The Visualization of the Merging of Self and Deity
When one completes the Nine Round Buddha Breath Exercise, one's body, speech, and mind will be purified and, at this point, one is ready for the next step, "the merging of self and one's Personal Deity." The visualization of "merging of self and the Personal Deity" is very important. At this moment, the Deity before and above oneself in space (Amitabha in this case) flies and alights on the center of one's crown. Standing atop one's crown, Amitabha transforms instantaneously into a sparkling light the size of a rice grain. At the energy center of the heart, the petals of a lotus open up and in the center of the lotus is a moon disc bearing the seed syllable "hri." This "hii" embodies one's Buddha Nature. Visualize Amitabha descending the middle channel until he reaches the lotus at the heart and stands at the center of the moon disc. Many students have made the following statement related to this visualization: Grand Master, since Amitabha is standing up before and after entering my middle channel, while I am sitting down, I have trouble visualizing the merging of the two. [audience laughter]
These students wonder if Amitabha should be standing up or sitting down. Some people have these concerns and they are legitimate concerns. This is how I solved this problem. There is a painting of Amitabha inside the entrance of my residence [at the True Buddha Tantric Quarter] which depicts a standing Amitabha. I often meditate on that particular image of Amitabha because it is so vivid. This Amitabha has a full and perfect face and body and wears a celestial layered garment.
As it is a splendidly colorful painting, the image one visualizes is automatically in color. I visualize this standing Amitabha alight on my crown and contract to a miniature size. He then enters my middle channel and, throughout this time, Amitabha remains in a standing pose. However, when Amitabha reaches the moon disc at the lotus of the heart chakra, I visualize him sitting down in a full lotus position. This is how one can solve the dilemma! This is the step known as "the entering of the Personal Deity into the self."
One next visualizes Amitabha gradually enlarge, until his body reaches the dimensions of one's physical body. His ears are the same size as one's ears, his eyebrows as one's eyebrows, his eyes, nose, mouth, and the rest of the body are completely the same size as one's own. At this moment, in the snap of an instant, one transforms into the Personal Deity, in this case, Amitabha. This is "the entering of the Personal Deity into the self."
In summary: the Personal Deity in the space before and above one flies to alight on top of one's crown, then condenses to become a dot of light the size of a rice grain. At this time, one's heart chakra opens up to form a lotus and, at the center of the lotus, is a moon disc with the mantra syllable "hri" at the center. One may also visualize the syllable "hri" sending forth light to invoke and draw the Personal Deity, Amitabha, to enter the middle channel. After entering, Amitabha sits down on the heart-moon-lotus. Sitting upon the moon disc, Amitabha's body gradually expands until it reaches the complete, identical size as oneself and, in the twinkling of an eye, one transmutes into the Personal Deity. This is the visualization of "entering of the Personal Deity into self." At this time, one already has turned into Amitabha and, therefore, should no longer think of one's own facial features. One should think that one's face is identical to the face of Amitabha. One's body and every other condition are exactly the same as those of Amitabha. This is the "entering of the Personal Deity into self." The practices of "entering of the Personal Deity into self' and the "entering of self into the Personal Deity" are extremely profound both as methods and experiences.
What then, is the "entering of self into the Personal Deity?" It is the transportation of the Buddha in one's heart along the middle channel, to exit through the crown, and to dissolve into the Personal Deity in the empty space. This is the "entering of self into the Personal Deity."
After accomplishing the "entering of the Personal Deity into the self," one may then sit in quiescence for, at this moment, one is the Buddha, the Personal Deity. There is no distinction between oneself and Amitabha, and the two exist in a state of indivisibility. When one reaches this condition, one does not worry whether or not one's parents are coming, if one's daughter wants more money, if one's children are doing well in school, if someone owes one money or vice versa —one does not think about such matters. At this time, one's awareness is completely lucid and quiet. Therefore, through the "merging of self and Personal Deity" visualization, one recognizes the indivisibility of oneself and Personal Deity.
