Dear Blueunicorn,

Of course, the Refuge Vows relate to refraining from the Ten Non-Virtuous Actions, which are:

Three of the Body:
1. Killing
2. Stealing
3. Sexual Misconduct

Four of the Speech:
4. Divisive Speech
5. Harsh Words
6. Idle Chatter
7. Lying

Three of the Mind:
8. Envy
9. Hatred/Malice
10. Wrong Views.

Together with the Refuge Vows, which are what you refrain from doing there are also the 12 Refuge Commitments, which are:

1. Not to go for refuge to teachers who contradict the Buddha’s views, or to Samsaric Gods.
2. To regard any image of the Buddha as the actual Buddha.
3. Not to harm others.
4. To regard all Dharma scriptures as the actual Dharma Jewel.
5. Not to allow oneself to be influenced by people who reject the teachings of the Buddha.
6. To regard anyone who wears the robes of an ordained person as the actual Sangha Jewel.
7. To go for Refuge in the Three Jewels again and again, remembering their good qualities and the differences between them.
8. To offer the first portion of whatever we eat or drink to the Three Jewels, whilst remembering their kindness.
9. With compassion, encourage others to go for Refuge.
10. To go for refuge 3 times during the day, and 3 times during the night, remembering the benefits of going for refuge.
11. To perform every action with complete trust in the Three Jewels.
12. Never to forsake the Three Jewels, even at the cost of our lives, or as a joke.

Dear Yook Hua,

We do not have any activities planned in Kechara Forest Retreat on the dates that you have mentioned, that involving lodging in Kechara Forest Retreat. Please note that we are not Chin Swee Temple.

I am unaware if Chin Swee Temple or any other nearby temple has such activities.

However if you would like to visit Kechara Forest Retreat, please contact Kechara Front Desk on +603-7803 3908, at least a month in advance of your planned visit. Thank you.

Dear Lobsang Wangdu,

I am not sure if there are any specific offerings that need to be offered according to the Yamantaka Tantras. What you have is good, anything else you want to offer will just bring you more benefit and merit.

Dear Trsa,

I’m would need more information to give your a specific way of dealing with all of this. But from what you have written i think it would be best if you could engage in the practice of Lama Tsongkhapa to help deal with the emotional and mental stress caused by this situation and also the practice of the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden, which will help clear the obstacles you are facing.

Here is a commentary by H.E. 25th Tsem Rinpoche on the practice of Lama Tsongkhapa: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/me/tsongkapas-daily-practice-video-commentary.html

And here is a good post regarding Dorje Shugden Retreat, that you can read, or even engage in if you have the time to clear the obstacles: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/dorje-shugden-retreat-a-powerful-practice-to-fulfill-wishes.html

Dear Pseudonimo Gracias,

It is not too late for you. From your message this unfortunate situation has create a lot of heartache and emotional turmoil. Before you can move on, you need to be able to deal with these emotions so you can have a stable mind. If i may, i would like to suggest you engage in the practice of Lama Tsongkhapa strongly. This practice will help you to calm your mind and get control over your emotions.

There is a commentary to this practice by H.E. 25th Tsem Rinpoche available here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/me/tsongkapas-daily-practice-video-commentary.html

There is also a written commentary and a box set for this practice available at Kechara Paradise outlets in Malaysia and online worldwide at http://www.vajrasecrets.com.

Link to written commentary: http://www.vajrasecrets.com/tsongkhapa-a-simple-guide-to-a-powerful-practice

Link to the Box Set: http://www.vajrasecrets.com/tsongkhapa-boxset-english.

I hope this helps.

Dear Avinash Agarwal,

I must apologize but i do not know of any sadhana texts that confer the common Siddhis specifically. I can only point you to a prayer that was composed by the 1st Dalai Lama, called A Gem to Increase Life and Wisdom, A Praise of White Tara. This prayer mentions and asks White Tara to bestow the common attainments (siddhis). You can find the prayer at the bottom of this page: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/art-architecture/spectacular-white-tara.html

Dear Danny,

This question is a good one but the main issue here is actually Guru Devotion. I cannot condone your friend practicing Dorje Shugden in secret from his Guru.

