Lighthouse on the sea of darkness
May the rolling snow mountains of Que’r be a white harda I present to you; May the crystal clear sacred lake of Yulong be the nectar I offer you; My the saangha of Larong Buddhism Acadamy and Tashi Monastery be your companions on your way to enlightment; May the Tashi Chiling retreat center provide you with a
peaceful place for spiritual practice; May blossoming flowers in the Derge grassland convey to you my sincere and best wishes &
This is a message Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo sent through modern telecommunications technology to his students during the Spring Festival in 2006 .
During the degenerate ages it is extremely difficult to encounter a perfectly qualified master with boundless compassion,
wisdom and thorough mastery of sutra and tantra teachings. As a spiritual guide on our way to liberation, the master reveals to us the ultimate teachings of Buddhas, in whom we take refuge in and beyond this lifetime.
His merits may bear no difference from that of the Buddha, but his grace on us goes far beyond that of all Buddhas.
2500 years ago, in ancient India, to the north of the sea and south of the snow mountains, Shakyan prince named Gautama Siddhartha, after observing human sufferings of living and dying, aging and ailing, decided to renounce the throne of king and left his family to seek for the truth that liberates beings from suffering.
After many years of ascetic practices, he finally came to a bodhi tree by the Niranjana river.
Having made a seat with kusha grass for himself, he then touched the earth and made a vow: he would rather die than getting up from the seat if he failed to attain enlightenment.
As the Phosphor rose in the sky, all graspingness, discrimination, sorrows and ignorance disappeared from his mind forever. At that very moment, Gautama Siddhartha achieved Buddhahood. with darkness dispelled, the earth was fully exposed to the brilliant sunshine.
the perfectly realized Buddha Shakyamuni came from under the Bodhi tree and began his journey of preaching for more than forty years. He taught about the truths he had realized and led people onto the path to ultimate freedom.
To the north of ancient India, there is a serene and mysterious plateau of snow mountains, where Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have prophesized to be the main seat of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, the lord of great compassion. This is the Tibetan Plateau.
More than 1000 years ago, depending on inconceivably profound origination, upon the invitation from Tibetan King, Trisong Deutsen, two great Indian masters, Shantarakshita and Pamasambhava came to Tibet successively and founded the pure lineage of Nyingmapa, the ancient-translation school of Tibetan Buddhism.
Padmashambava, Shantarakshita and Trisong Deutsen were later honored by people as the “Holy Three of masters and king”. From then on, the sublime teachings realized by Buddha Shakyamuni himself, were widely spread in the Snowy Land brooks of snow water irrigated farmland.
Dzogchen, the Great Perfection, is the foremost teaching of the Nyingma tradition which enables ordinary people to attain Buddhahood within one lifetime. As Guru Pamashambava had foretold, when iron birds flew in the sky and iron horses ran on the ground, tantra teachings would widely spread all over the world.
Dzogchen masters: Samantabhadra, Vajrasattva, Garab Dorje, Manjushrimitra, Shri Singha,Jnanasutra,Vimalamitra,Pamashambava,Trisong Deutsen,Vairochana,Yeshe Tsogyal,Longchen Rabjam, Rigdzin Jimey Lingpa,Jimey Gyalwe Nyugu,Patrul Rinpoche,Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Mipham Rinpoche, Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche Jimey Phuntsok.
In 1980, Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche Jimey Phunsok, the greatest of contemporary masters of the Nyingma school, established the world’s largest Buddhism academy at Sedar county of Sichuan in China, the Sedar Larong Five Sciences Buddhism Academy, thus turning a new chapter of Buddhism renaissance in modern times.
For the past two decades, Larong Buddhism academy has established itself as a religious college of strict discipline and pure linage transmission. Like rivers run to the sea, disciples of all
schools and from different places have been gathering here to study, meditate and practice, just like what was recorded about the Nalanda University in ancient India. The academy has turned out numerous outstanding Buddhist teachers, who are engaged in teaching activities all over the world, bringing benefits to all sentient beings.
Buddhist teachings can only be passed down through unimpaired lineage transmission. Kandro Mencuo Rinpoche, niece of Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche, has always been studying and practicing under the guidance of her uncle. Precise prophesies on her previous life, Khandro Menjie Huadro, can be found in the “Fundamental Tantra of Manjushri”and other tantras. A lot of Indian and Tibetan masters including Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche have also made prophesies on her.
Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche once said:” My niece Mencuo has been strictly keeping all her vows and has realized the innermost essence of Dzogchen.”Now as the new president of the Larong Buddhism academy, Mencuo Rinpoche continues her commitment to the dissemination of Buddhist teachings and introduces to disciples the way to liberation.
