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About Dorje Shugden => General Discussion => Topic started by: Damian.D on June 22, 2011, 08:29:22 PM
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So if the Buddha predicted that the Buddhism will inevitably degenerate to the point that we have a dark period without the Dharma. Then why are we even practicing? Shouldn't we make the dark age come faster so that a new age can begin again?
I mean what would be the point of such hard practice when no matter how many lives (if any we have left) how much suffering we will endure what would be the point?
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The point is to have the Dharma seed planted in us so that when Meitreya comes, we will have that seed that will open up to receive the Guru, to be able to continue our practice when we meet Meitreya. So I think is mainly the point of practising for our future...creating the cause now so that we will be able to carry on our practise in the future, no?
Also practising Dharma helps us to purify our negative karma...just how sure are we that we will take rebirth as human in our next life? Well lucky we have Dorje Shugden to guide us at the time of death.
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We live in a degenerate age where lust reigns supreme and we are surrounded by countless distractions, which can actually overwhelm us.
However, not only are we very fortunate to have met with the 18 opportune conditions in this very life, but, more opportune and precious than that, some of us have met a qualified Spiritual Guide to guide us on the Path to Enlightenment. We have also met with the rarest and most powerful teachings of all,that, if we study them and practice them correctly, we will surely be set on Enlightenment’s course. These are the precious and sacred teachings of Je Tsongkapa that we, who belong to the Gelugpa Lineage, are heir to.
There is a story, in the Lamrim, that shows clearly how rare and precious Je Tsongkapa’s teachings are and how difficult it is to obtain them. A man once made a lot of offerings to the Three Jewels and then asked the clairvoyant Panchen Lama , if he would continue to receive the teachings of Lord Buddha in his next life. The Panchen Lama answered in the affirmative. The man then went on to ask if he would continue to receive Je Tsongkapa’s teachings in his next life. The Panchen Lama kept silent.
Thus we should not waste this rare and precious human rebirth; but instead, we should make optimum use of it to ensure that we are truly set on the course of Full Enlightenment. We should also ensure that Lord Tsongkapa’s teachings flourish and, for this to happen, we should endeavor to grow and spread the practice of Dorje Shugden, who arose as an uncommon Protector to fulfill a promise to preserve and spread Je Tsongkapa’s teachings, especially his unexcelled propounding of Nargajuna’s Middle View of Emptiness(so very necessary for the liberation from suffering of this degenerate age).
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So if the Buddha predicted that the Buddhism will inevitably degenerate to the point that we have a dark period without the Dharma. Then why are we even practicing? Shouldn't we make the dark age come faster so that a new age can begin again?
I mean what would be the point of such hard practice when no matter how many lives (if any we have left) how much suffering we will endure what would be the point?
The dark age will come due to our collective negative karma. Unless we have gained liberation from samsara and complete enlightenment, we will still need to practise. During the dark age, there is no Guru, no Buddha, no Dharma and no sangha. Isn't it important for us to practise and continue to practise to the best of our abilities while we still can and while we still have the Guru and Three Jewels? We do not want to regret later for not capitalising on this precious human rebirth with the 8 freedoms and 10 endowments that is so rare and hard to come by.
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Yes, The Buddha predicted dark ages without Dharma, but why are we thinking of the future? Right now for many sentient beings there is no Dharma. Imagine being an animal, is there Dharma?
The beauty of knowing and studying the Dharma is about Karma, cause and effects, and if we know that the Buddha is always right, can we not do something right now in the PRESENT? Yes we can, practise the precious teaching of living to benefit others and when the dark age does come, maybe we can be in a good place. Use our current opportunities to create so much merits that whatever comes, we may still be alright.
One thing I cannot be sure is can we be able to create good enough collective Karma to avert the dark age?
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My lama was telling us that as beings degenerate into more lust and desire the only tantra that gets more effective is Vajrayogini. And during these challenging times what protector has the power and ability to pull us out from the quagmire of desire if not Dorje Shugden.
