So before we start, I think I have to explain to you little bit briefly as possible. Because I don’t want to make this a Q&A session.
This so called Mönlam was initiated by Previous Kalu Rinpoche in Bodhgaya, after his grand empowerment in this place. So then, you know, as he travelled with his, how do I say, students with, you know, from all over the world, with a very simple group and around, you know, around eighty people, eighty to one hundred people.
So then, you know, all, including the children, monks, everybody gathered in Bodhgaya, and then they also went to the Mahakala cave. They also went to Varanasi city, they went to all the different places of the Lord Buddha Shakyamuni. And then during that time, he started this tradition of, just very very simple, you know, just reciting the prayers and dedication to all the sentient beings and offering candles, and simple as that.
And then, how do I say, reciting that again and again and over one hundred thousand, you know, accumulating prayers of the Zangchö Mönlam [The King of Aspiration Prayers: Samantabhadra’s “Aspiration to Good Actions”] and then also the rest of the other prayers and such as reading the 84 000 sutras and so and so forth.
So that, you know, that has been the tradition that he established.
So myself as holding the name of Kalu Rinpoche, you know, I continue this tradition. And basically, you know, Mönlam is not really a tradition basically. The Mönlam is aspiration and dedication prayer to all the sentient beings. So it’s not something that belongs to me. It is a tradition that we all must follow. Because it is the very basic principle and the very essence of the Lord Buddha’s teaching which is when you make a dedication prayer and then the aspiration it is not just for yourself it is for the wellbeing of all the sentient beings. And it makes us a very distinction how we call ourself as a Buddhist practitioner, you know?
So when we call ourself a Buddhist practitioner, we give importance more than ourself to others and then having a genuine compassionate state of mind. And then, at the same time, dedicating to all of them to liberate in the path of enlightenment.
And then that as a main principle, all of us we celebrate the Saga Dawa, the gratitude to the Lord Buddha Shakyamuni. And just like we have witnessed, you know, the teachings of His Holiness Dalaï Lama, this, this early morning time zone in India, you know? So, and that is a great teaching that we all witness, that we have all listened. And applying with that principle and then at the same time making an inspiration prayer together.
So let me repeat this again. The text it is in the shangpakagyu.org website where you can easily download. It is not something that, where you have to get from somewhere. It is just there. And, then with all together maybe I will give a one minute for everyone to find the text. If you have it, that’s good. And then we can make the prayer all together.
We will start with:
- The Avalokiteshvara prayer, with the Refuge to the Three Jewels, followed by the commitment of the Boddhicitta and then reciting the Avalokiteshvara mantras and prayers [Far-Reaching Benefit of Beings, Extensive as the Sky – Visualization and Mantra Recitation of the Great Compassionate One].
- And then followed by Amitabha pure land prayers [Short prayer to be reborn in Dewachen].
- And then after that followed by the Zangchö Mönlam prayer [The King of Aspiration Prayers: Samantabhadra’s “Aspiration to Good Actions”].
- And then after that, the Niguma dedication prayer [Niguma’s aspiration prayer of sealed instructions].
- And then the Kyungpo Mönlam prayer [“Oral Seal” composed by the great Yogi Kyungpo Naljor].
- And then the longevity of His Holiness living Buddha Dalaï Lama.
- And then longevity prayers to all the great Masters throughout all the different traditions.
- And then, you know, completing by the dedication and benefit to all the sentient beings and the Bodhicitta prayers combined together.
Shangpa Mönlam 2020 – Saga Dawa June 5th, 2020 (5′ 03”)
To be continued …
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