotes that Khenpo Kunpal received in person the oral instructions, which are themselves definitive statements, directly from Paltrul Rinpoche. 1 Dharma Path BCA Ch1.doc Text sections 38‐44: In his preface Khenpo Kunpal includes his declaration of respect, his pledge to compose the commentary, and a foreword. -
AVALOKITESVARA Loka Nat Worship in Myanmar
AVALOKITESVARA Loka Nat Worship in Myanmar A Gift of Dhamma AVALOKITESVARA Loka Nat Tha Worship In Myanmar “(Most venerated and most popular Buddhist deity)” Om Mani Padme Hum.... Page 2 of 12 A Gift of Dhamma Maung Paw, California Bodhisatta Loka Nat (Buddha Image on her Headdress is Amithaba Buddha) Loka Nat, Loka Byu Ha Nat Tha in Myanmar; Kannon, Kanzeon in Japan; Chinese, Kuan Yin, Guanshiyin in Chinese; Tibetan, Spyan-ras- gzigs in Tabatan; Quan-am in Vietnamese Page 3 of 12 A Gift of Dhamma Maung Paw, California Introduction: Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisatta is the most revered Deity in Myanmar. Loka Nat is the only Mahayana Deity left in this Theravada country that Myanmar displays his image openly, not knowing that he is the Mahayana Deity appearing everywhere in the world in a variety of names: Avalokitesvara, Lokesvara, Kuan Yin, Kuan Shih Yin and Kannon. The younger generations got lost in the translation not knowing the name Loka Nat means one and the same for this Bodhisatta known in various part of the world as Avalokitesvara, Lokesvara, Kuan Yin or Kannon. He is believed to guard over the world in the period between the Gotama Sasana and Mettreyya Buddha sasana. Based on Kyaikhtiyoe Cetiya’s inscription, some believed that Loka Nat would bring peace and prosperity to the Goldenland of Myanmar. Its historical origin has been lost due to artistic creativity Myanmar artist. The Myanmar historical record shows that the King Anawratha was known to embrace the worship of Avalokitesvara, Loka Nat. Even after the introduction of Theravada in Bagan, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, Lokanattha, Loka Byuhar Nat, Kuan Yin, and Chenresig, had been and still is the most revered Mahayana deity, today. -
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang at Drikung Kyobpa Choling Monastery (A Tibetan Meditation Center) 1600 Sheridan Place Escondido CA 92027
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang At Drikung Kyobpa Choling Monastery (A Tibetan Meditation Center) 1600 Sheridan Place Escondido CA 92027 Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday -- August 6 th , 7 th , 8 th , 9 th 2015 By Reservation Only www.drikungkc.org email: [email protected] or call 909-625-5955 Thursday August 6 th 9:30am – 12:00pm Wrathful Guru Rinpoche Empowerment 2pm – 5pm Oral transmissions of the Invocation to Buddha Shakyamuni, Prayer Blessings of the lineage, Offering to the Lama,Tshok Offering, Tshok Song,Confession Downfalls, Vajrasattva, Chenrezig, Manjushri, Green Tara, White Tara, 7 Protections of Tara, Medicine Buddha, VajraPani, detailed Seven Limb prayer, Long Life and Dedication prayers Friday August 7 th 9:30am – 12:00pm VajraVidaran (Dorje Namjom) Empowerment 2pm – 5pm Oral transmissions of Chakrasamvara, VajraYogini, 21 Taras, Heart Sutra Saturday August 8 th 9:30am – 12:00pm Achi Chokyi Drolma Empowerment 2pm – 5pm Oral transmissions of Achi Sungs offering, White Dzambala, Dharma Protectors and Serkym Offering, MahaKala, Achi, Tseringma, Golden Palace prayer and so forth Sunday August 9 th 9:30am – 12:00pm Special traditional Long Life ceremony for His Holiness 2pm – 5pm Amitabha empowerment Program Descriptions Drupon Samten Rinpoche and Drikung Kybopa Choling have organized this program so that we all may receive these rare and precious empowerments, teachings and blessings directly from Gyalwa Drikungpa, His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang, the 37th lineage holder in the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Receiving any of these, from the throne holder of Jigten Sumgon, the manifestation of Narajuna, is a rare and precious opportunity. -
BHZC Archetypes Working
Themes What are archetypes? Introduce some Bodhisattvas in the Mahayana Embodiment of paramita practice Where are they right now? Zen practice and vows Bodhisattva Archetypes Blue Heron Zen Community Kyol Che 2021 talk Gerald Seminatore Archetypes definition Greek archien (to rule) and typos (type) The quintessence or ideal example of a type Object, behavior, idea Synonym: an original model of something (a prototype) Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) The Hero of a Thousand Faces, The Power of Myth, other works. “Shakespeare said that art is a mirror held up to nature. And that's what it is. The nature is your nature, and all of these wonderful poetic images of mythology are referring to something in you." “The idea of the Bodhisattva is the one who out of his realization of transcendence participates in the world. The imitation of Christ is joyful participation in the sorrows of the world.” Bodhisattvas From Sanskrit, literally "one whose essence is perfect knowledge," Bodhi (perfect knowledge) + sattva (reality, being) In the sutras (e.,g, Lotus, Vimalikirti, Avatamsaka) they appear as characters embodying archetypal aspects of Buddhist teaching and psychology (Sages, teachers, heros, companions, guardians, rulers, and other archetypal roles) Often possess some supernatural or divine attributes They cross cultural boundaries, change names, change genders, change forms These archetypes embody common functions/roles in Buddhist practice, and demonstrate myriad possibilities for devotion, imitation, healing, and enlightenment / prajna wisdom. The Bodhisattva’s mission Practice the paramitas in one’s own life to advance on the path Service to others Protect and transmit the Dharma Early Buddhism Beings are on an endless wheel of samsara (rebirths in the suffering world) Once attaining full Enlightenment, the bodhisattva becomes an arhat/arahant.