DOCSLIB.ORG

Commitments and Vows for People Who Have Taken A

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Commitments and Vows for People Who Have Taken A COMMITMENTS AND VOWS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN A HIGHEST YOGA TANTRA INITIATION This document was prepared by Robina Courtin at Tubten Kunga Tibetan Buddhist Center, Deerfield Beach, Florida, February 10, 2014, and Ganden Shedrup Ling, San Juan, Puerto Rico, March 6, 2014, based on previous editions prepared by her at Kurukulla Center, Boston, USA, January 2012; Kunsang Yeshe Retreat Centre, Blue Mountains, Australia, May 12, 2012; Kurukulla Center, December 14, 2012 and January 4, 2014. Part Five was revised in Bath, UK, on March 15, 2015. Formatting revised in Hobart, July 12, 2015; and in Sydney, June 16, 2016. This latest version was done on November 25, 2016 at the Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa. [email protected] Teachings and practices by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in chapters 1, 10, 19, 20, 22, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 from FPMT Inc. fpmt.org Teachings by Alexander Berzin in chapters 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 from Berzinarchives.com Teachings in chapter 35 courtesy Nicholas Ribush lamayeshe.com Cover Guru Vajrasattva in the likeness of Lama Yeshe, commissioned by Lama Zopa Rinpoche for the Vajrasattva Gompa at FPMT’s Tushita Retreat Centre, Dharamsala, India 2 COMMITMENTS & VOWS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN A HIGHEST YOGA TANTRA INITIATON VARIOUS TEACHINGS & PRACTICES BY LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE, LAMA THUBTEN YESHE, KIRTI TSENSHAB RINPOCHE, GESHE NGAWANG DHARGYEY, ALEXANDER BERZIN, AND OTHERS Compiled by Ven. Robina Courtin 3 CONTENTS THE LIST OF COMMITMENTS & VOWS 7 PART ONE REFUGE COMMITMENTS AND LAY VOWS 1. Refuge and the Five Lay Vows Lama Zopa Rinpoche 12 2. Actions to Adopt and Avoid Having Taken Refuge Alexander Berzin 19 3. The Ten Non-Virtues and Their Results 26 PART TWO BODHISATTVA VOWS Alexander Berzin 4. The Eighteen Root Bodhisattva Vows 38 5. The Forty-six Secondary Bodhisattva Vows 46 6. The Factors Involved in Transgressing the Vows 68 PART THREE BODHISATTVA VOWS Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche 7. The Eighteen Root Bodhisattva Vows 76 8. The Forty-six Secondary Bodhisattva Vows 93 9. The Factors Involved in Breaking the Vows 124 PART FOUR TANTRIC VOWS AND COMMITMENTS 10. The Nineteen Commitments of the Five Buddha Families Lama Zopa Rinpoche; Five Buddha Families Berzin 130 11. The Fourteen Common Root Tantric Vows Berzin 145 4 12. The Fourteen Kalachakra Root Tantric Vows Berzin 155 13. The Secondary Tantric Vows and Commitments Berzin 161 14. The Vows & Commitments Related to Mother Tantra Berzin 171 15. The Factors Involved in Transgressing Tantric Vows Berzin 175 PART FIVE PRAYERS AND PRACTICES 16. Start the Day with Water Bowl Offerings 180 17. Prayers for Purifying and Strengthening Bodhisattva Vows And Tantric Vows 183 18. Bless Your Speech 186 19. Recite Mantras for Creating Merit 190 20. Daily Motivation by Lama Zopa Rinpoche 193 21. Refuge, Seven Limbs, etc. 201 22. Dedication Prayers 205 23. Long-life Prayers 207 24. Bless Your Food and Offer it to the Three Jewels 209 25. Full-Length Six-Session Guru Yoga 211 26. Abbreviated Six-Session Guru Yoga 222 27. An Offering of Tsog To Guru Vajrasattva Lama Thubten Yeshe 225 28. An Extremely Abbreviated Tsog Offering Lama Zopa Rinpoche 236 29. Evening Purification Practice: Vajrasattva in the Context of the Four Opponent Powers 238 30. Samayavajra Purification Practice Lama Zopa Rinpoche 248 5 PART SIX OTHER RELATED TEACHINGS 31. The Benefits of Six-Session Guru Yoga Lama Zopa Rinpoche 252 32. How to Practice