Was it Guru Rinpoche who said, “Next life, next breath’? Certainly time is not to be wasted, as this constitutes the thirteen Branch Downfall of the Bodhisattvas’ vows, concerning idle gossip and amusements that steal time from Dharma practice. Further, neutral or even deeds and thoughts can be turbocharged. When thoughts or images of the Guru arise, instantly transform it into Clear Light Mahamudra result. Same with the other jewels, Buddha, Sangha, and Dharma. Don’t say your mantras walking around, saying hello to people, mumbling more mantras and the like. Say them purposely while steeped in their appropriate visualization in front of a shrine or other holy support. The people you do meet while walking see as your chosen, oath deity at one with the Body, Speech, and Mind support manifesting simultaneously. Then instantly experience them as the Clear Light dawning. Why nurse the desire of doing Vajrayana with its result of nonduality, when it can be realized instantly with the arising of the last thought? Don’t languidly draw out the process of realization, making it your pet ego-boosting or deflating religious compulsion in a crystal cabinet to gaze at longingly while never accomplishing it. Rather seize it starting at the break of each day and practice all as the Clear Light dawning exactly while you go about your daily business. For in that way the Wisdom of Accomplishment will lead and change your circumstances very quickly for you into Pure Perception, the abode of the Buddhas always arising instantly. This may sound like advanced practice but really it’s what should be done each time you sit down, assume the seven correct postures, beginning your sadhana with Supplication, Refuge, Confession, Purification, and Mandala Offerings, before moving onto the Main Practice already as the deity. As that deity, and all the deities, floated by their appropriate ‘seats’ radiant in their holy form from their incandescent seed syllables, behold the Clear Light that changes you into them and them into you as an accomplished Viddyadhara. Moreover, always be giving thanks and dedicating merit to others for blessings and siddhis received and on their way. In other words, it is as the Buddhas said just before passing into Parinirvana: all is impermanent and this life is short so practice with great diligence!
His Eminence Deshung Rinpoche, Kunga Tenpay Nyima, introduced Vajra Breathing by saying something like this: ‘I know you’re interested in the highest Tantric practices His Holiness will give you in India. But I can teach right now the best one. And it’s very simple.’ The year was 1980. ‘Vajra Breathing’ is how Sonam Tenzin, I believe, translated it. Rinpoche showed us the basic pranayama rounds of ‘three-threes,’ blowing stale air out through our nostrils, left, right, (and together) center. Then he demonstrated breathing in steadily through his nose, instructing us to visualize a white OM. Then he demonstrated retaining that breath, telling us to visualize a red AH. He finished by saying to breathe out measuredly, with a blue HUNG in mind, so as not to rustle even a hair in the nostrils. I don’t remember him saying to imagine our breath going out farther and farther, with each round, as I believe is taught in the Nong Sum. But I’m certain he stre...
Comments
Post a Comment