Guru Shakyamuni Buddha's Kindness (Audio and Unedited Transcripts)

By Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Shakyamuni Center, Taichung, Taiwan, March 2007 (Archive #1608)

Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave these teachings at Shakyamuni Center, Taichung, Taiwan, March 3 and 6, 2007.

Buddha Shakyamuni's Life Story continued

Then in order to realize how Dharma is so precious and who request the teaching to collect extensive merits, for many purpose then, [pause] for seven weeks Buddha did not turn Dharma wheel after enlightenment. So Buddha kind of like, there is a verse that Buddha said that, I guess, I don’t remember the whole entire verse but how Dharma is so precious and sentient beings do not have karma or something, there is verses Buddha mentioned, it starts with [Tibetan], something like that, that there is no sentient beings who listen to teaching, something like that. So Buddha kind of little bit like kind of discouraged or sort of, in the aspect. Anyway, didn’t turn Dharma wheel for seven weeks.

Then the leader of the business, ?Kargun and Zangpo, these families offered food to Buddha. Then the four guardians they offered four stone begging bowl, then Buddha blessed that and those two business leaders, ?Kargun and Zangpo, this family put the food in the stone begging bowl. So four, there are four guardians, the guardians offered four but then Buddha blessed into one, and then they put the food in this, then Buddha took the food and then Buddha taught this ?tashi tsekpa, this auspicious, these verses that I mentioned one day, there’s one, I mentioned one day that, I think, just one ore or two days ago I mentioned that, there’s one prayer that you can recite when there’s, doing things in the wrong astrological time or when there’s. obstacles. That’s one of the prayers, auspicious prayers, it makes, so there is inauspicious so by reciting this, it transforms, it makes it auspicious so it doesn’t, that which is obstacle then you make it auspicious, cause of success, you turn into cause of success. So this, Buddha gave this teaching.

Then the Brahma, ?Tsukpachen, so forth, requested again and again to turn Dharma wheel. Then Buddha accepted to turn Dharma wheel then the first Dharma wheel in Varanasi in the park. Then with the five surrounding disciples, five human beings, five surrounding disciples, five monks and then devas, there are eighty thousand devas. So for three months gave teachings, turned the Dharma, four noble truths. Then ripened their mind and liberated them. [pause]

Then also, not only them then after then, many others ?Nyerwa Nadai, Tengyur Oser, Gyewa Oser and Chulong Oser, Sharipu, Mangalyipu. The Sharipu who is excellent in wisdom, Mangyalyipu, who is excellent in psychic power, the two heart disciples of Buddha. So then with entourage of two hundred and fifth entourage and so Buddha gave teachings and then so forth. And then numberless devas, human beings ripened and liberated them, then covered the whole earth, so the reputation covered the whole earth.

Then the King Ze-tsang invited, heard this and invited in Shakya, invited again and again in Shakya, then they went there, Buddha went in Shakya. And Gyalwa Ze-tsang, and four brothers, then many hundred thousands of Shakyas, then numberless devas, human beings then Buddha gave teachings, ripened their mind, liberated them.

Then in Sravasti, that’s where Buddha showed the miracle powers, did the holy deeds of performed miracle powers. So these fifteen days, so today is the last one, yeah, so fifteens days performing, showing the miracle powers, showing holy deeds the performing miracle powers. So as Sravasti, that’s the place where Buddha lived twenty-five years, the longest time Buddha lived in any place is Sravasti, twenty-five years. So three years, last three years near, where there is Buddha’s, where Buddha abided, the rooms and all this place is there and a very nice garden, the ground, the main place. There is other arhats. Buddha’s bathing place, this, this, this. There is all the different rooms. Then close by where Buddha lived three years. So all together twenty five years in Sravasti. So that many people made comment that this place when you go there it brings so much peace and happiness in your heart.

There is one lama who built a monastery in Sarnath, his name is ?Kuse lama. So he told me that whenever he feels too much, too much responsibility, too much work, then whenever he feel so much, too much, then he stops everything, he goes to this Sravasti and there he feels so much peace every time he goes there. Every time he goes there. [pause]

And also Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche made a very high comments of that place. So that is the first time that Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche met His Holiness the Dalai Lama outside of Tibet, so Rinpoche gave for people there, pilgrimage, I think, teachings on Three Principles of the Path or Foundation of Good Qualities, something like that. So Rinpoche made the high comment that he thought it will be so good if there’s retreat houses, place, very good place to do retreat.

So I heard many comments from people. So then I sent one Italian student, he died already a long time ago, so I sent him to check the place. So that time I had a wish to build seven, six or seven retreat houses there.