From Samantabhadra to Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche, generations of lineage masters have protected the tantra transmissions unstained by keeping their vows unbroken.
In 1986, Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo passed the examination and was awarded the Khenpo’s degree by Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche. In the same year, during the one-month long Kalachakra Empowerment Dharma gathering, as a significant origination, Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche designated Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo and three other Dharma
sons of his, as his successors, to assist in performing the rituals. It was at this Dharma gathering that Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche solemnly declared in front of all the participants that Sherab Rsongbo and the other three Dzogchen practitioners would become great lineage holders of Nyingma tradition.
In January 2004, Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche passed away into Nirvana.
Ah! In the luminous nature of samsara and nirvana, shines the eternal light of wisdom in five colors; your nature is Boddhisattava Manjushri, your appearance is our lord and wish fulfilling-gem; with your white and beautiful visage and wearing Pandita attire, you hold sword and sutra displaying the mudra of Dharma
teaching; seating in lotus feet posture, you sent forth omniscient lights; all phenomena are visualized as pure and clear light. At the holy place of Wu Tai Mountain, blessing of Manjushri entered into your heart. Pray at the feet of Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche, grace me with full realization through mind-to-mind transmission.
In 1982, 19-year-old Sherab Rsongbo was studying under the guidance of Khenpo Pema Tsewang. One day when he heard about activities and merits of Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche, he felt like a lost child hearing the name of his father. Firm devotion and faith emerged in his mind, he was strongly inspired to visit the great master.
At the end of 1984, with a recommendation letter from Khenpo Pema Tsewang, Sherab Rsongbo started his pilgrim journey to Larong. It was extremely cold in winter at the Tibetan Plateau and the family was too poor to provide him with enough food and clothes. The mountainous way made the journey even harder. But his eagerness
to see the master was to be discouraged by nothing.Faith and devotion decides one’s future.
Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche seemed to be expecting the arrival of this young man. When Sherab Rsongbo finally arrived at Larong Buddhism academy after going through the test of ice and snow, he was warmly welcomed by Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche, whose affection and warmth immediately swept away all the sufferings of the disciple. He seemingly saw the future of this young lama.
Although it was the first time young Sherab Rsongbo saw the master, his devotion was already so strong that he found it impossible to move at all. He knelt before Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche and supplicated: “Please kindly teach me the ultimate tantric teachings to attain enlightenment within this life, for I can not afford living here long.”
While Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche said slowly: “You will get all the teachings you want. You should settle down here and study sutra and tantric teachings comprehensively. I will treat you as my own son. I felt very happy at the very first sight of you. You are destined to be a great master spreading Buddha’s teachings and benefiting the beings.”
Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche then gave young Sherab Rsongbo all the daily necessities. From then on, at Larong Buddhism academy, by the side of his guru master, Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo found his spiritual home. In the following years, Khenpo Rinpoche kept offering his master, who would be regarded as his guru master till his attainment of Buddhahood, through material means, attendance and spiritual practice.
During the years at the academy, Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo devoted all his time to study, contemplation and spiritual practice. For six years, he didn’t have a good sleep, only a nap in his clothes when tired. It was his devotion to Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche, as great as that to a Buddha, and the perseverance that inspired him to keep his vows and develop his wisdom and compassion. As the rising moon constantly gaining maturity, his merits kept increasing as well.
In the postscript of Mahamata Empowerment Ritual—Blessing of Close Transmission composed by Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche, it was written: “Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo possesses a broad wisdom on numerous teachings, treaties and pith instructions.”
One day in 1986, Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche, together with Ali Medro Rinpoche and Khandro Mencuo Rinpoche, came to visit Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo’s dormitory, which was only a little hut made of earth. The young lama was caught totally unprepared by the unexpected visit of his master. He immediately stood up and looked humbly and respectfully at the master.
Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche went directly into the room and sat down on Khenpo’s small bed, saying “Let me observe the origination.” Upon these words, he took up a piece of paper from the desk. It was a page from a treatise on the Dzogchen teachings that Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo was working on. Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche was very pleased when seeing this and said:
“This is very auspicious! The origination shows you will bring benefit to countless sentient being s b y w i d e l y s p r e a d i n g t h e s u t r a a n d t a n t r i c t e a c h i n g s �ÿe s p e c i a l l y t h e u l t i m a t e D z o g c h e n t e a c h i n g s . P r e s e n t i n t h e r o o m a l s o i n c l u d e L a m a D a n n i f r o m t h e a c a d e m y .
