Difference between revisions of "Practices To Benefit the Dead"
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| − | + | According to [[Lama Zopa Rinpoche]], the most [[essential]] practices are these: | |
| − | According to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the most essential practices are these: | ||
| − | • Perform Medicine Buddha puja and Medicine Buddha practice. | + | • Perform [[Medicine Buddha]] [[puja]] and [[Medicine Buddha practice]]. |
| − | • Recite the eight prayers that are normally done in monasteries when someone passes away. | + | • Recite the eight [[prayers]] that are normally done in [[monasteries]] when someone passes away. |
| − | In addition, if one is able, the following prayers and practices can be done: | + | In addition, if one is able, the following [[prayers]] and practices can be done: |
| − | • Perform Vajrasattva tsog puja (available in Essential Buddhist Prayers Vol. 2, published by FPMT Education Department). | + | • Perform [[Vajrasattva]] [[tsog]] [[puja]] (available in [[Essential]] [[Buddhist]] [[Prayers]] Vol. 2, published by [[FPMT]] [[Education]] Department). |
| − | • Make many thousands of light offerings (following the extensive light offering practice composed by Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche, available in Essential Buddhist Prayers Vol. 2, published by FPMT Education Department) or other extensive offerings (water bowls, flowers, and so on.) | + | • Make many thousands of [[light offerings]] (following the extensive {{Wiki|light}} [[offering]] practice composed by [[Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche]], available in [[Essential]] [[Buddhist]] [[Prayers]] Vol. 2, published by [[FPMT]] [[Education]] Department) or other extensive [[offerings]] ([[water]] [[bowls]], [[flowers]], and so on.) |
• Do Nyung Nä practice. | • Do Nyung Nä practice. | ||
| − | • Do a weekend Vajrasattva retreat, Chenrezig retreat, or Medicine Buddha retreat (or all of them.) | + | • Do a weekend [[Vajrasattva]] [[retreat]], [[Chenrezig]] [[retreat]], or [[Medicine Buddha]] [[retreat]] (or all of them.) |
| − | • Meditate on tong-len together with recitations of OM MANI PADME HUM and dedicate for the person who has died. (This can be done for half a day or one session.) | + | • [[Meditate]] on tong-len together with [[recitations]] of [[OM MANI PADME HUM]] and dedicate for the [[person]] who has [[died]]. (This can be done for half a day or one session.) |
| − | • Recite the King of Prayers many times. (This can be done for one full day, or for a weekend.) | + | • Recite the [[King of Prayers]] many times. (This can be done for one full day, or for a weekend.) |
| − | • Recite the Vajra Cutter Sutra. | + | • Recite the [[Vajra]] Cutter [[Sutra]]. |
| − | • Recite and meditate on the Heart Sutra. | + | • Recite and [[meditate]] on the [[Heart Sutra]]. |
| − | • Meditate on emptiness, dedicating for the person who died. (This can be done for one session or for one day. Or organize a weekend group retreat on emptiness.) | + | • [[Meditate]] on [[emptiness]], dedicating for the [[person]] who [[died]]. (This can be done for one session or for one day. Or organize a weekend group [[retreat]] on [[emptiness]].) |
| − | • Perform Dorje Khadro fire puja as a group, dedicating for person who died. | + | • Perform [[Dorje Khadro]] [[fire puja]] as a group, dedicating for [[person]] who [[died]]. |
| − | • Make stupas or tsa-tsas. (The most important thing is to dedicate and say the name of the person who died as you insert the 4 powerful mantras. Doing this can change the circumstances of a person who is going to be reborn in the lower realms, benefiting them to have the causes to be reborn in a good rebirth.) | + | • Make [[stupas]] or [[tsa-tsas]]. (The most important thing is to dedicate and say the [[name]] of the [[person]] who [[died]] as you insert the 4 powerful [[mantras]]. Doing this can change the circumstances of a [[person]] who is going to be [[reborn]] in the [[lower realms]], benefiting them to have the [[causes]] to be [[reborn]] in a good [[rebirth]].) |
| − | • Make Mitrugpa tsa-tsas. | + | • Make [[Mitrugpa]] [[tsa-tsas]]. |
| − | • Make thangkas or statues and dedicate for the person’s good rebirth. (Of course, it doesn’t have to be a 500-foot statue!) | + | • Make [[thangkas]] or [[statues]] and dedicate for the person’s good [[rebirth]]. (Of course, it doesn’t have to be a 500-foot statue!) |
| − | + | • Publish [[Dharma]] [[books]] or sponsor their publication on behalf of the [[person]] who [[died]]. | |
| − | If the person who died practiced tantra, then one can do the following: | + | If the [[person]] who [[died]] practiced [[tantra]], then one can do the following: |
| − | • Perform self-initiation and tsog offering of the person’s main deity. | + | • Perform [[self-initiation]] and [[tsog offering]] of the person’s main [[deity]]. |
| − | • Do a weekend retreat on the person’s main deity. | + | • Do a weekend [[retreat]] on the person’s main [[deity]]. |
| − | One can also make offerings on the person’s behalf, as follows: | + | One can also make [[offerings]] on the person’s behalf, as follows: |
| − | • It is very powerful to make offerings to the Sangha on that person’s behalf, as well as to make offering to lay students who have the same Guru as the person who died. This collects an inconceivable amount of merits that you can then dedicate for the person who died. | + | • It is very powerful to make [[offerings]] to the [[Sangha]] on that person’s behalf, as well as to make [[offering]] to lay students who have the same [[Guru]] as the [[person]] who [[died]]. This collects an [[inconceivable]] amount of [[merits]] that you can then dedicate for the [[person]] who [[died]]. |
| − | • Also, one can make offerings to the person’s gurus, or you can make offering to your own Guru on that person’s behalf. | + | • Also, one can make [[offerings]] to the person’s [[gurus]], or you can make [[offering]] to your [[own]] [[Guru]] on that person’s behalf. |
