guru yoga phowa pujas explanation

8/20/2019 Guru Yoga Phowa Pujas Explanation

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Khyenkong Tharjay Buddhist Charitable Society70A Lorong 25A Geylang Singapore 388255Mailing Address: Singapore Post Centre Post Office, PO Box 369, Singapore 914013www. [email protected]

Teachings & Programme Write Up

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Guru Yoga, Phowa & Pujas

By His Eminence Beru Khyentse Rinpoche15 to 21 May 2006

1. Guru Yoga Teaching - 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'sguru. It is an important part of guru devotion, a practice done daily by mostserious Tibetan Buddhist practitioners, and one that is common to all of the fourVajrayana schools.

It is said that in the Vajrayana tradition, no realization is possible without devotionto a genuine guru. When we bring the teachings into our own experience, webegin to see the profound benefits of dharma practice and the great benefit ofhaving a teacher who embodies realization. Guru yoga is the practice of meetingthe awakened mind of the teacher on the spot.

This guru yoga teaching and practice that HE Beru Khyentse Rinpoche is givingis entitled “Cloud of Joy”. It is a daily recitation practice of the Guru Yoga of theOmniscient Lama Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. HE Beru Khyentse Rinpochewho is the manifestation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo is personally teaching

and empowering the disciples on this guru yoga. This sadhana focuses on theGuru - Manjushri and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo being inseparable.

This is therefore a very valuable teaching for practitioners. From the “Cloud ofJoy” sadhana, Rinpoche will very concisely points out the essence of thispractice, 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 ofVajrayana. 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 2phowa styles out of the five styles of transference of consciousness from theKarma Kamsang tradition. These are the Amitabha and Vajrayogini Phowaduring the 2 days teaching and practice sessions.

In Amitabha Phowa practice, one learns to direct one's mind toward BuddhaAmitabha 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 isespecially 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, onegoes directly into the state of highest bliss. Being in the state of the Buddhahimself, one receives further teachings and develops very quickly towards thestate 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. Hisaspirations are to help the poor and those suffering from ill fortune.

Zambhala Puja would help to increase our worldly and spiritual wealth. We neednot just material wealth to sustain us through this samsaric life but also spiritualwealth and wisdom so that it will help improve our practice which in turn willgradually lead us towards liberation.

4. Kurukulle Fire Puja

According to Tara practice, Kurukulle is a very powerful female deity that tamesnegative 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 ourbody, 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 toimprove our wealth, fortune, health and wisdom. Ultimately, it would help us toattain 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 GreatBliss. 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 ofBuddha Amitabha with a single mindedness to ensure rebirth in the SukhavatiPureland. This is made possible due to the compassionate vow of the BuddhaAmitabha. 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 BuddhaAmitabha at the time of death.

This initiation would establish a good karmic connection with Amitabha andempower the disciple to recite the Amitabha mantra successfully.

6. Zambhala Initiation

Many aeons ago, when Buddha Sakyamuni was a Bodhisattva, he had receivedthe mantra and practice of Zambhala from the Buddha Vajra Holder Melody ofthe Ocean. When Buddha was in India, there was a man from Kaushambi calledChnadra Badra who was very poor and unable to feed his large family. Herequested the Buddha to free him from poverty. With great compassion, the

Buddha gave him the practice of Zambhala and all other wealth deities in thepresence of 500 monks and Bodhisattvas. In a short period of practice, ChandraBadra was able to gain much wealth and become the wealthiest man in India.Witnessing such an amazing result, all the monks and Bodhisattvas praised andhonoured the Buddha for his great compassion and skilful means in freeingbeings from poverty.

Since then, the practice of Zambhala was transmitted through various qualifiedmasters and had benefited many people. Later on, the practice was introducedby Guru Padmasambhava to King Trisong Deutsen of Tibet.

Zambhala is not to be mistaken as a worldly god possessing limited abilities toaid others. Rather, he is an Enlightened being possessing remarkable powers tofree sentient beings from the clutches of poverty and starvation and guiding themtowards ultimate Buddhahood. In Buddhist Lore, he is regarded as an increaseactivity of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Vowing to increase the good fortuneand fulfilling all good wishes to those who ardently seek his blessing. He is in hismost popular form conceived as a richly clad, rotund figure sitting regally andholding a mongoose from whose mouth pours a stream of jewels. Like adispenser of riches, he is depicted wearing a garment beautifully decorated withfloral patterns.

The benefit of this practice is to increase wealth, fortune, success and clearobstacles. It will also increase spiritual wealth, luck, long life, wisdom andintellect.

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 symbolicmeans of conveying the central concept. Tara is at all times a wholly beneficent

deity. Kurukulle wields her flower garland weapons to pierce their misguidedreasoning, to hook onto their better nature and draw them near. She dances atopa corpse proclaiming conquest over death and wears a trophy necklace of 50freshly severed heads (one for each syllable of the Tibetan writing system)symbolizing mastery of all ideas and knowledge. She represents the Wisdomside 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.

guru yoga phowa pujas explanation

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