Akshobhya Practice

The Buddha Akshobhya established the enlightened intention that all sentient beings could purify any degree of nonvirtue. Even the extreme nonvirtue of hatred, violence, and killing can be cleansed through relying on him as the focus of meditation, acknowledging and abandoning nonvirtuous actions, and invoking his blessings of purification. In the Akshobhya sutra, the Buddha Sakyamuni himself extolled the perseverence of Akshobhya in actualizing this intention so powerfully that countless beings have been saved from the intense suffering of lower states of existence.

Akshobhya meditation can liberate not only the practitioner him or herself from the fear of inauspicious rebirth, but other beings as well. Akshobhya explicitly promised that the merit generated by reciting one-hundred-thousand of his long dhayani mantra and creating an image of him could be dedicated to another person, even someone long deceased, and they would be assured of release from lower states of existence and rebirth in spiritually fortunate circumstances. Recognizing the superb opportunity of their own connection with Akshobhya, hundreds of people have either performed this practice themselves or sponsored it, dedicating the merit to others for whom they felt compassionate concern.

Only an omniscient wisdom being can fully discern an individual's past actions and their outflows in present experience, but the Buddhist teachings indicate that death during the passage toward birth (by miscarriage or abortion), death before adulthood, violent or fearful death, and suicide are signs that the deceased might have difficulties in obtaining fortunate, spiritually well-endowed rebirth. Such beings could benefit from the merit of a hundred thousand Akshobhya recitations and the creation of an Akshobhya image.

Likewise, many people have sponsored Akshobhya for their pets or for animals they may have killed, while driving or in other circumstances. Any animal can benefit from release from the animal realm through Akshobhya. In Brazil, where the late H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche created a splendid, monumental Akshobhya statue, sponsored a huge Akshobhya prayer wheel, and made plans for an Akshobhya garden.

An experienced Akshobhya practitioner in strict retreat can recite one-hundred-thousand mantras in about a month. For the past decade, to benefit those who cannot undertake the Akshobhya practice themselves, Mahakaruna Foundation has arranged for this practice to be performed by qualified practitioners in Asia.

The full Akhsobhya commitment includes both 100,000 recitations of the long Ashobhya dharani mantra and sponsorship of a new image of Akshobhya. The positive interdependence generated by the mantra and image together assures the person who receives the dedication will find a rebirth that is free of intense suffering and is conducive to ultimate happiness.

Sponsored practitioners receive the name of the person for whom the practice is to be done, and they dedicate the merit of their Akshobhya mantra repetition to that person and to all beings.

The following constitutes the initial stage of the Akshobhya sponsorship:

$90 for the recitation of 100,000 Akshobhya mantras

Any one of the following three options constitutes the completion stage of the Akshobhya sponsorship:

$30 for the creation of a tile image or plaque, or
$73 for the creation of a small t'hangka, or
$96 for the creation of a small bronze statue
      (please note that size and quality may vary)

T'hangkas and statues will be sent to sponsors (allow up to one year for receipt). Tile images and plaques will remain in the respective Akshobhya mandala gardens.

HOW TO SPONSOR AKSHOBHYA PRACTICE

You can arrange payment by mailing a check or using our secure online payment system. Please note the following points:

• Each person/animal is sponsored separately; ie $90 = recitation for just ONE being

• Please state whether the being is living or deceased

• Give the date and circumstances of death for deceased beings

Examples of requests:

John Smith requests 100,000 Akshobhya mantra plus tile for Susan Smith, living, for removal of obstacles.

Anna Green requests Akshobhya mantra for her father Michael Green, died September 3rd 1986 of stomach cancer.

Checks should be made out to 'Mahakaruna Foundation', clearly marked 'Akshobhya sponsorship' and accompanied by all the relevant details of the sponsor and the person or animal being sponsored.

Please mail to Mahakaruna Foundation, P.O. Box 83, Cazadero, CA 95421.

Questions? Please email info@mahakaruna.org or call (707) 632 5629 during office hours (Pacific Standard time) and ask for Kerstin.

Our secure online credit-card payment system charges us 3% per transaction amount. If you would like to help minimize these charges, please consider adding 3% onto your donation. All donations to Mahakaruna are fully tax-deductible. Thank you!