| − | • You can make charity or offerings to the center on the person’s behalf, as the center is a place where people can meditate on the path (lam-rim), where they can learn Dharma, and where they come to purify their minds and collect merit. | + | • You can make [[charity]] or [[offerings]] to the center on the person’s behalf, as the center is a place where [[people]] can [[meditate]] on the [[path]] ([[lam-rim]]), where they can learn [[Dharma]], and where they come to {{Wiki|purify}} their [[minds]] and collect [[merit]]. |
| − | • You can make charity on that person’s behalf to sick people, homeless people, to solve other people’s difficulties, to various charities, or to poor people. | + | • You can make [[charity]] on that person’s behalf to sick [[people]], [[homeless]] [[people]], to solve other people’s difficulties, to various charities, or to poor [[people]]. |
| − | • You can also make charity on that person’s behalf to animals. | + | • You can also make [[charity]] on that person’s behalf to [[animals]]. |
| − | These are the things that the center can organize as group events, or that people can individually do to whatever extent they are able. | + | These are the things that the center can organize as group events, or that [[people]] can individually do to whatever extent they are able. |
| − | Colophon: This advice was given by Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche to the director of one center when one student of the center died and left a lot of money to the center. Rinpoche also said this is general advice on what to do to benefit when someone has died. Rinpoche said that this is when people must do something for the person who has died; this is the most crucial time for the person. | + | Colophon: This advice was given by [[Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche]] to the director of one center when one [[student]] of the center [[died]] and left a lot of [[money]] to the center. [[Rinpoche]] also said this is general advice on what to do to [[benefit]] when someone has [[died]]. [[Rinpoche]] said that this is when [[people]] must do something for the [[person]] who has [[died]]; this is the most crucial time for the [[person]]. |
Latest revision as of 15:40, 4 January 2021
According to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the most essential practices are these:
• Perform Medicine Buddha puja and Medicine Buddha practice.
• Recite the eight prayers that are normally done in monasteries when someone passes away.
In addition, if one is able, the following prayers and practices can be done:
• Perform Vajrasattva tsog puja (available in Essential Buddhist Prayers Vol. 2, published by FPMT Education Department).
• Make many thousands of light offerings (following the extensive light offering practice composed by Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche, available in Essential Buddhist Prayers Vol. 2, published by FPMT Education Department) or other extensive offerings (water bowls, flowers, and so on.)
• Do Nyung Nä practice.
• Do a weekend Vajrasattva retreat, Chenrezig retreat, or Medicine Buddha retreat (or all of them.)
• Meditate on tong-len together with recitations of OM MANI PADME HUM and dedicate for the person who has died. (This can be done for half a day or one session.)
• Recite the King of Prayers many times. (This can be done for one full day, or for a weekend.)
• Recite the Vajra Cutter Sutra.
• Recite and meditate on the Heart Sutra.
• Meditate on emptiness, dedicating for the person who died. (This can be done for one session or for one day. Or organize a weekend group retreat on emptiness.)
• Perform Dorje Khadro fire puja as a group, dedicating for person who died.
• Make stupas or tsa-tsas. (The most important thing is to dedicate and say the name of the person who died as you insert the 4 powerful mantras. Doing this can change the circumstances of a person who is going to be reborn in the lower realms, benefiting them to have the causes to be reborn in a good rebirth.)
• Make thangkas or statues and dedicate for the person’s good rebirth. (Of course, it doesn’t have to be a 500-foot statue!)
• Publish Dharma books or sponsor their publication on behalf of the person who died.
If the person who died practiced tantra, then one can do the following:
• Perform self-initiation and tsog offering of the person’s main deity.
• Do a weekend retreat on the person’s main deity.
One can also make offerings on the person’s behalf, as follows:
• It is very powerful to make offerings to the Sangha on that person’s behalf, as well as to make offering to lay students who have the same Guru as the person who died. This collects an inconceivable amount of merits that you can then dedicate for the person who died.
• Also, one can make offerings to the person’s gurus, or you can make offering to your own Guru on that person’s behalf.
• You can make charity or offerings to the center on the person’s behalf, as the center is a place where people can meditate on the path (lam-rim), where they can learn Dharma, and where they come to purify their minds and collect merit.
• You can make charity on that person’s behalf to sick people, homeless people, to solve other people’s difficulties, to various charities, or to poor people.
• You can also make charity on that person’s behalf to animals.
These are the things that the center can organize as group events, or that people can individually do to whatever extent they are able.
Colophon: This advice was given by Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche to the director of one center when one student of the center died and left a lot of money to the center. Rinpoche also said this is general advice on what to do to benefit when someone has died. Rinpoche said that this is when people must do something for the person who has died; this is the most crucial time for the person.
