Tribe.net. Local Connections K http://TibetanBuddhism.tribe.net/thread/c6de9215-0b10-494f-a8bf-093be793e5b9#6a899ae8-49eb-42a3-9da0-4675c2cd0d9b 2011-08-19T18:40:08Z 2011-08-19T18:40:08Z

A short chant for Vajrasattva is given on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC1i1fVdOic In highest yoga tantra, it is basic that one should complete 100,000 long Vajrasattva. Obviously, 100,000 short Vajrasattva is *not* the same thing. Vajrasattva is primary for both Atiyoga / Dzogchen and for Mahamudra, such as Kalacakra - Vajrasattva. In the Sakya Hevajra, there is a branch empowerment of Vajrasattva, because it is so important. Many primary high practices always include Vajrasattva as part of the sadhana practice texts, e.g. Sakya Vajrayogini, Shangpa Wisdom Mahakala, Cakrasamvara, Hundred Deities Shitro-Bardo and so forth. Usually at least 3 recitations of the long 100 syllable mantra. So to "leave behind" Vajrasattva would be to leave behind the practices of Vajrayogini, Mahakala, Shitro-Bardo and other main practices. Not recommended. I completed 250,000 long Vajrasattva, and Vajrasattva in one form or another is one of my primary practices. A main example is Vajrasattva-Vajrakila, which is important ( or crucially important ) in 3 of the 4 schools of "Tibetan" Buddhism. Guru Padmasambhava completed 12 years retreat on Vajrasattva-Vajrakilaya. It was a primary practice and primary protector for him, and also for Guhyajnanadakini Yeshe Tsogyel. And all Vajrapani practice is Vajrasattva-Vajrapani practice, just as all Kalacakra is Vajrasattva and all Vajrakilaya is Vajrasattva and all Hundred Deities practice is Vajrasattva. And Garab Dorje / Joyous Vajra, the founder teacher of Great Perfection / Atiyoga / Dzogchen, was an emanation of Vajrasattva. I began teaching core understanding of Vajrasattva on tribe.net back in 2007, as one of my first posts, here and elsewhere. The basic 100 syllable mantra in Sanskrit script and with translation is given on my tribe home at http://people.tribe.net/aa35e5c2-3d1f-4b92-b135-bdc41d795776/photos/29ed8d70-e1db-4172-b3e0-4b2bfc3044a6 I will continue to post more teaching on Vajrasattva long term on tribe Nonsecular Buddhism http://nonsecularbuddhism.tribe.net/ at http://nonsecularbuddhism.tribe.net/thread/b43dc8e2-c672-4f5e-b0f3-c6fbe2511d8e It is important to understand the Ten Precepts and the Bodhisattva Vows and Tantric Precepts in order to keep these pure, and to practice mantra purification such as Vajrasattva in order to purify karma. I always "worry about karma", and try to keep it clean. I recommend the same approach to all tantrikas.

K 2011-08-19T18:40:08Z Chris http://TibetanBuddhism.tribe.net/thread/c6de9215-0b10-494f-a8bf-093be793e5b9#1619c26f-4142-4b16-9a25-10432c7daf85 2011-05-18T21:56:40Z 2011-05-18T21:56:40Z

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Having done similar things, I simply apologize for my ignorance and begin the corrected practice as soon as possible. That's me, though....in one case, I tried to "make up" a couple of malas, but realized that the time had past, and in reality there was nothing I could do to "put" those malas back in the past :-). Remember my favorite mantra: Pobody's nerfect :-), we just do the best we know how to at the moment :-).

Chris 2011-05-18T21:56:40Z Mark http://TibetanBuddhism.tribe.net/thread/c6de9215-0b10-494f-a8bf-093be793e5b9#0865f42d-6e36-4e8d-b8e5-02f7efbdb03e 2011-05-02T00:55:31Z 2011-05-02T00:55:31Z

Certainly we start with Bodhicitta, practice well in the middle and dedicate in the end. This is not just our personal concern, but what we do for others always reflects back on us. There simply is no escaping karma, good or bad. Likewise, our merit multiplies in the same way or de-merit does. Isn't it funny that we worry about bad karma while not practicing accumulation of virtue?

Mark 2011-05-02T00:55:31Z Celestial http://TibetanBuddhism.tribe.net/thread/c6de9215-0b10-494f-a8bf-093be793e5b9#5e0dd92d-4dab-4b60-8c12-ce3fa0355998 2011-05-01T20:25:50Z 2011-05-01T20:25:50Z

I think it's more important to do them mindfully and with intention to help other beings. Just do 21 in a focused way until you feel like you have time to do more and don't be nervous abt that which is key. If someone you know is in the bardo, then worry abt doing lots and lots of Vajrasattva every day for a cpl weeks.

