Dear Christopher,

Scientists have been curious about “supernatural” abilities of experienced meditators especially the Tibetan monks. It has been proven that meditation can change body temperatures. In one experiment, monk’s body was covered by a cold wet sheet, yet the monk was able to dry the sheets in about an hour. Some high lamas also proved that they could stay in Tukdam for days and weeks after they “passed away”. I think these are enough to prove that those meditational achievements are real.

This is a report about “New Zealand TV reports Thupten Rinpoche’s death meditation”: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/current-affairs/new-zealand-tv-reports-thupten-rinpoches-death-meditation.html

Dear Zeng Phan,

The usual format for Buddhist prayers according to our lineage is: taking refuge, four immeasurables, the prayers to the deity and mantra, and then dedication. You should try and follow this to the best of your ability.

If for whatever reason you are unable to do this then the prayers to the deity and the mantras are fine, as long as done from the heart. When you call upon the deities with a sincere heart they will come and bless you with their energies. Once you are familiar and comfortable with this, you can progress further.

I hope this helps.

Dear Margo,

I am unsure as to the exact meaning of Methar’s name, but Nyatrul is a name derived from his previous life, who was known as Nyari Tulku. I hope this helps.

Dear Meg,

If you have trouble filling the statues, you can simply write the mantra Om Ah Hung vertically on a piece of paper and then insert this into the statue. Because you are not near any monastery or centre who can do this for you, the above mentioned is enough. Or you can print out the image of the mantra attached on a small piece of paper.

There is nothing dangerous to leave statues unfilled or nothing bad will happen, especially if you have faith that the energies of the Buddhas reside in the statues and develop compassion for all sentient beings.

You can also consecrate your statues yourself if you cannot get someone to do it for you, like a monk, nun, pastor, etc. Here is the link to the consecration article: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/prayers-and-sadhanas/how-to-bless-buddha-images-yourself.html

Dear Margo,

There’s not much information about Dharmapala Methar. The only practice I know about Methar is the praise composed by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche. It’s on the blog post which you shared the link.

https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/methar-of-tengyeling-monastery.html

Praise to Tengyeling’s Dharmaphala Methar

The great incarnation whose nature is Yamantaka,
whose countless deeds of bringing many who are ripened
onto the path of the sublime Sage (Shakyamuni), to
this wondrous incarnation named His Holiness
Kyabje Demo Hutuktu Rinpoche, I offer obeisance!

Moist with devotion, faith and service to the great Demo Hutuktu,
Stalwart devotee Methar accepted wrongly the punishments due to others’ greed.
Although his lama, monastery and Methar himself the treasurer were innocent, all was lost.
Flayed, tortured and stabbed, Methar focused on his lama and the truth as his life force drained.

Arise Dharmaphala Methar, oath bound by the compassion of Serkong Dorje Chang,
Fulfill your duty and give me your protection, potent signs and ever constant presence.
May I gain bodhicitta and arise in the form of the Sugata. Homage to the
Tengyeling Monastic treasurer arising as Dharmaphala Methar who served his lama completely!

Mantra: OM DHARMAPALA METHAR SARWA SIDDHI HUNG HUNG

(recite many times to invoke Methar’s assistance and energy)
Composed by Tsem Tulku of Kechara, October 4, 2016

Dear Alex,

Thanks for writing in. It has always been Kechara’s founder and spiritual guide H.E. Tsem Rinpoche’s dream to spread Vajrayogini practice to many. In fact, Kechara is named after the heaven of Vajrayogini. Rinpoche always says Vajrayogini tantra is considered to be the most suitable practice for people of these degenerate times because her practice can help us transform our ordinary desire into great bliss, necessary on the tantric path to Enlightenment. Therefore, Rinpoche has been giving many teachings to prepare his students before they are finally qualified to receive Her sacred initiation and holy teachings.

You may read up on various articles shared in Vajrayogini category on Rinpoche’s blog.

https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/vajra-yogini

And I would suggest you start from this article:

https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/inspiration-worthy-words/starting-on-vajra-yogini-now.html

If you would like to read books, you may start with “The Living Buddha Within”, “Compassion Conquers All”. You may get the books here: https://www.vajrasecrets.com/english-books

Thank you.

Dear PK Chew,

I am sorry to hear about your mom’s condition. If it is convenient for you, I would suggest you go to either Kechara House SunwayMas or Kechara Forest Retreat at Bentong, Pahang and talk directly to one of our pastors. If you stay very far away, you can call Kechara House front desk for an appointment/call with one of our pastors to get further advice or arrange for necessary pujas to be done.