So then he said, his name was Stefano, he become monk two times or three times, so I asked him to check. So he said when he went this place, the meditation, other place he has to put effort to meditate but this place the meditation just comes, he said that.

So then finally I, it happened to be, it happened to myself to be there with few people. [pause] So when I visited that place, that’s the only place that those Indians who are taking care of this holy place and they asked me to build a monastery there. It’s strange. Usually nobody ask to do that but that’s the only place where the Indians who were looking after the land asked me to build a monastery there.

So anyway, so I had interest for quite, those times, quite a number of years, then one day I thought how difficult it is to find director, but then you build six, even six, seven retreat houses, you need somebody take care, after. So then when I think, already existing retreat places, difficult to find director to look after, like Bodhgaya, Root Institute or Dharamsala, Tushita or the Nepal, so difficult to find a director, person who look after, so difficult, so, then with all the rest of the things, so when I think, then it made me discouraged. When you think really down, the work, first of all how difficult to find the person to look after, then all the rest, then my mind kind of got discouraged, and then disappeared.

So that’s also Rinpoche, like Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche told good idea to have six or seven retreat houses, anyway.

But now, but that time when I was there already many people, from different countries are building, coming there to build temple, things like that.

I think he got jewels in the mouth, he got wish-granting jewels.

So that’s the place where Buddha, so there’s fifteen days of showing the holy deeds, performing miracles, subduing the different sentient beings, taming the mind of the different sentient beings, so there is quite a bit of stories of that. I don’t remember by heart, so, different days which sentient beings are subdued, tamed this and that, different things. So however, basically that’s, Sravasti is the place where Buddha showed the holy deed performing the miracles. Defeated, tamed, subdued the six Hindu founders, so who always compete with Buddha, who always criticize Buddha, so I think it’s their karma, I think ripened there during that time, Buddha to tame them. And their entourage, those Hindu founders, six founders, their entourage, ninety thousand, so like that, the numberless devas, human beings then Buddha, by performing the miracle power, ripened their mind and liberated them.

So during that time then all the people, they have high, very high respect to the Buddha and the Sangha during that time. They do so much offering service to the Sangha. So then Buddha thought that might become obstacle for their Dharma practice, then Buddha stopped that. Then led Buddha’s father and mother in arya path, caused them to directly see the emptiness, I think.

So that’s the deeds that all the buddhas who descend in this world will do, so this is the twelve deeds, and now here this eleventh, twelve deeds.

[long pause]

So then Buddha, [pause] then this place called, the name of the place called Drawing All the Trees and Exploding the Earth, there are the ?Armanika, on this, I’m not sure what [pause] the name of the mountain or I’m not sure what it is, Armanika, on this Sharipu and so forth, eight thousand arhats, then Buddha did abiding in the summer retreat. It is translated, rainy season, abiding, yar-ne, abiding in summer retreat. But I mean, of course, that’s the time when rain comes, but the exact translation is abiding in the summer retreat. So bhikshus, bhikshunis, those who are living in the vows, the three important activities, this is one of them, abiding in summer retreat, the monasteries. One is the reviving and restoring, sojong; then another one is abiding in summer retreat. Other one is releasing. So, three.

So then the Buddha went in the, Buddha’s mother’s born in deva realm, so Buddha went there to ripen mind of the many devas and to liberate them and then after abiding in summer retreat then Buddha went to, up to Ogmin, deva realm Ogmin, and then gradually, up to Ogmin, then numberless devas, Buddha did work for numberless devas, benefited them. Then the bhikshus they requested Buddha, the bhikshus requested Mangalipu, Mangalipu requested Buddha to descend in this world.

Then the ninth month, the 20th Tibetan day, ninth month, then the Buddha came down on the steps that is put by devas, so some, came down, some without touching, with miracle power came down, some touched with the holy feet like that, in the city, in India city called ?Salden. Numberless beings then seeing Buddha coming down, in ?Salden then gave incredible joy to their eyes and to their mind, and planted seed of liberation in so many people’s minds. So that time then various thoughts rise in the hearts of the people who saw the Buddha that time. Then Buddha gave teachings how samsara, samsaric perfections, samsara pleasure has no essence, and that important to achieve, to attain the path to liberation.

Then Buddha brought so many sentient beings, numberless sentient beings in the path to, brought into the door of the path to three vehicles, door of the three vehicles, the Lesser Vehicle and the Paramitayana, the Mahayana vehicle, the Paramitayana then the secret mantra, Vajrayana vehicle.