Dorje Shugden has overcome so many trials and challenges, the 5th Dalai Lama, Mindroling Lamas, challenges from the 13th Dalai Lama and looks like the 14th Dalai Lama also. The practise just gets more and more pervasive and more and more people are getting involved with the practise.
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Knowing the dark age will come is a sign to tell us that not much time to waste!
If you believe in Karma exactly like what Dondrup Shugden said, that is better for us to start creating as much merit as possible in order for us to book a better place when the dark age come.
For not knowing the dark age will come, that is what i'm afraid of!
People will tend to think that there will always a tomorrow to start practicing dharma or there will always a tomorrow to practice a little bit more…….or next week, next month….not surprise they are people think of A RIGHT TIME (with all the samsaric excuses).
Personally it's all up to the individual on what you want to achieve.
Having to know the dark age coming is good to push us to move forward faster……but is still up to the individual to believe & realise.
As a Buddhist we believe of past, present & future lives.
We believe in Karma & Cause and effect.
We believe in 8 opportune condition & precious of human life.
No more waiting......
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I have noticed many shared the same sentiments that since Buddha has already predicted that we will come to a dark age, it is better not to wait or procrastinate and use our 18 opportunate conditions to learn, study and practise the dharma, and it is even more so if in this life, we are fortunate enough to meet and have a guru.
I'd like to make an analogy of this....
It is like when we know that a strong hurrican is coming, we would do whatever we can NOW to ensure that when it comes, we will be ok. For example, we don't want to be running out of food, hence we would go to the supermarket to get enough food and necessities. We will also ensure that our house is strong enough to withstand the hurrican, and hence we would reinforce or cover the windows with additional protection.
So I guess no one would just say, since the hurrican is going to come, lets sit and wait and not do anything since it is going to destroy everything anyway.........instead we would do whatever we can now, so that when the hurrican comes, we wouldn't be in too bad a situation......
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Due to the fact that we live in a degenerate age, all the more we must not waste this precious human rebirth with the 8 freedoms and 10 endowments to practice and study the dharma, to create and plant seeds for future rebirths so that when the next Buddha appears we will have the merits to continue our practice.
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I heard somewhere that when Maitreya appears, we will only have sutra teachings and no tantra so people will not be able to achieve enlightenment then from Maitreya. This is as good a reason as any to do what we can to attain enlightenment as soon as possible, before this era of Shakyamuni's teachings run out.
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Degenerate age = Dharma ending age
At degenerate age, less people show interest in learning, practicing, realizing or sharing dharma. If each individual still show interest in dharma, will the collective actions prolong the age of the pure true dharma?
At the degenerate age, many high lamas skillfully manifest in as many ways as possible to inspire us to realize the Dharma. As a Buddhist practitioner what i can do is to inspire many people to learn and practice dharma !
It's not too late to heed the call of the Dharma now!
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Let's say if we practice well, Protector will lead us to a good place. However, it not always necessarily we can be reborn as a human due to our own karma. But we planted a seed that we will at least be close to the dharma... It takes us longer time to achieve enlightenment.... Then the cycle goes round and round until enlightenment is achieve.
Then comes the dark age, where Maitreya Buddha appears.. It was told that like what WisdomBeing said, there will be only Sutra and no tantra available. So, it makes it harder for people at that time to practice. My question is : does it mean that higher tantric like Vajrayogini will subside? Wouldn't the Buddhas will manifest in a different form and a different practice for people? So how can Tantra vanish just like that? I think maybe it is just a lesser chance to even hear the word Dharma and not so accessible anymore...
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I think it's a degenerate age in the sense that less and less people are interested in spiritual learning and training. However, that does not mean we take a passive stand and do nothing about it.
Understanding that dharma is at a degenerated time , we should feel extremely grateful that there are teachers and bodhisattvas who still work tirelessly to help us. We are really like the blind tortoise in the vast ocean that surfaces once in 500 years and happen to stick our head through the golden yoke of dharma !
Yes, don't waste this one in a million chance, let the seed be planted in our mind if we can't attain enlightenment in this life.
High Masters like Pabhongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche composed practices eg. DS and Vojrayogini that catered for people at this degenerate age. We really have no excuse to NOT do anything for ourselves.
