X-Tour: The Tour of The Land of Ancient Qi-Lu

After visiting Bhutan and South India one after another by end of last year, Dharma Brother Liang and Sister Shen told me about their plan to hold their wedding party in Apr back home, in Shandong, China. Upon hearing their plan, I replied immediately, “I can come along too to solemnize your wedding! And I can see the cherry and peony blossoms which I have been longing for the longest time!” So, off we went,  18 of us, on 29^th Apr 2013,  to Shandong, where the ancient countries of Qi and Lu were formerly located.

Our airplane touched down slowly in Qingdao after 5 ½ hours of flight. Our tour guide was Liu. He brought along another senior tour guide who helped out with the explanation of the various tourist attractions in Shandong. When I told the latter that I wanted to see the cherry blossom, he told me I won’t be able to do so because he just sent off a group of Singaporean tourists who came for the cherry blossom but left in disappointment because the flowers had already withered. However, when we set foot in the Zhongshan Garden, we were awed by the full cherry blossom in the garden! Actually, the single-petalled cherry blossom had indeed withered but the dould-petalled cherry blossom were just beginning to show their beauty and welcoming our arrival. Silently, I thanked the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in my heart, for they never disappoint anyone of his wish.

On the first day, I told Liu that all our Chinese tour guides in the past took refuge in Acho Rinpoche during the trips. He gave me a funny look but I just laughed it off.

On the second day, we drove on the 50.4km long Jiaozhou Bay Bridge – we were simply dumbfounded by its sheer size! 5 hours later, we arrived in Feicheng. I saw a poster inside a lift in the hotel that said “Feicheng is the hometown for big fat peaches, and the county for the well-mannered.” I saluted this place silently in my heart.

On the following morning, Ma Yum La (my wife) had an upset stomach. I accompanied her to consult a doctor in a community hospital while the rest of the group went ahead to visit the hometown of Confucius – Qufu. On their way back, they saw a sun halo appearing in the sky.

When we returned to Feicheng, we finally realized that there was a very precious Buddha’s tooth relic being enshrined in the Baoxiang Temple in Wenshang, Jining. According to the Buddhist records, there are only 4 pieces of Buddha’s tooth relic remaining in the world: one in Indra Heaven, one in the Dragon Palace, one in Sri Lanka, and the last one in Beijing. Least did we expect that the last one is actually being enshrined in the Prince Stupa in Baoxiang Temple in Wenshang, Shandong!

In 1994, on the 15^th day of the 3rd lunar month, the Buddha’s tooth relic was discovered in the basement of the Prince Stupa during its maintenance; the stupa dated back about one thousand years ago. There were other Buddha relics and sacred objects being discovered at the same time, totaling 141 pieces. The news shocked the entire nation and rocked the world. Ever since the discovery of these sacred objects, “Buddha Light” (a sun halo) would appear above the Prince Stupa around the 15^th day of the 3^rd lunar month every year without fail. Tens of thousands of monks and tourists would come to Baoxiang Temple to witness the unusual phenomenon every year.

Actually, we had already planned to visit Sri Lanka at the end of this year, to pay homage to the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha. A special arrangement seemed to have gone underway quietly without us knowing. We did a prayer before the Buddha’s tooth relic and some of the Chinese tourists joined us in the prayer too. Liu had some special experience during the prayer.

When we stepped out of the basement of the stupa, a sun halo appeared in the sky! Both Liu and the local tour guide found it just unbelievable. The latter said, “A true enlightened master has come! That’s why the Buddha light appears in the sky!”This time, Liu was fully convinced. One the very same night, he took refuge in Acho Rinpoche, together with 6 other relatives of Dharma Sister Shen.

On the 4^th day, we ascended the greatest mountain of China – Mtn. Tai. It was indeed the greatest mountain in China, for Dharma Brother Shao saw numerous Taoist deities appearing in the space above and blessed him when he returned alone to the hotel for a rest as he was feeling sick.

We also visited Black Tiger Spring and Baotu Spring in Jinan. We were impressed by the rich underground water hidden beneath this city. There were actually deities guarding the Baotu Spring too. After that, we went to Penglai and saw some other deities who were of a lower spiritual rank. Rain started falling when we were on our way to Yantai, followed by Weihai, and finally reaching the Red Hill in Shidao. The moment we set foot in Red Hill, it was already shrouded by a very thick mist. And there were cherry blossoms everywhere, dancing in the mist and welcoming our arrival. We watched the performance of the world’s only animated Avalokitesvara fountain and again enjoyed the scenic view of full cherry blossom surrounding the entire place. The place was misty and felt like a fairy land. It was drizzling slightly – as if the fairies were showering us with flowers. We were immersed in the greatest power of blessing during this period. After visiting the Lotus Temple, we paid our respect to the Great Brightness Buddha of the Red Hill in circumambulation. At that juncture, numerous Sun Moon Lamp Buddhas appeared in space while we entered the Lotus Samadhi, thus achieving a spiritual response with the Sun Moon Lamp Buddha.

