Key Teachings

(Acho Rinpoche visited Tsurphu Monastery in Tibet in Aug 2014)

Tonight Acho Rinpoche gave the following teachings after our group prayer.

1.       See Karmapa Through One’s Mind-eye

Some of the audience who attended a teaching by H.H Karmapa recently fought over their seats in order to be able to “see” Karmapa more clearly without having their views being blocked. Karmapa fell silent for quite a while after hearing such incident. Later, he broke his silence and said that he did a lot of preparations in order to bring the precious teachings to the students and he hoped that the audience would see him through their mind-eyes but not their naked eyes.  

2.       What is a Buddhist?

Gampopa ever explained the meaning of being a Buddhist and the reason for practising the teachings of the Buddha. He said, “Being a Buddhist means being prepared to face death at any moment. Not only that, one must face death without any regrets.” When we ponder upon death frequently, we will not be carried away by other trivial issues in life related to money, career, family etc., for the rest will be just meaningless when we die.

A Kadampa master said, “When we hear a teaching, apply it immediately.”

In the past, there was a westerner who was confronted by a serious illness and felt depressed. However, a Buthanese friend of his advised him to not take his illness seriously. Actually, the Buthanese people spend 5 minutes each day in the morning to ponder upon death. So, they cherish the present and do not worry about what will happen tomorrow. This is the secret of Buthanese’s Happiness Index. However, the westerners lack such oriental philosophy in their cultures.  

 

3.       Three Key Teachings

H.H Karmapa said, “Do not pick on the fault of others.” Acho Rinpoche said, a practitioner should just admire the strengths of others but not pick on their weaknesses, if he wants to break free of the cyclic existence of birth and death. In this world, the practice of the following three key teachings is far more superior then the recitation of mantras. They are:

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s my fault.”

“Please forgive me.”

A practitioner who practises these three key teachings frequently will reach the shore of enlightenment swiftly. So, we should learn to listen to the views of others and try to understand the views of others; we should not always insist on our own views.

Reported by Sun Moon KFS on 11-7-2015

Teachings by H.H Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche

Acho Rinpoche said that human life is pre-determined by one’s karma. However, there are special practices that can truly help one prolong his life e.g. livestock liberations, Amitayu Prayer, or doing a special Taoist practice on the day of Cosmic Union of Heaven and Earth (on the 16^th day of every 5^th lunar month) and drinking the nectar of rain water collected on the same day which is blessed by the Buddha. Prolonging the longevity of one’s life is the most difficult task. As the Chinese saying goes, “When the Yama King wants to claim your life at midnight, how would you be able to live till dawn!”

Acho Rinpoche also shared the following teachings from H.H Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche:

Only a Buddha can tell how many times you have repeated your cyclic existence of births and deaths. And only a Buddha can tell the beginning of cyclic existence (samsara). It was mentioned in one of the sutras that if you could pile up all carcases of your past lives when you were born as an insect, they will reach the height taller than that of Mt Sumeru. If you could collect all the tears that you shed in your past lives out of sorrow, they will form an ocean larger than any oceans in the world.

All that you had done in your numerous past lives would only bring you sufferings but not any step closer to the state of liberation. Why? For everything that you have done so far, is either a harmful action or otherwise meaningless action.

All sentient beings continue to be preoccupied by the various activities at all times. Mankind is always busy competing with one another, shopping, trading, creating or destroying. Birds are always busy building nests, laying eggs and feeding their baby birds. Bees are always busy collecting nectars from flowers and making honey out of them. The rest of the animals are always busy eating, hunting, staying vigilant of their enemies and feeding their young ones. The more you do, the greater your responsibility becomes, and the harder it gets. At the end, the fruits of your labour will not even last longer than the drawing you did on the surface of water. When you finally recognise the falsity of all those meaningless activities, you will realise that –the practice of the Buddha Dharma is the only activity that is worth doing.

 

Reported by Sun Moon KFS on 3-7-2015

The Union of Heaven and Earth

A cosmic union between the Heaven and Earth occurs on the 16^th day of the 5^th lunar month every year. The cosmic union will somehow multiply the effect of a spiritual practice by numerous folds, helping a practitioner attain a swift spiritual advancement within a very short span of time. This is indeed a golden opportunity not to be missed!

Singapore has gone through a period of very dry weather lately. Any rain was unexpected during this period. However, a pleasant surprise came in the afternoon today – a sudden rainfall happened. Some of our fellow practitioners took this opportunity to collect some rain water, known as “water without root” (rain water collected mid-air before it touches the ground). Acho Rinpoche explained that such water, already charged by the cosmic union during this rare moment, can become even more powerful after being blessed by the Buddha. Such water can eradicate our negative karma, illnesses and increase our longevity. It was indeed a very rare occurrence.  

Tonight, Acho Rinpoche transmitted a very special practice taught by the Supreme Elder of Taoism personally, who manifested at the juncture of the cosmic union. This practice includes a special set of mudras and a mantra, signifying the initial formation of the universe and the birth of all living beings. This practice can help a practitioner gain the most powerful blessing of Taoism.

Sherap Galtsen Lama from the Mindrolling Monastery in Nepal also joined us in the practice with full concentration. To a Tibetan monk, this must be his first experience in learning a Taoism practice!

We are grateful to the founder of Taoism – the Supreme Elder of Taoism, who transmitted such a superior practice for the sake of helping the sentient beings and leading all onto the path of enlightenment.

Homage to Sun Moon Lamp Buddha!   