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What an interesting question, even if it appears to be phrased from a pessimistic point of view. Perhaps, even from a perspective of an inevitable doom.
If we follow your logic, then there would be no point of anything at all, to be frank.
Just take this life - we will all die anyways. So, what would be the point of going to school, working, getting married, starting a family and then go through old age when we all know that we will eventually die? Some may even die faster, earlier and younger. We just don't know when or how. But the only certainty is that we will definitely all die.
If we take such negative extremist view, then none of us should be even bothered with staying alive.
Then we don't really understand Karma and Dharma.
Karma does not leave us even after we die. It continues and countless lifetimes will ensue as it has previously done since beginningless time.
We are basically governed by two most important dates in each lifetime the year we are born and the year we die. In between that dash that defines what we have done and how we have lived. We can't control our birth and death, unless we are high lamas. But we can make full use of our time while we are alive to achieve a higher practice that allows us to become something much more.
At every stage and phase in life, the karma changes accordingly. It is no different than us, as individuals. So, collectively, the world has its own karma. Because together, we all have brought it on. Collective karma.
If we do understand karma, then we would not stop wasting time on things which will not bring ultimate benefit. We would focus on everything that benefit us and those around us the most. Yes, there will come a time when Dharma is lost because people have degenerated so much. Then, wouldn't it make perfect sense for us to make full use of our time now? Especially when we do have access to all the precious teachings and great teachers. Wouldn't it make sense to practice harder now when we still have the chance to do so?
Why?
So that when the time of darkness arrives, although the world may reside in darkness, but we would not be living in that darkness. Because we have practiced Dharma well, we have maintained our vows well and kept up our spiritual practice, we become light unto ourselves. Then we need not be lost in the dark, we are our own light. Furthermore, we may even help others around us because we can light up the path before them.
True spiritual practice never leaves us. If we put in the time and effort, we will see our spiritual progress. Then we will have real attainments and realizations. And they do not leave us after we die. We carry them forward onto our next life. And if we continue to build in this way, in time, we too will become highly attained like our Gurus and the high Lamas. If they can control their death and rebirth due to lifetimes of practice, so can we. This is the whole point of Dharma. Releasing and realising the Buddha within until we become the Buddha.
And we should always aspire to achieve this as soon as possible. Without delay. With a great sense of urgency.
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Yes, The Buddha predicted dark ages without Dharma, but why are we thinking of the future? Right now for many sentient beings there is no Dharma. Imagine being an animal, is there Dharma?
The beauty of knowing and studying the Dharma is about Karma, cause and effects, and if we know that the Buddha is always right, can we not do something right now in the PRESENT? Yes we can, practise the precious teaching of living to benefit others and when the dark age does come, maybe we can be in a good place. Use our current opportunities to create so much merits that whatever comes, we may still be alright.
One thing I cannot be sure is can we be able to create good enough collective Karma to avert the dark age?
I agree with with Dondrup Shugden. Yes dark ages without Dharma will come eventually according to the Buddha but why are we even thinking of that? Right now, if we have all the conditions to practise Dharma, we should seize the opportunity right now and practise. We practise so that we can create the causes not to meet the dark ages.
As it was rightly pointed out many sentient beings and animal are unable to receive Dharma now even if they are in a Dharma environment. As far as they are concern, this is dark ages for them.
Buddha call this time degenerate age because sentient beings have strong attachments and distractions are pervasive to distract sentient beings from the spiritual path. However, it does not have to be this way for us if we, having the right conditions for the practice of Dharma, practise Dharma now and choose not to be distracted by our attachments and the distractions of samsara. It is our choice.
Whether we are able to create collective karma to avert dark ages - this is a very interesting question. I don't know either. does anyone have any idea?
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I think the dark age may refer only to this world, this planet. Remember that the Buddha has said that there are hundreds and thousands of other world systems out there. So we may be getting to a dark age in this world and a point where there is no longer practice, BUT if we practice sincerely and well now, we create the cause to still continue receiving the teachings and opportunities to practice - if not in this world, then perhaps in another world where the teachings may be flourishing.
