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Vajra Guru Mantra

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Post by LauraJ Fri Dec 26, 2008 4:51 am

Who is Guru Rinpoche?
A Short Biography

Vajra Guru is a way that we can refer to Padmasambhava. Vajra here refers to the extra-ordinary methods employed in his establishment of Buddhism. Guru means "teacher," with the connotation of "spiritual mentor." In the Tibetan language, the meaning is conveyed by the word lama.

Whether Nyingmapa, Sakyapa, Kagyupa or Gelugpa, we all recite the invocation to Vajra Guru Rinpoche, especially on the 10th of the lunar month. Among Mahayanists, all mantras are dedicated to the benefit of sentient beings everywhere. In the case of someone reporting the same total to lamas of two or more denominations, the total can be dedicated in the following way: As an example, we think / say, "This is dedicated to all beings and in particular, HH Dalai Lama and HH Karmapa."

All Tibetan denominations and lineages recognize the efficacy of Guru Rinpoche's mantra in overcoming obstacles to the flourishing of the Dharma and to the restoration of peace and harmony. No empowerment is required to proceed.

"Guru Rinpoche" is one of the names by which Padmasambhava (8th century,) who is acknowledged a Second Buddha, is called. He is also called Padmakara and a number of other names besides. Each refers to a particular role that he played in order to firmly establish Buddhism in the land of Tibet.

The Power of Guru Rinpoche
One must recognize the fact that Tibet is a mere few hundred miles from northern India, where Buddha Shakyamuni lived and taught, yet for well over twelve hundred years Buddhism made little impact in the Land of Snows. Therefore, if it had not been for Guru Rinpoche's determination we might never know the full extent of the transmission of Buddha-dharma, for in no other land was the entire system preserved in detail. And it continues there right until our own day. (Although we who live outside Tibet have a greater responsibility now than ever before.)

Therefore every practitioner of every level, school, denomination and lineage, has a heart connection to this greatest Vajra Guru. Indeed everyone, whether he or she is "officially" associated with Buddhism or not, is welcome to take part.

What is the mantra?
Om Ah Hung, Vajra Guru Pema Siddhi, Hung!

Many Tibetans say benzar instead of vajra. Just do as you prefer or as you have been taught. There is no significant difference.

khandro.net
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Post by Dharanidhar Tue Dec 30, 2008 5:21 pm

Do all or indeed any Gelugpas also chant this?

The focus in Gelugpa is very much upon Je Tsongkhapa rather than Padmasambhava.

It is the chanting of the Je Tsongkhapa mantra I am familiar with, and Guru Yoga, Mahamudra etc. have the same focus.

Anyone know?
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Post by sherab zangpo Tue Dec 30, 2008 5:45 pm

http://www.fpmt.org/projects/padmasambhava/

http://www.fpmt.org/projects/padmasambhava/pdf/guru_rinpoche__prayer_to_clear_obstacles.pdf

Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) is perhaps the most universally cherished saint in all of Tibetan Buddhism. A highly realized yogi, Padmasambhava came to Tibet from India in the 8th Century and helped establish a pure lineage which is still practiced today around the world by all four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Prayers to Padmasambhava remove obstacles on the path, prevent harm, create peace in the world, and help us accomplish all we wish on the spiritual path
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Post by sherab zangpo Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:00 pm

http://carelesshand.net/weblog.pl/weblog.pl/2007/07/14

So Shantarakshita suggested inviting Padmasambhava to Tibet. Due to Padmasambhava's great powers and clairvoyance, he was able to bind the local spirits to the dharma or banish them. So that is how the dharma was established in the early days.

Those of you who have visited Samye will know that the main temple has three stories, each with special features. Samye was built according to the plan of a mandala, with four gates, 108 stupas and a protective fence. Having completed the construction of Samye, Trisong Detsen and Padmasambhava felt there was a need for a protector for all of Tibet. They chose Pehar, who is the same as the same as the Nechung deity. The son of the king went to a place now part of Mongolia to invoke him and escort him back to Tibet. They took back an item linked to his life force, which brought him back to Tibet. At the northern gate of Samye a shrine was established for Pehar.

