Intoning the Buddhas
Having explained how the implements are used and how they can be used to help actualize certain intents, I would next like to explain why we have this step of intoning the Buddhas. It is my hope that our students will not be reproachful of the practice of the Sutric (Scriptural) schools. I would like to integrate Taoism, Sutric, and Tantric Buddhism in our practice. Although some of you are only interested in doing the Tantric practice, you should still do the intonation of the Buddha's name.
Actually, intonation of Buddhas' name has the same merit as the intonation of mantras, despite the opinion that intonation of Buddhas' names is at level of form, while the intonation of mantras is at the level of the inner consciousness. In my opinion, intoning of the Buddha's names is also excellent; one has at least invoked in form, even if one might have failed to achieve a yogic response in the inner level.
The intonation at this step is also unique. "Homage to the three hundred Amitabha Buddhas". This way of intonation, a creation of mine, can generate the highest merit. In the scriptural schools, one generally chants like this: Amitabha, Amitabha, Amitabha… It takes a whole for one to chant juts eight times. Without exposure to the Tantric Dharma, one might not understand the secret power of its practice! "Homage to the three hundred sixty trillion!" [audience laughter] Just one such intonation is equivalent to one whole lifetime of chanting. In fact, one can't even reach this number in one lifetime! Therefore, the True Buddha Tantra is indeed a supreme Dharma! [audience applause].
During each practice, we chant three times, "Homage to the three hundred sixty trillion one hundred nineteen thousand five hundred Amitabha Buddha." It will take a scriptural school practitioner three lifetimes to match this. One is really foolish if one does not appreciate such wonderful practices which will enable one to attain Liberation in this present life instead of three lifetimes hence. Intoning the Buddhas three times this way reinforces the intimacy between oneself and the Buddhas. There is no separation between the two. The Buddhas and one are united.
Dedication
Next is the dedication. Here one joins one's palms and chants, "May all who uphold the name of the Amitabha Buddha, Be born together in the Pure Land of His Western Paradise, Repaying the Fourfold Generosity from above, and aiding those who suffer in the Three Path below. Upon seeing the Buddha, May I be liberated from the cycle of birth and death; and May I develop the qualities of Buddhahood, and thus free all who suffer." These verses refer to "Liberation by Guidance" and not Instantaneous Liberation because it describes how one may be liberated from the cycle of birth and death upon seeing the Buddha. It is apparent that one is not yet a Buddha. If one has achieved "Buddhahood in this present body," one would chant instead, "With the opening of the lotus, I become the Buddha." Therefore, this dedication is from the Scriptural schools. Through these verses, one expresses one's wish to be reborn to Sukhavati along with others who chant Amitabha's name. Besides attaining Liberations upon seeing the Buddha, one also vows to teach others to attain Liberation just as the Buddhas have. These are very wonderful verses and, because of my fondness for them, I have decided to include them in the True Buddha Tantra.
Is there any visualization to go with these dedications?
Yes, there is. As soon as one recites "May all who uphold the name of Amitabha," one transforms and multiplies by billion one's Personal Deity until there are three hundred sixty trillion of them, filling up the whole Universe. When one chants, "Be born together in the Pure Land of His Western Paradise," one sees tens thousands of lotuses blossoming everywhere. While reciting, "Repaying the Fourfold Generosity from above," one has to visualize the Fourfold Generosity. What is the Fourfold Generosity? On the top is the firstfold consisting of the Triple Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha) in a white light. Below the Triple Jewels is the secondfold generosity, one's parents who give nourishment and provide one with a body; this appears in red light. The thirdfold generosity is one's teacher, the guru who teaches the practices, and he or she appears in yellow. The fourthfold generosity appears in blue, and it includes the country in which one resides, along with its ruler and all its citizens.
What about the Three Paths below? Immediately after chanting this verse, the realms of the hell beings, hungry ghosts, and animals appear. If one does not know what the hell being look like, one may consult a Buddhist chart of the six realms of beings. The hungry ghosts have huge heads and bellies but narrow necks and, as a result, they can never satisfy their hunger. Of course one is able to visualize the animal such as cows, horses, goats, and pigs. These three realms may be visualized in black. At this point, one's heart chakra emits a white light that shines on three lower paths. This represents one's determination to help beings in the three lower paths.
The chanting of the Fourfold Generosity and Three Paths Below is accompanied by visualization because it signifies one's commitment to the Buddhist vows. One should remember to repay the Fourfold Generosity and to help the beings in the three lower paths.
There is no visualization with the three remaining verses: "May I be liberated from the cycle of birth and death; And may I develop this qualities of Buddhahood, And thus free all who suffer".
Basics [36]. More to come.....
Readers can write to purekarmaservices@gmail.com for a .pdf or .doc copy of this book.