Six-Session Guru Yoga Lama Zopa Rinpoche 259 33. Understanding the Offering of Tsog Lama Zopa Rinpoche 315 34. The Importance of Guru Puja Lama Zopa Rinpoche 321 35. The Fifty Verses of Guru Devotion Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey 334 36. Picture of Dorje & Bell and Other Ornaments 385 6 COMMITMENTS AND VOWS REFUGE COMMITMENTS 1. To know and keep the three sets of actions to adopt and avoid: SEE CHAPTERS 1, 2; also 3. PRATIMOKSHA VOWS 2. To know and keep the pratimoksha, or individual liberation, vows, lay (or ordained, not here): SEE CHAPTER 1. BODHISATTVA VOWS 3. To know and keep the 18 Root Bodhisattva Vows and the 46 Secondary Bodhisattva Vows: SEE CHAPTERS 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. 4. To recite once in the morning and once at night “The Prayer for Purifying and Strengthening Bodhisattva Vows”: SEE CHAPTER 17. TANTRIC VOWS & COMMITMENTS 5. To know and keep the Nineteen Commitments of the Five Buddha Families. Seventeen of these are accomplished by reciting Six-Session Guru Yoga six times a day and the remaining two by possessing a dorje and a bell: SEE CHAPTER 10, 25, 26, 36; also 15. 6. To know and keep the Fourteen Common Root Tantric Vows: SEE CHAPTER 11; also 15. 7. If you have taken a Kalachakra initiation, to know and keep the Fourteen Kalachakra Root Tantric Vows: SEE CHAPTER 12; also 15. 7 8. To know and keep the Secondary Tantric Vows & Commitments: SEE CHAPTER 13; also 15; including not contravening the instructions in The Fifty Verses of Guru Devotion: SEE CHAPTER 35. 9. If you have taken a Mother Tantra initiation, to know and keep the Ten Vows & Commitments Related to Mother Tantra: SEE CHAPTERS 14; also 15. 10. To recite once in the morning and once at night The Nineteen Commitments Related to the Five Buddha Families: this is accomplished by reciting the prayer for taking the tantric vows, “The Prayer for Purifying and Strengthening Tantric Vows”: SEE CHAPTER 17. 11. To recite once in the morning and once at night – accomplished during the recitation of the full-length Six-Session Guru Yoga: SEE CHAPTER 25 – a) The Root Bodhisattva Vows. b) The Root Tantric Vows. c) The Secondary Tantric Vows & Commitments. d) If you have taken a mother tantra initiation, the Vows & Commitments Related to Mother Tantra. 12. To recite three times in the morning and three time at night Six- Session Guru Yoga, unless instructed otherwise by the initiating lama: SEE CHAPTERS 25, 26; also 31, 32. 13. If you have taken a Mother Tantra initiation, to recite once a day “The Eight-Limb Praise.” This is accomplished during the recitation of the full-length Six-Session Guru Yoga: SEE CHAPTER 25. 8 14. If you have taken a Mother Tantra initiation, to offer tsog twice a month, in a gathering of men and women, on the 10th and 25th of the Tibetan month, unless instructed otherwise by the initiating lama: SEE CHAPTERS 27, 28; also 33 15. To purify broken vows and commitments and determine to keep them by doing the Vajrasattva practice in the context of the Four Opponent Powers. As Lama Zopa Rinpoche says, “We are insane not to do it every day.” SEE CHAPTER 29. It is also recommended by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to do the practice of Samayavajra: SEE CHAPTER 30. 16. To carry with you at all times a dorje and a bell, two of the Nineteen Commitments of the Five Buddha Families, and various other tantric ornaments. This is accomplished by carrying a picture of them: SEE CHAPTER 36. 17. Recommended: to have in your possession a small container of “inner offering”: alcohol (if a layperson) or black tea (if ordained) mixed with an inner offering pill, which can be obtained from a lama or another practitioner. 18. To recite daily, if given as a commitment at the time of the initiation, the sadhana, mantra, and/or complete the required retreat. 