D u r i n g t h e t e n - o d d y e a r s s i n c e t h e n , K h e n p o S h e r a b R s o n g b o h a s b e e n f o l l o w i n g J i m e y P h u n t s o k R i npoche, from whom he received many transmissions especially the Dzogchen teachings. He became the heart son of the master.
Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo often says to his students:” I don’t have the merits and virtues as people think. I’m only a disciple of Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche. If there is any merit to talk about, then I have to say my only merit is that I have never regarded my guru master as an ordinary person nor had I made him unhappy during the twenty years I stayed with him.”
Whether it’s Mahayana or Hinayana, Chinese Buddhism or Tibetan Buddhism, all are teachings passed down from Buddha Shakyamuni. There is no difference at all.—Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo
In the Sutra of Final Nirvana, Buddha Shakyamuni said:“In the future lives, I will incarnate as wisdom masters to benefit the sentient beings.”
Although Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo is of the Nyingma school, he also has thorough knowledge of teachings of all other traditions. In 1986, he accompanied Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche on a tour to the Dokham area and visited over seventy monasteries of Nyingma, Gelug, Sakya and Kagyu schools. Since then, monasteries of
different traditions have been sending invitations to the Khenpo, requesting him to give lectures on exoteric or esoteric teachings. In the following twenty years, Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo traveled a lot in Tibet and non-
Tibet Chinese areas, as well as foreign countries to give lectures, lead symposiums and hold initiations, disseminating knowledge on various teachings, be it exoteric or esoteric, which are all inherently harmonious, and introducing numerous disciples to the way to enlightenment.
Om Ah Hung Hrih
In the palace of self-mastery ablaze with Great Bliss, the holy wonderous wisdom body realizing Bliss and Emptiness, in the nature of a lotus endowed with unattached bliss, the glorious Great Shining Vajra-Sun, the vajra-Dharma of Dharmakaya Amitabha, the Sambhogakaya Avalokiteshavara of great compassion, the Nirmanakaya Lotus King controls samsara and nirvana, the mighty Heruka destroys the three realms
Buddha Shakyamuni taught 84000 ways to liberation according to different qualities of beings. No matter it’s the Buddhism center of sutra teachings, or of Mahayana school, or different schools of the vajrayana, be it Kagyu, Gelug, Nyingma or Sakya, all the teachings were transmitted by Buddha Shakyamuni and bear no difference.
In December 2004, responding to auspicious origination, Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo paid a visit to Malaysia and Singpapore.
This is the first time the Khenpo came to Malaysia to give lectures.
Yes.
With my humble offering of a Dharma wheel, I wish you every success in your career as a Dharma teacher.
Well, thank you.
Thank you, lama.
May I present you a Dharma conch. I wish your voice of teaching is heard throughout the world.
This is a sculpture of Guru Pamashambava. Your coming to Malaysia is just like Guru Rinpoche went to Tibet to spread teachings of Buddha.
Thank you very much. It’s very auspicious.
During the twelve days he stayed there, Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo, upon the request of local disciples, held ten initiations, giving lectures on various topics according to the qualities of the audience. Tens of thousands of people participated in these meetings, taking refuge or receiving empowerment.
With his graceful effortlessness and unique sense of humor, Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo gave instructions and advice, simple or profound, to over ten thousand people in different circumstances. As a result true teachings of Buddha were introduced and took root in Malaysia and places nearby, with tantric teaching activities carrying out prosperously. Many people have developed a belief in Buddhism. Those that have lost their confidence in Buddhism restored their faith and even took vajrayana vows.
I talked with the chairman just now. He has promised his Buddhist association will organize life-relieving activities at least twice a month.
When hearing that some leaders of local Buddhist associations had restricted believers from relieving lives, some even knew nothing about how to free lives, Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo was very upset. He immediately corrected these behaviors. Buddhist associations having connections with Khenpo Rinpoche have all promised to organize large-scale live-relieving activities regularly.
Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo’s visit to Malaysia was the succession to Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche’s visit in 1993. He came to plant more precious seeds of Dharma in those countries, so that countless sentient beings would benefit.
When you take refuge, the ceremony is not so important. What matters is that you develop faith and devotion to your lama and the three jewels from the bottom of your heart. Only by so doing can you get blessings of the three jewels and attain ultimate liberation. – Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo
No one in the world doesn’t want happiness. No one in the world doesn’t wish to avoid suffering. However, ever since they first come into this world, people begin their life long journey of sorrow and suffering accompanying birth and death, aging and ailing. Even if there is any joy and laughter, it is as evanescent as morning dew and a flash of lightning, as illusive as dreams and reflection in water. Such is the nature of suffering of samsara.
