The Bodhi Mind

What is the the Bodhi Mind? Bodhi is a Sanskrit word meaning "the Way of enlightenment". The Bodhi mind is the principal true mind, the unconfused mind. The confused mind is is the mind that creates misdeeds and so is not the mind of the Way of Enlightenment. Therefore, we must realize this path and know if it is an easy or difficult one to travel. Only when we truly recognized the path will we be able to be Enlightened.

And also, the Bodhi Mind is the law that has to be followed whether we are moving or still, awake or asleep. The law is the precepts, To simplify this, the law is "To refrain from all evil and practice all good." Now, "To refrain from all evil" is to follow the five precepts. They are to abstain from killing, stealing,telling lies,sexual misconducts and taking intoxicants. "To practice all good" means to act on the ten good deeds. Our body, mouth and mind are capable of ten evil deeds. The body commits the evil deeds of killing,stealing,and sexual misconduct, the mouth utters loose speech, false speech, harsh speech; and the mind can be greedy, angry and stupid. Therefore, if one can abstain from doing the ten evil deeds, one is practicing the ten good deeds.

Our body is capable of three evil deeds: killing, stealing and sexual misconduct. Of course many people know that killing living beings is wrong, but they still commit it. Stealing here is defined as taking things that are not given. People are fully aware that stealing is bad and yet they still do it. People commit sexual misconduct as they crave the false pleasures of the flesh. These people are so blinded by these false pleasures that they forget about true happiness. Not being able to recognise what's real, they go after what's false.

Our mind has three evils: greed, anger and stupidity. Greed means being insatiably greedy. Here's a verse that describes our insatiable greed:-

Everyday we're busy just to fill our stomach.
After our stomachs are filled we want to be clad.
When we have sufficient food and clothing,
We want to have a high rise and a beautiful wife.
After obtaining a beautiful wife and a charming mistress,
We need a ship and a plane so we can go places.
Once the ship and the plane are in our possession,
We still need to have an official post so we won't be bullied.
The fifth and fourth ranks are petty officials;
The third and second ranks are still too low.
After making it to the first rank - the prime minister,
We want to ascend the throne to be the emperor.
Once we ascend the throne and sit in the imperial court,
We wish to become an immortal and play a game of chess.

There are two kinds of people in this world: one who has the greed for fame, and the other for profit. Those who are greedy for fame come up with the various schemes to maximize their reputation while those who are greedy for profit crack their brains to think of methods to make more money.

The mind also has the poison of anger. A person with a big temper always seems to have smoke coming from his head; he looks furious and ready to explode. This is a cause of lack of virtue. A real noble person does not have any temper. Even if he has one, he is able to subdue it and keep is body and mind calm.

The three poisons of greed, anger and delusions are inter connected. All human sufferings comes from greed and desire. When we have greed or desire, we seek them. When we see something nice, we want it for ourselves. If we cannot get it, we get angry. Once we are angry, our mind becomes confused and stupid. These three poisons are the source of all sufferings. If you want to get rid of sufferings, you must cut off the three poisons of greed, anger and stupidity.

Our mind can commit four offenses: loose speech,false speech,harsh speech and divisive speech. Loose speech refers to sarcastic remarks and indecent talk that causes people to have false or unclean thoughts. False speech are lies. Harsh speech means scolding people so viciously that they can't take it. Divisive speech means spreading gossip and causing discord among people, like a two-headed snake.

If we can turn the ten evil deeds into the ten wholesome deeds and carefully observe them without transgression, then that is upholding the precepts. The Bodhi mind is the precepts. These precepts guide us to enlightenment. The Bodhi mind refers to the wholesome seeds inbred in every person's mind. If we forget the Bodhi's mind, our good roots will be cut off. The absence of delusion is the Bodhi Mind. We should carefully train and develop the wholesome seeds of Bodhi and walk on the path to Buddhahood.

Talk given on 18/6/1997
Extract from Words of Wisdom - Beginning Buddhism
A series by Venerable Master Hsuan Hua

The Heart Sutra (Prajna Paramita Hrdaya Sutra)

When the Bodhsattva Avalokitesvara
Was practising the profound perfection of wisdom,
He illiminated the Five Aggregates,
And saw in their own being to be empty.

Sariputra, form is here emptiness,
Emptiness is form;
Form is no other than emptiness,
Emptiness is no other than form;
That which is form is emptiness,
That which is emptiness is form.
The same is true of feelings, perception,
Mental formations and consciousness.

Sariputra, all things are marked with emptiness:
They are not born or destroyed;
They are not impure or pure;
Nor do they wax or wane.

Therefore, Sariputra, in emptiness,
There is no form, no feeling, no perception,
No mental formation, no consciousness;
No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind;

No form, sound, smell.
taste, touch or objects;
No eye element and so forth
Up to mind consciousness element.

There is no knowledge, no ignorance,
No extinction of knowledge,
No extinction of ignorance,
And so forth up to old age and death,
No extinction of old age and death;
There is no suffering,
No cause, no end, no path;
There is no knowledge, and no attainment.

