Sutra and Mantra Recitations |
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| White
Umbrella Mantra and Deity |
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| Lama Zopa Rinpoche has recommended reciting
this mantra for protection from fear. |
The sanskrit name for the White Umbrella deity is Ushnisha
Sitatapatra (Tib: Dug-kar) which can also be
translated as "The Victorious White Parasol." Her
parasol indicates her ability to protect sentient beings from
natural catastrophes, diseases, and so forth. She is white
in color, because the principal means by which she accomplishes
this function is the enlightenment energy of pacification.
Ushnisha Sitatapatra is a female form of Avalokiteshvara,
the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Like him in his elaborate form,
she also has a thousand eyes that watch over living beings,
and a thousand arms that protect and assist them. Thus she
symbolizes the power of active compassion.
Her mantra is:
OM SIT TA TA PA TREY HUM PHET
A practice booklet is also available from the FPMT Foundation
Store.
Benefits of Reciting
the Sanghata Sutra
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| Rinpoche wrote the following letter
to a student on the benefits of reciting the Sanghata
Sutra. |
My very dear Sandra,
I am very happy to hear that you read the Sanghata
Sutra, with your dog present. This is one of the
most precious teachings Buddha gave. By reading it you have
the opportunity to collect so many merits. It is very good
if you can read a little of this Sutra every day, even just
a few pages. By writing this sutra, with every word you write
you collect a lot of merit, even more than by reading it.
By creating more merits our life becomes easier, more wish-fulfilling,
without difficulties, easier. We have better health, a longer
life, and more harmony in our life, in the world, and everywhere.
All the happiness you receive comes from good karma. If
you do not have good karma then you are unhappy. It is most
important for a good rebirth, for meeting the Dharma in your
next life, for practicing the path, and achieving liberation
from samsara, ultimate happiness, and, most important, full
enlightenment, the peerless happiness. Then you are able to
benefit so many sentient beings. By creating more merit you
become closer to actualizing realizations, to enlightenment,
and to enlightening all sentient beings. You are closer to
freeing all sentient beings from suffering and the causes
of suffering and closer to bringing all beings quickly to
enlightenment.
All of this starts with creating more merit by reading this
sutra.
With much love and prayers...
Golden Light Sutra
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| Rinpoche gave the following advice on
the benefits of reciting the Golden Light Sutra. |
It is important to recite the Golden
Light Sutra—even if you recite just a few pages
a day. This is most important for purification and protection.
Purification eliminates the causes to be born in the lower
realms, this is the most immediate need, also leads to having
a good rebirth in all future lives and fulfilling all one’s
wishes. It is said that all the devas promised in front of
Buddha to protect those who recite this sutra. The recitation
of this text also brings peace and happiness in the country
and the world—it does everything. So, it is important
to recite even a few pages, even at very busy times.
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