What you have repeated after me is in Tibetan. The meaning is I take refuge in lama, take refuge in Buddha, take refuge in Dharma, take refuge in Sangha.
(Chinese)I take refuge in lama, I take refuge in Buddha,I take refuge in Dharma, I take refuge in Sangha.
Make a strong wish in your mind.
Khenpo says taking refuge is not merely a ceremony, not merely making a bow. When taking refuge, we must make a strong wish in our heart that from now on, in all lifetimes, we would rather give up our life than give up the lama and the three jewels.
In places where Buddhism is taught, a story is also being told. A long time ago, when Buddha Shakyamuni was still alive, there was a lay practitioner in India. One day, on his way out to do business, he was attacked by a gang of robbers who always took killing and did other evil deeds as pleasure. Having absolutely no belief in Buddhism, they even regarded the natural law of cause and effect as evil saying.
When the mind obscured by ignorance and greed was confronted with the light of nobleness and benevolence, the turbid darkness of an evil mind might become even more obviouse. After taking away all his belongings, the robbers banded the believer, hit him to the ground, and deliberately provoked:“If you give up your belief in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha, we will let you go. Otherwise we’ll kill you”.
Even an ant cherishes its life. In this { { Wiki | robbers } } ’ view, one could do anything to save his own life. Stepped at the face of the robber, this believer looked as humble as a dog. But when he
heard what the robbers said, his fear and helplessness gradually turned into calmness and a strong sense of nobleness. He then said fearlessly: “I have never shown any disrespect to the three jewels, not even verbally. Now you ask me to give up my belief in the three jewels, how could this be possible?”
His words, as pure and peaceful as lotus, and his deeds proved him to be a noble man who dwarfed the robbers. This was exactly what a genuine Buddhist would do. Because he knew, that if he gave up the three jewels, he might live dozens of years longer, but he would lose the precious opportunity to attain the utmost freedom from the endless sufferings of samsara.
By taking refuge in lama and the three jewels, one ensures attainment of liberation from samsara. He will give up negative deeds and increase positive deeds, keep all essential vows, and guarantee
accumulation of merits. He will be protected by Dharma protectors. All his wishes will be fulfilled and he is always warmed by the light of three jewels. He enjoys happiness in this life and will achieve Buddhahood in the future.
As said in the Sutra Sun Treasure
T h e s e n t i e n t b e i n g s w h o t a k e r e f u g e i n B u d d h a , w o n t b e h u r t b y d e m o n s . H e m i g h t b r e a k h i s v o w s o r b e d i s t r a c t e d b y a f f l i c t i v e e m o t i o n s , b u t h e i s a l w a y s m o v i n g a l o n g t h e p a t h t o e n l i g h t e n m e n t . T h e g r e a t I n d i a n p a n d i t a , A t i s h a , r e i n t r o d u c e d B u d d h i s m t o Tibet in 11th century.
He was omniscient of the immense teachings. According to him, taking refuge was most important at the beginning stage of spiritual practice. Since he taught only the benefit of taking refuge at all the Dharma gatherings, he was also called“Pandita Refuge”.
Taking refuge opens the door to the Dharma. After that, it is devotion to the master that assures increase of merits and attainment of enlightenment. Once upon a time, there was an old woman who had great
confidence in Buddha Shakyamuni. Her son often went to India for business. She asked him to bring her a blessed item of Buddha Shakyamuni to which she could make offerings and prostrate. But the son always forgot to bring her what she had asked.
Finally, the mother said:“Either you bring me something, or I die.” So the son, when once again forgot to bring the gift, found a dog’s tooth and gave it to his mother telling her it was Buddha’s relic. The old woman took the tooth as a genuine relic of the Buddha. She made offerings and prostrated to it every day with strong
devotion. Unexpectedly many relics really generated from the dog tooth one day. When the old woman was dying, a rainbow appeared in the sky together with other auspicious signs. This story is still told among people because it demonstrates the importance of faith and devotion.
After taking refuge in the lama and the three jewels, as long as the believer holds a firm belief and never gives up the lama and the three jewels in this life and all the lives to come, he will obtain
temporary and permanent benefits and will be lifted from the ocean of suffering and attain Buddhahood eventually.
We Buddhists should have Boddhicitta to all sentient beings. Without Boddhicitta, you will never achieve Buddhahood, even if you practice all your life in snow mountains.
Renunciation is the basis of liberation from samsara, while Boddhicitta is fundamental to attainment of enlightenment and is the core of true Dharma.