Some people have labelled Dorje Shugden as “Gelug” but in fact he as been practiced by other lineages as well. From the side of the Buddhas, they do not belong to any sect. For example Guru Rinpoche is not “Nyingma” it is simply that within the Nyingma lineage his practice is considerably large, therefore people associate Guru Rinpoche with the Nyingma lineage. However, you can find the practice of Guru Rinpoche in all four major lineages of Tibetan Buddhism.

The main point here is Guru Devotion. Whatever lineage you belong to, a core practice is Guru Devotion. The guru is the one that guides you on the path to enlightenment, therefore to withhold things from the Guru means that he/she does not know your own mind (unless they are highly attained or enlightened themselves, in which case they have omniscience). If the guru is not aware of your mind, how can you possibly expect them to guide you on the correct path.

There are many reasons why Guru Devotion is important and there are many texts and teachings surrounding Guru Devotion. To conceal something like this from the guru, is actually antithetical to the whole process of needing a Guru on the spiritual path.

Therefore the i would suggest that your friend ask his Guru if he really wants to practice Dorje Shugden, whatever he thinks the outcome will be. This would be the only recourse if he really wants to practice Dorje Shugden.

The question here is not that Dorje Shugden practice is sectarian, which believe you me, it is not. The issue here is actually about Guru Devotion and the Guru-Disciple relationship needed on the spiritual path. I hope this help.

Dear Monu,

I can recommend a couple of ways to alleviate your problems:

Firstly, I can recommend two practices that you can engage in for dealing with spells, black magic, etc. The first is the practice of Singdongma (see the link for more information: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/protection-from-black-magic-and-spirits.html). The other practice is Trakze Dorje Shugden (see the link for more information: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/trakze-to-dispel-black-magic-spirits.html) This will help tremendously with the black magic problems.

You can then engage in the practice of Gyenze (see the link for more information: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/prayers-and-sadhanas/dorje-shugden-gyenze-to-increase-life-merits-and-wealth.html). This, if done with a good motivation and sincere heart can help improve your bussiness. I hope this helps.

Dear Lobsang Wangdu,

This occurrence, of a statue feeling alive, means that during the consecration ceremony, the energies of the Buddhas were invited into the statue, which now serves as a focal point for you to gain merit. If you keep the statue we and make offerings on daily basis, it is the same if you had Tara right in front of you and were making offerings directly to her. There are many stories like yours of statues feeling “alive” after consecration ceremonies, or after long periods of intense practice.

Dear Tan,

One can receive the purification blessings by hearing, but you do not just have to hear them to receive the blessings. By reading and reciting the Sutras you also receive the same blessings. You can also copy the sutras, which also has the same benefits.

Dear Jeff,

Firstly let me clarify that this section of the blog is not usually answered by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche, but by the Kechara Pastors, who have been trained to answer questions and give spiritual advice.

You have asked a very good question but perhaps you may not know the intricacies of karma. Yes, we must focus on creating good karma, developing a strong sense of kindness and forgiveness. In the example you gave of people still trying to hurt you, you describe it as a hard battle. And you are entirely correct…because you are fighting against the karma you have created in your previous lives. All the situations we are in today or have gone through in the past, all the people we know or have known in the past is actually all due to karma.

Out of all of the people in the world…why is it that we know who we know and are in the situations we are in…karma. Therefore if we are hurt by someone it is obviously due to karma. The power of forgiveness and kindess becomes strong when what a person does or says against us, that in the past would have hurt us, no longer affects us. As the article you mentioned says, it is the letting go of the hurt, or more correctly you perception of the hurt caused to you that will lead you to be free.

This will take time, patience and effort as you are fighting against your karma. The point at which this occurs is not set in stone, it is fluid and is different for every person, therefore I cannot give you an definite answer.

Dear Eric,

A person’s birth sign depends on the astrological system used. For example in the Chinese system most people are aware that if you are born in a certain year…you have certain traits that are labelled as a certain animal, such as “tiger” or “dragon”.

However in that same system, each month, day and even hour has its own “animal” signs. Therefore it depends on how deep into your astrological chart you want to go. Your time of birth does not change your Year Sign but is used to identify your Hour Sign, which can be used in conjunction with the Year, Month and Day signs to give a more thorough analysis of your astrological chart. Other astrological systems would be different.