9 10 PART ONE REFUGE COMMITMENTS AND THE LAY VOWS 11 1. REFUGE AND THE FIVE LAY VOWS LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE MOTIVATION FOR THE LIFE The purpose of my life is to free all sentient beings from every suffering and to lead them to happiness, especially the sublime peerless happiness of full enlightement. Since the enjoyments in my every-day life – all the past, present and future happiness, including enlightenment – are dependent on other sentient beings, the numberless sentient beings’ happiness also depends on me. Because if I generate loving kindness towards sentient beings, then all sentient beings receive no harm from me and they have peace, success. Therefore, I am responsible for all sentient beings’ happiness and peace. I am a servant here to serve every sentient being without discrimination between those who harm and those who help, whatever they do. For the success of this I must achieve full enlightenment. Therefore I am going to put all the actions of my body, speech and mind in virtue: may all these actions not cause the slightest harm and only be of the greatest benefit to all sentient beings so that they will achieve enlightenment as quickly as possible. GENERAL ADVICE In general, there are four points to the practice of Dharma. 1. One should rely upon holy beings, listen to the holy Dharma and after correctly comprehending, follow the Dharma and practice it. 2. One should not let one’s senses become excited [that is, control the senses when in danger of creating neg ative karma], and take as many vows as one is capable of keeping. 3. Have a compassionate attitude towards sentient beings. 12 4. Whenever you eat or drink, make effort to offer to the Rare Sublime Ones [The Triple Gem], and train well in the refuge precepts, including exerting oneself to make offerings to the Triple Gem. REFUGE ADVICE REFUGE AND BODHICITTA PRAYER This prayer should be recited three times in the morning and three times at night. To the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha I go for refuge until I am enlightened. By the merits I create by listening to the Dharma May I reach Buddhahood so as to benefit all sentient beings! WHAT IS TO BE AVOIDED 1.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Transcript: Wishfulfiller 'A Teaching on Dorje Shugden
    Transcript: Wishfulfiller ‘A Teaching on Dorje Shugden A Commentary Based on H.H. Trijang Dorje Chang’s ‘Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors.’ By H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche Transcript based on video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GRrTKbmkSg ...going to get tonight will change your whole life. Turn around your obstacles and really, it will change your whole life. It changed my life when I received it. We are a friendly group and we are a nice group. We are one of... I don't want to be biased here, but I am going to say something that sounds biased, but I think we are the nicest Dharma center in KL because I have taught in many of the Dharma centers and I have taught in many places and I know that we are the nicest. We have our own little politics, we have our little power games, we have our little 'likes' and 'don't likes' but that's everywhere. Example, there's a Dharma center... I just got news today, it was quite sad that... their teacher, what they are teaching is a little too advanced, and the students and some of the main people there are not very happy and they don't want to learn because it's too advanced, too fast for them. So, they want to come to our place and learn. And if we don't let them come to our place and learn, then they are going to go to another place and learn. But the bottom line is they are not going to be learning in their own place.
