Dear Eli Levine,

You reached one of the cruxes of Buddhist practice. Since we are all still within Cyclic existence, no matter what we do we will always be accumulating karma in one form or another. That is one of the reasons we need to achieve full enlightenment…freedom from Karma.

There is no way we can escape Karma as long as within Samsara, we will always be under its influence. However this is the basis of the path, it’s one of the fundamentals and belongs to the “small scope” of the Lam Rim teachings. If we want to be have the karma to receive beneficial the results of good karma then we must engage in positive actions right now and engage in purification practices to reduce our negative karma.

One thing we need to remember is to be mindful of all our actions, and make sure we perform virtuous actions. And when we reach a certain mental state we actually perceive hindrances and problems differently…they actually become aids which we can use to achieve even higher states of mental transformation.

Dear Gregory Mozell Willis,

From a Buddhist perspective most of our dreams, goals and desires are based on a self-indulgent motivation. Since a core aim of Buddhism is to reduce and eliminate self-indulgence and focus out to think about other people – to generate compassion for others – if your dreams, goals and desires are based solely on a self-indulgent motivation, any advice given will be of very little benefit to you.

If your dreams, goals and desires also include the wish to benefit others, then yes there are ways that Buddhism can help from assisting to transform your mind so you are able to reach those goals, to invoking upon the energies of the Buddhas to assist you in your activities.

Since Buddhist practice is very vast, I would need to know more about what your goals are before I can give further advice.

Dear Eli Levine,

There are two methods we can engage in for this situation. The first is an intellectual study of the Optimum Human Rebirth and then meditative contemplation on this. This can be studied from Lam Rim texts such as Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand.

The second method we can employ is meditation on death. Once you contemplate this carefully, you will develop a strong motivation to make the most of this life by practicing the Dharma and taking care of oneself.

Dear Barbara,

May i suggest one of two practices that can protect you for harm in this circumstance:

The first would be to engage in the practice of Black Manjushri. This practice among other manifold blessings includes the ability to help alleviate any astrologically negative circumstances.

The practice can be found here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/prayers-and-sadhanas/sadhana-prayers.html

A commentary to this practice can be found on “The Journey of Buddhist Practices” section of the “The Journey” DVD Box Set. This box set can be found in any of our Kechara Paradise outlets or can be ordered online via Vajrasecrets, our online Dharma Store if you are not in Malaysia. Here is the link: http://www.vajrasecrets.com/the-journey-dvd-box-set

The second practice I would suggest would be the practice of Trakze Dorje Shugden, which is effective against this as well. A commentary and the practice can be found here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/trakze-to-dispel-black-magic-spirits.html

You should engage in either one of these practices to help you and protect you. You should try and do this daily and with diligence. Note that while this is not an immediate cure, it will definitely help over time and not just for this particular issue as both practices will grant you other benefits as well. I wish you luck!

Dear Eli Levine,

What the Diamond Sutra is explaining is the topic of Emptiness, which is the non-inherent nature of all phenomena, including oneself and others. It is one of the highest meditation topics and realizations within Buddhism and therefore one of the hardest to grasp. This Sutra belongs to the Perfection of Wisdom (Prajnaparamita) sutras, and most commentators agree that the Buddha is teaching us to “unlearn” our preconceived notions and perceptions of existence, which includes the Dharma itself.

Our preconceived notions are ingrained in us from birth (and even previous lifetimes), but they are dualistic. All forms, thoughts and conceptions are in fact illusory due to the incorrect way we perceive them. This however does not mean that they do not exist, but that they do not exist in the way we think about them. The Buddha encourages us to break away from our fixed way of thinking and the realisation of this is the realisation of Emptiness.

This does not mean that rendering the need to help others is moot. In fact the sutra exhorts us to assist other in their paths to liberation but without the preconceived notions of self and others. Thus in essence as you progress along the path, you liberate beings, without a dualistic notion of “self” and “Others”. This in itself is hard to grasp for the very reason that we have such ingrained preconceived notions about reality which the Buddha exhorts us to abandon.

Going further, the point of remaining in existence, or more correctly gaining complete enlightenment and emanating back into existence to help others – is for entire the same reason: to assist liberating beings without preconceived notions of self and others.

Due to Samsara being the endless cycle of sufferings as expounded by our most glorious teacher Buddha Shakyamuni, there is no way whatsoever that we can achieve any semblance of contentment, happiness or ultimate compassion due its very transient and impermanent nature. The only way we can achieve these states is when we are no longer bound by existence within Samsara, which is the goal of Buddhist practice. This is exemplified in the Four Noble Truths.

I hope this short answer help you.

Dear Joshua w UK,

Remembering past lives comes as a natural progression to some as they reach higher states of meditation, especially when using the Calm Abiding meditations. Rather than something Buddhists aim to do it is a secondary benefit. Remembering past lives can be used to make better decisions in this life, knowing what has happened in past live.

Dear Jake,

Traditionally the use of Vajra and Bell is only allowed after receiving empowerment, however Tsem Rinpoche has said that one can use them to create the causes for receiving the higher teachings in the future.

When you engage in the Guru Yoga of Lama Tsongkhapa, the vajra and bell are used during the Invocation (1st Verse) and the Offering (4th Verse). You can do the same in your practice.

There is a difference in meaning and use of five pronged and nine pronged implements. The five pronged implements represent the Five Dhyani Buddhas and their consorts, and through association also the Five Aggregates or Form, Feeling, Discrimination, Karmic Formation and Consciousness. The nine pronged implements have a multitude of meanings. In Kechara we use the five pronged implements.

If you have a Vajra and Bell they should definitely have the same number of prongs. It would be good if they would match in other regards. You should try and get a hold of ones that come in pairs, but of course there is nothing wrong if they do not match.