It is not good to think that "since there is a dark age coming, we might as well not bother since we're all doomed". Just thinking this way creates a negative thought. By cause and effect, you create a situation that you WILL be doomed and not receive the teachings at all.
Logically, by cause and effect, if we really work hard at our practice and have a sincere motivation, then even if this world totally collapse, we will have created the causes to be reborn into a place where we can continue this practice. There are also the Buddha realms to aspire to go towards like Tushita and Kechara, where we can continue our practice uninterruptedly, even if all the other planets and world systems are in pitch black darkness or have collapsed.
The efforts in our practice are never wasted if we are sincere about them.
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I think the dark age may refer only to this world, this planet. Remember that the Buddha has said that there are hundreds and thousands of other world systems out there. So we may be getting to a dark age in this world and a point where there is no longer practice, BUT if we practice sincerely and well now, we create the cause to still continue receiving the teachings and opportunities to practice - if not in this world, then perhaps in another world where the teachings may be flourishing.
It is not good to think that "since there is a dark age coming, we might as well not bother since we're all doomed". Just thinking this way creates a negative thought. By cause and effect, you create a situation that you WILL be doomed and not receive the teachings at all.
Logically, by cause and effect, if we really work hard at our practice and have a sincere motivation, then even if this world totally collapse, we will have created the causes to be reborn into a place where we can continue this practice. There are also the Buddha realms to aspire to go towards like Tushita and Kechara, where we can continue our practice uninterruptedly, even if all the other planets and world systems are in pitch black darkness or have collapsed.
The efforts in our practice are never wasted if we are sincere about them.
Thanks beggar for this clear explanation of dark ages and it does gives more reason why we should continue with our practice no matter what comes our way.
I guess our minds are limited, not realising there are still many different worlds out there that they Buddhas are probably teaching and Dharma flourishing! Amazing when you imagine. I guess this can be a positive focus now when depression sets in and when you think all you are doing is hopeless.
Why does negative thoughts always arise in our minds... is it to test our practice, our devotion, or just simple negative karma coming back? I guess the best would be just keep on practising till we overcome it :)
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A friend of mine told me that it is possible to gain enlightenment in this lifetime if i follow the vajrayana path, so if this is possible, we don't even need to worry about the next life, we can achieve our goal and then return in our next life fully equipped to help other sentient beings. From what i have read, those who gain enlightenment in one lifetime seem to have undergone great hardship to purify, like milarepa. Does this mean that if i want to gain enlightenment, i have to go through a similar kind of suffering? I do get it that i need to accumulate merit and purify my negative karma in order to even progress on the path, let alone gain enlightenment, but what does it actually take? Do i have to be ordained?
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Gyalwa Ensapa (1505 - 1566) was a great Kadampa master born in Ensa, at Hlaku near the Tsang River in Tibet. He achieved enlightenment in one brief lifetime like the famous yogi Milarepa. Unlike Milarepa, Gyalwa Ensapa achieved enlightenment without having to endure such hardship.
Many great lineage Teachers of Je Tsongkhapa’s tradition never passed a Geshe degree but they were serious, wise and realized Teachers. As Gyalwa Ensapa, a lineage holder of Je Tsongkhapa’s tradition, said in one of his many songs:
My only good qualities are that first I made single-pointed requests to my Spiritual Guide, then I practised my sadhanas as soon as I received them, and finally I attained enlightenment in three years and three months.
Yes like its mentioned it is possible not to struggle like Milarepa.
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@Dharmaspace.... I wish i could be like Gyalwa Ensapa, just by making such a motivation / wish to practice sincerely and get the result.
I cannot even remember my Prayers very well, I keep myself busy with my samsara work and distractions that I don't give myself time to pray, I can't control myself in tense situations that require skilful means and I lash out with vulgarities and sarcasms. Given a choice of my bed on my days off and other beings, more often than not I wish to benefit myself.
I wonder at what stage does the dharma create change when there is so much karma being created causing it to be further from me.
I think a lot of people who start on the path go for awhile then get disheartened when they see that the outside world hasn't changed even with them being in it.