There is no single being in samsara that hasn’t been our parent in past lives. Like our parents in this life, they treated us with infinite love. They gave us life, care and education. They wish to lead
a happy life, like everybody else does. But in practice, most of them don’t know how to obtain happiness. They have no idea of the ten virtuous deeds, which are the basic way to obtain the most superficial happiness, let alone doing Buddhist practice.
None of them want to experience suffering, but all of them keep committing the ten evil deeds, which are the very cause of suffering in life. Like blind people lost in the wilderness, they are trapped in the bog of suffering with no hope of getting out.
However, merciful emotions only cannot solve problems. As disciples of the Buddha, we have fortunately
obtained the precious human body. We have time, health, and every other condition for Buddhist study and practice. In order to repay the kindness our parents bestowed us in the present and past lives, we
should go to qualified masters to learn about the Dharma, to contemplate and practice. Besides, we should also make a wish to help all beings to get rid of samsara and achieve ultimate enlightenment. Now, please make a Boddhicitta wish and listen to me carefully.
Maitreya has said: “We make a wish to obtain Buddhahood for the sake of all beings.” The love between parents and children is a kind of emotion well known to us all. Not only in the human realm but also in other
realms, like ferocious animals as tigers, leopards, jackals and dogs, there is deep love existing between family members.
But all beings, our parents in past lives, have no hope for permanent happiness in the cyclic existence. They generally fall to the three lower realms, because they don’t know what is good and what is bad to their rebirth. They waste their lives in ignorance and idleness. Most of them have never the chance to hear Buddhas' names or mantras. Although some have obtained the human body, they don’t have the felicity of reciting just once the six-syllable Avalokiteshvra mantra.
“Yes, yes, I agree with lama.”You only agree with me verbally, but in your mind you might say to yourself:“Many of our dead relatives had recited several million times of mantras. How could it be possible that they didn’t get the merits of reciting only once the six-syllable mantra?”
The reason is that ordinary mind is very weak and vulnerable to attacks of greed, anger, ignorance and other distractions. So when ordinary people chant mantras, if the chanting is not guided by faith, devotion, selflessness, non-clinging attentiveness and a wish to contribute our merits to other
beings’ happiness, then their merits are easily to be offset by adverse emotions, say a single moment
of anger. Chandrakirti once said:“An instant of anger and hatred towards Boddisattva will destroy virtues accumulated over aeons. So there is no evil more destructing than anger and hatred.”
We are victims of the fickleness of our mind, for we often commit evil deeds in our daily life and as a result are not secured of free from the three lower realms. Some beings are suffering from the extreme hot or coldness in hell, some are suffering from desperate hunger and thirst in the pretas realm, and some are suffering from blind stupidity and slavery in the animal realm.
Let’s return to the topic of motivation. If our spiritual practice is motivated by a loving wish to free all beings, who used to be our parents in past lives, from suffering of the three lower realms, and to
help them obtain enlightenment, we will find Boddhicitta emerging in our heart. As Patrul Rinpoche said:“With Bodhicitta we can achieve Buddhahood. Without it, we can never realize. Boddhicitta, supreme and
pure, is the seed of liberation.” Anyone who has Boddhicitta in his or her heart has met the basic condition for a rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Happiness. So whatever we do, even simple practices
as going around a stupa once, chant a mantra once or listening to just one four-sentence poem in sutra, we should do it with Boddhicitta.
To make progress on our way to enlightenment through smart means and with a noble motivation, to proceed with spiritual practice smoothly without being obstructed by adverse factors, and to contribute our ever increasing
merits to other beings’ happiness and, these are the three ways, the profound means, for ordinary people to turn merits into cause of enlightenment in the degenerate times.
When Pandita Atisha was living in Ni Tang, three famous Geshes of that time invited him to give teachings on division of schools. Atisha said: “There are a lot of schools of Buddhism, but all are based on
discriminating mind. It’s of no use to keep discriminating. Life is transient. We need to summarize the essential teachings now.” One Geshe asked:“What are the essential teachings then?”Atisha answered:“We should
develop merits and wisdom through diligent spiritual practice for the sake of countless beings with true compassion and Boddhicitta; We should contribute our merits to all beings and wish for universal achievement of enlightenment; We should know all phenomena are like dreams and illusions with a
nature of emptiness.” Therefore, without Boddhicitta, without understanding the essence of the Dharma, knowledge, views and practices, be it superficial or profound, will have little help to complete realization.
I would spend a whole day elaborating on the merits of Boddhicitta and couldn’t exhaust this topic, but you won’t have the time to listen to me anyway. When I was in the room just now, some people might say: “I’m leaving, I’m busy.”