Therefore, Sariputra, because nothing is attained,
The Bodhisattva who dwells in the perfection of wisdom
Has his mind free from obstacles,
With a mind free from obstacles,
He overcomes fear
And goes beyond perverted views,
And attains to Nirvana!

All the Buddhas of the three periods of time,
Through the incomparable Perfection of Wisdom,
Attain to the Perfect and Highest Enlightenment!

Therefore, one should know the Perfection of Wisdom
As the great mantra;
The mantra of great knowledge,
The unsurpassed mantra,
The mantra which can truly and without fail
Allay all sufferings.
This mantra is proclaimed in the Perfection of Wisdom.
It run thus:
GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASANGATE BODHI SVAHA (X 3)

The Greatest....

The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the world ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.
Atisha

The Four Noble Truths

After gaining Enlightenment, The Buddha discovered the Four Noble Truths.

1. All being are subjected to sufferings (Dukkha)

The Buddha said, "Birth is suffering, Life is suffering, Sickness is
suffering, death is suffering, decay is suffering, to be parted from
love ones is suffering and to be united with the unpleasant is
suffering."

2. Sufferings arises from desires and cravings.

All of us crave for pleasant feelings and sensations, and also the
desire to avoid unpleasant ones. These sensations can be physical or
psychological, and sufferings occur when these desires or cravings are
not met.

3. Sufferings can be overcome by the elimination of desires and cravings.

Nibbana is the state of peace where all greed, hatred, and delusion,
and thereby sufferings have been destroyed.

4. There is a way out of suffering or dukkha,which is the Noble Eightfold
Path.

Sufferings can be reduced, weakened and finally destroyed and Nibbana
thereby achieved, by following this path taught by the Buddha

Samadhi

When we teach people in the world to cultivate samadhi, they must first of all cut away the mind of lust. Therefore, Ananda, if cultivators of dhyana-samadhi do not eliminate lust, they will be like someone who cooks sand in the hope of getting rice. After hundreds of thousands of aeons it will just be hot sand. Why？ It wasn't rice to start with, it was only sand (Surangama Sutra 6 Verse 13-14)

Once your nature is in samadhi and the demons are subdued,
You'll be happy every day.
If false thoughts do not arise,
Everywhere you are at peace. (Flower Adornment Sutra Chapter 11 Verse 132)

Samadhi is "a concentrated, self collected, intent state of mind and meditation, which concomiant with the right living, is a necessary condition to the attainment of higher wisdom and emancipation" (Rhy Davids from Pali-English Dictionary)

"What is the meaning of proper concentration and proper reception (Samadhi)? Proper concentration is the state of absorption where the mind is brought into focus which is proper and true and right, not biased or deviant. Proper reception means all that 'comes in' - what you receive at that point-is right and appropriate. But you have to do the cultivation yourself. You can't rely on the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and expect them to give it to you. If you do the work, then the results are naturally yours." (Entering the Dharma Realm Chap VII, Verse 60)

There are three distinct senses in which the word Samadhi is used:
1) proper concentration, which is necessary, preliminary to meditative states proper;
2) a general characteristic of the formal levels of meditational development which are entered through one pointedness of mind;
3) enlightened meditational states.

For someone who has the power of samadhi,

Even when Mount Tai topples over, I'm not scared.
Why? Its toppling over is the same as of it hadn't toppled over.
When a pretty girl appears before me, I'm not moved.
Face to face with her,
it's as if I wasn't
(Entering The Dharma Realm Chapter 1, Verse 12)

A Poem On Compassion

Do not say that I'll depart tomorrow
Because even today I still arrive.

Look deeply: I arrive in every second

To be a bud on a spring branch,

To be a tiny bird, with wings still fragile,

Learning to sing in my new nest,

To be a caterpillar in the heart of a flower,

To be a jewel hiding itself in a stone.

I still arrive, in order to laugh and cry,

In order to fear and to hope,

The rhythm of my heart is the birth

And death of all that are alive.

I as the man-fly metamorphosing on

The surface of the river,

And I am the bird which, when spring comes,

Arrives in time to eat the man-fly.

I as the frog swimming happily

In the clear water of a pond,

And I am the grass-snake who approaching in silence,

Feeds itself on the frog.

I am the child Uganda, all skins and bones,

My legs as thin as bamboo sticks,

And I am the arms merchant,

Selling deadly weapons to Uganda.

I am the twelve year old girl refugee on a small boat,

Who throws herself into the ocean

After being raped by a sea pirate

And I am the pirate, my heart not yet capable of seeing and loving

I am the member of the politburo,

With plenty of power in my hands,

And I am the man who has to pay his 'debt of blood'

to my people, Dying slowly in a force labour camp.

My joy is like spring,so warm it

Makes flowers bloom in all walks of life,

My pain is like a river of tears,

So it fills all four oceans.

Please call me by true names,

So I can hear all my cries and laughs at once,

So I can see that my joy and pain are one.

Please call me by true names,

So I can wake up and so the door

Of my heart can be left open,

The door of compassion.

by Thich Nhat Hanh

Vietnamese Zen Master

Homage

Greed is the root of heedlessness,

A cause of strife is greed.

