Dear Paulo Sérgio,

Thank you for your question.

1. Our online store has small insertion kits available to help you fill your statues:

https://www.vajrasecrets.com/products/diy-insertion-kit-for-statues
On this page, scroll down to the section ‘features’ section, at the end of this section is a line that says ‘Illustrated step-by-step guide’ where there is a downloadable link to a PDF that outlines how to fill statues yourself.

We also have loose mantras for insertion available here: https://www.vajrasecrets.com/products/mantra-rolls-for-statues

Then you can use the prayers on this page to consecrate the statue: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/prayers-and-sadhanas/how-to-bless-buddha-images-yourself.html

2. In regards to White Tara, as far as I am aware there are no White Tara practices that belong to the Highest Yoga Tantra class. The only form of Tara that belongs to the Highest Yoga Tantra class is known as Cittamani Tara. You read more about her here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/cittamani-tara.html

3. Unfortunately, we do not have a transliteration of the A Gem to Increase Life and Wisdom prayer at this time. We only have the English translation, which is available here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/wp-content/uploads/prayers/AGemtoIncreaseLifeandWisdom.pdf

I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Seema Purohit,

Thank you for your question. Astrological influences do not necessarily mean that things on that day will go bad. There are methods that we can use to overcome any negative influences and make those days very successful and productive.

First since this has to do with exams, you should be practical about it, make sure that you know the exam material well, make sure that you eat properly before the exams, and make sure that you remain calm before and during the exam. If you know the material well, if you are too nervous then it may cause you issues during the exam.

From the spiritual angle, you can make offerings on your altar before your exam. Actually, it would be good for you to make offerings on your altar daily from now until then, to generate merit so that your exam will be successful. You can also engage in Dorje Shugden’s mantra – OM BENZA WIKKI BITANA SOHA. Dorje Shugden a Dharma Protector who helps us to overcome obstacles and be succesful. He is an emanation of Manjushri, who is the Buddha of Wisdom. So, his practice is especially powerful for things to do with study, exams, etc.

You can read more about Dorje Shugden here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/beginners-introduction-to-dorje-shugden.html

Hope this helps. And you have our prayers for success in your exams.

Dear Nelson,

You have received some very powerful and blessed holy pills from your friend. In general, all the pills are made from dried crushed herbs and holy items and then consecrated during long pujas, dedicated to a particular deity to imbue them with certain energies. Here is a little bit of information about them:

Tamdrin Dudtsi Mendup – these pills are made from holy nectar and consecrated using the practice of Hayagriva, who is a wrathful emanation of Chenrezig (the Buddha of Compassion). Generally, any blessed item using the practice of Hayagriva is good for protection from spirits and nagas, negative forces or energies, etc. They are also good for healing illness and diseases, especially effective for any type of skin disease. Mendup pills are also specifically made for healing physical illnesses. Sera Ngakpa Dratsang is the tantric college of Sera Monastery in Tibet, where they learn and practice the different types of tantric systems within the Gelug lineage.

Mani Rilbu – these are pills blessed with the energies of Chenrezig using the Mani mantra – OM MANI PEME HUNG. They are great for general healing and well-being and are very potent sources of the compassionate energies of the Buddha. Drashi Gonkhang is a protector chapel dedicated to Drashi Lhamo who is a form of Palden Lhamo. This chapel is affliated with Sera Monasery which is of the Gelug lineage. You can read more about Drashi Lhamo here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/drashi-lhamo-the-protectress-with-the-rolled-out-tongue.html

Dorje Shugden Rilbu – are pills blessed with the energies of Dorje Shugden. They are are excellent for providing protection and swift assistance to overcome worldly and spiritual obstacles. Sampheling Monastery also belongs to the Gelug tradition and the Sangha there are known to be very strong practitioners of Dorje Shugden. It is also considered to be the home monastery of one the most important incarnation lineages within the Gelugpa tradition – the line of Trijang Rinpoches.

Kagye Drupchen holy nectar pills – these are pills made from blessed nectar and consecrated using the Kagye practice, which is a practice incorporating eight different tantric deities. Mindrolling is also one of the most famous Nyingma lineage monasteries. It is one of the six Mother Monasteries of that lineage. I do not know much about the benefits of this rilbu as we practice the Gelug tradition in Kechara, and this practice belongs to the Nyingma tradition. While certain practices are shared in common throughout all traditions, the Gelug lineage does not have this particular practice.

Here is some general advice of what you can do with the pills:

> Insert into Buddha statues and stupas at the appropriate level to increase their blessings and positive potential. It’s said that if one has very good samaya with the guru, the holy rilbus placed in a stupa will miraculously multiply and grow.

> Place a holy rilbu in your water bottle and drink throughout the day for general protection, healing and blessings. The water can be topped up daily until the pill has completely dissolved.