Samye was the first monastery in Tibet and no other monasteries had been built at that time. Near where the Drepung monastery was going to be built there was a sacred tree surrounded by springs. Vairochana had visited this place and had visions of the future. He saw that Samye was going to be the greater abode of the protector but that that spot was going to be a smaller abode. So the name Nechung, which means just that, was established in that way. The founder of Drepung was a disciple of Je Tsongkhapa. He had a very auspicious dream after he had aspired to build the monastery. The protector appeared to him in a dream and said if you build it, I will offer five thousand monks. In Drepung there were four monastic colleges. The founder of one of these colleges also founded Nechung monastery. A lama sent a box down the river that passes by Lhasa with items sacred to Pehar. It passed by the spot were the Nechung monastery was going to be to be built. The monk who was going to build it saw the box through his clairvoyance and told his attendant to go down the next morning to retrieve it. The attendant waited by the river for it a long time, then saw the box floating down the river and retrieved it. While carrying it back, he sat down beneath the tree to rest. When he went to lift up the box again, he found that he couldn't lift it. He was curious why, so he lifted the lid and a dove flew out and merged with the tree. So that formed the auspicious connection for building the Nechung monastery there. As the attendant walked uphill he saw his teacher waiting, as if to receive a guest. His teacher asked if there had been any problem, and the attendant told him what had happened when he lifted the lid. So the monk said it would have been more auspicious if you could have brought it all the way up the hill, but because of the incident that the monastery would be built at the tree, but it would be small. Eight monks were sent there to establish the Nechung monastery. This happened about 800 years ago.

The first Dalai Lama came from Nechung monastery. This was before the lineage was established, so he was not known as the Dalai Lama. After the second Dalai Lama passed away, he considered that he might not be reborn in Tibet. But Padmasambhava spoke to him while he dwelt in the Pure Land and told him he was the incarnation of Avalokiteshvara and the protector of Tibet, so it was important that he be reborn. Padmasambhava said that he would send two protectors with the Dalai Lama, the red and the black protectors. It was during the lifetime of the third Dalai Lama that the institution of the Nechung oracle was established. He was known as the Drepung Nechung guardian of the dharma. The fourth Dalai lama was born in Mongolia and the great fifth Dalai Lama established the government of central Tibet. The name of the central government was taken from the name of the Dalai Lama's college in Drepung.
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Post by dorje Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:07 pm

Je Tsongkhapa is considered an emanation of Guru Rinpoche.

And, no Guru Rinpoche, no Je Tsongkhapa, because without Guru Rinpoche, There would not be any Buddhism in Tibet, which means Je Tsongkhapa would not even exist, and you would most likely practice Bon.
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Post by caz namyaw Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:12 pm

dorje wrote:Je Tsongkhapa is considered an emanation of Guru Rinpoche.

And, no Guru Rinpoche, no Je Tsongkhapa, because without Guru Rinpoche, There would not be any Buddhism in Tibet, which means Je Tsongkhapa would not even exist, and you would most likely practice Bon.

Dont forget atisha........

peace

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Post by Dharanidhar Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:12 pm

Thanks. Smile


There is no doubt of the reverence in which he was held by the Gelugpa, either:

''Sera Monastery has three main temples and three gigantic gold plated copper statues. The central statue is that of the Buddha which has a height of 60 ft from the base and the others are 58 ft in height and are those of Guru Padmasambhava and Budha Amitayus. There are scriptures, relics of great beings, small clay-mould stupas and small statues inside the statues which symbolize the body, speech and mind of the Buddhas.''

It is the routine chanting of the mantra I am curious about. I have never heard it, nor seen it in a Gelug Sadhana, so I wonder if indeed current practice is focused more on Je Tsongkhapa.
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Post by caz namyaw Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:15 pm

Dharanidhar wrote:Thanks. Smile


There is no doubt of the reverence in which he was held by the Gelugpa, either:

''Sera Monastery has three main temples and three gigantic gold plated copper statues. The central statue is that of the Buddha which has a height of 60 ft from the base and the others are 58 ft in height and are those of Guru Padmasambhava and Budha Amitayus. There are scriptures, relics of great beings, small clay-mould stupas and small statues inside the statues which symbolize the body, speech and mind of the Buddhas.''

It is the routine chanting of the mantra I am curious about. I have never heard it, nor seen it in a Gelug Sadhana, so I wonder if indeed current practice is focused more on Je Tsongkhapa.

What ever....Je tsongkhapa is the main practise, Guru rinpoche how often was this practised in gelugpa tradition before the rime movement ?

peace

xxx
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Post by Dharanidhar Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:18 pm

dorje wrote:Je Tsongkhapa is considered an emanation of Guru Rinpoche.

