"When the Rain is Over" - Book Sharing

The glory of life 

Grand Master said, “What is the big deal about some people being able to live to a ripe old age of 100 year-old?” Those who live for 100 years are just “walking-dead”, “skeleton”, “negative karma” and the “ignorant one”.  How has one benefited himself from living up to 100 year-old in a meaningless way? What good has he done for the rest of sentient beings? Nothing! A candle is burnt to ashes yet it brought no light to others. 

Grand Master reveres Jesus who lived only 33 years and died crucified. He only lived 1/3 of a century. Life is just about to start for anyone at the age of 33.  However, he lived the most meaningful life compared with the rest in the world. Although he only taught for 3 years, the effect of which lasted more than 2,000 years! Look, Jesus had left us for more than 2,000 years by now, but he still continues to live in the hearts of many today. Why? For those 3 years of his life brought light to this world that lasts for more than 2,000 years. His life of 3 years is equivalent to that of more than 2,000 years. The glory of his life is beyond our imagination. So what if we could live 100 years when we bring no light to this world?

Do not be too hung-up!  

Grand Master said, “Do not be too hung-up about our life.” 

We live a very stressful life. So, Grand Master is telling us to loosen up – do not suffocate ourselves with worldly concerns. We should not assume that everything is important. Grand Master said, “Actually, nothing is important!” What we think is important is not important at all to Grand Master. Why? “Life is too short! Life will be over in no time!” Grand Master wants us not to be worried about anything at all because our life is simply too short! Do not assume that we have several decades more to go. Actually, time flies! Even the most important thing to you will become a thing of the past in no time.  

Grand Master said there is only one thing in life that is worth being serious about – spiritual cultivation! The rest is worthless. What we regard as important is not important to Grand Master including our life, our career, our relationship, our family, our spouse, our children and all other things in life. To Grand Master, only spiritual cultivation is the most important thing in life; the rest are worthless and unimportant. What Grand Master is trying to say is that - we have wasted our precious time on worthless things!  

The Purity of Our Action, Speech and Mind 

Grand Master said when you manage to purify your action, speech and mind, the window to your heart naturally opens. At that juncture, you will find a Buddha right within your very home, right within your heart - you have attained the spiritual response! You have “morphed” spiritually into a state of greater maturity. At that juncture, the sun light becomes your dress, the air your body and the water your pure mind. Every day, every hour, every second is "spring" to you – you will feel the joy of spring!  

Why have you been practicing for so many years and yet not attaining the state of enlightenment as mentioned by Grand Master? For you have not truly purified your action, speech and mind. Although you appear to be a practitioner in form, you have not been able to attain the true state of a practitioner in substance. So what if you are eloquent about the teachings, when you fail in realizing them? That is the very reason why you continue to be mired in mental afflictions.   

We should not just read the books written by Grand Master like reading a novel and forget it soon after. We should bear in mind his teachings and put them to practice. It will be wasted if you simply read and forget about it. These are key teachings which can help our practice tremendously.  

Last but not least, if you treat spiritual cultivation as something decorative in life, it will be completely meaningless. In actual fact, we should treat spiritual cultivation as the most important thing in life, and the rest decorative, unimportant and not worthed wasting our time. 

A teaching given by Acho Rinpoche on 13 Nov 2012

Opening Ceremony of the Refurbished Dzogchen Retreat Center & New Library of Dzogchen Monastery, India (2012)

28 December 2012 - Opening Ceremony of New Installed Buddha Images in the Refurbished Dzogchen Retreat Center & Inauguration Ceremony of New Library Dzogchen Monastery, South India by H.H. the 7thDzogchen Rinpoche; project s endeavoured by H.E. Kunde Rinpoche & Khenpo Kunga Tashi Rinpoche; supported by both Rinpoches' la Students & Friends, Dzogchen Samten Chokling Center & Friends, Acho Rinpoche la, In attendance: Tulkus, Khenpos, Lamas of Dzogchen Monastery; Rinpoches & Lamas from other monasteries, Leaders & Lay Devotees from Dhondenling Community, Lay Practitioners & Devottess from Malaysia, Singapore, European contries, Australia, New Zealand etc...

By Sonam Yeshi, Malaysia.

Dzogchen Tulkus Meeting 2012

On 28 Dec 2012, Acho Rinpoche attended a Dzogchen Tulkus Meeting held at the Dzogchen Monastery in India. The meeting was chaired by H.E Dzogchen Rinpoche and the attendees included H.E Gemang Rinpoche and all other tulkus and khenpos of the Dzogchen Lineage. This meeting is held every three years for discussing the plans on the propagation of the teachings.

The Dzogchen Monastery is located in a Tibetan Settlement in Kollegal, Mysore in South India. It is the main seat of the Dzogchen Lineage in India, with H.E Dzogchen Rinpoche being its abbot. In the morning, H.E Dzogchen Rinpoche, Konde Rinpoche and Acho Rinpoche jointly presided over the inauguration ceremony of the new library and a refurbised retreat centre. Konde Rinpoche told the audience that the new library would help to promote the teachings more effectively by providing the relevant reading materials to the readers, for literatures are a crucial tool in the propagation of the Dharma. The library will provide a great convenience to people who are interested in learning and practising the Dharma an easy access to the teachings. Konde Rinpoche has written a few books so far, much to the acclaim of H.H Dalai Lama and H.E Dzogchen Rinpoche. Usually, when H.E Dzogchen Rinpoche travels abroad, Konde Rinpoche would be the one covering his duties looking after the Dzogchen Monastery, shouldering a heavy responsibility and doing his best to serve the community.

Acho Rinpoche was invited to make a speech too. He mentioned about his visit to the Ellora and Ajanta Caves located in Aurangabad, witnessing the rise and fall of Buddhism in India through these two heritage sites that were once Buddhist monuments during an era when Buddhism flourished in India. The Ajanta Cave already existed since 200 BC. It is very large in scale and consists of a total of 29 caves decorated with Buddhist arts including Buddha statues and mural paintings. Unfortunately, Buddhism has nearly perished in India for about one thousand years by now and the visitors to these caves are mainly Hindus today. On the other hand, Tibetan Buddhism has re-emerged in India today and the teachings of the Buddha will, once again, bring great benefits to the people of this land. Acho Rinpoche told the audience that he and his entourage witnessed very auspicious signs appearing in the sky this morning on their way to the monastery, with beautiful clouds and rainbows appearing in the sky; the Dragon King Buddha, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, dragons and Dharma protectors were clearly visible either in the form of clouds or in spiritual forms. The auspicious signs were the tell-tale signs of an extraordinary event held in the Dzogchen Monastery today.

On the following morning, the 3-yearly Dzogchen Tulkus Meeting commenced, chaired by H.E Dzogchen Rinpoche. The representatives took turn to make their speeches, including the tulkus, khenpos and western students representing Dzogchen centres worldwide. H.E Dzogchen Rinpoche gave his speech too. In his speech, he commented that the transmission of the unique and precious teachings of Dzogchen (The Great Perfection) is more important than the building of temples. He repeatedly commended the contributions of Konde Rinpoche, Khenpo Kunga Tashi Rinpoche and Acho Rinpoche who are skilled at managing the spiritual activities, building of temples and at the same time, producing literatures on the teachings - they are the exemplary models for the rest to follow.

Acho Rinpoche also made acquaintances with the western students who came to the Dzogchen Monastery for the event and retreat. He offered them a copy of his English book entitled “Dancing In The Sky”, establishing a good spiritual connection with them henceforth.

Reported by

Editor of BuddhaEye

The Enthronement Ceremony of Acho Rinpoche