Basics [25]. 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
When one completes the Nine Round Buddha Breath Exercise, one's body, speech, and mind will be purified and, at this point, one is ready for the next step, "the merging of self and one's Personal Deity." The visualization of "merging of self and the Personal Deity" is very important. At this moment, the Deity before and above oneself in space (Amitabha in this case) flies and alights on the center of one's crown. Standing atop one's crown, Amitabha transforms instantaneously into a sparkling light the size of a rice grain. At the energy center of the heart, the petals of a lotus open up and in the center of the lotus is a moon disc bearing the seed syllable "hri." This "hii" embodies one's Buddha Nature. Visualize Amitabha descending the middle channel until he reaches the lotus at the heart and stands at the center of the moon disc. Many students have made the following statement related to this visualization: Grand Master, since Amitabha is standing up before and after entering my middle channel, while I am sitting down, I have trouble visualizing the merging of the two. [audience laughter]
These students wonder if Amitabha should be standing up or sitting down. Some people have these concerns and they are legitimate concerns. This is how I solved this problem. There is a painting of Amitabha inside the entrance of my residence [at the True Buddha Tantric Quarter] which depicts a standing Amitabha. I often meditate on that particular image of Amitabha because it is so vivid. This Amitabha has a full and perfect face and body and wears a celestial layered garment.
As it is a splendidly colorful painting, the image one visualizes is automatically in color. I visualize this standing Amitabha alight on my crown and contract to a miniature size. He then enters my middle channel and, throughout this time, Amitabha remains in a standing pose. However, when Amitabha reaches the moon disc at the lotus of the heart chakra, I visualize him sitting down in a full lotus position. This is how one can solve the dilemma! This is the step known as "the entering of the Personal Deity into the self."
One next visualizes Amitabha gradually enlarge, until his body reaches the dimensions of one's physical body. His ears are the same size as one's ears, his eyebrows as one's eyebrows, his eyes, nose, mouth, and the rest of the body are completely the same size as one's own. At this moment, in the snap of an instant, one transforms into the Personal Deity, in this case, Amitabha. This is "the entering of the Personal Deity into the self."
In summary: the Personal Deity in the space before and above one flies to alight on top of one's crown, then condenses to become a dot of light the size of a rice grain. At this time, one's heart chakra opens up to form a lotus and, at the center of the lotus, is a moon disc with the mantra syllable "hri" at the center. One may also visualize the syllable "hri" sending forth light to invoke and draw the Personal Deity, Amitabha, to enter the middle channel. After entering, Amitabha sits down on the heart-moon-lotus. Sitting upon the moon disc, Amitabha's body gradually expands until it reaches the complete, identical size as oneself and, in the twinkling of an eye, one transmutes into the Personal Deity. This is the visualization of "entering of the Personal Deity into self." At this time, one already has turned into Amitabha and, therefore, should no longer think of one's own facial features. One should think that one's face is identical to the face of Amitabha. One's body and every other condition are exactly the same as those of Amitabha. This is the "entering of the Personal Deity into self." The practices of "entering of the Personal Deity into self' and the "entering of self into the Personal Deity" are extremely profound both as methods and experiences.
What then, is the "entering of self into the Personal Deity?" It is the transportation of the Buddha in one's heart along the middle channel, to exit through the crown, and to dissolve into the Personal Deity in the empty space. This is the "entering of self into the Personal Deity."
After accomplishing the "entering of the Personal Deity into the self," one may then sit in quiescence for, at this moment, one is the Buddha, the Personal Deity. There is no distinction between oneself and Amitabha, and the two exist in a state of indivisibility. When one reaches this condition, one does not worry whether or not one's parents are coming, if one's daughter wants more money, if one's children are doing well in school, if someone owes one money or vice versa —one does not think about such matters. At this time, one's awareness is completely lucid and quiet. Therefore, through the "merging of self and Personal Deity" visualization, one recognizes the indivisibility of oneself and Personal Deity.
Basics [25]. 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
No comments:
Post a Comment