Kechara House
No. 7, Jalan PJU 1/3G,
Sunwaymas Commercial Centre,
47301 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor, MALAYSIA.

Tel: +603 7803 3908
Fax: +603 7803 3108
Email: care@kechara.com

Opening Hours
Mondays to Wednesdays: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Thursdays & Fridays: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Saturdays: CLOSED
Sundays: 9:00 am to 1:00pm

At home, you can start reciting Dorje Shugden mantra or even start doing His short practice and sincerely request him to help your mom.

Dorje Shugden Mantra: OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA

https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/a-short-prayer-to-dorje-shugden.html

Thank you.

Paulo Sérgio,

Thank you for your questions:

1. I’m sorry, but can you elaborate what you mean by the suitcase?

2. It is entirely up to you. In fact Vajra Yogini practice (the longer practice texts) include Dharma Protector practice as there are specific Dharma Protectors associated with her practice. However, even the highest lamas say that we should rely on Dharma protectors. Yidam practice and Dharma Protector practice in tandam. In fact Dharma Protectors make conditions easier for us to practice our Yidam and can spiritual attainments.

3. Practice of any part of the Vajra Yogini practice will bestow blessings. In fact, since you can do the Generation Stage and know how to do it, you should practice it properly so that in the future, you can continue on to the Completion Stage practice. This stage requires sufficient stabilization of the Generation Stage to be successful. In fact the famed 11 Yogas of Vajra Yogini are performed during the Generation Stage and bestow immeasurable blessings.

4. As far as I know this is possible, but for this you would need to consult with your empowerment master to learn more on how to do it.

5. In essence. All mantras of the enlightened beings before the four enlightened actions. However, some of the specific mantras may differ and there will be different visualisations/methods to use for each of the actions.

6. Any practice of Vajra Yogini will bear fruit. Even if you make an simple candle offering from your heart to an image of Vajra Yogini, you will generate merit. But to utilise the practice to propel you towards enlightenment, you need to engage in both the Generation and Completion Stages of the practice.

7. You will need to tell me more about what you mean by Small Scope. Because Vajra Yogini’s practice itself covers all scopes of the path to enlightenment, from the small to the great. Her practice takes all three scopes as a basis on which her practice works.

I hope this helps.

Hello Parth2,

Thank you for your questions.

1. Regarding the special way to sleep. This is known as Sleep Yoga. There are many Sleep Yoga practices. These can be used for different reasons, one being that when in the sleep state you can use it to meditate. Also, you can also use the phases of sleep to mirror the death process. If you train in this, when the moment of your passing comes, you can actually use your meditation to take a good rebirth instead of being under the control of your karma. And also using this meditation, you can even reach enlightenment at the moment of your passing.

However, these practices are only taught or explained in detail to those who have received an appropriate tantric initiation. Because without initiation you do not have the ‘seed’ or the special energy for the practice to be completely successful. These practices are also taught to you by a Guru who has experience in it, because then they can teach you easily.

2. In regards to droughts, you can engage in the practice of a Dharma protector, such as Dorje Shugden. Ask him to remove the obstacles facing your areas, so that people do not suffer any more. When engaged in the prayers and mantra recitation you should develop a genuine compassionate motive to help others out of their suffering and Dorje Shugden will help to alleviate the obstacles. You should accumulate as many mantras as possible. You can read about the prayers here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/dorje-shugden.html#tab-1-page-7

I hope this helps.

Dear Krishna b Rajpurohit,

I am sorry I can’t tell you the answer. However, if you believe in the law of karma, then you will know that if you have the karma to be the richest man than you will, if you don’t have such karma, then you won’t be one. But we all know wealth doesn’t equate to happiness. Money won’t help us during very critical life moment. Please read the article below and contemplate on it. However, if you still think that being rich is very important, then start creating the cause to be rich by being generous today.

Recommended reading: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/inspiration-worthy-words/25305.html

Dear Alex Mathew,

I believe what you are referring is the Four Noble Truths. This is the first teaching Buddha Shakyamuni gave after his enlightenment. And all Buddhist teachings have these truths as their basis:

1. There is Suffering – Knowing we all have problems in one form or another

2. Suffering has it’s causes – All problems come from somewhere

3. Suffering ceases – All sufferings ends in one way or another

4. The path to enlightenment – The way to overcome all suffering completely.

I hope this helps.

