Teachings at Amitabha and White Tara Initiations and Retreat (Audio and Unedited Transcripts)

By Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Shakyamuni Center, Taichung, Taiwan (Archive #1604)

Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave these teachings during Amitabha and White Tara initiations and a White Tara retreat at Shakyamuni Center, Taichung, Taiwan, February 18-21, 2007. The teachings include lung (oral transmission) of the Amitayus mantra and the long-life sutra.

Please note: the teaching was being translated into Chinese and while we have edited those sections out, you may still occasionally hear the Chinese interpreter's voice in the background.

Bodhisattva Vows, Lung of Amitayus Mantra and Long-life Sutra

So this initiation of Wish-Granting Wheel perfect the White Tara’s long life, that lineage, this instruction that passed ear to ear from Gyalwa Ensapa, from there, ear to ear passed. Then on this added the, one mother attained Victorious One, the long-life initiation, this is Amitayus. That Rechungpa, Milarepa’s disciple, Rechungpa received from India then went back to Tibet and then Milarepa asked, What present, what gift, do you have? Then Rechungpa offered this initiation to Milarepa, so that one.

So this lineage up to my root guru, so without, unbroken lineage of blessing, the special extraordinary teaching. So however, I received this from His Holiness Ling Rinpoche must be quite a number of times, then received from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and yeah, also from His Holiness Zong Rinpoche, I have received from many lamas.

Then please repeat this, requesting prayer.

[Rinpoche repeats requesting prayer three times in Tibetan.]

So then, as I explained before the, alle, oh, alle oh…. So I heard the noise of the mandala so that reminded me of the mandala offering. So that is useful. So traditionally there’s a mandala offering at the beginning, yeah.

Rinpoche: Oh, yeah. So if one make the request to White Tara also not only long life but also wisdom get developed, that comes in the life story of Gyalwa Gendun Drubpa, who is the founder of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Panchen Lama’s monastery and he’s the first, the close incarnation, in regards to that, Gyalwa Gendun Drubpa is the first reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Rinpoche: Yeah, yes, Gyalwa Gendun Drubpa.

The other way is tsa-tsa, then there’s, if there’s artist, of course, who can do that, finish in one day. Tibetan 8th. But I think you can do, I think probably, I don’t know, there may be more, how to say, power, I’m not sure, if one can develop photos, White Tara photos in the shop, then you can make many. You can make large, you can make many, that can also be made the same, on the Tibetan 8th, so that’s also another choice. It’s not, didn’t hear to develop photos in the shop, but it’s the same, the Tibetan 8th to make a painting or a statue, so can develop photo, yeah, and then also one can make many photos, then collect much merit and bigger, more merit.

The place where you take the initiation not ordinary place but think Amitabha Buddha’s pure land, western direction, the Blissful Realm, and the celestial mansion which is the manifestation of Tara’s holy transcendental wisdom. And also the lama who grants the initiation shouldn’t think as ordinary being, because here this is tantric practice, so therefore, it involves practicing pure appearance, so therefore, here, think actual, from your side think that, you have to think, meditate, it’s the actual living Tara. Then also the torma here was generated as White Tara during preparation time, so you should think also that. So I’m not going to bother to do detailed, so many of you are aware.

So then the lineage lamas of this initiation, like the Lama Chöpa merit field, the middle one, like that, piled up. And then around there are buddhas, bodhisattvas, daka-dakinis, Dharma protectors like gathered, like clouds that gathered in the sky, then they’re all gathered around and in the presence of them then taking refuge, yeah, and confessing and rejoicing and then with the preliminary, thinking to take the bodhisattva vow to achieve enlightenment for sentient beings, then I’m going to take the bodhisattva vow and engage in that.