Greed into enslavement drags,

A hungry ghost one will in future be.

The Buddha who greed's nature fully knows

I worship Him the Greed-free One.

Hate is the root of turbulence,

And Ugliness results from hate.

Through hatred much destruction comes,

To an infernal world one will in future go.

The Buddha who hate's nature fully knows

I worship him, the Hate-free One.

Delusion is the root of all this misery,

Creator of all ills is ignorant delusion.

Mind's blindness from delusion stems,

As a dumb animal one will in future live.

The Buddha who delusion's nature fully knows

I worship Him, the Undeluded One.

(A Traditional,devotional Pali Text from Sri Lanka.Source unknown)

He is Omniscient

He Knows All

When the Buddha was on the way to Gaya to deliver His first sermon soon after His Enlightenment, Upaka, a naked ascetic having seen him asked:

'Your reverence, your faculities are quite pure,

your complexion is very bright, very clear.

On account of whom have you gone forth,

or who is your teacher,

or whose Dhamma do you profess?'

The Buddha replied:

'Victorious over all, omniscient am I,

Among all things undefiled,

Leaving all, through death of a craving freed,

By knowing for myself,

whom should I point to as my teacher?'

'For me there is no teacher,

One like me does not exist,

In the world with its gods (devas),

No one equals me'

For I am perfected in this world,

A teacher supreme am I,

I alone am all-awakened,

Become cool am I, Nibbana-attained.'

To turn the dharma-wheel,

I go to Kasi's city,

Beating a drum of deathlessness,

In a world that's become blind.'

Middle Length Sayings 1

Verses 214-215

The Six Perfections Defined

Subhuti: What is a Bodhisattva's perfection of giving?

The Lord: Here a Bodhisattva , his thoughts associated with the knowledge of all modes, give gifts, i.e. inward or outward things, and , having made them common to all beings, he dedicates them to supreme enlightenment; and also he instigates thereto. But there is nowhere an apprehension of anything.

Subhuti: What is a Bodhisattva's perfection of morality?

The Lord: He himself lives under obligation of the ten ways of wholesome acting, and others also he instigates thereto.

Subhuti: What is a Bodhisattva's perfection of paitence?

The Lord: He himself becomes one who achieved paitence, and others also he instigates to paitence.

Subhuti: What is a Bodhisattva's perfection of vigour?

The Lord: He dwells persistently in the five perfections, and also others he instigates to do likewise.

Subhuti: What is a Bodhisattva's perfection of concentration?

The Lord: He himself, through skill in means, enters into the trances, yet he is not reborn in the corresponding heavens of form as he could; and others also he instigates to do otherwise.

Subhuti: What is a Bodhisattva's perfection of wisdom?

The Lord: He does not settle down on any dharma, he contemplates the essential original nature of all dharmas; and others also he instigates to the contemplation of all dharmas.

Pancavimsatisahasrika

Karma - A Brief Introduction

The myriad things you to others
Will return for you yourself to undergo.
Sutra on Cause and Effect Verse 130

According to the karma that is done,
That is the way the retribution is borne.
The doer is nonexistence .
All The Buddhas speak thus
Flower Adornment Sutra Verse 1o

Because of ignorance, living beings create karma. This term 'karma' actually means action or activity. This activity is based upon desire and is controlled by the law of cause and effect. For every good or bad action of the body, speech and of thought performed now, there will be a corresponding result which is experienced in the near future.

In every second of time, we are experiencing the results of our past body, speech and thought-karma and simultaneously create new karma which will bear fruit in the future. Hence, this karma is the main force that keep us in the cycle of rebirth, continually being reborn in the various realms of existence.

The Law of Karma explains why we undergo seemingly unexpected rewards and misfortunes. Everthing that happens to us, whether good or bad, has a reason or a cause, in the past.

Karma is actully a Sanskrit term that refers to that which is made by the activity of body,speech or mind. Now, what is the difference between cause and karma? Cause refers to a single incident, while karma is a long accumulation of causes.

Therefore, the conditions encountered by living beings differ. Some encounter great joy because they planted good seeds long ago, while others must undergo a great deal of hardship, always living in diffcult conditions because they have only sown bad causes.

In general, if you plant good seeds, you reap good fruits; if you plant bad seeds, you reap bad fruits.

Therefore, it is said that:-

To know the lives' causes,

Look at the rewards you are reaping today.

To find out about future lives,

You need but notice what you are doing right now.

Sutra on Cause and Effect Verse 32

Ksitigarbha

Ksitigarbha or Ti Tsang Wang Pusa in Chinese. He also a very popular Mahayana Buddhist Bodhisattva who is usually represented by a monk holding a six ring staff and a red fire ball which said to symbolised a jewel. The chinese name Ti Tsang is translated as "Earth Treasury"

Ti Tsang Wang Pu Sa is revered ad the protector of stillborn,miscarried and aborted babies. He is also the protective deity of travellers and guardian of pregnant women. He protects against earthquakes, and he a guardian of children.