Dear Carmen Victor Rodrigues Gontijo,

As far as I know Je Pabongka’s collected works are still not available in English. However the contents of the 11 volume Lhasa edition of Pabongka’s Collected Works, together with the contents of the Twelfth Volume as found in the Potala collection have been translated into English. 　

This is the link: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/the-collected-works-of-h-h-pabongka-rinpoche.html

Dear Parth2
I try my best to answer your questions but due to the nature of those questions, I may not be able to answer in full. Below are the answers for your questions:

1) We do not need initiation to visualize merit field.

2) H.H. Pabongka Rinpoche explained the visualization method Day 5 of his teaching – The Preparatory rites. There’s one special instruction He received from his gurus to combine different versions into one which visualize all the figures in the central vertical row in the form of Manjushri. Please follow that. If you find it hard, H.H. Pabongka Rinpoche also suggested a simpler way to visualize. Please refer to that.

3) The bathing ritual doesn’t require initiation. It’s nothing wrong to read the text. However, in order to perform the ritual, you might need a guru to guide you.

4, 5, 6) The instruments that required in this process are those common instrument we use in Tibetan bathing/consecrating ritual such as melong mirror, bathing basin, bhumpa vase, dorje, bells etc. Non-initaites can keep the ritual instruments, however you may need a guru to demonstrate to you the proper way to use those instrument. Different lineage have their own way of using those instruments, slightly different with each other.

Dear Ling,

When we engage in any form of purification practice like Vajrasattva practice, it’s quite common that sometimes obstacles might arise. These obstacles could manifest as inner or outer obstacle. Inner obstacles such as sickness and emotional changes. Outer obstacles are things from outside world that stopping us from practicing Dharma. When this happens, it could be a sign of purification.

We have collected a lot of negative karma in the past whether knowingly or unknowingly, some from this life, most of them are from endless pastlives. Therefore, if we experience obstacles during purification practice, it could be a very positive sign. It means our practice is effective and some of our karma are ripen and we are going through the purification process. When this happens, think of it this way, don’t give up. Practice four opponent powers and don’t react to it so that we don’t create further negative karma during the purifcation process.

You can also add in protector practice such as Dorje Shugden practice at the end of your Vajrasattva practice to help you overcome the obstacles.

Recommended readings:

1. https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/prayers-and-sadhanas/an-important-purification-practice.html

2. https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/new-simplified-daily-prayer-to-dorje-shugden.html

Dear Albert,

1. If you are holding your vows as a Buddhist and attend the activities of another religion (as long as they are ok with you doing so), to show respect, etc. there is no sin or negative karma. Buddha taught to show respect to everyone and this includes the religion of others. But please be respectful, some religions do not allow practitioners of other religions to attend some of their events and activities. Please check with them before attending. If you have a guru or master you learn Buddhism from then it is good to get their permission before attending any events, this adheres to the principles of guru devotion, and is more for your own practice than anything else.

2. Yes you are right. The Buddha can emanate in any possible form, and this includes in the God Realm. However, since we are not at the level of practice have clairvoyance to see who is enlightened and who is not, we should respect all beings. In our practice we should follow what the masters of the past tell us, and that is to rely to beings we know for a fact to be enlightened such as the Buddhas and to respect all sentient beings.

3. Within Buddhism there is no first point of karmic origin. This is because many other religions only believe in one universe (the one we currently live in). Within Buddhism we believe that before this universe, there were countless others, and after this universe ends there will be countless more. This all comes about due to the karma of sentient beings. Buddhism also says not to put emphasis on the beginning of things because then you get into philosophical arguments. Instead, focus on transforming yourself here and now, so that you can benefit in the future.

4. Though the end goal of religions can be different, the path in which they are achieved is the same. And that is the path of love, compassion, kindness and self-transformation to become a better person. This should be the balancing point. There are many examples of couples of different faiths living in harmony together because they concentrate and focus on the moment every day or becoming better people.

5. For a Buddhist, reading religious books of another religion is not negative karma and does not harm your vows. As long as you hold you vows firmly, you can read whatever you like. The act of reading itself will not break your vows. Remember, the Buddha taught to respect and love everyone.

6. The world we live in has come about due to the collective karma of all sentient beings who live on it. This karma was created over time in previous universes. Similarly, the collective karma we generate now will impact what our world will be like in the future, as well as what worlds will be live in future universes.

7. The Buddha taught not to actively convert anyone, this the Buddha said is wrong because you force them to do something against their will. Even if you actively encourage someone to become a Buddhist when you know they practice another faith and are not interested, this according to the Buddha is wrong. Buddhists can share their faith with others, how they think, how they act, etc. But not to actively convert. If the other person then wants to convert to Buddhism themselves, then it is ok. But to force, coerce someone is wrong.