    [Show full text]
  • Transforming Desire Into Wisdom with Vairayogini
    RETREAT Transforming Desire into Wisdom with Vairayogini The story of a very special Retreat at Vajrapani Institute By Ven. Jangchup Phelgey t was seven o'clock on a cool Friday evening but the air in cushions reciting the mantra to the deity, slowly increasing I the upstairs gompa was heated, almost stultifying. More their count to that hallowed figure of 100,000, and each than thirty people were on hand for this first night of the evening dedicating the merit. Like before a summer storm, Vajrayogini retreat. the atmosphere in the gompa grew thick and charged. "Going on a Highest Yoga Tantra retreat," Ven. Ann Vajrapani Institute had remade itself — the bookstore McNeil once remarked, "is like signing up for a shipwreck." was strung with coral-colored prayer beads, and book- For this retreat at Vajrapani Institute in Northern shelves were packed with texts on highest yoga tantric California there would be no shipwreck. A patch of rough practice and biographies of women practitioners. Herbal seas at first, but then smooth sailing. remedies to offset the effects of lung' were for sale, as well Family and job commitments dropped the number of as postcards, flame-colored scarves, silk bags, and other retreatants to twenty-four by the weekend's end — two dozen tokens of remembrance. New cooks had been recruited to tantric practitioners who, for three weeks, from December 1 serve tasty meals hardy enough to support the strenuous until December 23, 2006, were led by Ven. Lhundup mind-work particular to Vajrayogini: transforming desire Nyingje (Paula Chichester) in morning prayers and nightly into wisdom.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mirror 77 November-December 2005
    THE MIRROR Newspaper of the International Dzogchen Community November/December 2005 • Issue No. 77 Schedule Chögyal Namkhai Norbu 2006 2006 Jan. 27 - Feb. 5 Santi Maha Sangha Base Teaching and Practice Retreat Open Web Cast Margarita Gonpa during Tregchod Retreat & Web cast N ZEITZ Feb. 17 - 26 Longsal Saltong Lung teaching and Practice Retreat Restricted Web Cast Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche March 10 -19 From the fifth volume of Longsal Retreat of Dzogchen Semlung Namkhache: Teaching and Practice Namkhache. THE UPADESHA ON THE TREGCHÖD Open Web Cast OF PRIMORDIAL PURITY RETREAT April 14 – 23 ka dag khregs chod kyi man ngag Tibetan Moxabustion Teaching and Application retreat May 5 -14 November 4 – 8 2005, Ati Lam-ngon Nasjyong A Retreat of Longsal teaching Preliminaries of the Path of Ati about Tashigar Norte, Margarita Island, Venezuela the Purification of the Six Lokas, Teaching and Practice. Open Web Cast by Agathe Steinhilber FRANCE e were about one hun- to sacrifice one’ s life, that life is Three Jewels, traditionally under- May 18 -22 dred-eighty nine stu- short and time is precious. stood as: 1. Taking refuge in the Paris Retreat dents, gathered in the Rinpoche expressed his delight Buddha and the teacher, 2. Taking Wbeautiful, airy Gonpa at Tashigar about the web cast. Thanks to refuge in the Dharma, the teach- May 26-28 Norte, attending the Longsal new technology , many people ings, and 3. Taking refuge in the Karmaling Retreat Tregchöd Retreat with Chögyal who otherwise do not have the Sangha, the spiritual community Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. The possibility to attend the teachings of the fellow traveler , that sup - ITALY Gonpa was bustling with activity.