These people are really pitiful. Wherever they are, they are always busy with something other than listening to teachings on the Dharma. They spend day and night in singing, dancing and other distractions, but they don’t have even one hour for Dharma practice.
This seems to be a bad sign of having to bear consequences of the three lower realms. I hope all of you study and practice diligently. To be frank, I think teachings in the morning are more relevant to you than empower
ceremony in the afternoon, because conferring empowerment requires very high qualifications for both lama and disciples. Yesterday, your Khenpos and tulkus repeatedly asked me to grant empowerment, hopefully
high-level empowerment. But I don’t think myself qualified to grant high-level empowerments. You as disciples may not be qualified as well.
As for teaching, I began to teach after graduation from the Sedar Larong Five Sciences Buddhism Academy at age 25 with a Khenpo’s degree. It has been eighteen years till now. I’m ready to share with you all my knowledge. Giving lectures is the only thing I’m capable of. I’m not qualified of conferring empowerment, so if any of you decides not to attend the empowerment ceremony, you may leave as you like, and I’ll be even more pleased.
I originally had no plan to give any empowerment, but since tulkus and Khenpos here asked me again and again, and many of you promised to abandon killing, I’ve therefore changed my mind and decide to give you an empowerment belonging to the action vehicle of external tantra this afternoon.
What time is it? I have said too much, but I still have more to say. It’s twelve o’clock. Oh, quite early. We still have three or four hours to go for the class. You can’t stand up.”“He is sitting on the throne,” you might think, “but we are sitting on the freezing ground. Of course, he has no problem if he keeps talking for a long time, it would be terrible
for us.”While you may think whatever you like, you can do nothing but listen to me. I’ll keep on talking anyway. A free and healthy human body is precious. Life is impermanent. So we have to devote ourselves to the study and practice of the Dharma.
May joy and causes of joy be with all beings forever; may suffering and causes of suffering be away from all beings forever; may all beings enjoy happiness of no suffering forever, maintaining a
pleasant mind; may all beings be free from greed and anger forever, abiding in the state of equanimity.
All those who received teachings and empowerments from me have become my disciples. As your lama, I have only one requirement for you, that is, to relieve captivated lives as often as you can. -- Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo
To arouse Buddhicitta in those who has not generated it, to make it increase where it has arisen, Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo has been teaching people to relieve captivated lives whenever he gives discourses at home or
abroad. As a condition to accept an invitation to preside over a Dharma gathering, Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo always requires local participants to promise abandoning killing. This has become an unchangeable principle.
Some people say eating meat is prohibited in Chinese Buddhism, while it is allowed in Tibetan Buddhism, or one can’t eat meat when studying sutra and can eat meat when practicing tantra. Such assumptions only show a
lack of real understanding of Buddhist teachings. Tibetan Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, esoteric traditions or exoteric traditions, all encourage people to eat vegetarian food. There is actually no difference on this issue.
(Abandon killing) is a very important precept not only in refuge vows, but also in layman’s vows, in Buddhisattva vows and Vajrayana vows. Always keep it in mind that you will never kill from now on.
Some disciples gave me money as offerings. I have given the money to Cempaka Buddhist association. We will organize a life-relieving activity with the money.
Nagarjuna said in The Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom: There is no evil greater than killing, and there is no virtue greater than saving lives.
The Thus Come one said: “We should care for other beings’lives as we love our own life.” Imagine when we are burnt by a tiny spark or pricked by a needle, we will cry out of the unbearable pain. But when we tie up the
defenseless animals and kill them by cutting their heads, we become merciless butchers. If such cruelty happened to us, how could we bear the pain?”
Some people may think:“I haven’t destroyed any statue of Buddha not have I trampled any temple, so I shouldn’t have accumulated much negative karma.” But you may have hurt or killed many lives intentionally or
unintentionally in your daily life, then how can it be possible that you are free from negative karma and therefore won’t fall into the three lower realms? Some others may think: ”It’s true I have negative karma, but it
will be purified by lama’s blessing power.” But this is impossible. As is said in the sutra:“I’ve revealed to you the methods of attaining enlightenment but it depends on yourself to achieve it.”
Liberation depends solely on oneself. This is a fact that has been clearly stated in Buddha’s teachings on how to accumulate positive karma and purify negative karma. Some people may think they can be easily sent to the land of Ultimate Happiness by the power of lama practicing phowa. But previous
Buddhas as compassionate and powerful as Buddha Shakyamuni and Pamashambava hadn’t been able to send all beings to the land of happiness like throwing a stone across the river of troubles, how can we make sure that other masters will be able to put an end to samsara, the ocean of suffering?”