 

Reported by Sun Moon KFS on 1-7-2015

The Merits of Making One’s Root Guru Happy For 1-day Far Surpass Those Accumulated from a 3-year Retreat

 

Tonight we welcomed Sherap Galtsen Lama from the Mindrolling Monastery in Nepal. He learnt about Acho Rinpoche from our Yeshe Khenpo (a former secretary to H.H Dzogchen Rinpoche) a few years back. It was his second visit to Singapore and he finally met Acho Rinpoche in person tonight.

After our group prayer, Acho Rinpoche shared a message published on the Internet by H.H 17^th Karmapa on his 30^th Birthday. In his message, Karmapa informed all about the reason why he decided not to celebrate his 30^th birthday. He left China for India in 2000, at the age of 16. Now, he is already 30 year-old. He left China for India for only two reasons: to learn the Buddha Dharma and to propagate it. Least did he expect that he would end up being suspected by the Indian Government for being a Chinese spy and restrained from moving around freely. He cannot leave India for other countries freely and he cannot even visit Rumtek Monastery, which is the main seat of the 16^th Karmapa in India. The Karmapa’s emblem – The Black Crown, is at Rumtek, out of his reach! He yearned to visit Tibet, for visiting his aging parents and to do his part in environmental protection – protecting the “3^rd pole” of earth, for the benefits of mankind. However, it seems unlikely that he could have his wishes fulfilled in the near future.

We considered ourselves very lucky for we can travel the world freely. Next year, when Acho Rinpoche Retreat Centre which is currently under construction is ready, we will visit India for its inauguration ceremony. We can also visit Sikkhim by then. We have a strong karmic connection with Karma Kagyud, so the visit will be meaningful. Besides, during her recent visit to Singapore, Princess Roshana from Nepal extended her invitation to Acho Rinpoche to meet Dodrupchen Rinpoche, who is her Buddhist Master and also a resident of Sikkhim.

Next, Acho Rinpoche shared a story about Master Atisha. Master Atisha had three students during his time: Dromton, who was his personal attendant and translator for his teachings, who attended to his daily needs; Ami, who was a cook who prepared his daily meals; Kambawa, who did a solitary retreat for years.  

One day, Dromton was cleaning up the excretion of Atisha when the latter fell ill. Dromton was very focused in doing his cleaning while maintaining his greatest reverence of his root guru. Suddenly, he entered a profound state of Samadhi and instantaneously attained an extraordinary ability of omniscience. Dromton could read the minds of all sentient beings including ants and insects which were present along the fly path taken by a bird in 18 days.

One day, Kambawa, while in his retreat, suddenly thought to himself, “I am such a hard working practitioner! My spiritual attainment must be the highest among my fellow classmates.” The omniscient Atisha instantly read his mind and sent a messenger to him, asking him to end his retreat and go back to verify the fruits of his labour. So, he contested with Dromton. Surprisingly, Dromton had attained a much higher spiritual attainment than Kambawa! Even the cook, Ami, out did Kambawa!

Acho Rinpoche said, “Such is the inconceivable method of Dzogchen (The Great Perfection) of serving one’s root guru whole heartedly!”

The profundity of such method is beyond our secular wisdom formed on the basis of mental fabrication. Only a student who could let go of his stature, let go of his views, let go of his temper, let go of his pride, let go of his personal pursuits and aims, who could truly serve his root guru as a Buddha, stands the chance of a full enlightenment – the state of Great Perfection!

 

Reported by Sun-Moon KFS on 25-6-2015

Vesak Day

Vesak Day, celebrated by Buddhists worldwide, falls on the 15^th day of the fourth Lunar Month. It is a very special day that commemorates the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of Sakyamuni Buddha. It is also a gazetted public holiday in Singapore. It is also called “One Thousand Buddhas Birthday” as it is believed that 1,000 Buddhas were born on the very same day in the past.

The fourth Lunar Month is also being regarded as the “Sakya Season”, during which any practice done will help a practitioner generate the greatest merits. So, Acho Rinpoche advised all to make good use of this golden opportunity – to practice vigorously. This is, in fact, a special practice in the Vajrayana where a practitioner could practise more vigorously on special days such as the day on which a Buddha was born, to accumulate the greatest merits within the shortest time - for a swift spiritual attainment.  

We held a “Bath-the-Buddha” ceremony and Green Tara Empowerment today as a form of celebration. After our group prayer, Dharma Brother Xin shared with us a special dream that he had recently, soon after receiving the Red God of Wealth (also known as the Elephant-Trunk Vajra or Ganesh) from Acho Rinpoche. In is dream, he saw the ground cracked opened by the force of earth quake. Later, he saw lots of gems (ruby and blue sapphire) emerging from the crack line and he took some of them. He also saw others around him, including Dharma Brother Shao, taking the gems away too.

Acho Rinpoche said that Ganesh is indeed very powerful and rich, and he could actually endow wealth to sentient beings. Dharma Brother Lin reported that he received a handsome reward form his boss after receiving the same empowerment. Acho Rinpoche said that Dharma Brother Lin has a strong karmic connection with Ganesh. (Dharma Brother Shao had a dream in which he saw a huge Ganesh statue being erected by Dharma Brother Lin in his past life, which was worshipped in a big garden. That explains the connection between the two.)

Acho Rinpoche revealed the true identity of Ganesh, saying that he is, in fact, a manifestation of a Bodhisattva of the highest state. Another word, he is an emanation of a Buddha that should not be taken lightly.

The group prayer ended with a Green Tara Empowerment which could help eradicate negative karma of a practitioner, as one will not be able to generate merits until he has his negative karma eradicated.  

Reported by Sun-Moon KFS on 1 Jun 2015

 (Pictures below: The day before Vesay Day, we did a life liberation ceremony at a fish farm, releasing about 1,000 fish back to the sea.)