Questions about Listening, Contemplation and Practicing

Interactive Q&A with Grand Master

1.

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

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

2.

Question: How can one realize the nature of the spiritual mind and be enlightened?

Grand Master: The most important thing is to have confidence, build virtues and merits, clear up obstacles, sins, and bad habits, and pray to the master of the lineage to receive 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 enlighten me, 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 homework for learning dharma, is there any difference in merit between chanting in Tibetan and chanting in Chinese?

Grand Master: The ritual was 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 the Triple Germ and Master! Why are all sentient beings boundless and eternal?

Grand Master: Why are sentient beings so infinite? That's how it is.

6.

Question: After participating in the guru’s online taking refuge, what kind of practices do you practice on a daily basis?

Grand Master: In the morning, before starting the day, first bow three times and pay respects to the Buddha and our guru, the Triple Germs and Triple Roots. Then we recite and contemplate the “Path of Enlightenment” in the morning and practice “Recitations of the Buddha with the Three Supremes” in the evening.

7.

Question: Can listening to the mantra recited by the guru’s public 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 senior fellow student suffered from severe insomnia while practicing diligently. How should we deal with this situation?

Grand Master: Then continue practicing the Dharma (he laughed). However, it is most appropriate to practice the method in a way that is neither too loose nor too tight.

9.

Question: Please enlighten me: What are the steps for practicing Buddhism? How should I listen and contemplate? Which aspect I should be focused on? What kind of books do I need to read more often?

Grand Master: The order of practicing Buddhism is firstly to take refuge in Triple Germ and Guru, then accept and uphold the corresponding precepts according to your own situation, and then listen, contemplate, and practice when the precepts are upheld. There are ten ways to listen and contemplate, the details are published on “The Dharma Source of Sutra, Tantra and Terma” official account. At the same time, please read more biographies of eminent monks and their great virtues, and also small and large treatises on cultivating the mind.

10.

Question: Regarding the question of how to make offerings in Tsog Offering and surplus offering. I have seen some people give a lot, some a small amount, and some say it is about the size of a fingernail. There is no exact and reliable answer. Can the master please enlighten me on how much surplus offering is needed per dharma?

Grand Master: It does not need too much, just half of a biscuit. If the Tsog Offering is very large and there are many siddhis, then a little more will be great.

11.

Question: I took refuge with the grand master over the phone, but I haven’t received any Abhisheka. Am I considered a Tantra disciple? Is it possible to perform rituals for offering sacrifices to the Dharma protector?

Grand Master: If you have not received any Abhisheka, you are considered a quasi-disciple of Tantric Dharma (laughing), and you can serve dharma protectors.

12.

Question: How to observe or contemplate the mind? What are the tips for observing or contemplate the mind? I really want to practice Dharma, but I am hindered by afflictions and various habits, and I feel annoyed and miserable every day. What should I do?

Grand Master: There are two types of mind contemplation, Paramartha and Secular. First, always check whether you have any disgusting or unfaithful thoughts in your mind. If you have any, get rid of them immediately. If you have a compassionate idea or thought, rejoice in it, and continue to maintain and grow it. Secondly, observe the mind with tips from Guru, but it has already involved the secret dharma, so it is not convenient to talk about it publicly.

In the age of the end of the Dharma, it is more difficult to listen, contemplate, and practice the Dharma. So please recite “the prayer to remove obstacles” every day. No matter whether your mood is good or bad, whether you encounter good or bad luck, you must endure it, and slowly increase your tolerance and altruistic strength in the mind. This is very important.