Guru Yoga Phowa Pujas Explanation

Khyenkong Tharjay Buddhist Charitable Society 70A Lorong 25A Geylang Singapore 388255 Mailing Address: Singapore Post Centre Post Office, PO Box 369, Singapore 914013 www. khyenkong-tharjay.org [email protected]

Teachings & Programme Write Up

Guru Yoga, Phowa & Pujas By His Eminence Beru Khyentse Rinpoche 15 to 21 May 2006

1. Guru Yoga Yoga Teaching - Cloud Cloud of Joy

Guru Yoga teaches on one of the most essential practices in Tibetan Buddhism. This is a meditation practice in which one fuses one's mind with the mind of one's guru. It is an important part of guru devotion, a practice done daily by most serious Tibetan Buddhist practitioners, and one that is common to all of the four Vajrayana schools. It is said that in the Vajrayana tradition, no realization is possible without devotion to a genuine guru. When we bring the teachings into our own experience, we begin to see the profound benefits of dharma practice and the great benefit of having a teacher who embodies realization. Guru yoga is the practice of meeting the awakened mind of the teacher on the spot. This guru yoga teaching and practice that HE Beru Khyentse Rinpoche is giving is entitled “Cloud of Joy”. Joy”. It is a daily recitation practice of the Guru Yoga of the Omniscient Lama Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. HE Beru Khyentse Rinpoche who is the manifestation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo is personally teaching and empowering the disciples on this guru yoga. This sadhana focuses on the Guru - Manjushri and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo being inseparable. This is therefore a very very valuable teaching for practitioners. From the “Cloud of Joy” sadhana, Rinpoche will very concisely points out the essence of this practice, gives advice, and points out the implications for one's whole life. 2. Phowa Teaching and Training

The practice of Conscious Dying, or Phowa, is one of the profound teachings of Vajrayana. In the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism it is taught in the context of the Six Yogas of Naropa. HE Beru Khyentse Rinpoche will be teaching 2 phowa styles out of the five styles of transference of consciousness from the Karma Kamsang tradition. These are the Amitabha and Vajrayogini Phowa during the 2 days teaching and practice sessions. In Amitabha Phowa practice, one learns to direct one's mind toward Buddha Amitabha and transfer one's consciousness into the Pure Land of Great Bliss. Thus it is possible to establish a definite connection with the Buddha Amitabha

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and to arrive at a direct experience of this extremely pure and joyful state. This is especially useful at the time of death. Instead of being driven through the intermediate state (tib. Bardo) into a new rebirth in the cycle of existence, one goes directly into the state of highest bliss. Being in the state of the Buddha himself, one receives further teachings and develops very quickly towards the state of full enlightenment.

3. Prosperity Puja

Zambhala is a wealth diety and is also an emanation of Buddha Ratnasambhava. He has the essence of generosity and represents the activity of increasing. His aspirations are to help the poor and those suffering from ill fortune. Zambhala Puja would help to increase our worldly and spiritual wealth. We need not just material wealth to sustain us through this samsaric life but also spiritual wealth and wisdom so that it will help improve our practice which in turn will gradually lead us towards liberation.

4. Kurukulle Fire Puja

According to Tara practice, Kurukulle is a very powerful female deity that tames negative forces and obstacles for the practitioners. This would help create a better condition for us to practice Dharma. The benefit of Kurukulle Fire Puja is to purify negative defilements caused by our body, speech and mind. It will also clear obstacles created by evil spirits, demonic force, naga and non-human. In the relative world, it would help us to improve our wealth, fortune, health and wisdom. Ultimately, it would help us to attain Buddhahood. 5. Amitabha Initiation

Buddha Amitabha of the Western direction or the Tathagatha of Boundless Light is the main Yidam of the Lotus family. He is also the Lord of the Land of Great Bliss. He has two assistants with Chenrezig on the right and Vajrapani on his left. The Buddha Amitabha Sutra said that one only needs to recite the name of Buddha Amitabha with a single mindedness to ensure rebirth in the Sukhavati Pureland. This is made possible due to the compassionate vow of the Buddha Amitabha. If one believes in this and vows to take rebirth in the Sukhavati

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Pureland and practices accordingly we will definitely be received by Buddha Amitabha at the time of death. This initiation would establish a good karmic connection with Amitabha and empower the disciple to recite the Amitabha mantra successfully. 6. Zambhala Initiation

Many aeons ago, when Buddha Sakyamuni was a Bodhisattva, he had received the mantra and practice of Zambhala from the Buddha Vajra Holder Melody of the Ocean. When Buddha was in India, there was a man from Kaushambi called Chnadra Badra who was very poor and unable to feed his large family. He requested the Buddha to free him from poverty. With great compassion, the Buddha gave him the practice of Zambhala and all other wealth deities in the presence of 500 monks and Bodhisattvas. In a short period of practice, Chandra Badra was able to gain much wealth and become the wealthiest man in India. Witnessing such an amazing result, all the monks and Bodhisattvas praised and honoured the Buddha for his great compassion and skilful means in freeing beings from poverty. Since then, the practice of Zambhala was transmitted through various qualified masters and had benefited many people. Later on, the practice was introduced by Guru Padmasambhava to King Trisong Deutsen of Tibet. Zambhala is not to be mistaken as a worldly god possessing limited abilities to aid others. Rather, he is an Enlightened being possessing remarkable powers to free sentient beings from the clutches of poverty and starvation and guiding them towards ultimate Buddhahood. In Buddhist Lore, he is regarded as an increase activity of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Vowing to increase the good fortune and fulfilling all good wishes to those who ardently seek his blessing. He is in his most popular form conceived as a richly clad, rotund figure sitting regally and holding a mongoose from whose mouth pours a stream of jewels. Like a dispenser of riches, he is depicted wearing a garment beautifully decorated with floral patterns. The benefit of this practice is to increase wealth, fortune, success and clear obstacles. It will also increase spiritual wealth, luck, long life, wisdom and intellect. 7. Kurukulle Initiation

Kurukulle is a semi-wrathful aspect of Tara, a fully-Enlightened Buddhist goddess. In this guise she confronts opponent forces. She presents an undaunted

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demeanor, which fierce expression and the holding of weapons are but symbolic means of conveying the central concept. Tara is at all times a wholly beneficent deity. Kurukulle wields her flower garland weapons to pierce their misguided reasoning, to hook onto their better nature and draw them near. She dances atop a corpse proclaiming conquest over death and wears a trophy necklace of 50 freshly severed heads (one for each syllable of the Tibetan writing system) symbolizing mastery of all ideas and knowledge. She represents the Wisdom side of Enlightened Nature. Initiation and practicing to Kurukulle helps the disciples to overcome obstacles, increase good fortune and creating a good condition for Dharma practice.

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Guru Yoga Phowa Pujas Explanation

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