Ksitigarbha is also renowned as the Bodhisattva of the Hell Beings and his vow not to achieve Buddhahood until all the hells are cleared. His famous vow follows: "Not until all the hells are emptied will I become a Buddha."

The history of Ksitigarbha is recorded in the Sutra of the Great Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, one of the famous Mahayana sutras. This sutra is said to be spoken by The Lord Buddha to the devas of Thirty Three Devas as a mark of rememberence and gratitude for his mother, Mahadevi.

In this sutra, the Buddha revels that in the distant past, Ksitigarbha was a Brahman woman by the name of Sacred Girl. She was very sad when her mother died, because her mother had often been slanderous towards the Three Jewel.

To save her from hell, Sacred Girl sold whatever she had and use the money to buy offerings to the Buddha at that time, The Buddha pf Flower of Meditation and Englightenment. She made fervent prayers that her mother be spared from hell and requested the Buddha for assistance.

One day, while pleading for help she heard the voice of the Buddha asking her to go home immediately and there to sit down and chant his name if she wanted to know where her mother was.

She did so, her consciousness was transported to a Hell Realm. There, she met a guardian of hell and he told Sacred Girl that through her constant prayers and pious offerings, her mother had accumulated much merits and had already been released and had ascended to the heavens.

She was greatly relieve and she should be very happy, but the scenes of the sufferings in the Great Hells she had seen so touched her heart that she made this famous vow to her very best to relieve the sufferings of beings forever in their future lives in the eons to come.

Mantra:Namo Ti Tsang Wang Pusa

Hymm of Faith

"Faith is the source of the Way,
Faith is the mother of merit and virtue,
As they arise by faith,
All wholesome dharmas must by faith be nutured.
Faith cuts the tangled web of doubt,
Escaping loves delusive flow,
And opens wide to reveal the true and unsurpassed nirvana's road.

"Faith has no stain or mar,
Bringing the turbid mind purification,
Eradicating pride,
Of all respect and reverence the foundation.
Within the Dharma Treasury
Faith jewel outshines the fairest gold;
Hence every conduct our hands by faith are made pure.
Receive and surely hold.

"Faith is the healing source
By which our faculities are cleansed and quickened.
Nothing can turn its force.
The solid power of faith cannot be broken.
And when my faith forever
From all afflicition we depart,
The Buddha's merit will thus become the sole devotion of our hearts.

"With faith the mind's unmoved.
Free from attachment to condition arising;
Disasters far removed,
In the tranquility of faith abiding.
The bliss of faith victorious!
Among the conducts of all the worlds,
This faith alone is the one most rare and precious wish-fulfilling pearl.

"Profoundly we believe:
Trusting the Buddhas and the Buddhas' Dhamma,
Treading the Bodhi Path,
Forever followed by all true disiciples.
And to the Great Enlightenment
Our thoughts are joyfully inclined:
The Bodhisattva with this deep heart of faith produce the Bodhi Mind!"



Master Hsuan Hua
The City of Ten Thousand Buddha's handbook
Verse 235

Om Mani Padme Hum

It is certainly good to recite this mantra, Om Mani Padme Hum on a regular basis. At the same time, while we are reciting this mantra, we must also reflect on its meaning. For the meaning of this six syllable manta is very great and vast.

The first, OM, is the addition of three pure letters, i.e. A, U, and M representing the practitioner's impure body, speech and mind; and the same time it also signifies the pure exalted body, speech and mind of the Buddha.

Can we then transform our impure body, speech and mind into a pure body, speech and mind? "Yes, we can, says the Lord Buddha. All Buddhas are like ourselves depending on the path to attain Enlightenment. Buddhism does not determine that there is anyone from birth who is free from faults and possesses all good qualities. The development of the pure body, speech and mind comes gradually from leaving the impure states and their being transformed into the pure states.

How to are we supposed to transform? The path is is shown by the next four syllables, MANI, meaning jewel, telling us the method, the caring mind to become enlightened, compassion and love. Like a jewel which is capable of removing proverty or problems, this caring mind is also capable of removing the proverty or difficulties of endless rebirths and to get solitary peace. Similarly just as the jewel fulfills the wishes of sentient beings, so the caring intention is to become enlightened fulfills the wishes of all sentient beings.

The next two syllables, PADME, meaning lotus,symbolizes wisdom (knowledge). Like the lotus which grows in the pond and not tainted by the mud, so wisdom is capable of putting you in a non-contradiction situation and if you do not have wisdom, there would be a contradiction situation. There are different types of wisdom, one realising impermance, one realising that people are empty of self sufficient, one that realizes the emptiness of duality and wisdom that realizes the emptiness of inherent existence.

Purity must be gained by an indivisible unity of method and wisdom, represented by the last syllable, HUM, which indicates indivisibility. In the mantra, it refers to one conciousness in which there is the full form of both wisdom and method as one undivided entity. HUM, is the root syllable of Akshobya Buddha - the immovable, the unfluctuating, that which canot be disturbed by anything.