All the experiences we had during this extraordinary tour of the Ancient Land of Qi-Lu were real. The aura of the Buddha and the rain of blessing were there everywhere we went. Mtn. Tai, the greatest mountain in China, a sacred mountain ascended by all the past emperors to pay respect to the heaven after their enthronements, has awakened by the most supreme power of blessing. The Land of China, you ought to be awake too! Life is impermanent. Do not continue falling…….

 

Acho Rinpoche

11pm, 15 May 2013

 

Pictures:

1) Red Hill

2) Mtn. Tai

3) Animated Avalokitesvara fountain

4) Buddha's tooth relic at Baoxiang Temple

One Hundred Deities & Vajrasattva Empowerment Ceremony in Penang, Malaysia

On 13 Apr 2013, Acho Rinpoche and Konde Rinpoche jointly presided over an empowerment ceremony on One Hundred Deities and Vajrasattva Practices at Liang Family's Temple situated on Perak Street in Penang, Malaysia. Sun halos appeared twice on the day, with the first one appearing around noon immediately after the completion of the empowerment ceremony, followed by the second one around late noon immediately after the offering of dragon vases on the sea.

Konde Rinpoche shared with the participants on the preciousness of the One Hundred Deities Practice which can help us recognise the pristine Buddha Nature within us during our bardo state (an intermediate state between our death and the next birth) and attain Buddhahood. One who received the empowerment of the One Hundred Deities will not fall into hell. However, he stressed that the practitioner must revered the master who conferred the empowerment and must have full faith in the latter in order to be able to attain enlightenment. He also shared with the participants that the Dragon Vase Practice done this round originated from Master Nagajurna, discovered in the form of a hidden treasure (terma). This practice can heal the practitioner of skin problem, increase his merits and extend his longevity of life. In fact, Master Nagajurna lived a very long life after practising this practice.

Acho Rinpoche also shared with the participants that he actually fell sick one week before the ceremony. His whole body was aching badly, with the aching sensations shifting from one part of his body to the next during the entire week. It was indeed a very strange sickness. However, his sickness suddenly dissappeared immediately after the completion of the empowerment ceremony. He clearly felt that he had transformed into Vajrasattva during the empowerment ceremony and the participants had actually received a very powerful blessing during that period indeed. During the past one week when he fell sick, he had some special dreams that hinting an imminet war that might break out anytime soon, and with China experiencing the outbreak of H7N9 pandemic flu now, these are signs showing a very serious collective karma facing mankind. Therefore, he prayed to the Buddhas for blessing the world and freeing the sentient beings from great sufferings; that would make his taking on the pains of sentieng beings worthwhile.

Reported by BuddhaEye

Pictures (top-down): (1) The ceremony. (2) Sun halo appeared the 1st time around noon. (3) Offering dragon vases on the sea. (4) Sun halo appeared the 2nd time round late noon after the offering of dragon vases. (5) Group photo.

The Precious Tantra

When Sakyamuni Buddha attained the full enlightenment, He did not want to preach the teachings because they were simply too profound for men. During His time, India was rich of philosophies and there were numerous philosophical and religious schools that were constantly debating with one another, including the ancient Hinduism and Jnana that existed before Buddhism. The world during His time was rich of philosophers with great wisdom including the Greek philosophers, the Chinese followers of Confucianism and Taoism etc. Men of that era were great thinkers, who thought hard about achieving the highest accomplishment in the universe. Sakyamuni Buddha learnt all the teachings at that time including asceticism which He later abandoned before attaining His full enlightenment.

When He attained his full enlightenment, He realized that no men could comprehend His state of being. He decided to enter the Parinirvana and return to His pureland. However, Bhrama and Indra (kings of heaven) supplicated the Buddha for His teachings. Buddha finally agreed to remain in this world in order to pass on the teachings.

Initially, Buddha tried to relate the fully enlightened state of being as expounded in the Avatamsaka Sutra, with the audience completely lost in its profundity. He decided to start from the more basic teachings – the Hinayana. The Hinayana teachings include the Four Noble Truths, Precepts, Cyclic Existence (samsara) and the Suffering of the Human Realm etc. This is known as the First Wheel of Dharma where Buddha gave the first round of teachings.