Then went to Rajgriha, Buddha went to Rajgriha, then the whole earth shaked six times, and then the whole area completely filled with beams and with all these unconceivable miracle powers. Then Buddha turned the, to the Hearer-Listeners and the nagas, devas, numberless beings, of course, bodhisattvas, numberless, then turned the middle Dharma wheel, Dharma wheel which has no characteristics, which as no characteristic of true existence, which has no, turned the Dharma wheel, the emptiness, that phenomena, the I and aggregates, all the phenomena do not have nature, nature, do not have nature, what nature? The truly existent nature.

Then went to, I don’t know the Sanskrit, went to ?Yangpachen, then turned the last Dharma wheel there. The Mind Only school their view comes. Then turned Dharma wheel there. Then to many other places, besides this, many other places according to the wishes of sentient beings, who are object to be subdued, then according to their wishes, the imprints, then turned Dharma wheel, unconceivable Dharma to, opened the door of Dharma to them. Then, unimaginable numberless sentient beings who are objects to be subdued, devas, human beings, so many are ripened, so many their minds are ripened, their hearts are ripened and liberated by Buddha.

Then, now next, most of the sentient beings who are object to be subdued directly by Buddha’s holy body, who are object to, who can see Buddha directly, Buddha’s holy body directly and, yeah, who can receive teachings directly from Buddha, so working for them, almost it’s finished. So the sentient beings did not have any more, the human beings in this world do not have any more karma to see Buddha’s holy body directly. And then to those who don’t have fortune to see Buddha directly, Buddha’s holy body directly then like, so us, including us, then special compassion the holy mind, compassion to us sentient beings, who don’t have karma to see Buddha’s holy body directly, then dividing Buddha’s life in five parts. So one part, then Buddha dedicated for us, the teaching of the Buddha to last long time in this world, to be spread out. Then Buddha, [pause] stopped the life and then blessed the Buddha’s teaching to exist in this world for five thousand years. [pause] So I think, then, stops this life, I think he intended to pass away, I think.

Then Buddha went to, I think, Kushinagar, where we are going to build the 500-feet Maitreya statute, Kushinagar. [Ven. Sarah confirms.] Make sure, sometimes not sure the name. So Buddha went to Kushinagar and then the last two, one who is doing the ?Titsi Gyalpo Rabgya, the one who played the violins, that he was feeling so proud, probably he thinks he’s the only one, best player in this world and then, no, no. Maybe this is different. I think this is different, sorry. Not playing the violin, sorry. This is smell-eater, the king Rabgya. I think it’s different there, I made a mistake. ?Titsi Gyalpo Rabgya, and then other one is ?Kundu Gyur Rabsang, so these last two objects to be subdued. Then at Kushinagar then ripened their mind and liberated them.

Then Buddha told the surrounding bodhisattvas, so said, the four entourage, the four aspect, four aspect entourage, so there is, so that is the gelong, male and female gelong and getsul, male and female getsul, able to, benefit to the sentient beings, so to read the Buddha’s teachings, scriptures, twelve branches then Buddha advised the vinaya teaching then that should be Buddha himself. After Buddha passed away then the people should, the Sanghas, the vinaya that should regard, the teaching to achieve liberation for self, so the Sanghas, they should regard that as Buddha himself. And the elder ones help the young ones. Advising the Sangha, elder ones help the young ones, gather them by needs. Then, young ones, this I’m not sure, young ones to not call name of the elder one, I’m not sure that’s, don’t understand what that means. Then for those who are devoted ones then, those who are devoted then birth, the Buddha’s birth and then the Buddha, Dharma, sorry, Buddha’s birth and then become enlightened, taught Dharma, passed away, should show the others these four things, these four directions, Buddha born, then enlightened, taught Dharma, passed away sorrowless state, should show these to others.

And then Buddha asked bhikshus, ask me if you have doubt, the three rare sublime ones, means Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, and the Four Noble Truths, if you have doubt, request, ask me. Then Buddha took out robes, upper part of the robes, Buddha took out and then Buddha said, bhikshus, looking at the Tathagata’s holy body is extremely rare. Look at the holy body of the Tathagata. So Buddha showed his holy body to the disciples. Then the bhikshus, they quiet for a while. Then Buddha said, like this, all the causative phenomena are perishable, they are nature of perishable, impermanent. So then this is the very last teaching of the Buddha. [Tibetan] So this one is the very last teaching of Buddha. Then Buddha showed the holy deeds, passed away sorrowless state.

Then the eight stupas and the, which was built, which is built each time when the holy deeds are performed, to remind, for the memory and of course, also collecting merits and purify also.