Celestial 2011-05-01T20:25:50Z Marcos http://TibetanBuddhism.tribe.net/thread/c6de9215-0b10-494f-a8bf-093be793e5b9#1a9c640b-a976-4628-afb4-a016e46aee3b 2011-04-29T15:12:19Z 2011-04-29T15:12:19Z

Thank you Ezekiel, and to Mark also And I will try to express myself a little better in the future :) hehe Thank you for you answere, it makes alot of sense and I will also follow your advice. Take care /Marcos

Marcos 2011-04-29T15:12:19Z Mark http://TibetanBuddhism.tribe.net/thread/c6de9215-0b10-494f-a8bf-093be793e5b9#cf94466e-1d18-4be2-a282-3c3de17cf2ad 2011-04-28T17:39:42Z 2011-04-28T17:39:42Z

Correct. 21 is not enough to uproot the deeds of body speech and mind, it does not denature the seed as it were, it only freezes them so they don't proliferate. Patrul Rinpoche recommends 1 mala of 100-syllable mantra, daily. He further jokes that if you have the siddhi of "speaking things into being," you need to do even more, because of the things you say! ;)

Mark 2011-04-28T17:39:42Z Ezekiel http://TibetanBuddhism.tribe.net/thread/c6de9215-0b10-494f-a8bf-093be793e5b9#c6fff3f8-995f-41c4-9abb-d9bc9b06f539 2011-04-28T16:21:53Z 2011-04-28T16:21:53Z

Marcos, Well, your original question was how to get "back on track." So I thought maybe you were asking how to motivate yourself to increase your daily VS accumulations. Yes, when you take all the vows, the karma of breaking it is greater (you not only have the karma of the action itself, you also have the karma of breaking the vow). For example, all sentient beings suffer from the karma of afflicted view. . . but when you take the tantric vows of pure view, and yet continue to have ordinary thoughts contaminated by the poisons - the karma of your afflicted view is compounded by the karma of breaking your tantric vow. Not great! And yes, negative karma is said to multiply on its own. So 21 repetitions of the 100-syllable mantra will stop this negative karma from multiplying. (I've also heard that 108 rep's of VS 6-syllable mantra is sufficient for this.) And if you want to actually start to eliminate it altogether, rather than just maintain it at a level where it doesn't increase - then don't stop at 21. Mark can confirm this please! Ezekiel

Ezekiel 2011-04-28T16:21:53Z Marcos http://TibetanBuddhism.tribe.net/thread/c6de9215-0b10-494f-a8bf-093be793e5b9#20d6f5bc-cbb4-4c96-816d-b225217d6533 2011-04-28T15:54:56Z 2011-04-28T15:54:56Z

Thank you both for you replies, but maybe I was bad at expressing me :) Your right I should read more about karma and try to understand it more fully! But I have no doubt in it or that I accumulate it all of the time because of wrong view etc :) I was more aiming at the fact that since I've taken all 3 sets of vows and am engaging in sertain Sadhanas everyday, that since the minimum is 21 vajrasattvas per day I havent really been doing that many, and wonder if there is "extra" accumulation of negative karma since I have all vows etc.... but sure more is always better :) But yes, I love to go back to the basic teachings... the root is so beatiful lol /Marcos

Marcos 2011-04-28T15:54:56Z Mark http://TibetanBuddhism.tribe.net/thread/c6de9215-0b10-494f-a8bf-093be793e5b9#aaac95c4-37a5-417f-a8c5-10ee2be2e162 2011-04-23T16:57:51Z 2011-04-23T16:57:51Z

Oh, BTW, Everything you need to know is in a book called Words of My Perfect Teacher by Patrul Rinpoche. There are other texts, but this is very basic.

Mark 2011-04-23T16:57:51Z Mark http://TibetanBuddhism.tribe.net/thread/c6de9215-0b10-494f-a8bf-093be793e5b9#1f3eba0a-3bc6-4afe-bba3-c175d6eb0f20 2011-04-23T16:56:22Z 2011-04-23T16:56:22Z

Good point, Ezekiel! Marcos, If you know why you are practicing, doing so is easy. Many people do 400 prostrations, 100s of Vajrrasattva mantras every day. People engaged with Yidam practice often complete 25 or more malas a day. And, if we understand Karma, then we understand that we are not the only ones in our predicament. Our ENTIRE experience comes from our belief in a self and the actions of mind, speech and body that arise from that core mistaken view. We cannot blame others for anything! Ever single being is doing exactly the same thing-- they believe that there are gods and demons populating their lives in the form of bosses, parents, spouses, co-workers... There are so many mis-perceptions to purify. Comes a time we are less involved with managing our own karma and trying to do something for others. Not to suggest that beginners can actually accomplish the benefit of others, but we become less self-centered in trying. How amazing!

Mark 2011-04-23T16:56:22Z Ezekiel http://TibetanBuddhism.tribe.net/thread/c6de9215-0b10-494f-a8bf-093be793e5b9#6229e1f0-dee5-4f3c-a5d8-febb94a43257 2011-04-23T15:19:11Z 2011-04-23T15:19:11Z

If by "back on track" you mean doing more recitations - what is/are obstacles getting in the way of this? If you need motivation to purify your karma, contemplate 4 thoughts and read commentaries. . . read about the hell realms, and think about worldwide suffering. Complete 21 recitations with that in mind. Just think how even if you just increase your vajrasattva to 21x per day, you will be able to purify that much more of the world's sorrows and violence.

Ezekiel 2011-04-23T15:19:11Z Marcos http://TibetanBuddhism.tribe.net/thread/c6de9215-0b10-494f-a8bf-093be793e5b9#cb5e1128-f30b-4f84-a5b0-49d9d8e20974 2011-04-23T07:20:25Z 2011-04-23T07:20:25Z

Hi folks Just having a little question about Vajrasattva purification. Just found out (well I should have been more attentive I suppose) that one does the mantra 21 times everyday to couter any daily infractions to keep it from multipying. Now since my Sadhana I'm practicing says "as many as possible" I've been doing 7 - 14 everyday for 9 months. Any good advice how to get back "on track" haha? Doesn't karma also multiply? Thanks /Marcos

Marcos 2011-04-23T07:20:25Z