Dear Rainbow,

There are two things that need to be addresses here.

The first is the secular side. If you have done something wrong…that is against the laws of the country you are living in, then you need to speak up. If such practices are common place in your job, and are effecting you in such a negative manner then you can think about getting a new job.

The second aspect of this is on a spiritual side…which is that you may created negative karma, and perhaps some sort of pain for the other person. Actually most of the actions that we usually undertake in life has this side effect. In this case we need to engage in Purification practice such as Vajrasattva, 35 Confessional Buddhas, or recitation of Dorje Shugden Kawang. This will help to alleviate the karmic effects.

On a general level, when we have committed an act that we are not happy with or know was wrong, we should do our best not to repeat that same mistake…and if we can to try to make it up to the people involved.

Dear Avinash Agarwal,

Within Buddhist practice there are two types of Siddhis one can achieve when engaging in Sadhana practices of the various Buddha figures. These are:

Common Siddhis (common attainments): These are the supernatural powers you mentioned, eg. flying, fast-walking, etc.

Supreme Siddhis (un-common attainments): These are the attainments along the spiritual path, such as Wisdom and Compassion. The highest of these is complete and full enlightenment.

As one progresses along the path using ones Sadhana as a focal point, these Siddhis develop, but in the Buddhist path, the common Siddhis, such as those you mentioned, are not the goal but side benefits in achieving the supreme Siddhis. Therefore I cannot name you a specific sadhana that you can practice to develop these siddhis in an of themselves. However, any sadhana if authentic can bestow the side benefits you have mentioned on the way to enlightenment.

However, we are often admonished in scriptures to guard our minds against the desire to develop these common siddhis as it can derail us from the actual goal of practice, which is enlightenment. If we develop these siddhis as side benefits, we should simply use them as tools to help others. But to strive after them in and of themselves simply for the purpose of having those abilities is not as high a motive as striving for liberation to benefit all sentient beings.

Dear Adam,

Traditionally the Sangha can be invited to one’s house, however the main purpose should be to host the Sangha, make offerings, requesting them to perform pujas or to give religious discourses. They can invited for other reasons too, but please remember that the Sangha are renunciates. They can however give you advice should you need it.

But you don’t have to invite them into your home to benefit from their assistance. Most sangha are more than willing to help you in most cases, wherever they are.

Dear Harold,

The Phurba (Sanskrit: Kila) ritual implement is used in some rituals to Dorje Shugden. There are no Dorje Shugden “Phurba practices” that i know of.

Dear Brad,

Along with the Eight Medicine Buddhas, it is said that they are accompanied by many thousands of beings in their entourage. I have not received detailed teachings on the specific names of the accompanying enoutrage, but it is said that if one practices Medicine Buddha, you will be protected by Vajrapani and also the Four Heavenly Kings.

If i remember correctly there are some Yakshas that accompany the Medicine Buddhas, as well as the Four Medicine Goddesses:
1. White Medicinal Goddess called Actualised Wisdom
2. Yellow Medicinal Goddess called Simultaneous Wealth
3. Red Forest Goddess called Peacock’s Throat
4. Green Tree Goddess called Radiant One.

I only have the above names, but am not sure of their specific functions for those who practice Medicine Buddha.

Dear Eli,

You are right in feeling overwhelmed by your karma. That is a good realisation to have. We have so much negative karma from previous lives and most of us live without even realizing, just how much.

The way we begin to ride out the tidal wave is by focusing out towards others, developing virtuous attributes, letting go of pain, and out perception of future pain, while engaging in stable and consistent purification practices.

Hello,

Buddhists do not believe in a God, as in a supreme creator being, that is Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent. No such being exists within Buddhist cosmology. Tibetan Buddhist cosmology has hundreds if not thousands of Buddhas, gods, and other types of beings.

Buddhists however do not pray to gods, but to Buddhas who have transcended ordinary existence within samsara, or cyclic existence. The gods that exists within Buddhism are powerful beings, who have control of certain areas such as the weather or the land, etc but they are bound within this existence just like us. We do not pray to them but aspire to be free from the joint circumstance of leading lives of suffering and achieving the state of Buddhahood. We then become Omniscient, Omnipresent but not as in the concept of a monotheistic God, Omnipotent. I hope this helps.