When Buddha gave the second round of teachings, known as the Second Wheel of Dharma, He expounded the teachings of Prajna (wisdom), Emptiness, Middle Way etc. Buddha knew that the first round of teachings were just the fundamental ones that, despite rigorous training by His students, will not bring about the highest level of enlightenment. The Hinanaya teachings can only help one attain the level of enlightenment of Arahat. So, He taught His students the Mahayana teachings next including Compassion, Emptiness, The Six Perfections, The Middle Way, The Relative Truth and The Ultimate Truth etc., which could help them attain a higher level of enlightenment.

Although all phenomena appeared to be real to us, they do not truly exist; this is the teaching of The Ultimate Truth. “All phenomena are like dreams and bubbles, like lightning and morning dew. One should view them as such.” This is a verse within the Diamond Sutra. All the objects that we saw including the lamps, chairs, you, me and everybody else are just compounded existence that should be viewed as similar to lightning, reflection in a mirror and dream.

Our existence is liken to an existence in a dream, where “I”, Acho, am here giving you the teachings; “Konde” is also sitting here giving you the teachings; “you” are sitting here listening to the teachings. After this prayer session, in this dream, you will return home and meet your children, teaching them their school works and also going to your work…… However, everything in a dream cannot be truly obtained and accomplished, and with many things happening against your will like suffering from illness, cancer etc. Therefore, you must apply the teaching of the Diamond Sutra – view everything in life as a dream and free yourself from its attachment. You will realise that it is actually a dream when you finally awaken, and by then you will attain the ultimate freedom.

Sakyamuni Buddha did not ask you to abandon everything in life immediately. Of course, it will be great if you are able to do so immediately. As long as you are still unable to do so, you should view all phenomena as illusory and dream-like existence that ultimately speaking, do not truly exist. This is the teaching of The Ultimate Truth that can help you break free from the illusory existence. As long as you still take it as real, “there is suffering”, you will never be able to break free from it. At most, you will run away from it by going into a retreat in a mountain and attain the level of Arahat far from the level of Buddhahood.

The Middle Way shows us the way to view this worldly existence as a relative truth that it does exist but in the form of an illusion which is non-graspable. The Middle Way examines the true nature of an existence beyond its appearance. Does this book have its true nature or not? Ultimately speaking, it does not truly exist. To an ant, this book does not exist and it is meaningless. However, this book means something to us because we see it at the right time and at the right place. Before the mobile phone was invented, no one knew what it was. Had you invented the mobile phone 100 years ago and showed it to others, no one would have known that it was a “mobile phone”. Actually, it does not truly exist because it too, lacks a self-nature. This is the Dharma – teachings that will free us from the illusory existence and experience.

Finally, Sakyamuni gave the third round of teachings – the Third Wheel of Dharma. The inconceivable Tantra was a new class of teachings transmitted by the Buddha during this period. This time, Buddha negated all the teachings He gave previously and transmitted the Tantra to only one worthy student - the King of the Shambala Kingdom. The king was the only suitable vessel for Tantra. The king did not want to abandon his kingdom and family, and he did not want to go into a retreat nor abide by the precepts.

Sakyamuni Buddha said, “Alright then, since you are a special vessel for such teachings!” So, He transmitted the inconceivable Tantra to the king. The king accomplished the Tantra soon after practising them, despite his worldly possessions. So, you see, this is how inconceivable the Trantra is. However, you cannot view the Tantra from the perspective of Hinayana. The King did not practise the precepts and meditation taugh in the first two rounds, yet he accomplished his practice of the Tantra taugh in the third round. Why was it so unfair? Sakyamuni Buddha explained that the king was a suitable vessel for the Tantra. The Tantra is simply inconceivable.

The Vajrayana (or Tantrayana) is so special because of its “lineage power”. The Mahayana regards the teachings more important than the teacher and that its practitioner can only attain Buddhahood after practicing for Three Big Aeons. However, the Vajrayana thinks that it is possible for a practitioner to attain Buddhahood in the present lifetime through an inconceivable method. Guru Yoga is such superior method. H.H Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche once said, “A qualified master is the path to enlightenment breaking free from the samsara. A qualified master is likened to the yacht of a boat, carrying the latter across an ocean. One must rely upon a qualified master in order to break free from the samsara. Actually, the only way to attain Buddhahood is to rely on a qualified master.”