If you would like to send Rinpoche a gift, you can mail it to the address below:

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

Please add a note that it is a gift for Rinpoche. I suggest you mail it using registered post or courier. You can drop us an email at care@kechara.com once posted so we know to expect it.

Good Luck with you practice!

Dear Gu,

Here is the mantra of Ratna Shugden: OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA TSESO PALJOR LONG CHO THAMCHED PUTRIM KURU OM (Recite as many times as possible)

Here is the mantra of Ratna Shugden’s Entourage: OM DHARMAPHALA MAHA RADZA BENDZA BEGAWAN SAMAYA DZA HUNG HUNG RATNA SIDDHI DROOM DROOM ZA ZA DOO DOO SIDDHI PALA AYUKEY HUNG AH (Recite either 7 or 21 times after reciting the main mantra above).

I know you said that you are constantly traveling for work and therefore only have time to recite the mantra, which is perfectly fine. But when you have time you should study and learn the actual practice of Ratna Shugden and engage in the practice when you are able to. This will increase the efficacy of the mantras and help you in the practice. As with anything in life, the more effort we put in to something, the more we can benefit from it.

H.E. Tsem Rinpoche has given a commentary as well as the prayer text on a blog post. It can be found here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/prayers-and-sadhanas/dorje-shugden-gyenze-to-increase-life-merits-and-wealth.html

Dear Tara,

You question is indeed very deep and meaningful, I will try to answer it as best as i can here. In essence you are correct, our “reality” or more correctly our perception of reality is false. This realization is actually part and parcel of the very core of Buddhist practice and belongs to the teachings on Emptiness, which is all about our false perception. Understanding is one of the highest realizations and a necessary prerequisite for attaining complete enlightenment.

Our understanding of reality is not correct, because we do not realize that what we consider to be “me” or the “I”, the self does not actually exist. In reality we are are interconnected with everyone else and everything else, we are not separate from everything else. I hope this short answer helps you somewhat.

Dear Rogr,

If i may make a suggestion, you could engage in the Guru Yoga of Lama Tsongkhapa. The benefits of this practice cannot be understated and it will help if you engage in the practice with sincerity. It would be good to learn the visualizations as well as the actual prayers.

Here is a link to a commentary given by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche, which will be beneficial for you: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/me/tsongkapas-daily-practice-video-commentary.html

Please give it a try and be diligent in your practice everyday. Tsongkhapa’s practice connects you with 5 Buddhas at once, Lama Tsongkhapa himself, Chenresig, Manjushri, Vajrapani and Maitreya. This practice is extremely beneficial and well help you tremendously.

Dear Gu,

Yes. There is absolutely no need to worry. You can do the same for the mantra of Ratna Shugden. Since you are constantly traveling you do the best you can. You have my sincere good wishes.

Dear Sg

There are many ways in cultivating faith in the Buddhas and Dharma Protectors. They key is to be diligent in your practice. As you see results, your faith will deepen.

However to gain true faith one must gain a deeper understanding of the Dharma in general and the practice in particular. This can only come about through study and learning. The Buddha taught that we must know what we practice, and in the process of learning faith will develop.

Dear V.B.

Dorje Shugden’s practice has been “mainstream” for many years, not just within the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism but also within other lineages of Tibetan Buddhism as well.

The practice of Dorje Shugden will definitely grow. The reason being he is an emanation of Manjushri in the form of a Dharma Protector, therefore is perfectly suited to assist practitioners in both mundane and spiritual affairs.

As more and more people see the manifold blessings and benefits of practicing Dorje Shugden, the practice will spread.

Dear Aditya,

I am not that familiar with the Hastikakshya Sutra, called the Sutra of the Elephant’s Power in English. It is a Mahayana Sutra covering many topics including Emptiness and also advocates a Vegetarian lifestyle.

Please direct your query via email to mail@tsemladrang.com

Dear Gu,

A fire puja is one of the highest sorts of offering pujas that exist withing Tibetan Buddhism. A Yamantaka fire puja calls upon the enlightened energies of Manjushri in a wrathful form. Yamantaka practice belongs to the Highest Yoga Tantra classification of deities.

This fire puja purifies obstacles one may be facing, grants good health and fulfills wishes. Yes, this puja is very beneficial in purifying negative karma while at the same time generating waves of merits necessary for spiritual attainments and realizations. Specifically this puja is used to purify extreme negative karma one may be facing and also as a form of protection from wrathful spirit disturbances, black magic and curses.

If done with the right motivation the purification effects of this puja are tremendous. This puja can be sponsored by those who do not have the Yamantaka empowerment to help purify their karma.

Dear Danny,

Yes, you can engage in the Guru Yoga/Yidam practice from your lineage before continuing to practice Dorje Shugden. You should also consult with your own Guru to confirm as well.

Dear Eli Levine,

May I suggest you engage in the practice of the Guru Yoga of Lama Tsongkhapa and the practice of Dharmapala Dorje Shugden. Lama Tsongkhapa’s Guru Yoga will help to calm your mind while the practice of Dorje Shugden will help eliminate obstacles to your desired aim. Please remember to engage in the visualizations of the practices as this way they will be more effective, as you will be engaging your whole being in the practice, eg. Body (sitting in meditation posture), Speech (the recitation of the prayers and particularly the mantras) and the Mind (the visualization process).

I also suggest that you engage in meditation on death. This in and off itself will help you to realize and let go of the feelings you have been holding on to for so long.

Dear Nyima,

Yes, you are very right. There are people who use others for their own selfish ends. We must realise that the people who are being used are suffering from the karmic effects from negative actions in previous lives. According to the law of Karma, even though that person may seem to get everything he or she wants to in this lifetime, they will suffer from the effects of the negative karma they are accumulating from using people in this way in the future.