    [Show full text]
  • Sacred Arts of Tibet Tour ••• (562)225-3072 ••• ~Page 1~
    Sacred Arts of Tibet Tour ••• (562)225-3072 ••• www.sacredartsoftibettour.org ~page 1~ Sacred Arts of Tibet Tour 2014 - 2015 FOR HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.sacredartsoftibettour.org Table of Contents Gaden Shartse Monastic College Brief History of Buddhism in Tibet and the Effect of the Chinese Cultural Revolution Shartse Today History of Phukhang Purposes of the Tours Stage Performances Empowerments Healing Rituals Special Rituals Sand Mandala Lecture Topics School Prograns Monks' Biographies Suggested Donations Monks Bios Sacred Arts of Tibet Tour ••• (562)225-3072 ••• www.sacredartsoftibettour.org ~page 2~ GADEN SHARTSE MONASTIC COLLEGE Gaden Shartse Monastic College is situated amid lush green hills and jungle in the remote countryside of southern India. It was founded in 1969 as an effort to re-establish one of the great monastic traditions of Tibet. A small group of elder monks and fifteen young boys, all of whom had managed to escape the destruction in Tibet, settled on land given to them by the Indian government in Mundgod, Karnataka. Today the college is at the forefront of the revival of Tibetan Monastic education, with more than 1600 resident students, teachers, scholars, and spiritual practitioners. More than 70% of the members are between the ages of 10 and 25 and 80% of these were born in Tibet. To this day, young monks arrive at the Monastery weekly from Tibet, seeking shelter and education. Due to the success of the academic program and the quality of the teachers at the monastery, Gaden Shartse has established a reputation as being the leader in the field of Buddhist and Tibetan studies.
    [Show full text]
  • H.H. Kyabje Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche
    H.H. Kyabje Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche This prayer was composed by His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche. He was born 15 October 1981, and is the current reincarnation of the late Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang. Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang was a direct disciple to Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, and was also the junior tutor and spiritual guide of the 14th Dalai Lama. In addition to this, he was also the root guru of many Gelug lamas, one of which includes my root guru, Zong Rinpoche. His reincarnation, Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche, was discovered in a Tibetan family in Northern India. On 23 April 1985, when Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche was just 4 years old, he was officially recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He completed his studies under his root guru Kyabje Lati Rinpoche and other incredible teachers of our time. Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche is the founder and spiritual guide of Trijang Buddhist Institute in Vermont, United States. Long Life Prayer for His Eminence Tsem Tulku Rinpoche All Jinas’ three secrets in the glorious youth of an autumn moon, With shining garlands of white light immortality, Supreme Deity of long life, Arya Tare Ma, Please protect us now with hundreds of blessings of all wished virtue and goodness! Bodhicitta, oceanic, that if ten million Holders of The Teachings, Armor of patience difficult to fathom in its depth and breadth, Supreme Spiritual Guide with a treasury of jewel qualities, May you live long nurturing an ocean of trainees, Blazing with the sun of the Jinas’ Teachings, Benevolent Lord dispelling the darkness
    [Show full text]
  • Speech Delivered by His Holiness 14 Dalai Lama to the Second Gelug
    Speech Delivered by His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama to the Second Gelug Conference (Dharamsala, June 12th 2000) We meet here today with Ganden Tri Rinpoche, the representative of Jamgön Gyelwa (Lama Tsong Khapa), chiefly gracing us with his presence. The abbots representing the three seats of Sera, Drepung, Ganden, as well as those of Tashi Lhunpo, Gyutö and Gyumei tantric colleges have joined us; as have abbots and former abbots who are here on behalf of the various other Gelug monasteries. It seems though that the Manali representative has not been able to join us though (laughter)1. Anyway as well as all of these guests I also have been able to attend this Gelug conference. The organisation of these international Gelug conferences and the general concern for the maintenance and promotion of the teaching is admirable. I would like to thank all of you for your concern and for having put in such hard work. Given the significance of this event, I would like to encourage everyone, for the space of these few days, to dispense with ostentatious posing and the empty formalities of ceremony. Let’s try to get to the heart of the matter. We have now gained quite a bit of experience. So let us utilise that to focus on what problems we face and give some thought to how we can improve things. Our consideration of these matters should be careful. I have high hopes that this will prove to be an open forum for the discussion of the important issues and will generally prove to be a success.