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So if the Buddha predicted that the Buddhism will inevitably degenerate to the point that we have a dark period without the Dharma. Then why are we even practicing? Shouldn't we make the dark age come faster so that a new age can begin again?
I mean what would be the point of such hard practice when no matter how many lives (if any we have left) how much suffering we will endure what would be the point?
I had this thought too at one point...
Like any other thinking that goes bias, like when one says: "if I don't remember this life in the next, then why bother?"
It is bias, it is wrong view.
I think the thing is: do we care that other less fortunate beings may one day enjoy the benefits of Dharma practice?
If we do, we would create the causes for that now, while we still can.
If we let go of Dharma out of defeatism, we won't have causes in place for Dharma to return.
Nor would we create causes for us to meet the Dharma again.
"Hey, i am going to die anyway, so what's the point making a living or anything at all, I could just let myself die right now..."
How beneficial to oneself and others is that? It is just like spitting in everyone's face with arrogance and hatred.
Bias, counter-productive, silly, sense-less.
Dharma will degenerate? Ok, we are warned, let's work harder at it before conducive conditions dissipate, before there is no more teacher, before merit runs out.
let's do it for the sake of others...
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Gyalwa Ensapa (1505 - 1566) was a great Kadampa master born in Ensa, at Hlaku near the Tsang River in Tibet. He achieved enlightenment in one brief lifetime like the famous yogi Milarepa. Unlike Milarepa, Gyalwa Ensapa achieved enlightenment without having to endure such hardship.
Many great lineage Teachers of Je Tsongkhapa’s tradition never passed a Geshe degree but they were serious, wise and realized Teachers. As Gyalwa Ensapa, a lineage holder of Je Tsongkhapa’s tradition, said in one of his many songs:
My only good qualities are that first I made single-pointed requests to my Spiritual Guide, then I practised my sadhanas as soon as I received them, and finally I attained enlightenment in three years and three months.
Yes like its mentioned it is possible not to struggle like Milarepa.
Thanks for that Dharmaspace - however, is it possible in this time and age that we can do what the great masters did? Historically people seemed to be able to get enlightened much faster... perhaps these days there are more distractions that people are less committed or people are more fickle or that there are less accessible masters around. It's very scary - if we cannot gain enlightenment in this life, i think next life will be even more difficult.
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Thanks for that Dharmaspace - however, is it possible in this time and age that we can do what the great masters did?
Historically people seemed to be able to get enlightened much faster... perhaps these days there are more distractions that people are less committed or people are more fickle or that there are less accessible masters around.
It's very scary - if we cannot gain enlightenment in this life, I think next life will be even more difficult.
More distractions indeed, but who created them?
"Less accessible masters", but then owing to who's karma do I experience that?
I can blame the circumstances and conditions, but then who created them?
I did.
So, what am I doing about it...
I think that is the point, right?
Degeneration does not come from circumstances, conditions or lack of compassion from masters, it comes from a lack of merit.
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Well, the dark ages mean there would be even more distractions from practicing the Dharma. People's faith in the Dharma is waning and will disappear one day. Physical signs of Dharma would continue to abound but they are like museums and just a physical building. The disappearance of Dharma doesn't happen overnight. It happens in stages and we are right now moving towards the beginning of the end. You will see more and more temples but Mahasiddhas and attained beings are hard to find amongst the clergy in these institutions.
Under such circumstances, we need to rely upon a powerful protection. Hence, Dorje Shugden comes into the picture. Through him and the hard work of numerous great Lamas in the world today, the Dharma will reach a crescendo - a renaissance of Buddhism before everything ebbs away and the dark ages through begins.
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It is scary to acknowledge that we are living in degenerate times. For the longest time, I thought my life was fulfilling and precious until I learnt more about Karma and how everything I thought was precious and fulfilling were only mere specks of false joy. I will not say that what I have is rubbish nor will I nullify what I have done in my life thus far. But, what I will say is that understanding samsara and the sufferings I understand why I am still in search of happiness - the inner light in my world of the dark ages.
I had a thought, which may seem irrelevant - does the lighting of candles during all Buddhist events create the habituation of dispelling the darkness in our minds? Candles = Light. Does this help in combatting the darkness in out thoughts?