Dear Gesar,

From what I know, the relationship between Dorje Shugden and Dharmapala Shangmo Dorje Putri is via Kache Marpo, which is indirect, I do not know if there’s a direct relationship between them. I am sorry about that. However, please come back to this blog site from time to time, our blog team will update our blog posts with new information from time to time.

Thank you.

Here is another article about Sakya lineage and Dorje Shugden:
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/the-sakya-lineage-dorje-shugden.html

Dear Paulo Sérgio,

Thank you for expressing your thought here. I am glad to hear that you like and appreciate this site as this really involves a lot of hard work from Rinpoche and the blog team. Over the years, Rinpoche has constantly come out with different ideas to make this blog site a better place for Dharma sharing, learning and exchange. From simple comment section to chat section, now if you notice we can even record voice messages and upload videos to share our thoughts here in this blog site. These are all due to Rinpoche’s kindness, passion and determination in spreading the dharma to many. I hope you can continue to benefit from this blog site as bringing Dharma to many is the very motivation of this site, and I hope you can share it with others too as sharing the dharma is the highest form of generosity. Thank you.

亲爱的尕藏栋珠，你好。

多杰雄登护法是文殊菩萨的化身，所以他是证悟的出世间护法。这是我们尊敬的格鲁传承上师们，如至尊帕绷喀金刚持、至尊赤江金刚持、至尊宋金刚持等都这么说的。

既然他的体性与文殊菩萨无二，我们当然可以向他顶礼跪拜，因为向他顶礼就等于是向证悟的菩萨顶礼。

多杰雄登在崛起成为护法的最初是由萨迦派所供奉，后来其他传承如竹巴噶举的上师们也供奉他。这足以完全证明修持多杰雄登护法并不需要放弃其他教派的修法。

希望我简短的回答能解除你的疑惑。

克切拉团体不久前刚推出了一系列驳斥针对多杰雄登不实指控的视频，希望能进一步解答你的问题。

https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/the-truth-about-dorje-shugden-13-chinese-videos.html

Dear Parth2,

To answer your question, of course we can visualize a statue or a stupa and do the circumambulation and still get the blessings. However by doing this without the actual representation of the Buddha, the blessings can only come from the power of the subject which is our meditation and visualization. Hence it’s very much depends how strong our visualization and meditation is. However, if there’s an actual representation of a Buddha, the blessings can come from both the power of the object and also the subject, it means even someone with no idea of a Buddha or not believing in the Buddha can still get the benefits just by the action of the circumambulation alone. Therefore, even if you don’t have a stupa at your area, if you plan to do a circumambulation, it would be good if you can circumambulate a statue or any holy representation of a Buddha.

Thank you.

Recommended reading (about the power of the object): https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/kechara-13-depts/bigger-and-more-buddha-statues-makes-a-difference.html

Dear Paulo Sérgio，

A Buddha statue is a wood or metal or other material carved or made into the form of a Buddha. The blessings of a Buddha statue come from different aspect. One of them is the iconography of the Buddha which is the symbolism of His enlightened qualities which if we meditate on will guide us on the path of liberation.

The blessings of a Buddha statue can also come from what we put inside the statue. In Tibetan Buddhism, we always insert hand-rolled mantras, relics, holy objects, Buddha images into a statue. Hence, by the power of the object themselves, anyone who sees or make offerings or prostrate to the statue will get the blessings.

The blessings can also come from the power of meditation and prayers. If we are good meditators who can generate strong visualization, we can invite a Buddha to enter any statue and visualize it as the Buddha himself, then we can get the blessings of the Buddha.

Therefore, there’s no right or wrong for you to put a statue of Ganesha on your altar and regard it as Lord Ganapati. You can pray and invite Lord Ganapati to enter the statue by performing the Ganapati sadhana given by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche with a sincere heart and still get the blessings. However in order to get the full benefit of Ganapati practice, of course it would be best if you can have a real Ganapati statue with correct iconography, be it just a printed photo, a thangka or a real statue.

Hope my answer helps.

Recommended reading:

1. Dorje Shugden: My side of the story (especially the bottom part of pt 4 of English transcript) https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/who-is-dorje-shugden-to-me.html

2. The Body of a Buddha: A Road Map to Liberation
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/the-body-of-a-buddha-a-road-map-to-liberation.html