Tonight, we did a Boddhisattva
Majushri Prayer on the day of his birthday. After which, Acho Rinpoche shared
with us a few key practices which could help us attain spiritual realization in
this world.
In Mahayana Buddhism,
there is a practice on the recitation of the name of Amitabha Buddha which
could help the practitioner gain a rebirth in the Western Blissful Pure Land of
Amitabha Buddha in his next life, despite the fact that his negative karma has
yet to be fully eradicated by then. There are nine levels of such birth in the
pure land, depending on the level of spiritual accomplishment of a practitioner
during his life on earth; the higher his spiritual attainment in this life, the
higher the form of existence he would attain in his next life in the pure land.
However, the pace of one’s spiritual advancement in a pure land will be a lot
slower than that on earth because of the perfect living condition in a pure land that poses
no temptations to a practitioner that would test him further on his weaknesses.
Those who gained a lower level of births in the pure land would not be able to meet
Amitabha Buddha personally immediately either, as it would take a long time for the lotus
bud within which he resides to blossom. That explains why there are various
realms within the Western Blissful Pure Land including a Common Land shared
between the enlightened ones and the non-enlightened ones, an expedient Land of
Non-ultimate Enlightenment, a Land of Enjoyment Body and a Land of Ultimate
Enlightenment and Luminosity.
In Vajrayana Buddhism,
although there is a very superior practice of “Instantaneous Enlightenment in a
Single Lifetime”, it is not easy to accomplish such practice because there are
four stages of empowerment that must be accomplished by a practitioner stage by
stage. When a practitioner embarks on the second stage of empowerment, he must
renounce his layman lifestyle and enter a strict retreat in order to accomplish
the inner heat yoga with full concentration. There is another Vajrayana
practice which is even more superior – Dzogchen (The Great Perfection), which
includes the One Hundred Deities Yoga that could help one leap from the first
stage of empowerment straight into the final stage of Dzogchen. Acho Rinpoche
is a master from this very superior Nyingma Dzogchen lineage, who transmitted a
special Guru Yoga Practice with the Sun-Moon-Lamp Buddha being regarded as the Root
Guru; the immense blessing power of this practice can help expedite the
accomplishment of a practitioner.
Next, Acho Rinpoche
stressed the important of the Lotus Sutra again. This sutra has a special connection
with the Sun-Moon-Lamp Buddha. In numerous aeons ago, there were a total of 20,000
Buddhas appearing in this world who had the same Buddha title as “Sun-Moon-Lamp
Buddha”. The last Sun-Moon-Lamp Buddha who appeared in this world was a king
with eight sons. His eight sons followed him on the spiritual path. He
taught for a long time, for a long period that lasted about 60 small aeons. Finally,
he handed over this spiritual lineage to Bodhisattva Wonderful Light (who
became Bodhisattva Manjushri in future). Wonderful Light continued to teach the
eight princes, and the youngest prince became Dipankara Buddha in future. Dipankara
Buddha transmitted his teachings to Sakyamuni Buddha in future. Such was the superior
spiritual lineage transmission among the Enlightened Ones. Therefore, Acho Rinpoche
advised us to read the Lotus Sutra diligently, apply the teachings in our daily
activities, and aspire to propagate the teachings of Lotus Sutra in future.
Lotus Sutra pointed out the Buddha Nature within all sentient beings, saying that
all sentient beings could become Buddhas one day. The actual practice of the Six
Paramitas (Six Perfections) will help us attain the state of Buddhahood one day.
Besides, there is another sutra of equal importance (大通方广忏悔灭罪庄严成佛经), which Acho Rinpoche advised us to do the same. When one attains a
spiritual union with Sun-Moon-Lamp Buddha, he will be able to attain the state
of Buddhahood in this very lifetime or minimally, he would be able to attain
the state of Buddhahood during his bardo (a period between death and the next
rebirth).
Lastly, Acho Rinpoche advised
us to recite the heart mantras of Guru Rinpoche and Green Tara incessantly for
at least one billion times, to form the basis of our spiritual cultivation. He
reckoned that it is not easy for us to complete the practice of the Four
Foundations (Ngöndro) for 100,000 rounds each during this lifetime, so he
suggested an alternative solution instead which is more achievable by the layman
practitioners in this era.
Thus have I heard, the most supreme teaching which is hard to come by in the longest times
beyond imagination. I shall, therefore, aspire to practise with vigor, in order
to realise the true teachings of the Buddha.
Reported by Sun-Moon KFS on 29-4-2017 in
Singapore
