Questions about Listening, Contemplation and Practicing

Interactive Q&A with Grand Master

1.

Question: What are the basic requirements that can ensure rebirth in the Pure Land?

Grand Master:  With the four causes of rebirth in the Pure Land completely, recitation of Buddha with the Three Supremes (Supreme Motivation, Supreme Deeds, and Supreme Dedication of Merits).

2.

Question: How can one realize mind’s intrinsic nature and be enlightened?

Grand Master: The most important thing is to have unwavering faith, accumulate merit and purify obscurations, and pray to the lineage masters to receive their blessings.

3.

Question: Pay homage to the master! When the disciple's grandfather passed away, he was covered with a Dharani quilt requested by the disciple. However, the disciple didn't understand it at first, so he was cremated along with it. Please grant me your guidance, what should I do?

Grand Master: The requirement is that the Dharani quilt should be burned together with the corpse and not leave the corpse, so what you do is in accordance with the dharma.

4.

Question: When doing daily practice, is there any difference in merit between reciting and chanting in Tibetan and reciting and chanting in Chinese?

Grand Master: The rituals were written by eminent Tibetan monks in the past, so it is best to recite the Tibetan transliteration, which will have greater blessing power. If you don’t understand the meaning and it’s difficult to visualize it, you can read the Chinese text again.

5.

Question: Pay homage to Guru and the Triple Gem! Why are all sentient beings boundless and never exhausted in liberation?

Grand Master: Why are sentient beings immeasurable and boundless? Because that is how they originally are.

6.

Question: After taking refuge online with the Guru, what Dharma practice should I do in my daily practice?

Grand Master: Upon waking in the morning, first make three prostrations to the Buddha, the Guru, the Three Jewels, and the Three Roots. Then in the morning session, practice the Path of Liberation. In the evening session, practice Buddha‑recitation with the Three Supreme Methods.

7.

Question: Can listening to the mantra recited by the guru’s official account be considered as having received the inheritance?

Grand Master: The inheritance cannot be obtained. The audio is just a recording, not the current sound. If you have faith, the blessing of the mantra can also be obtained.

8.

Question: A Dharma brother experienced severe insomnia while diligently practicing. How should such a situation be handled?

Grand Master: Then just continue practicing (the Guru said with a smile), But in practicing the Dharma, it is best to keep neither too tight nor too loose. 

9.

Question: May I request Guru’s guidance: What is the proper sequence for studying and practicing the Dharma? How should I listen, and contemplate? Which aspects should I focus on? And what kinds of books are suitable for regular study?

Grand Master: The sequence of Dharma practice begins with taking refuge. Then, according to one’s own circumstances, one upholds the appropriate precepts. When the precepts are pure, one proceeds with listening, contemplating, and practice. There are ten methods of listening and contemplating, which are explained in detail on “The Dharma Source of Sutra, Tantra and Terma” official account. In daily study, one should read more biographies of eminent masters as well as shorter and longer treatises on mind cultivation.

10.

Question: Regarding the leftover offering after the feast offering during Tsog Offering: I’ve noticed that some practitioners give a lot, some give very little, and some say it should be about the size of a fingernail. Since there doesn’t seem to be a clear and reliable standard, may I request the Guru’s guidance on how much is actually appropriate according to the Dharma?”

Grand Master: Not too much—about half the size of a cookie is sufficient. If the tsog offering is large and there are many siddhis to distribute, then you may offer a bit more.

11.

Question: I took refuge with my greatly kind Guru over the phone, and I have not received any empowerment. Does this mean I am not yet considered a Vajrayāna disciple? Am I allowed to practice the ritual liturgy for offering to the Dharma protectors?

Grand Master: Without having received empowerment, you can be considered a ‘preliminary Vajrayāna disciple’ (the Guru smiles), and you may make offerings to the Dharma protectors.

12.

Question: How should one contemplate one’s own mind? Are there any key points or essential instructions for contemplating own mind? I sincerely wish to practice, yet worldly concerns and habitual tendencies keep obstructing me. I feel distressed and remorseful every day—what should I do?

Grand Master: There are two ways to contemplate the mind: the ultimate and the conventional.
First, on the conventional level, regularly examine whether your mind contains unwholesome or improper thoughts; if such thoughts arise, cut them off immediately. If wholesome thoughts are present, rejoice in them, maintain them, and continue to cultivate and expand them.  Second, there is the method of contemplating the mind through essential instructions from Fundamental Guru, but this already pertains to Vajrayāna teachings and is not appropriate to explain publicly.

In this degenerate age, it is difficult to study, contemplate, and practice the Dharma. Therefore, one should recite the prayer for dispelling obstacles on the path every day. Regardless of whether one’s mood is good or bad, and whether one encounters favorable or adverse conditions, one must endure them inwardly. Gradually cultivate greater patience and a more altruistic mind—this is extremely important.