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A friend of mine told me that it is possible to gain enlightenment in this lifetime if i follow the vajrayana path, so if this is possible, we don't even need to worry about the next life, we can achieve our goal and then return in our next life fully equipped to help other sentient beings. From what i have read, those who gain enlightenment in one lifetime seem to have undergone great hardship to purify, like milarepa. Does this mean that if i want to gain enlightenment, i have to go through a similar kind of suffering? I do get it that i need to accumulate merit and purify my negative karma in order to even progress on the path, let alone gain enlightenment, but what does it actually take? Do i have to be ordained?
That's a good question. No, you don't have to be ordained. there are many highly attained beings who are not ordained. It is not about whether we formally take ordination or not. It could also be that you are living as if you are ordained, holding your vows very sincerely and dedicating your life to others.
I like your question about whether we have to go through a similar kind of suffering. Firstly, I guess this will depend mostly on our individual karmas which can manifest in many ways. It could maybe also manifest like this: we could be very committed to our practice and continually focus our mind and actions towards virtuous deeds, thoughts and speech. Because of this, we constantly activate positive karmas in our mindstream which open up to good things, higher merit, more good things to support our practice; at the same time, we stave off the negative karmas from arising in its full potentiality (e.g. gross purifications like sicknesses, accidents). It could be that we collect a tremendous amount of merit within that life to become enlightened directly, or we we ascend to a pure realm like Tushita or Sukhavati or Kechara and can then spend the rest of our time there practicing until we are able to purify all our karma. I don't know if this necessarily means you have to "suffer" though.
Another way of looking at it is: if you are sincere in the path and have a deep understanding of the meaning of practice, then whatever arises as suffering (purification) is not regarded as suffering. You will happily endure the pains and hardships because you know what it is for and it will not deter you from the path. So actually, you are not suffering at all... in fact, you look forward to it and are happy to have the pain come to you.
myself, I'm not sure I'm ready to handle that yet... I can't even stand it when I get the flu!
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Thanks Beggar - appreciate your answer. It's good to know that i don't have to be ordained... i don't even have a teacher yet. I guess when i get a teacher, my teacher would be able to tell me whether i should be ordained or not in order to get to my goal. From my readings.. i do need a teacher to get enlightened though, so i am also worried - what if i can't find a teacher? So far, I have met a few teachers - but i don;t feel a connection to the teachers i have met with. How do i know someone is the right teacher for me? I mean do i just settle for one just because i can't find another more suitable one. It's like finding a life partner, I wouldn't just settle for one, I'd need to find one who i would feel I can spend the rest of my life with. So if a teacher is someone who i'd spend eternity until enlightenment with, is it better to wait for the right one?
I've just been contemplating that time's a-running and if i don't get a teacher soon, i can't start my path properly then i'm up the creek.
Sorry this is a little off-track...
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Another way of looking at it is: if you are sincere in the path and have a deep understanding of the meaning of practice, then whatever arises as suffering (purification) is not regarded as suffering. You will happily endure the pains and hardships because you know what it is for and it will not deter you from the path. So actually, you are not suffering at all... in fact, you look forward to it and are happy to have the pain come to you.
It sounds like the pain we get from exercising at the gym, for a result that we value as worth the pain.
So I guess, the first thing to work on is value the result, so that when suffering occurs, we find them worth it and even rejoice at them.
Just like the gym...right?
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Sadly to know we all live in this degenerate age but according to lamrin we also should happy and appreciate born as a human this life time to practise dharma. ;D
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From my readings.. i do need a teacher to get enlightened though, so i am also worried - what if i can't find a teacher? So far, I have met a few teachers - but i don;t feel a connection to the teachers i have met with. How do i know someone is the right teacher for me? I mean do i just settle for one just because i can't find another more suitable one. It's like finding a life partner, I wouldn't just settle for one, I'd need to find one who i would feel I can spend the rest of my life with. So if a teacher is someone who i'd spend eternity until enlightenment with, is it better to wait for the right one?