    [Show full text]
  • Films and Videos on Tibet
    FILMS AND VIDEOS ON TIBET Last updated: 15 July 2012 This list is maintained by A. Tom Grunfeld ( [email protected] ). It was begun many years ago (in the early 1990s?) by Sonam Dargyay and others have contributed since. I welcome - and encourage - any contributions of ideas, suggestions for changes, corrections and, of course, additions. All the information I have available to me is on this list so please do not ask if I have any additional information because I don't. I have seen only a few of the films on this list and, therefore, cannot vouch for everything that is said about them. Whenever possible I have listed the source of the information. I will update this list as I receive additional information so checking it periodically would be prudent. This list has no copyright; I gladly share it with whomever wants to use it. I would appreciate, however, an acknowledgment when the list, or any part, of it is used. The following represents a resource list of films and videos on Tibet. For more information about acquiring these films, contact the distributors directly. Office of Tibet, 241 E. 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016 (212-213-5010) Wisdom Films (Wisdom Publications no longer sells these films. If anyone knows the address of the company that now sells these films, or how to get in touch with them, I would appreciate it if you could let me know. Many, but not all, of their films are sold by Meridian Trust.) Meridian Trust, 330 Harrow Road, London W9 2HP (01-289-5443)http://www.meridian-trust/.org Mystic Fire Videos, P.O.
    [Show full text]
  • Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga Ganden Lha Gyäma
    LAMA TSONGKHAPA GURU YOGA GANDEN LHA GYÄMA TEACHINGS FROM TUSHITA RETREAT CENTRE, DHARAMSALA, INDIA, 1986 BY Lama Zopa Rinpoche Edited by Uldis Balodis Revised by Sandra Smith, September 2020 © Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche 2020 LAMA YESHE WISDOM ARCHIVE Table of Contents Preface .................................................................................................................................. 1 1. Motivation ...................................................................................................................... 2 2. The Benefits of Ganden Lha Gyäma Practice ............................................................... 2 3. Preliminary Prayers ........................................................................................................ 5 4. Seeing the Guru as Buddha ........................................................................................... 8 5. Guru Yoga ..................................................................................................................... 14 The meaning of the nine-line prayer to Lama Tsongkhapa ........................................................... 15 6. Karma ............................................................................................................................ 18 7. Refuge in the Three Jewels .......................................................................................... 26 Refuge in the Guru ..............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Transcript of ‘A Teaching on Dorje Shugden’S Retreat Practice
    Transcript of ‘A Teaching on Dorje Shugden’s Retreat Practice By H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche Transcript based on video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbc_2d25_YE (5 video parts in total) Yes, you may turn it on now. You. All rituals, all practices, things of Tantric nature are not allowed to be recorded unless they have my permission. If they are recorded without my permission or in any case, the Lama's permission, those transmissions have no power and they will be a downfall on your Tantric vows. A downfall. So, do not take it very lightly, do not put your things away sarcastically or slowly because the Lama has told you to put it away. You put it away immediately because it will be a downfall on your Tantric commitments if you were to record or to write or do anything without permission. And as usual, some of you will not believe me. You look at any Tantric text at the front... English: "You read at your own risk". So, by doing that, you create a downfall in your own vows. So, be very alert and very aware for Tantric teachings. I am very strict on Tantra, very strict and I don't play the fool. And those of you who know me more than one day or one year, you should know that also. So, do not play the fool with Tantra with me. Any recording, any type of writing, any type of... anything you want, even video, you must have my explicit permission – explicit. Do not assume.