Hence, the six syllables, OM MANI PADME HUM, mean that in constant practice which is the indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech and mind into the pure speech and mind of a Buddha. However, it is often said that you should not seek Buddhahood outside of yourself; as the substances for the achievement of Buddhahood are within yourself.

As Maitreya Buddha says in his Uttara Tantra,"All beings naturally have the Buddha nature in themselves. We have within us the seed of purity, the essence of a One Gone Thus, that is to be transformed and fully developed into Buddhahood."

Extract from a lecture by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at the Kalmuck Mongolian Buddhist Center, New Jersey, USA.

Samantabhadra

Samantabhadra or The Bodhisattva of Universal Virtue usually rides on a six-tusked white elephant. In chinese, she is known as Pu Hsien Pusa. The six tusks represents overcoming the attachment to the senses. It also signifies the Six Paramitas (perfections), i.e. charity,morality, paitence, diligence, contemplation and wisdom.

The paramitas are the six ways Bodhisattvas pursue their spiritual practice to attain full enlightenment to benefit all sentient beings. Samantabhadra embodies all the practices which must be fulfiled in order to attain Buddhahood.

According to the Flower Garland Sutra, a Bodhisattva practitioner must dedicate all of his or her efforts towards the enlightenment of all sentient beings and to dedicate everything for the welfare of all.

In this way, all selfishness and the self-cherishing manner are completely transcended, and one enters the ocean of merits of all enlightened beings.

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva is also famous for his practice of the Bodhisattva's Ten Great Vows:
1. To respect all Buddhas
2. To make praises to infinite number of Buddhas
3. To make extensive offerings to all the Buddhas
4. To confess and purify all negative karmas
5. To rejoice in the merits of others
6. To request the turning of the Dharma Wheel (Buddha's teachings)
7. To request the Buddha to remain in the world to benefit all beings
8. To always follow the Buddha's path
9. To live harmoniously with all living beings
10.To dedicate all merits for the welfare of all living beings

A chinese monk, Hui Chih, went to Er Mei Shan in China, and built a temple devoted to Samantabhadra in 399 A.D. Since than, Er Mei Shan has become the sacred site of Samantabhadra.

Guru Padmasambhava

According to Tibetean legends, Guru Padmasambhava or the Guru Rinpoche was incarnated as an eight year old child appearing in a lotus blossom on the Dhanakosha Lake, in Uddiyana, somewhere in the valley of ancient India, now Pakistan.

His special natural abilities was recognized by the king, and he married Mandarava , one of his daugthers, to him. More than a thousand years ago, Guru Rinpoche, the Lotus born blessed this earth with his presence.

It was Guru Padmasambhava who defeated all opposing forces and set up Buddhism in its supreme form in Tibet. He taught the Tibetean King Trisong Detsen : " The root of the secret mantra, the tantric swift methods, is to keep the samaya committments. The roots of samaya , the bond to one's spiritual teacher teacher, are devotion and effort. And the root of these two is prayer: to pray to your spiritual Master and yidam deity."

There are many blessed prayers to invoke Guru Rinpoche the most famous and well known is called The Seven Line Prayer and the last line which is also his mantra.

The Seven Line Prayer

In the north-west land of Orgyen,
In the heart of a lotus flower,
Endowed with the most marvelous attaiments,
You're renowned as the lotus-born,
Surrounded by many host of dakinis
Following in your footsteps
I pray to you: come and bless me with your grace!

Mantra

Om Ah Hung Benza Guru Pema Siddhi Hung

Manjusri

Manjusri is the eldest Bodhisattvas and usually known as the Prince of Wisdom. Actually, the word "Manjusri: is a sanskrit word meaning "wonderful virtue" or "wonderful auspicious". Of all the Bodhisattvas, Manjusri has the greatest wisdom, and so he is also known as "The Great Wise Bodhisattva Manjusri. Of all the Bodhisattvas, he hold the highest rank, and he is listed first before before the Bodhisattva who Observes the Sound of the World.

There are four great Bodhisattvas, the first one is Manjusri, the second one is Avalokitesvara or Kuan Yin the third one is Bodhisattva Universal Worthy or Samantabhadra and finally the fourth Bodhisattva is Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha or Earth Store. (In chinese Ti Tsang Wang Pusa).

According to Buddhist legends, Bodhisattva Manjusri stays in Mount Wutai in China. He became a Buddha long time ago and was called Buddha of the Race of Honored Dragon Kings. After enlightenment, he manifested as a Bodhisattva in order to practice the Way, teach and transform living being, assisting the Buddha Sakyamuni to spread the dharma.

Mantra

Om Ah Ra Pa Tsa Na Dhi

The 21 Taras Mantras

1. Quick Heroine is Red: her right hand in the mudra of granting sublime reliazations holds a red vase that bestows the power of controlling. Om Ah Tare Tuttare Washen Kuru Soha

2. Great Peaceful One is White: her right hand holds a white vase which grants the action of peace Om Ah Tare Tuttare Shanting Kuru Soha.

