Moon Disc Visualization
The Emptiness Visualization Mantra is used to enhance and facilitate the emptying of the mind After the mind is emptied, one proceeds to do the visualization. First, one forms the Amitabha Root Mudra, then one visualizes an expanse of ocean surface appearing below the Emptiness. Above is the stretch of Emptiness and below is the ocean.
At the horizon, a very large moon disc rises. In other words, a perfectly round, blue moon disc is suspended between the ocean and the Emptiness. Why must one visualize a moon disc? I used to ask the following question: why is it that a moon disc, and not a sun disc, stars, or anything else for that
matter, is to be visualized? The answer is that the light of the sun is too strong and one's eyes cannot bear it. The stars, on the other hand, are too small for visualization.
What else in the universe can be used as a symbol for purity? The moon or the moon disc is the purest. Visualizing the moon disc connotes purity. What else does the moon disc represent? A moon disc also represents "Siddhi," as referred to in the mantra, "Om, guru, Lian-sheng siddhi hum." Siddhi is the Land of the Buddha or the Pure Land. So, in one's frequent visualization of the moon disc, one visualizes a stretch of clear, cloudless sky with an expanse of ocean below and a moon disc rising up above the horizon. The moon disc is the "Siddhi," the Pure Land, the Buddha Land. This visualization has to be done clearly.
Seed Syllable and Personal Deity
Next, one visualizes the seed syllable "hri" appearing at the center of the moon disc. Someone asked me what is the color of this syllable? As Amitabha is associated with the west direction and the color red, this syllable should be in red. When the seed syllable manifests, it should be very clear. In the clear, cloudless sky, a moon disc with the red "hri" manifests and suspends over a huge expanse of ocean. This visualization should also be very clear.
The seed syllable "hri" is red in color. What does "hri" represent? It represents the seed Consciousness, or Buddha Nature, of the practitioner. Thus, one's Buddha Nature is on the moon disc amid an expanse of Emptiness. When one practices the Amitabha Deity Yoga, the red syllable "hri" appears on the moon disc and rotates to transform into Amitabha. Amitabha steps out of the moon disc and manifests in front of one. In the Emptiness above, one's Personal Deity manifests. Does one understand how to perform such a visualization now?
How is Amitabha related to oneself? Amitabha is one's Dharma Body [innermost being]. Three visualizations are involved in this step: the Moon Disc Visualization, the Seed Syllable Visualization, and the Personal Deity Visualization which translate respectively into the Siddhi (Buddha Land), Buddha Nature, and Dharma Body.
When this practice is perfected, one's Dharma Body becomes Amitabha, and, at this stage, one can manifest this realized inner being as one thousand or ten thousand Amitabhas, which is the same as transforming oneself into one thousand or ten thousand selves. This is subtle and extremely profound.
Basics [15]. More to come.....
Readers can write to asklotuschef@gmail.com for a .pdf or .doc copy of this book.
Om Guru Lian Sheng Siddhi Hom
Lama Lotuschef
The Emptiness Visualization Mantra is used to enhance and facilitate the emptying of the mind After the mind is emptied, one proceeds to do the visualization. First, one forms the Amitabha Root Mudra, then one visualizes an expanse of ocean surface appearing below the Emptiness. Above is the stretch of Emptiness and below is the ocean.
At the horizon, a very large moon disc rises. In other words, a perfectly round, blue moon disc is suspended between the ocean and the Emptiness. Why must one visualize a moon disc? I used to ask the following question: why is it that a moon disc, and not a sun disc, stars, or anything else for that
matter, is to be visualized? The answer is that the light of the sun is too strong and one's eyes cannot bear it. The stars, on the other hand, are too small for visualization.
What else in the universe can be used as a symbol for purity? The moon or the moon disc is the purest. Visualizing the moon disc connotes purity. What else does the moon disc represent? A moon disc also represents "Siddhi," as referred to in the mantra, "Om, guru, Lian-sheng siddhi hum." Siddhi is the Land of the Buddha or the Pure Land. So, in one's frequent visualization of the moon disc, one visualizes a stretch of clear, cloudless sky with an expanse of ocean below and a moon disc rising up above the horizon. The moon disc is the "Siddhi," the Pure Land, the Buddha Land. This visualization has to be done clearly.
Seed Syllable and Personal Deity
Next, one visualizes the seed syllable "hri" appearing at the center of the moon disc. Someone asked me what is the color of this syllable? As Amitabha is associated with the west direction and the color red, this syllable should be in red. When the seed syllable manifests, it should be very clear. In the clear, cloudless sky, a moon disc with the red "hri" manifests and suspends over a huge expanse of ocean. This visualization should also be very clear.
The seed syllable "hri" is red in color. What does "hri" represent? It represents the seed Consciousness, or Buddha Nature, of the practitioner. Thus, one's Buddha Nature is on the moon disc amid an expanse of Emptiness. When one practices the Amitabha Deity Yoga, the red syllable "hri" appears on the moon disc and rotates to transform into Amitabha. Amitabha steps out of the moon disc and manifests in front of one. In the Emptiness above, one's Personal Deity manifests. Does one understand how to perform such a visualization now?
How is Amitabha related to oneself? Amitabha is one's Dharma Body [innermost being]. Three visualizations are involved in this step: the Moon Disc Visualization, the Seed Syllable Visualization, and the Personal Deity Visualization which translate respectively into the Siddhi (Buddha Land), Buddha Nature, and Dharma Body.
When this practice is perfected, one's Dharma Body becomes Amitabha, and, at this stage, one can manifest this realized inner being as one thousand or ten thousand Amitabhas, which is the same as transforming oneself into one thousand or ten thousand selves. This is subtle and extremely profound.
Readers can write to asklotuschef@gmail.com for a .pdf or .doc copy of this book.
Om Guru Lian Sheng Siddhi Hom
Lama Lotuschef
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