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Jun 14

Mahakala Blessing – our main practice (Part 5)

And then next comes the Bodhisattva vows.

So we, in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, our main practice is the Bodhisattva practices, the deeds of the Bodhisattvas. Regarding myself, right from the beginning, as soon as I wake up, I meditate on Bodhicitta and observe the precepts of Bodhisattvas.

Please repeat these lines for the vows:

“I take refuge in the Three Jewels.
Individually disclose all my non-virtues.
Rejoice in all the virtues of all beings.
And mentally take up the enlightenment of Buddha.

Until I am enlightened, I take refuge
In the Buddha, Dharma, and the Supreme Assembly,
I generate the supreme enlightenment
To fulfill my own and others welfare.”

So this is very important to achieve one’s own goal. You made Bodhicitta and to achieve the wellbeing of others also, so Bodhicitta is needed. And for temporary as well as for long-term goals, you need to have Bodhicitta. For the accumulation of merit and wisdom also we need to have Bodhicitta.

So
“I generate the supreme enlightenment
To fulfill my own and others welfare”.

So having generated Bodhicitta, having cultivated and developed Bodhicitta, the purpose of which is to serve all sentient beings.

And so you are saying:
“Having generated the spirit of supreme enlightenment,
I invite all sentient beings as my guests,”

For the sake of all sentient beings, you are determined to achieve Buddhahood. So all sentient beings on this earth, whether you know them or not, what we are doing is trying to cultivate is the attitude whereby we consider all of them as our nearest dear ones.

So
“Having generated the spirit of supreme enlightenment,
I invite all sentient beings as my guests,”

And having called them as my guests for happiness and bliss then I should engage for the benefit of oneself and others, for temporary as well as for lasting goals. All the different practices that are related to them, you are saying that you are determined voluntarily to practice them all.

“Engage in the supreme and the wonderful conduct of a Bodhisattva.”

So
“Having generated the spirit of supreme enlightenment,
I invite all sentient beings as my guests,
And engage in the supreme and the wonderful conduct of Bodhisattvas.
May I attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all the sentient beings.”

So please repeat this.

So I consider the cultivating Bodhicitta is extremely important, daily I recite this lines and generate Bodhicitta always.

So
“Having generated the spirit of supreme enlightenment,
I invite all sentient beings as my guests,
And engage in the supreme and the wonderful conduct of Bodhisattvas.
May I attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all the sentient beings.”

So please repeat these lines now:

“I take refuge in the Three Jewels.
Individually disclose all my non-virtues.
Rejoice in all the virtues of all beings.
And mentally take up the enlightenment of Buddha.

Until I am enlightened, I take refuge
In the Buddha, Dharma, and the Supreme Assembly,
I generate the supreme enlightenment
To fulfill my own and others welfare.

Having generated the spirit of supreme enlightenment,
I invite all sentient beings as my guests,
And engage in the supreme and the wonderful conduct of a Bodhisattva.
May I attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings.”

Mahakala Blessing by His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the request of Kalu Rinpoche
Dharamsala – May 18, 2024 (1h 08′ 57”)
Photo by Tenzin Choejor