3, The Increasing One is Yellow: her right hand holds a vase bestowing the power of increase Om Ah Tare Tuttare Shanting Kuru Soha

4. The Tara of Long Life is White her vase bestowing long lfe. Om Ah Tare Tuttare Ture Ayu Gnana Shirye Dhrum Soha

5. The Tara with the Hung is Orange: her right hand holds a vase bestowing the power of attraction,the main purpose of which is for you to bring people to the Dharma thereby bringing people to the state of enlightenment. Om Ah Tare Tuttare Ture (Your name or the person you wish to control's name) Akar Chaya Shri Soha

6. Victory over the three Worlds is dark red : her right hand holds a vase the power to intoxicate the yakshas (lesser demons) Om Ah Tare Tuttare Ture Sarwa Tutti Churu Soha

7. Destroying others black magic is Black. slightly wrathful her right hand holds a vase bestowing the power to destroy black magic. Om Ah Tare Tuttare Ture Badye Berdha Waranaya Zho Soha

8. Destroyer of the Mara is Dark Red: her right hand holds a vase bestowing the power to destroy the Maras Om Ah Tare Tuttare Ture Amagsha Trum Maraya Hung Pet Soha

9. The Three rare sublime is White: her right hand holds a vase bestowing the power to protect others from fear and dangers. Om Ah Tare Tuttare Nu Pa Sarwa Rakka Soha

10. The Destroyer the Mara is Red: her right hand holds a vase bestowing the power of destroying Maras. Om Ah Tare Tuttare Sarwa Mara Prama Tayar Hung Phet Soha

11. Eliminating from Proverty is Orange: her right hand holds a vase bestowing the power to eliminate proverty Om Ah Tare Tuttare Ture Basi Dari Soha

12. Making everything auspicious is Orange: her right hand holds a vase bestowing auspiciousness. Om Ah Tare Tuttare Ture Manglam Pushtim Kuru Soha

13. The Blazing One is Red: her right hand holds her vase to destroy your enemy., preventing him/her from creating more negativities bringing Dharma into his life and leading him to Enlightenment. Om Ah Tare Tuttare Ture Pattaya Pemi Kuru Soha

14. The Wrinkled Wrathful One is black: her right hand holds her vase bestowing the power to supress those who interfere and create obtacles. Om Ah Tare Tuttare Bendza Maha Pataya Pemi Kuru Soha

15. Great Peaceful One is White: her right hand holds a vase bestowing peace. Om Ah Tare Tuttare Ture Sarwa Papam Puta Manaye Soha.

16. Wisdom Liberating one from Hung is Red: her right hand holds a vase bestowing the power to increase the power of the mantras Om Ah Tare Tuttare Ture Sarwa Dharma Prati Shuddha Ya Soha

17. Shaking the Three Worlds is Orange: her right hand holds a vase bestowing the power to destroy the power of black mantras : Om Ah Tare Tuttare Sarwa Tam Bane Dele Soha

18. Eliminating the poison is White: her right hand holds a vase bestowing the power. Om Ah Tare Tuttare Ture Sarwa Naga Bika Shanting Kuru Soha

19. Overcoming quarrel and fight is white: her right hand holds a vase bestowing the power to eliminiate quarrels like court cases as well as nightmares. Om Ah Tare Tuttare Ture Mudza Nava Soha

20. Eliminating Epidemic is Orange: her right hand holds her vase the power to destroy all contagious diseases Om Ah Tare Tuttare Biz Aray Soha

21. For all actions to complete is white: her right hand holds a vase bestowing the power of completion Om Ah Tare Tuttare Ture Sarwa Siddhi Soha

The Green Tara

The tradition of worshipping to the Goddess Tara comes from Lama Atisha - the founder of the Kadampa lineage. His main Deity is the Goddess Tara.

The Goddess Tara is a special deity. Many aeons ago before the Buddha Sakyamuni, at the time of Buddha Nadra, there was a princess called Neshe Dawa. She generated Bodhicitta (compassionate) mind to free beings from sufferings. She also vow to reach Buddhahood in the female form. Furthermore, she pledged to work for the benefit of sentient beings in the female aspect until samsara ends.

Just before becoming a Buddha, she achieved a special kind of power which is to quickly bestow realisations on sentient beings. She assists all living being through skillful means, appearing many different forms to suit the needs of disiciples.

Even between prayers and practices, in the monastery,His Holiness The Dalai Lama requests monks to recite these mantras. One of the main pujas among lay people is the 21 praises to Tara - to succeed in business and to be freed from any sickness.

Mantra

Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha

The 33 Chinese Forms of Kuan Yin Pusa

1. Yang Liu Kuan Yin, who holds a willow branch,symbol of her healing powers. Her willow branch drips with sweet dew.

2. Long Tou Kuan Yin with the dragon, symbol of Kuan Yin's Power.

3. Chi Jing Kuan Yin holdng the Prajnaparamita sutra, symbol of her perfection of Wisdom

4. Yuan Guang Kuan Yin of wholesome light symbolizing the vast Wholeness of Light that banishes all darkness and shadows.