Then [pause] I think this may not be the eight stupas, I think I made a mistake. Maybe the eight parts of the holy body, I’m not a hundred percent sure, made the holy body eight parts then many relics, relics like mustard seeds, the round ones. So many relics came from, unimaginable numbers of relics manifested from the, relics like mustard seeds, came from this holy body. Then Buddha blessed, they covered the whole world, means the relics go to many different parts of the world. [pause]

Then all the sentient beings who make prostration, make offering to those relics, exactly as they think, as they wish, then they never, their life never go down, never reverse, from the three vehicles, from three yanas, three vehicles, the Hearer-Listener, vehicle of Hearer-Listener and Solitary Realizer, the vehicle of the Solitary Realizer and then the Mahayana, the Great Vehicle. So the three vehicles, before I mentioned the Lesser Vehicle, then the Great Vehicle, Paramitayana, and then the secret mantra Vajrayana, I think that was mistaken. So here the three vehicles is the vehicle of the Hearer-Listener and Solitary Realizer, then Mahayana, the Great Vehicle. So who engage in these three vehicles, they never change, they never reverse. So always go up, never go down, anyone who, all those sentient beings who do prostration, make offering to those relics of the Buddha.

Then in this world, in this unforgettable world, when the holy Dharma degenerates and become poverty of the, [pause] the precious Dharma, become poverty by preciousness, it says, degenerate the holy Dharma, then become poverty of preciousness. So this may not be external precious but I think might be related the same, I would think, the Dharma. So then it says, so this world become poverty, the holy Dharma degenerate, degenerated and then become poverty of preciousness, then these relics, Buddha’s relics, then these Buddha’s relics, seems at the end these Buddha’s relics they do function, these relics they become the jewel baiduryia, I think maybe sapphire, not Sophie, not Sophie, sapphire, jewel sapphire, [Tibetan] these relics will become [Tibetan], then it will eliminate poverty in this world. Then all these jewels, these relics become jewels then will transcend up to deva realm Ogmin, might be deva realm. There’s two Ogmins, one is where the arya bodhisattvas abide, where in reality, where Buddha, as you heard the story where become enlightened, but the Bodhgaya enlightenment is that’s in common view, in the common view that’s showing the, according to Mahayana that’s not, that is not the, that’s just showing, acting, showing the holy deed of achieving enlightenment, because in reality enlightenment unconceivable eons ago, so where enlightenment is Ogmin. That is according to Mahayana. According to Theravadin then the enlightenment at Bodhgaya, they believe, the Theravadin, in the common view they believe that as the first enlightenment. But according to Mahayana, it’s not that, unconceivable ages ago already enlightened. That is an actor performing the holy deeds, achieved enlightenment.

So these jewel, which were relics, jewels then transcend up to Ogmin, then various flowers, various flowers rainfalls happens. Then from those rainfall flowers then you hear Dharma, various Dharma sound. Then the devas of form realm, devas, desire realm devas they hear the Dharma sound, then they remember the virtue that they collected in the past. Then they don’t have interest, attachment, after that to their own realm. Then they descend in human world. Then they cause the human beings to engage in ten virtues and they bring the human beings, they lead the human beings into ten virtues. Then that time all these relics of Buddha they do unconceivable activities for sentient beings.

So with this great compassion, the founder, Shakyamuni Buddha when he generated bodhicitta first, much more powerful, much more brave-hearted, much more exalted, much more powerful than other bodhisattvas when they generated bodhicitta. Then in the middle when collecting merits, engaging in bodhisattva deeds and then Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s is exalted than others, by bearing hardships, more special, exalted than others. Then at the end achieved enlightenment, attained enlightenment and then also that time also other buddhas and Guru Shakyamuni Buddha, Guru Shakyamuni Buddha is greater kind, quality is the same as other buddhas, but kinder than all the ten-direction other buddhas.

So in the Ksitigarbha’s Sutra, all the happiness, all the comfort, all the happiness that which is in the world, all comes from by offering to the precious sublime ones, the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha. So therefore, if one desire happiness, comfort, then always you should attempt to make offering to the rare sublime ones. So the, from Ksitigarbha Sutra, emphasize that, how important it is, always, every day always make offering, offer service to the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, for the happiness of this life, for the happiness of all the coming future lives, for everything, so no question about liberation, enlightenment. So anybody who wish, anybody who desire, oneself, that you want to be good, you want to have happiness, anybody who desire that then one should attempt to make offering to Buddha, Dharma, Sangha.

So then, so like that. [pause]