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Vajrayana Part 2

Buddha preached the teachings of 3 Vehicles: Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana.  Although it does create misunderstanding, especially to one who is newly initiated in the Dharma it is mostly due to 'lack of understanding'.

The distinction of these vehicles does not exist in the Dharma itself, but in the differentiation of people's mind.  The 3 vehicles are not meant to be separated at all.  We can practise all of them simultaneously. We need to apply the Buddha's teaching into our daily lives to gain experiential realisation of the teachings.

Here, we have the opportunity to learn about the 3rd vehicle, Vajrayana/Tibetan Buddhism - which has four major orders of Tibetan Buddhism:

1) Nyingma - literally means 'old order'

2) Kagyu - literally means 'teaching lineage'

3) Sakya - literally means 'gray earth'

4) Gelug - literally means 'system of  virtue' 

The Extraordinary or Inner Preliminaries Practice (Basis of Buddhist Commitments)

1) Taking Refuge in the 3 Jewels - the foundation stone of all paths.

2) Develop Bodhicitta - mind of enlightenment, the root of the Great vehicle (loving kindness & compassion for all beings like a mother and her child).

3) Meditating & reciting on the teacher 'Vajrasattva' to cleanse all obscurations.

4) Offering Mandala to accumulate merit and wisdom.

5) Guru Yoga, entrance - way for blessings, the ultimate method for arousing the wisdom of realization. 

   
For countless lives until the Buddha attained enlightenment, he relied on Gurus to learn and progress on the Path.  Recite Mantra (Mind Protection).  This is a tool to transform the human MIND.

These are methods (antidotes) to weaken ones defilements of ignorance, emotional tendencies (8 - fears, pride, anger, jealousy, wrong view, miserliness, attachment & doubt).  We practice Mindfulness/awareness to identify each emotion arising eg anger, fear...And we practice Sadhana to overcome them.  Sadhanas are chanted practices like Mantra of  specific meditational dieties in order to benefit others. 

  

1) Oral lineage (pass on from a realised spiritual  teacher to student) - There are many teachings on Sadhana practice for practitioners who have the necessary blessings and permission from teacher to engage in the practice.  Each level of practice builds on the previous ones for those who have the wisdom to see it.

2) Terma (spiritual treasures) - Pure Vision teachings hidden in the earth & minds of disciples to be revealed at appropriate time.

Quote from H H the 14th Dalai Lama: Vajrayana provides a detailed guide to the Methods by which an ordinary person can transform his Consciousness and set off on the Path to Buddhahood - state of Awake and Freedom.

To be a Buddhist is to take Responsibility for One's Life Choices. Our lives are a learning process in which we 'out grow' some Old thoughts and feelings as one increase one's Wisdom.  Mistakes we make are really experiences to learn from.  Let go.

Bujang Valley - video

Bujang Valley made it to the national news recently, not because of its 1000+ years of Buddhist/Hindu archaelogical sites, but because one of its sites was totally destroyed by "I didn't know" developers.  It was heart wrenching and heart breaking. We were there recently on 14th to 16th September 2014 and all came back with happy memories. Yap Sue Chew recorded the trip. It was beautifully done. It is indeed the oldest man made structure in South East Asia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9F-w7O242A

The Dog and the Buddha

Found in Padang Bay, Bali.

Dhammapada Reflection Verses 87-88

Dear Dharma friends

Sukhihontu.

There are many translations of the Dhammapada from Pali to English which is quite trying especially to the new initiates. And with 423 verses, most have just floundered along the way. So it is not surprising that devotees have organised study groups to learn the sublime wisdom of the Dhammapada.

Recently, I chanced upon a freer rendering of this Buddhist classic which is authored by Ajahn Munindo, a New Zealand born, which I feel is most suitable for our community. As the Dhammapada is not meant to be read like a book, I will post 1 verse each on New moon and Full moon days respectively with the corresponding reflections from Ajahn Munindo.

I hope you will find it as useful and inspiring as it is for me.

Metta Mudita, Kevin

Dhammapada Verses 87-88
With an image of liberation as the goal 
the wise abandon darkness and cherish light,
leave petty security behind 
and seek freedom from attachment.
To pursue such release is difficult and rare,
yet the wise will seek it,
detaching themselves from obstructions,
purifying heart and mind.

Vajrayana Part 1

Dear Dharma friends,
  
Sukhihontu.  As mentioned earlier, this is the posting first of 13 parts of Vajrayana teachings notes. It will be posted twice weekly.  These were all prepared diligently by Sis Margaret. Hope you find it useful. 
Metta, Kevin 

Introduction to Vajrayana (Part 1)

According to the scriptures (Tantras) - Vajrayana refer to 1 of the 3 Vehicles or Routes to Enlightenment. (The other 2 being the Theraveda (Hinayana) and Mahayana). The word vajra means "immutability" or "indestructibility". 

Features of Vajrayana: Rituals (skillful means)

1) Taking Refuge - learning to rely on the :

the Buddha,

the Dharma (his teachings),

the Sangha (the Buddhist community)

This is a Buddhist Commitment.  (Positive imprints help to actualize positive results such as happiness).  As a Mahayana practitioner, we always begin by setting out the bodhicitta motivation for doing the practice and gain inspiration from the Three Jewels, as the object of refuge.  If one has total understanding and faith in the Buddha and in Refuge, then Refuge will stablise you, it will save you from lower realms.

2) Development of Bodhicitta (the Mind of Enlightenment).

Is an Attitude of Unconditional Love & Compassion for all beings.

3) Purify:  The Effects of One's past negative actions & accumulate the Positive Energy necessary to progress on the Spiritual Path.

a) Practice using the techniques of Visualisation and Mantra specific to Vajrayana approach (brings results in ones practice). 

4) Guru Yoga: to unite ones mind with the mind of the teacher.  This practise is the 'ROOT' of Vajrayana - where the purity of the link between teacher and disciple is important. ( ie one's mind is Buddha's mind, one's body is Buddha's body and one's speech is Buddha speech).  Visualize oneself as Buddha and ones surrounding as a Buddha field - recite mantra practice Sadhana.  *Sadhana are chanted practices that embody the essence of the Buddhist path, from the taking of Refuge & develop loving kindness and compassion through the accumulation of merit, culminating in the dedication of merit to benefit all sentient beings. 

a) Phowa - transference of Consciousness.  This method to enable those who are good practitioners to be liberated at the time of death.  This needs guidance of a qualified teacher.

5)  Buddhist Ethics:

a) make Offerings

b) recite prayers and mantra

6) Great Perfection: practice

a) Oral explanations

b) Explanatory text

Vajrayana is a Science of the MIND.

Practitioners take the decision to pursue the Spiritual Path/journey actively.  (100,000 times to form a good habit).