There is no other method to accomplish the Tantra besides relying on a qualified master. The Tantra is indeed inconceivable. Why does Vajrayana provide the fastest path to enlightenment? A qualified master represents the Buddha and he is the embodiment of all lineages and the lineage power of all the past patriarchs of the lineages. This is the secret of the attainment of Buddhahood within one single or at most, a few lifetimes. There is no other method besides the Guru Yoga that can help achieve this.

Although other methods like the Mahayana can also help its practitioner attain Buddhahood, it is a much slower process. It is the same for the Hinayana where an Arahat must continue to practice for numerous aeons and progress to the Mahayana before finally entering the Vajrayana. The Vajrayana has the fastest method and a qualified Vajra Master can help a practitioner accomplish his practice swiftly. However, it will still require its practitioner to truly regard his own master as a Buddha as a pre-condition. A Vajrayana student cannot be suspicious of his master’s conduct but instead, must have full faith in the latter in order to accomplish his practice.

The Vajrayana is the quickest path to enlightenment but it is certainly not an easy one. First, you must develop a full faith in your master. When he asks you to jump, you jump; when he instructs you to do anything, you do; even though he may appear unreasonable at times. A qualified Vajrayana master is just inconceivable. All the past patriarchs accomplished their practice in the same manner. How can we be different? How can we be more superior than Vajrasattva, Guru Padmasambhava and the likes? We must trust their words and practice accordingly in order to break free from samsara within a very short span of time. Or we will continue to be stranded in the Six Realms of Existence (god, demi-god, human, animal, hell and hunger ghost) forever.

It is actually very difficult for a human being to reincarnate in a human form again in his next life. In most cases, he will just fall into the Three Lower Realms of Existence (animal, hell and hungry ghost). Please cherish this precious human condition and the opportunity to practise the Tantra in this life.

Key Teaching About Sadhana

There is a very crucial point in spiritual practice – sentient beings and I are one. Do not differentiate between “you” and “me”. This is a key teaching. Therefore, we should visualize all sentient beings practicing together with us during a sadhana (prayer session), doing prostrations together and chanting the mantra together. The blessing power will purify your body. However, if you have not purified the rest of the sentient beings, you have in fact, not purified yourselves. Such visualization is very crucial. You should do as advised. This is a very superior method of practice of the Vajrayana.

If you fail to visualize that way during your sadhana, you are not a true Vajrayanist. This is a crucial point. When you do your prostrations, you are not just doing it alone and ignoring the rest of the sentient beings. On the contrary, you should visualize clearly, starting with one sentient being, gradually increasing the size to a row, and finally ending with the whole universe being filled with numerous sentient beings, who are doing prostrations together with you. Do every single step of the sadhana with the numerous sentient beings together is a key practice.

If you simply do your prostrations without doing such visualization, you are not a true Vajrayanist. You should practise with all sentient beings in mind, as one, receiving the blessing of the enlightened ones together, prostrating together, repenting together etc. The sentient beings have not broken free from the cyclic existence of birth and death, and therefore they are still ordinary beings. Whatever you do is a mere reflection of what they are. So, we, the Vajrayanists, should not gossip about others, as they are a mere reflection of what you are. We should not gossip about others but should be mindful about our own behavior instead. This is a key teaching that I hope you will bear in mind.

The 14 Root Downfalls

There are 14 precepts that must not be transgressed in the practice of Vajrayana Buddhism – “The 14 Root Downfalls”. Every single one of them is important.

1^st  Downfall: Non-reverence of the Root Guru

Actually, we must revere our Root Guru at all times. This precept cannot be transgressed. After taking refuge, we must not disrespect our Root Guru by criticizing him, being unhappy about him or slandering him etc.

2^nd Downfall: Non-abiding by the Precepts of the Sutrayana and Vajrayana

We must abide by all the precepts outlined by both the Sutrayana and Vajrayana Schools including the Five Precepts, Ten Virtuos Acts etc.

3^rd Downfall: Quarrelling with Fellow Vajrayanists

This precept is easily transgressed as frictions easily occur among people within a community due to jealousy, hatred, dissatisfaction etc. This precept seems easy to abide by initially when everyone is still new to one another but over time, you will realize that it is harder than you think, especially when the group stays together after a decade or two – frictions are just difficult to avoid.

4^th Downfall: Jealousy and Loss of Compassion

We should never be jealous about others and loss our sense of compassion towards others.

5^th Downfall: Loss of Bodhicitta In the Face of Adversity

We must help even the difficult ones, including the baddies who have gone astray who bring harm to others. It is easy to help whom you love. However, you must also help whom you don’t love. This is indeed difficult. Buddha said, “There is a Buddha Nature in every sentient being.” So, you should also help the baddies instead of giving up your aspiration of Bodhicitta. When one aspires to Bodhicitta, it means one aspires to help all sentient beings, which is indeed difficult.