So here as I mentioned last, the other times, so if you haven’t taken bodhisattva vow in the past then there’s bodhisattva vow there’s entering vow, wishing vow, entering vow, which abstaining from these eighteen root falls and forty-six vices, so abstaining from that, that’s the entering vow. Then the wishing vow that which involves avoiding four black dharmas, practicing four white dharmas. So if one can’t take the entering vow then one can take the wishing vow. And even the wishing vow’s not possible, one is unable to take, then at least must make strong determination that, I’m going to practice more compassion towards other sentient beings. So at least there should be some attitude like this.

So the four black dharmas to abandon that is telling lies to the guru and cunning to the sentient beings and criticizing bodhisattvas, and when you see other sentient being practicing Dharma, collecting virtue, then you feel regret. So learning a lot of Dharma, learning a lot of teachings of Buddha, able to learn or able to practice, however, then feeling regret, because you are unable to do so then feeling regret to others able to do that, so those things to be abandoned.

So then the rest, the white dharmas, the same, the opposite, the only thing is that last two, the praising the bodhisattvas, instead of criticizing, praising the bodhisattvas, how to say, inspiring the sentient beings to follow the Mahayana path, those who are dependent to you then you inspire them to engage, to follow the Mahayana path.

Please repeat.

kön chhog sum la dag kyab chhi (3x)

Next one, confessing.

Dig pa tam chä so sor shag (3x)

So all the negative karmas collected from beginningless rebirth, not even a trace of it left on the mental continuum. The mental continuum become totally pure.

Dig pa tam chä so sor shag (3x)

Next one is rejoicing. So feel great happiness of your three-time merits and also after that, feel great happiness of others’ three-time merits.

Dro wäi ge la je yi rang (3x)

Then, we’re going to do the shortest one, so, as usual, so “I’m going to take the bodhisattva vow to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all the transmigratory beings.” Transmigratory being means suffering being, totally being under the control of karma and delusion and reincarnate always in one of the six realms and suffer continuously. And no beginning and, like that, no beginning so for you to end their suffering, which has no beginning, continuously reincarnating being under the control of karma and delusion so then taking the bodhisattva vow.

Those who are first time or those who haven’t taken the bodhisattva vow in the past, then what I’ve said before, to generate more compassion to others.

Sang gyä jang chhub yi kyi zung (3x)

So as I mentioned yesterday then think, since the bodhisattva vow is taken, in every second then I collect limitless skies of merit, so my life become so meaningful. So one should have great happiness. Then whatever virtue, merits, I collect every day, it increases millions of times after having taken bodhisattva vow, so again think, Now my life become so meaningful, so fruitful, so then feel great happiness of that. And then third one, as I mention normally, this is my best contribution for the happiness of all sentient beings and particularly for this world peace.

So now creating the basis, you have to generate into deity, White Tara, in order to create the basis to receive the long-life initiation. So in case there are some people who haven’t received any great initiation of the lower tantra, neither Highest Tantra nor lower tantra, like Chenrezig or Mitrukpa or anything like that, nothing lower tantra received, then, nor Highest Tantra, like Kalachakra or any other, no great initiation is received then in that case you are not allowed to visualize yourself White Tara but you can visualize receiving blessings and like that but not, you can’t visualize yourself White Tara, so that should be made clear.

[Rinpoche begins White Tara initiation: not transcribed]

…life what was been degenerated, reviving was done.

Now the fortune and power that was degenerated now reviving. So Amitayus, who is above the Tara, from the vase beams like hooks emitted away, then the wealth and power of Indra and the Brahma and the magnificence of the sun and moon and all the blessings of the yogis and the virtuous friends and all the attainments of the yogis and knowledge of pandits and the power and wealth of the 1000 wheel-turning king, and so forth, the transcendental wisdom of immortal life, those who have achieved immortal realization and the power to destroy, power of mantra and concentration to destroy the death. So all those, however all the perfections of samsara and nirvana all in the form of eight auspicious signs, substances, seven royalty, nectar and beams, those forms are hooked. Absorb to the front Tara, White Tara. Then from the White Tara nectar flowed down like a waterfall and entered through your crown, filled your whole body and purified all the sickness, spirit harm, life obstacles and the cause of those, negative karma and defilements were totally purified. Then revived all the power and merits that have been degenerated, and you achieve all the qualities and you achieve the immortal realization.

