My very dear Nina,
Thank you very much for your kind letter. It is great that you wish to practice these two – Medicine Buddha and Chenrezig. This is my general advice to everyone. It is very important in everyday life to do these two practices. Since you want to achieve enlightenment for sentient beings, liberate sentient beings from suffering and the causes of suffering, bring sentient beings to enlightenment, and at least liberate yourself from the oceans of sufferings, it is very important to do these two practices.

Also, it is very important to recite one lam-rim prayer every day. This includes all the stages of the path to enlightenment within it and it is very important to recite it without your mind being distracted. Then, this becomes a direct meditation on the lam-rim and that plants the seed of enlightenment. Also, in some lam-rim prayers there are a few lines of the tantric path. Then, when you have taken a highest tantric initiation you can recite your personal deity’s tantric stages of the path. It is very important to recite that every day. This prepares your mind for the tantric path to enlightenment and helps you achieve enlightenment quickly.

All of these practices I am giving you (in enclosed sheets) should all be performed on the basis of guru devotion. If you haven’t taken a highest tantric initiation then you should practice Guru Shakyamuni daily meditation or Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga, which ever you feel closer to, then you will receive more blessings.

As you have already received the Chenrezig great initiation, you are qualified to practice the sadhana and recite the mantra. So, even while you are doing your job in the daytime, your mind should focus on Chenrezig with devotion while reciting the mantra as much as possible. Then, you can visualize nectar flowing out from Chenrezig and entering your body, speech, and mind. You are completely purified and the four things are completely purified (disease, spirit harm, negative karma, and defilements). So, sometimes focus on purifying, and sometimes meditate on the two types of bodhicitta: exchanging yourself and others and the seven point mind training: six causes and one effect. While meditating on these two, recite the Chenrezig mantra. You can also meditate and recite at the same time while meditating on tonglen – taking on suffering and the all the undesirable things and then giving loving kindness, compassion, and all your merit of the three times and the resulting happiness up to enlightenment. Your body becomes a wish-granting jewel for all sentient beings. You can also mentally offer all your belongings.

You can find a link to the longest Chenrezig mantra in the FPMT Catalogue. [See also Rinpoche's advice on Chenrezig practice.]

Please make your life most meaningful with the most precious thought of bodhicitta.

With much love and prayers...