Om Guru Lian Sheng Siddhi Hom
Lama Lotuschef
Having explained how the implements are used and how they can be used to help actualize certain intents, I would next like to explain why we have this step of intoning the Buddhas. It is my hope that our students will not be reproachful of the practice of the Sutric (Scriptural) schools. I would like to integrate Taoism, Sutric, and Tantric Buddhism in our practice. Although some of you are only interested in doing the Tantric practice, you should still do the intonation of the Buddha's name.
Actually, intonation of Buddhas' name has the same merit as the intonation of mantras, despite the opinion that intonation of Buddhas' names is at level of form, while the intonation of mantras is at the level of the inner consciousness. In my opinion, intoning of the Buddha's names is also excellent; one has at least invoked in form, even if one might have failed to achieve a yogic response in the inner level.
The intonation at this step is also unique. "Homage to the three hundred Amitabha Buddhas". This way of intonation, a creation of mine, can generate the highest merit. In the scriptural schools, one generally chants like this: Amitabha, Amitabha, Amitabha… It takes a whole for one to chant juts eight times. Without exposure to the Tantric Dharma, one might not understand the secret power of its practice! "Homage to the three hundred sixty trillion!" [audience laughter] Just one such intonation is equivalent to one whole lifetime of chanting. In fact, one can't even reach this number in one lifetime! Therefore, the True Buddha Tantra is indeed a supreme Dharma! [audience applause].
During each practice, we chant three times, "Homage to the three hundred sixty trillion one hundred nineteen thousand five hundred Amitabha Buddha." It will take a scriptural school practitioner three lifetimes to match this. One is really foolish if one does not appreciate such wonderful practices which will enable one to attain Liberation in this present life instead of three lifetimes hence. Intoning the Buddhas three times this way reinforces the intimacy between oneself and the Buddhas. There is no separation between the two. The Buddhas and one are united.
Dedication
Next is the dedication. Here one joins one's palms and chants, "May all who uphold the name of the Amitabha Buddha, Be born together in the Pure Land of His Western Paradise, Repaying the Fourfold Generosity from above, and aiding those who suffer in the Three Path below. Upon seeing the Buddha, May I be liberated from the cycle of birth and death; and May I develop the qualities of Buddhahood, and thus free all who suffer." These verses refer to "Liberation by Guidance" and not Instantaneous Liberation because it describes how one may be liberated from the cycle of birth and death upon seeing the Buddha. It is apparent that one is not yet a Buddha. If one has achieved "Buddhahood in this present body," one would chant instead, "With the opening of the lotus, I become the Buddha." Therefore, this dedication is from the Scriptural schools. Through these verses, one expresses one's wish to be reborn to Sukhavati along with others who chant Amitabha's name. Besides attaining Liberations upon seeing the Buddha, one also vows to teach others to attain Liberation just as the Buddhas have. These are very wonderful verses and, because of my fondness for them, I have decided to include them in the True Buddha Tantra.
Is there any visualization to go with these dedications?
Yes, there is. As soon as one recites "May all who uphold the name of Amitabha," one transforms and multiplies by billion one's Personal Deity until there are three hundred sixty trillion of them, filling up the whole Universe. When one chants, "Be born together in the Pure Land of His Western Paradise," one sees tens thousands of lotuses blossoming everywhere. While reciting, "Repaying the Fourfold Generosity from above," one has to visualize the Fourfold Generosity. What is the Fourfold Generosity? On the top is the firstfold consisting of the Triple Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha) in a white light. Below the Triple Jewels is the secondfold generosity, one's parents who give nourishment and provide one with a body; this appears in red light. The thirdfold generosity is one's teacher, the guru who teaches the practices, and he or she appears in yellow. The fourthfold generosity appears in blue, and it includes the country in which one resides, along with its ruler and all its citizens.
What about the Three Paths below? Immediately after chanting this verse, the realms of the hell beings, hungry ghosts, and animals appear. If one does not know what the hell being look like, one may consult a Buddhist chart of the six realms of beings. The hungry ghosts have huge heads and bellies but narrow necks and, as a result, they can never satisfy their hunger. Of course one is able to visualize the animal such as cows, horses, goats, and pigs. These three realms may be visualized in black. At this point, one's heart chakra emits a white light that shines on three lower paths. This represents one's determination to help beings in the three lower paths.
The chanting of the Fourfold Generosity and Three Paths Below is accompanied by visualization because it signifies one's commitment to the Buddhist vows. One should remember to repay the Fourfold Generosity and to help the beings in the three lower paths.
There is no visualization with the three remaining verses: "May I be liberated from the cycle of birth and death; And may I develop this qualities of Buddhahood, And thus free all who suffer".
Basics [36]. More to come.....
Readers can write to purekarmaservices@gmail.com for a .pdf or .doc copy of this book.
Om Guru Lian Sheng Siddhi Hom
Lama Lotuschef
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