During the time of Sakyamuni Buddha, there were many Arahats who were unwilling to aspire to Bodhicitta because they knew that it would be very difficult to guide the sentient beings onto the path to enlightenment. They only took care of their own problems and attained liberation for their own sake. However, a Vajrayanist must aspire to Bodhicitta in order to accomplish the practice.

6^th Downfall: Slandering the Sutras and Tantras as Teachings Not Transmitted by the Buddha

Today there are many people who criticised that some of the sutras were not expounded by the Buddha. We had better not get ourselves involved in such debates before we know the true answer – we have no wisdom to tell which sutra is real and which one is not. So, do not slander any of the sutras.

7^th Downfall: Transmitting the Tantra To a Non-qualified Recipient

This precept is not quite relevant to the rest except those who are responsible for transmitting the Tantra to others. A Tantric teacher must be a qualified Vajra Master who was recognized and appointed by his own Root Guru and Principal Deity. Without the due recognition from the two parties mentioned, one cannot self-proclaim to be a Vajra Master, let alone transmit the Tantra to others. If you have not received a Vajra Master Empowerment in the past, you have not received the recognition of a Vajra Master and lack the true attainment of a Vajra Master, then you cannot transmit the Tantra to others. This precept is targeting at those who transmit the Tantra teachings to others.

8^th Downfall: Belittle One’s Buddha Nature

A Vajra Master is being regarded as a Buddha. The students of Vajrayana Buddhism are being regarded as the sons of the Buddha – the Prince of Buddha or the Prince of Dharma. One who hurts others hurts himself. One who succumbs to his own jealousy has also failed to abide by the precepts laid out by the Buddha. Since everyone is the Prince of Buddha or the Prince of Dharma, you will not hurt others, you will not deny your own Buddha Nature, you will not throw your tantrum or talk bad about others. If you do, you have transgressed this precept.

9^th Downfall: Loss of Balance Between The Teachings of “Emptiness” and “Existence”

One must treat the teachings of “emptiness” and “existence” with equal importance. You must study both the teachings on “emptiness” and “existence” expounded by the Buddha. You should strike a balance between the teachings of “emptiness” and “existence”. This one is difficult to comprehend actually. 

10^th Downfall: Befriend Those Who Slander the Dharma and Hurt Others

You must not befriend those who slander the Dharma and hurt others. If you befriend those who slander the Buddha and his teachings, you will be easily influenced by them and go astray. Actually, the 1^st and 5^th precepts are non-contradictory. The 5^th precept is advising a practitioner to aspire to Bodhicitta – if you befriend these people for the sole purpose of steering them onto the path to enlightenment, you can do so. However, if you do not have the ability to influence them, you had better stay away from them or you will end up being influenced by them instead. A Vajrayanist cannot be stay too close to the non-Vajrayanists.

11^th Downfall: Arrogant of One’s Spiritual Prowess and Forgetting the True Purpose of Tantra

It is wrong to focus only on one’s development of his spiritual prowess and forget about the true objective of one’s practising the Tantra - Bodhicitta. Some people practise the Tantra for supernatural power and are fond of fighting others using such power – this is wrong. The true purpose of practising the Tantra is to practise the Bodhicitta.

12^th Downfall: Hide the True Tantra from a Good Dharma Vessel

Again, this one is only relevant to those responsible for transmitting the Tantra. A true Vajra Master must transmit the true Tantra. If he does not transmit the true Tantra and refuse to teach the qualified students, he has transgressed this precept. If you a Vajra Master and you transmit the true Tantra to a qualified student when you come across one, then you are abiding by this precept.

13^th Downfall: Incomplete Religious Implements and Materials

You must have a complete set of religious implements when practising a Sadhana. You must have all the relevant religious materials ready when transmitting a Tantra teaching.

14^th Downfall: Despise the Wisdom of Women

We cannot be discriminative about women and despise their wisdom. Some people, after practicing the Tantra, start despising the women and discriminate their spiritual potential, saying that women will not be able to attain the state of Buddhahood. Actually, all men and women are equal.

 These are the 14 root precepts of the Vajrayana. All Vajrayana students must receive the spiritual empowerment and learn these 14 root precepts. If a Vajrayanist has not received the spiritual empowerment and does not abide by these 14 root precepts, he is learning the wrong teachings. These 14 root precepts are very important and you must pay special attention to them – read them when you are free or when you are doing a Sadhana.

A discourse given by Acho Rinpoche on 9 Sep 2011