I've just been contemplating that time's a-running and if i don't get a teacher soon, i can't start my path properly then i'm up the creek.
Sorry this is a little off-track...
Hey wisdombeing, don't get yourself down! There is always a big HOPE RAINBOW at the end.
Yes, we do need the help of a teacher to head all the way to enlightenment. There are people who will say that you can do it on your own - perhaps some can, but it will be much slower. Even Buddha shakyamuni himself needed a teacher! So it is definitely a very important part of our practice and our Dharma journey.
It is important to check. I am sure you know what already. But also, you don't go around checking forever and forever. Be careful not to use that as an excuse not to commit to a teacher and keep hopping about (though I'm sure you are not like that - you sound very serious about your practices!) The scriptures give very clear points to look for a teacher and what will help to guide you in your search (check the 50 verses of Guru devotion, which is a good guide).
Also, this helps very much: When you do your prayers to Lama Tsongkhapa and Dorje Shugden, focus particularly on the verses of the 7limbed prayers which Request the Lamas to remain and for the Lamas to continue turning the wheel of Lama. This doesn't refer specifically and only to Lama Tsongkhapa because obviously he has already long passed away. But focus on Lama tsongkhapa for now if you don't have a teacher yet. When we focus on these verses and request sincerely we create very strong causes for us to be connected to a qualified teacher in the future and continue to receive the teachings.
You can also place images of our lineage lamas on your altar (Trijang Rinpoche, Pabongka Rinpoche for example) and make aspirational prayers to receive their teachings and guidance. You can do your prayers to them, make offerings and do prostrations towards their images and think strongly that you wish to be their students. Even if you don't literally become their students, you will create the affinity and the karma to meet a teacher who will be qualified to teach you. It also creates the causes than when/if your lama passes away before you do, you will either be able to continue your practice on your own very strongly or you'll meet with another teacher in the same lineage who is also able to guide you.
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Thank you Beggar for sharing on the Teacher and on giving directions about how to create the causes to find a teacher.
I hear also too often of people through facebook or the like that are connected with vajrayana through the internet but cannot find a teacher where they live or also find that the teachers that are reachable do not appeal to them.
To be blessed to have access to a teacher depends upon one's merits and prayers indeed.
And those of us that do have a teacher must remember how rare it is and how much of a privilege this is, and that the merit that got us there may become exhausted if we take the journey lightly, or take the teacher as granted.
We not only need to create causes to be connected or re-connected with our teacher in future lifetimes, but also causes not to loose the connection in this very life time!
I don't think that dark ages are outside conditions, we generate dark ages with our thoughts and actions. So we better think properly...
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I read something interesting about today's teachers and find it quite relevant to post it here. It is by Shamarpa Rinpoche. In this degenerate age, there are many self-claimed masters and gurus. We have to be careful. WisdomBeing, good luck in finding a Guru 8) The site has plenty of great masters, perhaps you can start out from here and look for their centres, instead of trying to look "out there". Many of these great masters on this website fits the criteria below I tell ya! ;D
In order to practice the path, which involves various samayas, it is necessary to rely on a lama who should be qualified in the following:
- Learned in Sutrayana and Tantrayana and skilful in teaching
- Experience in meditation practice.
These two qualities which are described in many tantras are essential with respect to Tantrayana. In Sutrayana as well both should be united.
A lama who is learned in the dharma but lacks experience in meditation is of middling capacity. An individual who unites both, knowledge of dharma and experience in meditation is of highest capacity. With regard to judging the capacities of a lama one can distinctly judge knowledge and skill in teaching due to his or her educational background. The depth of experience in meditation, however, cannot be evaluated by others.
Further criteria concerning an authentic teacher other than that mentioned above are not reliable.
Some may claim themselves to be an emanation of Amitabha, Chenrezig, Manjushri or others. If these individuals do not have good qualifications in terms of dharma knowledge and / or experience in meditation they should not be considered as authentic lamas.
In the west people are easily impressed from the charisma of teachers and by certain behavioural patterns. Due to these characteristics individuals are considered high lamas.
In the east, particularly in the chinese society, people are impressed with those who speak English well and with someone who presents himself as an emanation of a specific yidam or bodhisattva.
