Question asked by Dongho
What are the views of homosexuality in Buddhism? If it is rejected, how do you convert gays to become straight? Or if a person has one, how do you destroy their homosexuality?
For the "om mani padme hum" thing, I read that Avalokitesvara has to move. Is it okay to visualize the Dalai Lama shining upon you while chanting the "om mani padme hum" mantra?
What would happen if a lama said their own mantra? For example, the 14th Dalai Lama saying his name mantra or Green Tara chanting her mantra, "Om Tare Tuttare Ture soha"?
How is ignorance to be destroyed of others?
Is it okay to wear talismans?
What are the views of magic in buddhism?
How can a middle school student practice tantra alone?
How does one receive empowerments or initiation if there are no gurus or lamas in the area?
What would happen if you turned the prayer wheel backwards?
Can we visualize Dorje Shugden's oracle taking trance of Dorje Shugden when chanting "Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha"?
What are the views of Vairocana Buddha in Tibetan Buddhism? How does one memorize long mantras easily?
As for Ushnisha Vijaya's mantra, is it just "om droom soha"? Because in this link:
http://resources.tsemtulku.com/prayers/mantra-list.html
Tsem Rinpoche just put that. Other websites had a longer version.
Is guru RInpoche to be visualized as a pale Indian man in the traditional robes and scepter?
Dear Dongho,
Thank you for your questions. Homosexuality is not rejected within Buddhism. In Buddhist philosophy, any activity that does not help you progress towards enlightenment is marked by suffering. Samsara itself is of the nature of suffering. That is the first of the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths. Therefore any act that does not lead to towards enlightenment will eventually cause suffering. This is the case with homosexuality, and in fact with any sexuality activity for pleasure or procreation. Gay people therefore do not need to be converted to become straight. That is just the form their sexuality takes in this current life. Culturally speaking however, as Buddhism developed or was introduced to societies that viewed homosexuality in a negative light, there are some who believe that homosexuality is wrong. However from a Buddhist perspective it is sexuality that is wrong, but the cause of sexuality, which is attachment. This attachment is a contributing factor to our suffering and the continued existence within Samsara. There is absolutely no need to convert a homosexual person therefore, rather all people must seek to overcome the negative effects of their desire.
As for the visualising the Dalai Lama while chanting Om Mani Peme Hung, this is perfectly fine as the Dalai Lama himself is the emanation of Avalokiteshvara. As for a Lama or Buddha chanting their own name mantra, I do not think anything would ‘happen’ per se. In essence they are saying their own name, as both their physical form and their mantra are in nature ultimately the enlightened state of mind. However, when they speak their own mantra in order to teach their own students/disciples, this is extremely beneficial as they are teaching a method towards enlightenment, through their own mantra.
In regards to ignorance, you can only overcome your own ignorance. This cannot be done by any anyone else, therefore you cannot destroy the ignorance of another person. If you could do this, then out of compassion the Buddhas would have destroyed the ignorance in all of us and we would all be Buddhas. That being said, we can help others to overcome their ignorance through sharing the Dharma with them and through our compassionate actions. We can set a good example and help them realise the faults of their ignorance so that they themselves practice to overcome their own ignorance.
In regards to wearing talismans, it depends on what sort of talismans they are. If they are made to invoke worldly deities that have not been bound to protect or aid practitioners then it is not advisable to wear them since the beings can have an adverse effect on us. Those talismans that invoke upon the energies of the Buddhas or beings who are bound to aid practitioners are good to wear. Our online store called Vajrasecrets has many protective amulets which you can invite if you need them: http://www.vajrasecrets.com/protection-amulets.
Within Buddhism, magic is not necessarily evil nor is it good. Most magic invokes the energies of various spirits, elementals or gods. Since these beings are not enlightened they have the same sorts of emotions as humans, such as desire, jealousy and hatred. Because of that they can easily turn against a practitioner of magic or become angry with the practitioner. Also since Buddhists only take refuge in enlightened beings, they do not practice magic. Therefore Buddhist practitioners realise that they should not rely on worldly beings but Buddhas, as they are the ones who have escape samsara and we need to emulate their actions to achieve exact same state.
In regards to a middle school student practicing tantra alone, this is not advisable. In fact no one should practice tantra alone, without having learnt the particular tantra and its associate meditations from a qualified Guru. There are numerous reasons for this. The first and foremost is that a student must have a solid foundation on the sutric path, which the tantric path necessarily invokes and is based upon. This sutric aspect you can learn on your own but also needs a qualified guru to explain properly. You should begin this by reading the text Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand. This is a text that provides an overview of the sutric path step by step all the way to enlightenment. This is very foundational teaching which you should know well before seeking to engage in tantric practice under a qualified guru. Unfortunately, in the tantric path one cannot practice without having received empowerment from a guru. One can start making aspirational prayers to do so. For example here is an article that tell you how to make a connection with Vajrayogini, who is the main tantric yidam in Kechara: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/vajrayogini-the-powerful-divine-red-lady.html
If you turned the prayer wheel backwards the energies of the mantra would not flow correctly into the environment. For example, when you read a sentence, you read from left to right, therefore when you spin the mantra wheel the mantra rotates as if you were reading the mantra. This act, sends the energies of the mantra into the environment. However when you rotate a prayer wheel backwards, the mantra is not in sequence but reversed, therefore the energies of the mantra do not flow into the environment. Apart from this nothing ‘bad’ will happen.
As for visualising the oracle of Dorje Shugden in trance, I believe this is permission because you are visualising an aspect of Dorje Shugden helping sentient beings and the Dharma through the oracle. However it is more advisable that you should visualise Dorje Shugden in the manner described in the actual prayer texts so that you get the maximum benefit from reciting his mantra.
Vairochana Buddha is considered one of the Five Dhyani Buddhas, as such it is said that his practice helps to eliminate the obstruction of ignorance. In regards to memorising long mantras, this will take time, you should try to memorise a little every day. Over time it you will memorise it.
Mantras often have differing lengths, for example the mantra of Ushnisha Vijaya. The mantra that you have found is the short version of the mantra. There is also a longer version, but most people cannot memorise or recite hundreds of thousands of the mantra, therefore there is also a shorter mantra that people can recite.
As for the imagery of Guru Rinpoche, you should follow the descriptions in the particular prayers you are engaging in. This is because there are many forms that Guru Rinpoche takes, and different practice concentrate on Guru Rinpoche in different forms. Therefore it is advisable to follow the visualisation as per the prayers. I hope this helps.
Thank you.