As now revived the power of the merits what has been degenerated.

Now reviving the samaya and vow what has been degenerated and receiving the jenang, permission to practice, the blessing of the holy body, holy speech, holy mind of Tara.

Beams are emitted from Tara’s heart. Anyway, think that nectar flowed from Tara’s heart, entered through your crown and filled your whole body, purified all the disease, spirit harms, the life-obstacles and the cause of those, the negative karma and defilements were completely purified.

Power, merits what has been degenerated now revived. You achieved all the qualities and you achieve the immortal realization.

Because my text, so text missing but I got some other text, what’s missing I got different text. So the visualization is this: From Tara’s heart beams emitted then the blessings of the holy body, holy speech, holy mind of ten direction gurus, ten direction guru, deity, buddha, bodhisattva, daka-dakinis, Dharma protectors and especially the White Tara who is in Amitabha pure land, blissful realm, then Amitayus, and as well as all the lineage lamas. They are invoked in the form of the holy body, the buddhas, bodhisattvas, and in the form of mantras, in the form of syllables, in the form of implements, in the form of immortal nectar, white, red, blue. So those aspects invoked, then absorbed the front Tara’s three places, forehead, neck, heart. Then from the Tara’s three places the nectar, white, red, blue nectar flowed, absorbed to your crown, neck, heart. And your whole body filled with this three-colored nectar.

So, it purified, your whole body filled with nectar, purified all the negative karmas of having taken others’ lives, so forth, those ten nonvirtues, all the negative karma, defilements collected with the body, speech and mind and degenerated samaya vows from beginningless rebirths were completely purified. Nothing left in the mental continuum. Think that, generate strong faith in this.

Received the blessings of the holy body, holy speech, holy mind of Tara.

Tara and all the guru-deities, buddhas, bodhisattvas, daka-dakinis, Dharma protectors, you think all that, you received the blessings of the holy body, holy speech and holy mind. Then your body, speech and mind in the nature of Tara’s vajra holy body, vajra holy speech, vajra holy mind. Then you achieve immortal realization, okay?

Now absorbing the life.

From the guru’s heart, guru that you visualized as Tara, from the heart beams emitted and it strike at the heart of the front Tara, who is surrounded by all the buddhas and bodhisattvas. They are invoked on your crown. Then the lama makes the request, okay? Then unimaginable immortal nectar flowed from the direct and indirect lineage lamas and Tara’s holy body. Then entered through your crown and filled your whole body.

Then whole your body filled with immortal nectar, then purified all the sickness, spirit harm, negative karma, all the defilements collected from beginningless rebirth up to now were completely, totally purified.

Particularly the negative karma which shortens life, all those life obstacles came out in the form of liquid of coal and smoke and through the door of the senses and through the pores, through the lower doors and through the pores of the body all came out in the form of black liquid. Then your body become like crystal, your body become very clean like crystal. Then increase all the qualities of the understanding scripture and realizations. As well as all life and merit all increase within you.

So when I say DZA HUM BAM HO, when you hear this mantra, the lineage lamas, the direct and indirect lineage lamas, all the buddhas, bodhisattvas, all absorb TO Tara. A replica of Tara in the form of immortal nectar absorb through your crown.

Then your body, speech, mind become inseparable Tara’s holy body, holy speech and holy mind and then you achieved immortal realization. Then the common siddhis and the sublime siddhi, the mahamudra realization, enlightenment.

[Rinpoche continues with initiation in Tibetan.]

When you hear DZA HUM BAM HO then that absorbs within you.

[Rinpoche repeats DZA HUM BAM HO.]

