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

"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