    [Show full text]
  • 1. Remarkable Meetings with Lama Yeshe: Encounters with a Tibetan Mystic, by Glenn H
    The Stories & Words of Great Buddhist Masters Volume 1 A Mandala Ebook ©2016 Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system or technologies now known or developed, without permission in writing from the publisher. Cover image: Based on a thangka of the life of Je Tsongkhapa; photo by Piero Sirianni. Mandala/FPMT, Inc., 1632 SE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97214 USA; fpmt.org TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1. Remarkable Meetings with Lama Yeshe: Encounters with a Tibetan Mystic, by Glenn H. Mullin, Mandala September–October 1995 2. Autobiography of a Yogi as a Child, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Mandala November–December 1995 3. The Mahasiddha Je Tsongkhapa, by Lama Thubten Yeshe, Mandala November–December 1995 4. An Interview with Geshe Lhundup Sopa, Mandala November–December 1996 5. Transforming Suffering into Pure Joy: A Talk by Ribur Rinpoche, Mandala March–April 1997 6. A Kalachakra Master: An Interview with Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche, Mandala September–December 1998 7. Obituary for Geshe Yeshe Tobden, by Massimo Corona, Mandala November–December 1999 8. The Life of a Hidden Meditator: Choden Rinpoche, Mandala July–August 2000 About the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) Introduction Over the past two decades of our existence, Mandala magazine has been honored to share the stories of contemporary Tibetan Buddhist masters. These lamas occupy a special place in the history of Tibetan Buddhism as they are part of the generation of monks who lived through the Chinese takeover of Tibet.
    [Show full text]
  • Legitimation and Innovation in the Tibetan Buddhist Chöd Tradition
    Making the Old New Again and Again: Legitimation and Innovation in the Tibetan Buddhist Chöd Tradition Michelle Janet Sorensen Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 2013 © 2013 Michelle Janet Sorensen All rights reserved ABSTRACT Making the Old New Again and Again: Legitimation and Innovation in the Tibetan Buddhist Chöd Tradition Michelle Janet Sorensen My dissertation offers a revisionary history of the early development of Chöd, a philosophy and practice that became integral to all Tibetan Buddhist schools. Recent scholars have interpreted Chöd ahistorically, considering it as a shamanic tradition consonant with indigenous Tibetan practices. In contrast, through a study of the inception, lineages, and praxis of Chöd, my dissertation argues that Chöd evolved through its responses to particular Buddhist ideas and developments during the “later spread” of Buddhism in Tibet. I examine the efforts of Machik Labdrön (1055-1153), the founder of Chöd and the first woman to develop a Buddhist tradition in Tibet, simultaneously to legitimate her teachings as authentically Buddhist and to differentiate them from those of male charismatic teachers. In contrast to the prevailing scholarly view which exoticizes central Chöd practices—such as the visualized offering of the body to demons—I examine them as a manifestation of key Buddhist tenets from the Prajñāpāramitā corpus and Vajrayāna traditions on the virtue of generosity, the problem of ego-clinging, and the ontology of emptiness. Finally, my translation and discussion of the texts of the Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorjé (1284-1339), including the earliest extant commentary on a text of Machik Labdrön’s, focuses on new ways to appreciate the transmission and institutionalization of Chöd.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mirror No
    No. 141 THE MIRROR September 2018 Merigar, in the presence of His Holiness Dear Friends, the Dalai Lama, the Shang Shung Tibetan Institute of Studies, to further knowledge On Thursday 27 September, of these disciplines and of Tibetan culture 2018, at 9 pm our beloved in general. In recent years the Professor has also Master left this earthly catalogued, translated, and published more existence in a serene than three hundred folk ballads and Tibet- and peaceful way, at his an songs, reworking and encouraging the residence, Gadeling, Merigar. study of the choreography of the dances associated with them. The Namkhai Family But the love and passion of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu for the history and culture of his land were not limited to its remote past. Now I want to illustrate some aspects of the high morality of the life of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. Recognized at birth as a Tulku or living Buddha, that is, a reincarnation of a great Master of the past, Chögyal Namkhai Nor- Chögyal Namkhai Norbu 1938–2018. bu never availed himself of his status for his own political, economic, or religious ad- innumerable cultural, moral, and spiritu- vancement, as was often customary among Senior student Costantino Albini’s al dimensions cannot be compared even his contemporary peers. Throughout the testimonial at the ceremony at the to the sparkling and surprising facets of a course of his life his successes, his every Great Stupa in Merigar on October 3, diamond. conquest was attained solely through his 2018, to say farewell to and honor If today I were to attempt to talk about tireless work and his, yes, superior skills.
    [Show full text]