We commence at page 189, verse 69, of 'The Stages of the Heroic Mind' by Lama Serlingpa.
Verse 69 refers to tantric practices of transformation, and sutric purification of our conceptual mind to see the ultimate reality.
Helping others, including ghosts, is more important than self-grasping by seeking blessings.
Our motivation for doing rituals such as pujas, should be beyond this life for others' enlightenments, taking refuge, and with bodhicitta and emptiness. We have to be careful that the pujas we are involved with are not just shamanistic. Just because there's a ringing of the bell and sounding of the damaru doesn't mean it's a spiritual practice. A real practitioner's request for pujas and prayers shouldn't be just for this life, for worldly concerns only, but should look beyond that, for the benefit of numberless sentient beings that we need the good health etc. We need to ensure we are not committing worldly Dharmas.
There are many who consult spirits when they do a divination, and they ask for prediction. This is against the Buddhist refuge vows. The Dharma is our protective fence. When you live in the bodhisattva vows you are attractive. Living in all the vows is no guarantee of not experiencing karmic difficulties. When living in the ordination vows no spirit can harm us. Obstacles are due to our past lives. These can develop our heart, especially practicing Tong Len.
Hum Dza helpful mantra for hindrances!
This is the final session on Serlingpa's text.
To obtain the text or find out more visit www.fpmta.org.au/geshe-zopa-lojong-2020-21/
Photo: Y. Khor
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