And, no Guru Rinpoche, no Je Tsongkhapa, because without Guru Rinpoche, There would not be any Buddhism in Tibet, which means Je Tsongkhapa would not even exist, and you would most likely practice Bon.

I doubt it! Smile

I think I would probably practice within a non-Tibetan school. Many Westerners only latch on to the Tibetan sects as they are so well established here. Zen would be most likely, but as I have undertaken many visits to India maybe I would now be worshiping Kali! Smile
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Post by caz namyaw Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:21 pm

I thought Je tsongkhapa was considered a emination of manjushri.
But then again i suppose this is what happens when people mix traditions....confusion.

peace

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Post by Dharanidhar Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:36 pm

I also wondered about this. Both Padmasambhava and Je Tsongkhapa are considered emanations of Manjushri. This does not make one an emanation of the other, and I have not read this elsewhere.
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Post by caz namyaw Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:58 pm

Dharanidhar wrote:I also wondered about this. Both Padmasambhava and Je Tsongkhapa are considered emanations of Manjushri. This does not make one an emanation of the other, and I have not read this elsewhere.

Very true they would share the same continuum but not be the emination of one an other, They are both from the same source yet seperate i feel that it is just some extreme position of non sectarianism to beleive that Padmasambhava eminated Je tsongkhapa as this has never been mentioned before.
Probley common to the nyngma school of thought rather then Gelugpa.


peace

xxx
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Post by dorje Tue Dec 30, 2008 7:21 pm

Atisha's teachings were received by Tibet because Guru Rinpoche open the gates to Tibet.
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Post by caz namyaw Tue Dec 30, 2008 7:24 pm

dorje wrote:Atisha's teachings were received by Tibet because Guru Rinpoche open the gates to Tibet.

Atisha's teachings would have come anyway, as to the success of them if Guru rinpoche had not opened the door, who knows.

peace

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Post by dorje Tue Dec 30, 2008 7:25 pm

caz namyaw wrote:Very true they would share the same continuum but not be the emination of one an other, They are both from the same source yet seperate i feel that it is just some extreme position of non sectarianism to beleive that Padmasambhava eminated Je tsongkhapa as this has never been mentioned before.
Probley common to the nyngma school of thought rather then Gelugpa.


peace

xxx

Be careful what you're writing there. You're treading the fine line there.
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Post by caz namyaw Tue Dec 30, 2008 7:31 pm

dorje wrote:
caz namyaw wrote:Very true they would share the same continuum but not be the emination of one an other, They are both from the same source yet seperate i feel that it is just some extreme position of non sectarianism to beleive that Padmasambhava eminated Je tsongkhapa as this has never been mentioned before.
Probley common to the nyngma school of thought rather then Gelugpa.


peace

xxx

Be careful what you're writing there. You're treading the fine line there.

How so ? no disrespect to Guru rinpoche. Both being eminations of manjushri thats fine for me.

peace

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Post by LauraJ Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:07 pm

I thought that Guru Rinpoche and Je Tsongkhapa and Padmasambhava were all the same??
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Post by Dharanidhar Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:32 pm

Check out Wiki on them. Je Tongkhapa is
a later figure. On my mobile so cant do
links!
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Post by LauraJ Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:45 pm

Will do 😄
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Post by LauraJ Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:19 pm

Dharanidhar wrote:It is the routine chanting of the mantra I am curious about. I have never heard it, nor seen it in a Gelug Sadhana, so I wonder if indeed current practice is focused more on Je Tsongkhapa.

Interesting. Here's the source: khandro.net

I think the writer at this site is a Kagyu practitioner (if that makes any difference).
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Post by sherab zangpo Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:07 am

http://members.toast.net/overbeck/tib_down.html

I have attached a free Tibetan Lunar Month Calendar for download.



Whether Nyingmapa, Sakyapa, Kagyupa or Gelugpa, we all recite the invocation to Vajra Guru Rinpoche, especially on the 10th of the lunar month. Among Mahayanists, all mantras are dedicated to the benefit of sentient beings everywhere. In the case of someone reporting the same total to lamas of two or more denominations, the total can be dedicated in the following way: As an example, we think / say, "This is dedicated to all beings and in particular, HH Dalai Lama and HH Karmapa."