> In times of need, a rilbu can be consumed on its own. Swallow it whole with water, or crush into powder and consume with water.

> Dissolve in bathing water to relieve skin problems and for general protection.

> Place in the mouth of a dying person or animal to help them pass on peacefully.

> Place in the mouth of a deceased person or animal to help them take a better rebirth.

The pills should be store in a cool, dry and respectful place when not using them, otherwise they might go bad depending on the climate where you live.

I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Sayalbajracharya,

The dissolution of Lama Tsongkhapa, via the central channel into your heart is actually an integral part of the Guru Yoga practice. The reason being, is that when you engage in Guru Yoga, you want the guru to come and reside in your heart, and merge with your mind. It is the method in which we gain his blessings in order to transform our mind.

That being said, visualisation can be difficult. So, don’t worry, at that part just think strongly that he has entered your heart and merged with your mind, and that you have gained his blessing. You will still gain his blessings.

However, as you practice more and over time, you can slow add in the visualisation once you are more comfortable with. I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Dear Thorim,

Thanks for your question. Getting good sleep is very important. Medicine Buddha mantra is good for this, but should be recited very softly and slowly. Perhaps you are chanting too fast. You can try using it again to sleep, but focus on the sound of the mantra that you are making while you recite. Another mantra you can try is Dorje Shugden’s mantra. Many people have tried it when their sleep is disturbed and it helps.

Another thing you can try is breathing meditation or even Nine-Round Breathing before you sleep, you can learn more here: https://www.kechara.com/how-to-practise-nine-round-breathing-meditation/

You can also read and try the methods on this article. Tsem Rinpoche advised this for students who had trouble sleeping as the general advice was very good and people found it really helpful https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/current-affairs/10-sleep-mistakes-and-their-solutions.html

There are tecnhiques and visualisations used during sleep, but those are actually meditational techniques unique to higher tantric practice. They are not specifically for being able to get to sleep or having sound sleep, etc.

I hope this helps.

Dear Lisa,

Thank you for your question.

1) If you want to repeat the prayer, then you repeat the section from the second “HUM” up to just before “KI KI SO SO, LHA GYEL LO!”. The whole prayer is usually only done once, but if you can repeat that section multiple times if you would like.

2) Sangsol is traditionally done outside, but since you live in an apartment, you can offer the sang near your window. If you do at your altar, there will be too much smoke in your apartment.

Sangsol is an offering, not a cleansing of your space using smoke. If you want to do a cleansing sang, you can find out how to do that here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/one-minute-story/stories-from-a-chela-cleansing-sang-visualisations and you can see a video on how to do it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swIkQ6mgYro

3) The Sangsol to Dorje Shugden is an offering and request for the Protector’s assistance. It’s usually done when in need to request for Dorje Shugden’s help, for safety, removing obstacles, etc. The prayer helps to clear the negative effects of karma that is manifesting and causing obstacles or negative situations in our life, as well as providing protection from obstacles and negativities. This all comes from the merits generated from actually making the smoke offering and reciting the prayer. You don’t need to do anything else specifically for this to happen.

4) The full visualisation for the prayer can only be done by those with tantric initiation. In general however, you can visualise Dorje Shugden (and if you can his retinue) in space in front of you. As you make the offering, he is very pleased. Then think strongly that he is helping you overcoming your specific obstacle or protecting you in general.

Hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Terri,

Any mantra would be good to recite for this. However, I would recommend Lama Tsongkhapa’s Migtsema mantra. This will be very, very good in creating a good environment. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Tshulthrim Yoezer,

Thank you for your question. This is due to the nature of Samsara. Any one who is born will have to die. Anything that comes into existence will one day have to stop existing.

As the Buddha took birth as a human, he need to give up his body and pass away. But because the Buddha was enlightened, this is not the same thing that happens to us. He became enlightened under the Bodhi Tree in Bodhgaya, but he was still in his human body, and so he had to pass away. His passing away is known as the Maha Parinirvana of the Buddha.

I hope this answers your question.

Dear Nona,

Both mantras that you mentioned are mantras of Lord Manjushri. The mantras differ due to the particular form of Manjushri. Within our lineage, the Om Ah Ra Pa Tsa Na Dhi mantra is more prevalent because those particular forms of Manjushri are more prevalent in our practice. That is the difference.

Yes, you can practice Chenrezig Ngensong Kundrol without initiation. However, since you do not have initiation, while you read the text, you generate the visualisation in front of you. You do not visualise yourself as Chenrezig. Doing so without the initiation will actually create obstacles for your spiritual path .

The prayer text is not available online currently. They are only available in person at any of our Vajrasecrets outlets. You can contact them directly if you would like to get the physical copy: https://www.vajrasecrets.com

I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Jonathan,

Yes, you can start with the Gaden Lhagyama and then follow the consensed version of the protector practice from the Diamond Path. This will be very good as you will be building a stronger connection with Lama Tsongkhapa.