5. Yu Xi Kuan Yin the playful Kuan Yin ever happy, laughing, smiling. playful, lighthearted aspect.

6. Bai Yi Kuan in the white-robed Kuan Yin symbolizing her purity.

7. Lian Wo Kuan Yin, sitting on a lotus leaf symbolizing she is enthroned and having dominion over the chakras.

8. Long Jian Kuan Yin, who views waterfalls or swift water symbolizing she is the Goddess of Energy flow, and the Waterfall of Light and Blessing coming down from Above.

9. Shi Yao Kuan Yin, who gives medicines - she is the Bestower of all Healing, Remedies, Cures at all levels.

10. Yu Lan Kuan Yin, with the fish basket, signifying Abundance, Prosperity, Fertility, as well as Community, Friendship, Marriage, the Auspicious Symbol of the Double Fishes, also all of this through Mastery of Water and Emotion.

11. De Wang Kuan Yin the Queen of Merit or Virtue.

12. Shui Yue Kuan Yin of moon and water - Mastery of emotion , the Water element; dominion over images and appearances or reflections.

13. Yi Ye Kuan Yin of the one leaf - attaining the Whole, through one part of the whole,because every part has the whole contained in it.

14. Qing Jing Kuan Yin, blue throat Kuan Yin for pacifying all poisons-mental, emotional, physical.

15. We De Kuan Yin powerful and virtuous Kuan Yin

16. Yan Ming Kuan Yin, who bestows longevity-extending not only quantitiy but quality of Life and Life force.

17. Zhong Bao Kuan Yin bring treasures of very kind, including hidden treasures of Teachings and Blessings

18. Yan Hu Kuan Yin of the rock cave - this is the Secret Chamber, the cave of subconscious and unsubconscious, which Kuan Yin has dominion over.

19. Ning Jing Kuan Yin calming Kuan Yin bringing harmony, peace of body, mind and soul, helping to overcome anger.

20. A Nou Kuan Yin, shows Kuan Yin seated on a rock looking out over the sea to find beings in distress.

21. A Mo Kuan Yin as an emanation of Buddha Amoghasiddhi, one of the five Dyani Buddhas symbolizing fearlessness.

22. Ye Yi Kuan Yin, leaf robed Kuan Yin a healing and nurturing form.

23. Liu Li Kuan Yin lapis lazuli Kuan Yin - lapis is the color of healing and long life, signiflying the Healing Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

24. Do Lo Kuan Yin emanating as the form of Tara, the swift liberator.

25. Ge Li Kuan Yin of the clam signifies Kuan power to open or shut all closed and unmoving situations, people and energies, worker of miracles.

26. Liu Shi Kuan Yin of six hours symbolizing the ancient Chinese "clock" which was divided into 3 periods of six hours. This signifies her mastery of time, so Kuan Yin protects throughout the day and night.

27. Pu Bei Kuan Yin universally compassionate Kuan Yin

28. Ma Lung Kuan Yin the wife of Ma Lung based on a legend.

29. He Jang Kuan Yin with palms joined in prayer, symbolizing harmony and goodwill with others.

30. Yi Ru Kuan Yin of Oneness in all ways signiflying wholeness, integration of oneself with Kuan Yin. In this form, she stands on a Cloud and has mastery over all Energy.

31. Bu Er Kuan Yin, the non-dual Kuan Yin not separate or divided or fractured from Oneself or from Kuan Yin.

32. Chi Lian Kuan Yin, who holds the lotus symbol of mastery of the chakras

33. Sa Shui Kuan Yin of pure water signifying pure liquid Light and Nectar

Avalokitesvara

"Who is a Bodhisattva?" The term "Bodhisattva" is a Sanskirt word with Bodhi meaning Wisdom or Enlightenment and "Sattva" meaning Essence or Being. Thus we joined this two words together, Bodhisattva means an aspiring or wisdom being who is determined to attain Buddhahood.


When enlightened, he renounces Nirvana and goes on living in this Samsara world for the sake of others, and finally becomes a fully Enlightened Buddha or a Samyaksambuddha after perfecting himself during an infinite period of time.


According to Lord Buddha, there are many in the past who practised these Buddhist principles and had attained Buddhahood. Out of the most famous is Kuan Yin or the Goddess of Mercy for which many Buddhist devotees would have recited her name and prayed to her in the various temples.


The name Kuan Shih Yin Pusa is the direct translation of his Sanskrit name of Avalokitesvara which has the following meaning:-


Kuan - 'contemplate of look on'
Shih - 'the world or region of sufferers'
Yin - 'all sounds of the world, i.e. the crying sounds of beings, verbal or mental,
and seeking seeking salvation which touch the heart of the Lord who pities.'

In one of the Chinese Mahayana sutras called "Meow Hwa Lian Hwa Keng" or the "Pure Lotus Sutra, an entire chapter is devoted to Kuan Yin in which the Lord Buddha describes this Bodhisattva as one who has her face turned in every direction in order to save all beings and that there is no form or shape that Kuan Yin will not assume to preach the Dharma to sentient beings.