So it is very important that we don’t kill lives when we still have the freedom as human beings. Throughout the chiliocosms we can’t find an example of a constant killer gaining a rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Happiness. Mipham Rinpoche once said:” Your own body can not withstand a single spark, while you burn others’ bodies on the fire, who can bear such suffering? No doubt evil deeds like this will lead to
rebirth in hell, subject to torment on sizzling iron plate for aeons. Can you bear this? Buddhists should have compassion for all beings, should abandon killing and relieve captivated
lives. We monks should take it as our only purpose to spread the Dharma teachings and serve all beings. Worldly matters such as protecting relatives and fighting with enemies should be kept out of our way. The prosperity of Buddhism depends on how much it brings benefit to countless beings.
Lots of masters have made extensive and detailed explanations on the virtues of good deeds and the harm of evil deeds. As lay practitioners, it’s crucial for you to perform virtuous deeds and abandon evil deeds.
In the Land of Snow, Khenpo Rinpoche spends the money offered by his disciples in saving captivated animals like yaks every year.
He is the hardest among you. Really. What is he saying? You are harder than anyone else.
These yaks are raised by ourselves. It's true.
I won’t use your money to buy yaks and resell them to the slaughterhouse. You don’t need to worry about that. But I can't guarantee I won’t spend other money on yak traffic.
If you promise me to abandon killing for one year, you yourself will collect a lot of merits. You still have two yaks to be sold. Let’s talk about the price. I want to buy them. All other dealers in this courtyard have promised me not to be engaged in killing yaks for one year. You'd better make the same promise.
To make me satisfied, 2000 yuan will do. You won’t have them if you pay less. It’s easy to agree not to kill animals now and I won’t break my word once I make a promise.
These saved animals are given to poor herdsmen. By taking care of the animals, they not only make a living but also get the benefit of relieving lives, thus having a seed of liberation sowed in their heart. By the effort of Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo, a large number of animals have been saved and at the same time the fragile eco-system of the Tibetan plateau is protected.
In recent years alone, billions of captive animals have been relieved by Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo outside the Tibetan plateau. A large number of people have participated in these virtuous activities.
It’s very important for a Buddhist to have compassion and Boddhicitta for all beings. Those who kill other beings have no Boddhicitta at all. Without Boddicitta, to gain a rebirth as human would be difficult, let alone a rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Happiness. Please always keep it in mind that you should give up killing totally from now on.
I have noticed that some people spend several hundred yuan or even several thousand yuan on one meal. If you can use the money you spend for one day’s meal in relieving lives, it will be very helpful for your rebirth in
the Land of Ultimate Happiness. You’d better keep life-relieving as a long-term practice. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or not, as long as you take part in life-relieving activities, you give yourself the best present in life. So if you have money, don’t waste it, use it to free captive animals.
As of relieving lives, some may think lay people can’t do it without the participation of tulkus, khenpos or monks. Such a preoccupation is totally wrong. Of course, it is better to have a monk or nun to lead the ceremony. But without a monk or a nun, lay practitioners can also do by gathering together and chanting Buddhas’names and mantras in the process of life-relieving.
The relationship of lama and disciples has been established between us. I have no other requirements for you but hope you try your best to take life-relieving as a long-term practice.
Each time before life-relieving practice, Khenpo Rinpoche will ask disciples to generate Boddhicitta and wish for perfect enlightenment of all beings instead of doing it for one’s own health and fortune in this lifetime.
From Heilongjiang in northeast China to Guangdong in the south, from Shanghai, Zhejiang along the East Sea to Lhasa on the snow land in the west, Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo’s footprints have covered most of the country during recent years to initiate and lead life-relieving
activities. Even in foreign countries such as Malaysia, under the influence of Khenpo Rinpoche, many local Buddhism associations have started to organize regular live-relieving activities.
Countless beings have been freed from under butcher’s knife. With blessing and protection of the compassionate Khenpo, they are now back to their home in the nature, enjoying the rest of their life in the blue sky, clear sea or green mountain pastures.
Being a good person comes before studying Buddhism. Only after becoming a good man, one is ready on the path to enlightenment.
Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche had said:“A noble character is the foundation of all esoteric and exoteric practices.”
Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo often says to his disciples: “Be a good person comes before studying Dharma. When you become a good man, you are ready on the path to enlightenment.
Well-known for his noble character and great compassion, Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo has been frequently invited by domestic and foreign Buddhist organizations to give teachings.
There is no need to mention that Buddhists can not defame each other. What’s more, Buddhists can not defame other religions. You see, many non-Buddhists get along very well with each other. We Buddhists should be more friendly, and better behaved. I hope you, whether Buddhist or not, can be nice to other people.