If one accepts such criteria, it is not certain that one will meet a qualified lama. One could have great luck and meet an authentic lama who possesses charisma and excellent qualification. Furthermore one might have greater luck and encounter a very charismatic person who is the Buddha himself. In many cases, however, one will meet lamas who lack the necessary qualities.
Today there are many buddhist teachers who offer an abundance of excellent dharma. Unfortunately, at the same time, there exist unqualified teachers who misuse their spiritual influence.
From: http://www.tilogaard.dk/html/body_samaya.html
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Making aspirational prayers to create the cause to get close to or have your path cross with a qualified teacher just by putting their picture on your personal shrine. I guess in this day and age, the internet maybe about the only path a person would be able to tread.
I'm pretty sure the teachings now must match the times we live in. Such as to make an offering to the Guru, we need only make a donation via Paypal, or pop it in a box with personal letter and call up DHL to collect.
If we are lucky to attend a teaching we would either hop in the car, jump on a 16hr plane ride across the wide ocean, just to attend and return to our 9-5 on Monday morning.
It could even be a simple email sent via a contactpage on a website.
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Buddha mentioned that this century is Dharma degeneration period. I am agree!!! The reason is very simple, if you be more alert and careful see through everyone from there, everyone of us are so attach into our own preference such as sex, food, fun, easy life, big house, relationship, big car and so on.....many of us say that is a trend...that why I follow too.
So, from my opinion because of this trend that make us need Dharma so badly!!! Then we can survive in this degeneration century. On other hands, we also can used different angle to view this degeneration period, because of this degeneration time people need to practice Dharma, to protect herself or himself. Dharma is one of the medicine which really can cure your inner problem.....
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This may be the degenerate age but the Buddha have already prepared ahead for special teachings that will be most effective at this time. And that is the practice of Tantra. As time progresses and we become more and more degenerate, Tantra will hold more and more efficacy and power. When the great teachings on Sutra is little practiced and very few people gain any attainments through these practices, Tantric methods and practices would become more and more widespread and there are those that still gain attainments through this path.
In the Vajrayogini commentaries, there was a man called Chatreng and lived during the time of the Chinese takeover of Tibet. He was very rough and was not spiritual at all. He neglected his family duties in favor of all manner of vice. When the Chinese came, he would try to kill as many of the Chinese troops as possible that were crossing the Tibetan great lakes. He was lucky that he was never captured. Eventually, he followed the great Tibetan exodus into India. He continued in his wanton lifestyle until he chanced upon a great teaching by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. During the teachings, his mind change and great regret flourished in his mind. He returned to family and sought forgiveness for the first time in his life. He had also received Vajrayogini initiation. So, he decided to enter into a Vajrayogini retreat and so he sought commentaries from a Geshe in Nepal and entered into retreat in the mountains.
Unfortunately, he passed away during retreat and his remains was found. The local monks performed a funeral for him and they cremated his body on a funeral pyre. During the cremation, rainbows appeared all over his funeral pyre and all the great Lamas concurred that this was a sign that Chatreng ascended into Kechara Paradise. This story illustrate how immensely efficacious and powerful the practice of Tantra is.
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We do live in a degenerate age and this was so even during Sakyamuni Buddha's time. But is it getting worse?
According to Sakymuni Buddha we will reach a stage of such degeneration that it will be called the Dark Ages.
Yet knowing this, the Buddha did not give up hope and and gave us the way and method to be still ok.
Let us not concentrate of the future of Dark Age but to do our best so that we will always be with the Dharma and our Guru, life after life. That is the only insurance we can buy for yourselves.
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That is why Buddhism or rather religions are very important to educate people at this time. A dharma protector such as Dorje Shugden is even more important to clear away our outer and inner obstacles, guide us through our practise until we reach enlightenment.
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Even we know there will be a period of dark age but we still need to practice to plant more seed for the future what if we practice hard enough we might be get ourselves out of samsara before the dark age come so why bother about what going to happen in future focus on now. We do not live in fear if we always think about future then we be living our life in fear and a lot of worries.