For the remainder of the prayers, you can follow the following order if you would like, after Gaden Lhagyama, before Dorje Shugden practice:

> Prayer to Shakyamuni and Arahant Sivali (though these are not from the Tibetan tradition, they are okay to include. However, please bear in mind, they are from a different tradition. It is more appropriate to use prayers from the tradition we are practicing, rather than reciting prayers from other lineages. However I have never seen an independent prayer specifically to the Arhat Saivala as he is known in Sanskrit.)
> Chenrezig Ngensong Kundrol
> Tea offering to Vajra Yogini.

If you are doing all these prayers, however, it may take some time. If you have the luxury of time, then by all means, please go ahead. However, if you have a busy daily schedule, it is best to keep the prayers shorter and make sure you are able to do the prayers daily without fail. To have a daily practice that is consistent and sustainable is important. It will also prepare you for higher practices in the future, which you have to engage in daily without break, otherwise it breaks certain commitments. It is best to prepare ourselves for the future, this is what Tsem Rinpoche has recommended. Rinpoche advised never to miss our daily practices. It is a foundation needed for higher practices. I hope this helps. 

Dear Bhavisha,

Though it is the essence of the long mantra, the longer mantra will have more effect. Because it is actually very hard to recite with total dedication, pure selfless motivation, etc for it to be completely effective as the longer mantra. The effort you put into reciting the longer mantra will have much better effect. In fact, the short mantra is hardly used in prayers and puja. It’s the longer mantra that is mainly used. I hope this helps.

Dear Lee,

Thanks for your question. Thank you for noticing. The text provided on this website is a shorter form of the Sadhana. The Diamond Path prayer book is for daily use and includes 2 different versions of the prayers. All three are valid. You can engage in either one. The only difference is the length of the complete set of prayers, that is it.

Of course, the longer of the two versions in the Diamond Path is more effective when done daily than the other two as you are putting more of your time and effort into making a connection with Lama Tsongkhapa and Dorje Shugden to benefit from their spiritual energies.

I hope this helps. Thanks.

Dear Don,

Yes you can still use it, it was an accident. It’s not ruined or anything like that. You can continue to use it normally.

If you would like to, you can hold it over some incense smoke to purify it while reciting OM AH HUNG three times, and the next time you engage in mantra recitation or your daily sadhana, recite the mala blessing mantra seven times and blow on your mala before using it. The mantra is: OM RUTSIRA MANI PRAWA TAYA HUNG. That will increase the merits you generate from each mantra you recite while using your mala for that day.

The mala blessing mantra can be done daily. In fact that is why it is included at the beginning of all of our prayers here in Kechara.

Hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Nana,

You can find the text for the Drugchuma puja here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/kalarupa.html. However the ritual is usually only practiced by those with initiation or have permission from their gurus to practice without initiation. And it is a very long puja if done individually. Typically it is done with four or more people, as there is a section that has to be repeated many times. You also need to know how to set out the offerings and make the tormas, which is complicated in itself.

In the above article however, is a short prayer to Kalarupa and his mantra. Those can be done by anyone. If you feel a connection to Kalarupa, you can use that prayer and mantra daily. You should set up an altar with offerings to Kalarupa. Make offerings daily and engage in the prayer and mantra recitation to create a connection with him.

Generally, here in Kechara, following the advice of Tsem Rinpoche, everyone engages in the practice of Dorje Shugden as he is our main Dharma Protector. Sometimes people will engage in other Dharma Protector practices in addition to the daily sadhana known as the Diamond Path: https://www.vajrasecrets.com/products/diamond-path.

You can read more about his practice on many articles on this blog. If you feel a particular connection or affinity with other enlightened Dharma Protectors, you can of course practice those as long as the prayers are available to those who do not have any required initiations or permissions from their guru. Both Dorje Shugden and Kalarupa are very good Dharma Protectors to pray to.

I hope this helps.

Dear Nana,

You can find a very comprehensive article explaining all about Kalarupa here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/kalarupa.html

The article includes a short praise and the mantra which you can incorporate into your daily practice if you would like.

In regards to where to insert the praise and mantra, if you are practising our Diamond Path sadhana, you can insert it after finishing the Gaden Lhagyama Guru Yoga, before the Invocation to the Dorje Shugden. Alternatively, you can insert after the Dorje Shugden prayers section before the Completion Dedication.

If you are practising other prayers, then you can insert after you have compelted any Guru Yoga and Yidam practices, before you start any other Dharma Protector practices. Alternatively, you can insert after any other Dharma Protector practices before any additional dedication verses. This all depends on which sadhana texts that you are using.

I hope this help. Please do let us know if you have any other questions.

Thank you.