Luminous Wisdom

Deviating From the Buddha-Mind Part II

If we have failed to please our spiritual teacher, on account of the feebleness of our effort,
If we have failed to be well regarded by our spiritual brothers and sisters, on account of the feebleness of our devotion,
If we have divulged the oral teachings to another, on account of our flirtatious intentions,
Indeed, whatever extravagances, omissions, deviations or mistakes we have made,
With respect to the fundamental commitments of buddha-body, speech and mind,
Whilst swayed by the influence of ignorance, either consciously or unconsciously,
We confess all such transgressions in the presence of the Peaceful and Wrathful Conquerors.
We make confession to you, O Compassionate Ones!
We make confessions to the oceanic assembly of the conquerors!
May all [the degenerations] that we now confess be cleansed and purified!
Please grant us the purity of the non-dual truth!
SAMAYA!

The Tibetan Book of the Dead: First Complete Translation, Translated by Gyurme Dorje, Edited by Graham Coleman with Thupten Jinpa

Deviating From the Buddha-Mind Part I

If we have boasted of our high view and yet not understood the meaning of actual reality,
If we have not clearly visualized the meditational deity, owing to our meditations being excessively brief,
Or if we have made an inadequate number of recitations or spoken these defectively,
However we have deviated from the buddha-mind of the oceans of conquerors,
We confess our transgressions in the presence of the Peaceful and Wrathful Conquerors.
We make confession to you, O Compassionate Ones!
We make confession in the presence of the entire assembly of deities of pristine cognition!

The Tibetan Book of the Dead: First Complete Translation, Translated by Gyurme Dorje, Edited by Graham Coleman with Thupten Jinpa

Unsurpassed Enlightenment

May we be sustained in the nucleus of unsurpassed enlightenment!

The Tibetan Book of the Dead: First Complete Translation, Translated by Gyurme Dorje, Edited by Graham Coleman with Thupten Jinpa

A Face Radiant with Joy

When listening to the sacred teachings
Consider yourself most fortunate.
Show a face radiant with joy
And a smile exuding delight;
Listen with a mind free of the three pot-like faults.

Je Tsongkhapa, quoted by Glenn H. Mullin in The Practice of Kalachakra

The three pots are an overturned pot, a pot contaminated with poison, and a pot with a hole in it's base.

tags technorati : Buddhism Buddhist retreat Kalachakra Tsongkhapa

Dalai Lama's Favorite Quote

Here's a quote that is frequently mistaken as a Dalai Lama quotation:

"For as long as space endures, for as long as living beings remain, until then may I too remain, to dispel the misery of the world."

It is said this is one of the Dalai Lama's favorite quotes, which would explain why it's so often attributed to him. In fact, these inspiring words come from Shantideva, an 8th century Indian Buddhist scholar. Shantideva is probably best known for The Bodhicaryavatara, A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life.

You can read the entire Bodhicaryavatara online. You'll find the Dalai Lama's quote in chapter 9.

tags technorati : Dalai_Lama Shantideva Guide_to_the_Bodhisattva's_Way_of_Life Bodhicaryavatara Buddhism Religion Buddhist

I and Mine

First we conceive the "I" and grasp onto it.
Then we conceive the "mine" and cling to the material world.
Like water trapped on a waterwheel, we spin in circles, powerless.
I praise the compassion that embraces all beings.

Chandrakirti

tags technorati : Buddhist quotes Tibet Buddhism Chandrakirti religion

Great Widsom

The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the world's ways.
The greatest action is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.

Atisha

Milarepa Movie

Milarepa, Tibet's great yogi saint and mystic, lived at the end of the eleventh century. Born into an affluent family, their estate was stolen by an ambitious uncle after his father passed away. For years he, his mother and sister endured virtual slavery. With revenge in his heart, Milarepa trained in the arts of black magic and assassinated his uncle’s family and friends.

Almost immediately Milarepa felt great remorse for his brutal actions. He sought out a spiritual teacher named Marpa who finally agreed to accept him as a disciple. Milarepa endured many physical hardships and mental challenges designed to purify his negative karma. Ultimately, after a series of strict cave retreats, Milarepa attained spiritual enlightenment. Disciples flocked to him requesting teachings. Milarepa became a great teacher, a master at sharing his wisdom and insights, renowned for his unusual methods and ascetic lifestyle.

Now the story of his life is being told in a new film by Neten Chokling Rinpoche. You can view the Milarepa movie trailer here. If your internet connection is slow, you can at least check out the movie stills here.

The producers of "Milarepa" are the same ones who brought us "The Cup" and "Travelers and Magicians." I hope it won't be long before we get to see this extraordinary film.

Thank you Attila at Tantra Blog and Bodhiwater at Ambhoja (for the original heads-up!)

tags technorati : Milarepa Movie Film Yogi Saint Tibet Buddhism

Song of Milarepa

From The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa. This one is called "The Twelve Meanings of Mind."

I bow down at the feet of my Guru.

Oh good patrons! If you wish to realize the Essence of Mind,
You should practice the following teachings:
Faith, knowledge, and discipline,
These three are the Life Tree of Mind.
This is the tree you should plant and foster.

Non-attachment, non-clinging, and non-blindness,
These are the three shields of Mind;
They are light to wear, strong for defense,
And the shields you should seek.

Meditation, diligence, and perseverance,
These are the three horses of Mind;
They run fast and quickly flee!
If you look for horses, these are the right ones.

Self-awareness, self-illumination, and self-rapture,
These three are the fruits of Mind;
Sow the seeds, ripen the fruit,
Refine the fluid, and the essence emerges.
If you look for fruit, these are the fruit you should seek.

Sprung from yogic intuition,
This song of the Twelve Meanings of Mind is sung.
Inspired by your faith, continue with your practice, my good patrons!

tags technorati : Milarepa Yogi Saint Tibet Buddhism

A Bodhisattva Prayer

From now on, until I achieve enlightenment, I rely on you.
Please give me wisdom to escape samsara.

If I am supposed to get sick, let me get sick, and I’ll be happy.
May this sickness purify my negative karma
and the sickness of all sentient beings

If I am supposed to be healed, let all my sickness
and confusion be healed, and I’ll be happy.
May all sentient beings be healed and filled with happiness.

If I am supposed to die, let me die, and I’ll be happy.
May all the delusion and causes of suffering of beings die.

If I am supposed to live a long life, let me live a long life, and I’ll be happy.
May my life be meaningful in service to sentient beings.

If my life is cut short, let it be cut short, and I’ll be happy.
May I and all others be free from attachment and aversion.
====================================================

“Repeat this often, without expectation or fear, in order to train the mind. This is one of the most well-known verses practiced by many great Bodhisattvas, through which they received excellent results. This is a special method to free ourselves from hope and fear so that we can transmute suffering into the path of enlightenment.”
Khenchen Gyaltsen, Transformation of Suffering