In the same sutra, the Lord Buddha said that anyone who calls upon Kuan Yin with a faithfully heart, will be delivered instantly from all his or her sufferings. By virtue of her supernatural powers, is is able to save all sentient beings from all kinds of danger, give them whatever they want, and preach the dharma freely by appearing in whatever form that suits the nature of the faithful.

Mantra

Om Mani Padme Hum

Medicine Buddha

The Medicine Buddha had the following aims, before gaining Enlightenment,

"May I relieve those afflicted by diseases which destroys life, destroy work, leave familes broken, worsen suffering and take happiness away. May I relieve them of their diseases and suffering, relieve their inner, outer, and secret diseases. May I stop natural calamities and the diseases or unhappiness arising from that. May I be the cause of people being freed from suffering."

This special aim was achieved upon his gaining Enlightenment. He is much respected for both people in the healing profression and people seeking right doctors, treatment, diagnosis, healing and effective medicine. The Medicine Buddha is able to stop natural calamities and the negativities, diseases or suffering arising from them.

The Medicine Buddha body's is cool soothing blue like lapis lazuli, representing his pervasive energy of healing. Practice to him ensures faster recovery from illnessess, the blessing of medicines, strength and clarity of the mind to bring peace into your heart.

Mantra

Tayatha Om Bekanze Bekanze Maha

Bekanze Bekanze Rantsa Samugathe Soha

The Vehicles of Buddhism

In Buddhism, there are actually two main vehicle of Buddhism, i.e Theravada and Mahayana

The term Mahayana means "Great Vehicle" while Hinayana or Theravada means "Smaller Vehicle". These two paths of Buddhism emerged after the Second Buddhist Council in Vasali, India,a century after the passing away of Lord Buddha.

Theravada tradition follows the Pali Canon, while the Mahayana tradition follows the scriptures that are written in Sanskrit. From India, Buddhism gradually spread all over Asia. Countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Laos adopted the Theravada tradition. The Far East Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan and Monggolia follows the Mahayana tradition.

The Theravada goal or aim is to attain self salvation i.e. Arahatship. An "Arahat" or "Arahan" literally means a Worthy One or a Perfect Being.

The Arahat is able to bring to an end the repeated rounds of rebirth in the Samsara World. ie final rebirth in Nirvana. Within this Samara World are the planes of Devas, Humans, Demons, Animals, Hungry Ghosts and Hell.

In Mahayana practice, the aim or goal is to be able to become a Bodhisattva, renunciation of Nirvana to help mankind in his pilgirmage thereto; and finally Buddhahood.

There are therefore, two main paths of Buddhism today. The first group consists of those who understand the law of Karma, and who know that life is continous in the realms of existence. They, therefore, think of liberating themselves from the bondage of life. There are also others who realised the suffering of existence, even it be a happy one, the worldly happiness does not last long. Thus, they keep away from the sufering existence. These people work for their own salvation and they may succeed in their aims and attain a stage without birth or death. They are the Arahats.

The second group, however, know the cause of life and death, the non-existence of a permanent unchangeable self, and who know that all beings are interdependant in this world. For the sake of repaying what kindness which had been rendered by others in need, they devote themselves in helping others in distress. They all work for peace and happiness, and the well being of others. They are the Bodhisattvas.

A true Buddhist shoud realised that both the paths of the Mahayana and Theravada are ideal ways to enlightenment. He should also realised that for withot the Theravada, there shall be no Mahayana.

In fact, a Buddhist should not claim himself or herself as a Theravada or a Mahayana Buddhist, but instead called himself or herself as a Buddhist only

Amitabha Buddha

Amitabha Buddha is sometimes known as the Buddha of Infinite Life or The Buddha of Infinite Light. Admired all over the East of Asia, followers pray and devote themselves to Him to be reborn from a lotus in his Pure Land (Sukhavati)

In the sutras, it is written that Amitabha Buddha made 12 great vows to help and benefit all sentient beings. He functions as the Buddha of increase in all benefical to our lives.

He also grants us an lots of worldly necessities like good health,good family, good living conditions and helpful friends. Amitabha Buddha also helps us to discard the darkness of ignorance and to developed attainment and compassion.

In Tibetan Buddhism, it is normal for Dhamma students to offer the statue of Amitabha Buddha to their Lamas or gurus, as a request for them to live long and continue to spread Buddhism.

Mantra

Namo O Mi Two Fwo

Sakyamuni Buddha

Before being an Enlightenened One, Sakyamuni Buddha was Prince Siddharta who had everything he ever wanted. But he was not allowed to see sufferings.

One day, he decided to take a stroll outside the palace, and was shocked to see an old man, a sick person, a yogi and a dead body.

After this sights, he realised that there is no happiness in this very life and renounced his princely world to seek the truth and a way to end suffering.

He struggled and meditated beneath the Bodhi tree for seven long years and finally became Enlightened. He was the Buddha, the Tathagata

By cultivating various skillful means, he taught that there are 84,000 ways to the Truth or be Enlightened and his followers took his teachings to heart and spread it to the world. And his teachings or Dhamma are in the many forms and schools of Buddhism today.

Mantras

Om Muni Muni Maha Muni Sakyamuni Yeh Soha