Hundreds, sometimes there’s, you need to take, that person needs to take hundreds of long-life initiations, that means that at this point you visualize absorbing within you as the lama recites DZA HUM BAM HO then each time the replica of Tara absorb within you. So each one becomes initiation, so that is one very important visualization now. Then in this way that many long-life initiations you receive.

[Rinpoche repeats DZA HUM BAM HO.]

Now stabilizing the Tara which is absorbed in your heart. Become inseparability of body, speech and mind, Tara’s holy body, holy speech, holy mind, so it’s stabilized.

There’s also quite a lot of long-life pills from last night left there, so you can take many to give to other people. Also this milk, this long-life drink, nectar, also mixed with the most precious, some of Chogye Trichen Rinpoche’s inner-offering pill which is so precious. Today’s long-life pill then also yesterday’s can take to others, those who are sick.

Then initiating with the nectar and then the holy nectar. When you take this your whole body filled with the bodhicitta nectar. Chakras, winds, drops that which have been degenerated, which power has been degenerated now revived. Your whole body and mind pervaded by bliss. All the life obstacles went away, and you achieved immortal realization.

So that’s initiating with the long-life nectar is done, now it’s the long-life pills. So this pill, taking the essence of immortal life, which contains the essence of all samsara and nirvana, nature of all 404 medicines. By taking this all the 404 sicknesses are healed and your body fully developed, and you are liberated from untimely death and achieved immortal realizations. So this is what to generate faith.

So the initiating with the long-life pill is done. Now to increase the life, expressing auspicious prayer. So above you there’s the White Tara, the mother of all the buddhas, then the lineage lamas, they are surrounded by all the buddhas, bodhisattvas, daka-dakinis, Dharma protectors. So in order to increase the life they, together with the guru, granted the White Tara initiation, then making a flower rain and music and auspicious song. So visualize this.

Now you have received the profound long-life initiation of the Wish-Granting Wheel Tara. Generate great happiness and from now on to devote White Tara, the mother of all the buddhas, as a yidam, mind-seal deity. Then I am going to protect all the samaya vows that I have taken during this initiation. With that thought please repeat this prayer.

So I’ll do the lung of the special mantra of Amitayus, so which has unbelievable benefit. This is a little bit different than the normal one that is recited. So I received this lung from Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche at Kopan quite a number of years ago. Unbelievable merits one collect by reciting this mantra. Having recited this mantra one time then more merit you collect than all the three galaxies world which is silver, gold, copper, iron, jewel, wish-granting jewel, with all that you make statue, that much merit, you and recite this Amitayus mantra one time, this one collect far more greater merit. A hundred times greater merit you collect if you recite this mantra one time. Even for a thousand eons even you make statue of the Buddha containing relic, and you recite this mantra one time you collect more merit. By reciting all the scriptures of Buddha, recite this mantra one time this one collect more merit. Except nonconceptual meditation, otherwise any causative virtue done by one yogi, reciting this mantra one time this one collect more merit than that one, the previous one.

So if you recite this mantra, yogi who recite this mantra doesn’t experience eight bad ways of dying. Could be dying by accident or killed by others or falling down cliffs, all those things, by fire or by animal, all the inauspicious things dispelled, also black magic, all the harms get dispelled; you receive the blessing of all the buddhas, magnificence of them. There’s one word, I don’t know what it exactly means. Also by reciting this mantra wherever you are reciting this mantra it helps even in that area, country, to not have sicknesses, everything to be auspicious and to not have obstacles. So it has infinite qualities. All the buddhas, bodhisattvas they cannot express, they cannot completely explain these benefits of this mantra.

So the mantra. [Rinpoche gives the oral transmission of the mantra.]

The very first time I gave this mantra was in Taiwan many years ago when I was staying in Tracey’s house upstairs, that building on the top. So the chairperson of the university, the Taiwan University chairperson was I think publishing called enlightenment or bodhicitta, something, enlightenment I think. Anyway he had cancer. So this mantra, the first time I gave this mantra was to him, but I think he passed away a long time ago. Several years ago.

