On the way to Nepal

Currently, I am on a Silkair flight to Kathmandu and it is a smooth journey thus far. Yesterday, I wrote a short article after several months of silence so I wasn’t really fluent in writing but just simply updated or fed the blog. Today, it seems quite relaxing in the plane so I feel like sharing some thoughts here.

In a short while, I will be in Kathmandu and I will meet my mother as well as Lamas. I am eager to see them as I know they are also excited to see me too as usual.

Our annual event of Mahakala Puja is now just two days away and all the monks in the monastery are busy with lots of work in preparation for this Puja and festival. This event is kind of a big festival to us and the entire monastery becomes very lively during this period.

What is Mahakala Puja you may ask? This is actually a big subject and it can be explained in many ways. I will however just give a brief introduction. In general, to practice Buddhism, we take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and for the Vajrayana practitioners, we need to add another three sources or roots of refuge that also play similar roles of the Triple Gem but on a more close or personal basis for the practitioners’ development. The three additional roots are Guru, Yidam and Protector.

The root source of Blessing is the Lama or Guru, The root source of realization is the Yidam and root source of activities are the Dharma Protectors. These three sources or roots are based on the quality that is similar to the Triple Gem. For instance, the Buddha is no different from the Guru in terms of teaching and in showing the path to a practitioner. Likewise, the Yidam is no different from the Dharma as it also plays a role of path based on the progressive stages of practitioner. With that, one realizes the enlightenment without hindrance. Protectors are no different from the Sangha as they serve to protect the practitioners from worldly fears and obstructions towards the path of enlightenment.

So in order for a person to attain enlightenment, he/she first develops the thought of enlightened attitude and thereafter takes refuge in the enlightened one, i.e. the Buddha. At the same time, the practitioner follows the Guru who has similar qualities of the Buddha and who plays the role similarly such as in teaching and in correcting us. Secondly, we as the practitioner follow the teachings closely and integrate the teachings into our lifestyle so that the Dharma and oneself become inseparable. These can be effectively practiced with symbolic aspect of Yidam’s method in transforming our emotional defilements to the realization of the true nature, i.e. emptiness and clarity. The Sangha plays a role of protection and guidance in the general wellbeing of the practitioners as well as in clearing the obstacles to the path of enlightenment. According to the Vajrayana, infinite compassion of the Buddha manifests in various forms in order to guide us towards the profound path and in subduing the obscuration along the path of enlightenment.

So to a practitioner of Vajrayana, the Guru, Yidam and protector are as important as the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and one relies upon them in order to attain enlightenment.

Therefore we have in our monastery, many events in commemorating the anniversary of Guru and dedicated special days of the months for special Yidam practices and monthly and annual Mahakala Puja for the well being of every one, especially for practitioners to overcome all the outer and inner hindrances on the path of enlightenment. Many people participate in such events of Mahakala Puja with their names included for the dedication of merits. For that, all our Sangha will do the puja and make a dedication to everyone, in particular for the participants to fulfill all their noble wishes.

Now Lunar New Year is also approaching and I wish every one a happy Tibetan and Chinese New year. May you be happy, healthy and prosperous. The wealth of Dharma makes you filled with abundance and prosperity and may your body, speech and mind be free from obstacles and always full of joy.