All Tibetan denominations and lineages recognize the efficacy of Guru Rinpoche's mantra in overcoming obstacles to the flourishing of the Dharma and to the restoration of peace and harmony. No empowerment is required to proceed.
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Post by caz namyaw Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:38 am

Drolma wrote:I thought that Guru Rinpoche and Je Tsongkhapa and Padmasambhava were all the same??

Im not sure its just never been mentioned besideswhen did the gelugpa's start practising guru rinpoche ?

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Post by Dharanidhar Wed Dec 31, 2008 10:52 am

sherab zangpo wrote:http://members.toast.net/overbeck/tib_down.html

I have attached a free Tibetan Lunar Month Calendar for download.



Whether Nyingmapa, Sakyapa, Kagyupa or Gelugpa, we all recite the invocation to Vajra Guru Rinpoche, especially on the 10th of the lunar month. Among Mahayanists, all mantras are dedicated to the benefit of sentient beings everywhere. In the case of someone reporting the same total to lamas of two or more denominations, the total can be dedicated in the following way: As an example, we think / say, "This is dedicated to all beings and in particular, HH Dalai Lama and HH Karmapa."

All Tibetan denominations and lineages recognize the efficacy of Guru Rinpoche's mantra in overcoming obstacles to the flourishing of the Dharma and to the restoration of peace and harmony. No empowerment is required to proceed.

Thanks Sherab. But this was also Drolma's OP! Smile

Drolma - yes, a Kagyu source is not the same as Gelugpa, so we're not much further forwards. Wink

If it were a mainstream Gelugpa practice, there should be some provenance, for example in the Lam Rim Chen Mo (Je Tsongkhapa's Great Treatise). However, whilst he credits Santaraksita and Padmasambhava with introducing and developing Tibetan Buddhism, there is no mention of chanting P's mantra.

If there is only the odd Gelug source, modern at that, I wouldn't personally find that convincing. Wink
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Post by caz namyaw Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:29 pm

Dharanidhar wrote:
sherab zangpo wrote:http://members.toast.net/overbeck/tib_down.html

I have attached a free Tibetan Lunar Month Calendar for download.



Whether Nyingmapa, Sakyapa, Kagyupa or Gelugpa, we all recite the invocation to Vajra Guru Rinpoche, especially on the 10th of the lunar month. Among Mahayanists, all mantras are dedicated to the benefit of sentient beings everywhere. In the case of someone reporting the same total to lamas of two or more denominations, the total can be dedicated in the following way: As an example, we think / say, "This is dedicated to all beings and in particular, HH Dalai Lama and HH Karmapa."

All Tibetan denominations and lineages recognize the efficacy of Guru Rinpoche's mantra in overcoming obstacles to the flourishing of the Dharma and to the restoration of peace and harmony. No empowerment is required to proceed.

Thanks Sherab. But this was also Drolma's OP! Smile

Drolma - yes, a Kagyu source is not the same as Gelugpa, so we're not much further forwards. Wink

If it were a mainstream Gelugpa practice, there should be some provenance, for example in the Lam Rim Chen Mo (Je Tsongkhapa's Great Treatise). However, whilst he credits Santaraksita and Padmasambhava with introducing and developing Tibetan Buddhism, there is no mention of chanting P's mantra.

If there is only the odd Gelug source, modern at that, I wouldn't personally find that convincing. Wink

Same here i would see this as blatant mixing of traditions what happend to practising purely the doctrine of each special tradition, mixing is the best way destroy each doctrine individuality.

peace

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Post by dorje Wed Dec 31, 2008 8:18 pm

I think we should get back on topic and discuss the benefits of the Vajra Guru Mantra. If we keep talking about "blatant mixing of traditions" like it was bad (which it is not, because the 5th Dalai Lama (Gelug) practiced Dzogchen and propagated the Vajra Guru Mantra, as well as one of the lineage holders of a few Nyingma and Kagyu practices).

So I would think if we had nothing constructive to talk about the Vajra Guru Mantra, then we should all just keep quiet.

P.S. The Vajra Guru Mantra is spoken about in the Ngag Rim Chen Mo (the Tantric equivalent of the Lamrim Chenmo), written by Je Stongkhapa as well. However this is not translated fully as yet, and is only available once you have received a HYT wangchen (usually Guhyasamaja or Vajrabhairava or Vajrayogini in the case of Gelug HYT practices).
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