So the experience of this mantra one person here in Taiwan, we call white lady I think, we didn’t know her name so she always dressed white so called “white lady.” Anyway her friend has always headache so I gave this mantra, reduced his headache. Then in Nepal when the Paul Le May was a monk, when he was traveling with us my blood pressure went up, then he discovered by checking. Then I recited this mantra just thirty times, then he checked, asked him to check, then it went down. But that’s the first day, so you can’t really tell, maybe it’s by accident. Then second day, same thing, I recited this and again it went down. Not one mala just thirty, around that. So it’s also helpful for that, to bring down blood pressure. Maybe can experiment for diabetes.

When you do White Tara meditation there’s Buddha Amitayus on the crown so you can also recite that mantra, you can combine White Tara, either you recite at the beginning or at the end after you’ve finished White Tara. Or you recite it first, so can be combined, integrated like that, so that becomes very, very powerful.

So maybe that’s it, the long-life sutra is here but I think maybe, not sure…. As long as I don’t make the vision long-life sutra and make short life. Anyway, we’ll see. Maybe I just read this, okay?

So very important to pay attention to each word. Receiving lung, oral transmission, so to be perfect, so as much as possible to not distract the mind, pay attention, so it leaves positive imprint on the mind then it brings to enlightenment, okay. Think that each word that I listen may it cause to actualize the meaning of the whole path in my mind and when I expound or recite this for others, may same, the meaning of the path may it be actualized immediately in their hearts, in the hearts of sentient beings and immediately stop all the undesirable things, all the life obstacles, so forth. Yeah, maybe mention first.

[Rinpoche recites TAYATHA OM DHARE DHARE BENDHARE SVAHA seven times.]

So before you read scriptures, so recite this mantra seven times: TAYATHA OM DHARE DHARE BENDHARE SVAHA. Then the sutra that you read you get the benefit like having read a million times. Exact number I don’t recollect but at least a million times it increases. It’s like having read a million times. So it’s very powerful, unimaginable more merit and great purification.

Also if you have done in the morning blessing the speech then also that increase as mentioned there so many million times.

When you read a sutra, if you are able to, if you know the praise of Buddha, then short seven limb, short mandala, then the request, then recite this mantra or can recite lam-rim prayer, however, then recite this mantra to multiply a million times. Then you recite these words requesting the devas to descend, to listen to the teaching. Then think that giving teaching to all sentient beings in their own language. So devas and all the different sentient beings in their own language. So there’s a prayer to recite, so can do that. So that’s a very good thing to do, so you are giving teaching to all the six realm beings. So that’s very good. So you think that the Buddha is giving you teaching and you are at the same time actualizing, and also you are giving teaching to all sentient beings and also they are actualizing, you are liberating them so that’s a good thing to do.

The other thing is, Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche usually explained that when you read this you do the four unimaginable meditation. That is yourself equal in number of the atoms of the ten direction universes and then also the sentient beings are that many. I think maybe each sentient being that many, not very sure but maybe. Then that is one unimaginable thing. Then the buddhas, bodhisattvas are equal in number of the atoms of the ten direction universes, then that’s one unimaginable thing. Then nectar flow from them and entered within you and all sentient beings, numberless of you, then all sentient beings, purified the defilement, negative karma collected from beginningless rebirth. That is another unimaginable, there are four unimaginable meditations so Rinpoche said whenever you do King of Prayers, like that, text, so Rinpoche said also do like that meditation, visualization.

[Rinpoche recites in Tibetan.]

So the first one’s to descend. Then the second one is talking about the benefits of listening to teaching for the devas. Then the third one is you visualize that you are explaining Dharma according to the different languages so they can hear.

[Rinpoche begins the oral transmission.]

Must be somebody might be sick, taking to the hospital.