Wen Larong Five Sciences Buddhism Acadamy was established, Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche said the root vows in tantra were samaya with lama and vajra brothers. Those who have broken samaya were not allowed to any empowerment and Dharma gatherings.
Especially in Tibetan areas, various monasteries and localities are inviting him to give teachings and empowerments.
We will first of all have a debate on sutra teachings in front of you, as our Dharma offering to you. To have invited a master as learned as you, honorable Khenpo, is a great fortune for us, because you are among the foremost of the seven major disciples of Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche.
Khenpo has helped a lot to Shechen Buddhism Acadamy. We will still ask for more help. What’s more, Khenpo is also my lama.
Today, we’ll have a simple debate on the subjects of turning off the Dharma wheel and generating Boddhicitta. We take the debate as a Mandala offering to Khenpo. Of all offerings to an accomplished master, Dharma offering is the best.
Making offering to accomplishers can accumulate tremendous merits. With this offering, let’s pray for the long life of Khenpo and his continuous turning of the Dharma wheel. We also hope the merits we collect by so doing will help to remove hindrances in the process of Dharma practice. Offering Mandala to such an accomplished master is the strongest guarantee of keeping our vows unbroken and practice uninterrupted.
Having obtained the precious human body, we should take it as a boat, for ourselves and for others, to go across the ocean of samsara. It is the practice of Buddhist students to be free from laziness and distractions and be completely devoted to study, contemplation and practice of the Dharma;
Attachment to the loved ones is like boiling water while hatred to the enemy is like burning fire. In the darkness of ignorance, you forget what to adopt and what to abandon. So go away from homeland. This is the practice of Buddhist students.
Qinghai Shendro Taose
Many of you have known Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo from his VCD. He saves a large number of animals every year. At the academy founded by Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche, there are many accomplished tulkus and khenpos, among whom, Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo is one of the greatest masters.
When you grow up, having achieved a certain level of study and meditation, you will find your permanent refuge in them. Our final destination is Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche’s academy.
This Khenpo is a great accomplisher. His career of spreading Dharma and benefiting beings is as vast and inconceivable as the sea. Now because we practice virtuous deeds in countless past lifetimes, we have the fortune to hold merit-transferring ritual together with the Khenpo, This opportunity is as rare as the blossom of an utpala flower.
Litang Tama Monastery
I’m very grateful that Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo came to our monastery. Khenpo Doga]] helped a lot. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to invite the Khenpo here. You know, this is a remote monastery. The road is in very poor conditions. So it needn’t be mentioned how many difficulties the Khenpo has encountered on his way to our place. I’m so grateful for your coming here.
Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo]] always teaches people to give up killing as well as other negative deeds, such as smoking, alcohol drinking, fighting and stealing. Out of their strong devotion to the Khenpo, numerous people have sworn before him to abandon these evil deeds forever. Besides sowing the seed of liberation in disciples’ heart, Khenpo Rinpoche also helps to improve their personalities. It proves that Vajrayana practices are in no conflict with worldly life.
About ten years ago, while giving an examination on Dzogchen practice to some tulkus and khenpos at the retreat center of Larong Five Sciences Buddhism Academy, [[Jimey Phuntsok Rinpoche gave Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo]] a video camera as a gift.
Since then, this camera has recorded Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo’s]] activities of teaching and serving the beings.
In 2003, disciples made a documentary on Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo]]. Nobody can tell how many copies of the VCD have been made at home and abroad. After watching this VCD, believers have strengthened their faith in the lama and the three jewels while non-believers have stopped killing and adopted Buddhist belief. Countless sentient beings are benefited. This may be one of the unique means of Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo]] to help the beings to embark on the road to ultimate realizaion.
Inspired by this, many disciples have requested Khenpo Rinpoche to produce another video, so that people can learn more about Buddhism and the Khenpo.
In 2005, Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo held a Dharma gathering in front of the Lari stupa. According to various prophecies, a stupa built at this very site can be a symbol of the prosperity of Buddhism. Over one thousand monks from different traditions of Gelug, Sakya, Nyingma and Kagyu gathered here. Many auspicious signs appeared during the four-day gathering.
All these indicate that tantric teachings, transmitted down through unimpaired lineages, will be spread all over the world.
Let’s open our heart that has been closing for so long. Let go of self-graspingness and greed. Let’s follow the steps of Khenpo Sherab Rsongbo to serve others and to love others with pure compassion and wisdom we have gained through Buddhist practice, so that all sentient beings have a better future.
