 Dearest
Friends @ CAS,
CAS is infinitely
blessed.
We have had the supreme
fortune to host and learn -- all these years since
1995 -- from some of Tibet's ( China's and Sri Lankan's too
actually !! ) highest and greatest Masters.
Under holy Chenrezig's watchful
eyes and ( very ) strange twists of inter-dependent arisings,
CAS has completed the 3 Innermost Cycles of Dudjom Tersar, the
Five Fold Mahamudra of the Drikungpas, the Three Supreme
Yidams of the Gelugpa: the 32 Deity Akshobya Vajra Guhyasamaja,
the 13 Deity Yamantaka and the 64 Deity Luipa Heruka Chakrasamvara,
the cream of the 13 Golden Dharma - the Naro Kachoma of the Sakyapas.
Still bestowing are the 2 great cycles of the Drikung Dzogchen
Yangzab and the great Longchen Nyingthig.
All these bestowed
by absolutely Lords of the holy Dharma. Doubtless.
I am beginning
to suspect that our Friends @ CAS are descended from the Divine
Abodes if just for creation of the proper conditions
for showing of the holy Dharma once more in the Human Realm
!!
Then, to return
to the Holy Lands, do keep the vows pure, the heart in complete
Bodhicitta.
"Namo Amituofo
!!"
bb & all friends
 @
CAS with Chenrezig____________
Update/s
His Holiness the
Dalai Lama has been discharged from hospital. His Holiness has
been given a clean bill of health for resumption of His scheduled
activities ( He will be visiting Japan this coming Wednesday ). He
has received visits and well-wishes from devoted students and
friends all over the world since His showing of illness including
all the lineal heads of Tibetan Buddhism, the American President,
the Indian Foreign Minister and all.
One of the 25 Heart
Disciples of the great Guru Padma in the form of the Most Venerable
Drikung Ontrul Rinpoche has touched down in South East
Asia and is taming the defilements of His disciples. He will proceed
to our little island ( 2 weeks ) to continue taming the unruly
beings that throng CAS.
The compassionate,
holy great retired abbot of the great Gelugpa monastic college,
Drepung Loseling Monastery, Khensur Lobsang Gyamtso, is now in
Taiwan and is healing the many "wounded" beings ( after so long
in samsara ) and if our merits hold well ( please dedicate
and pray !! ), may manifest again, this time to bestow the great
cycle of Yamantaka Vajrabhairava and the great empowerment of
Gelugpa's foremost protector, the great Six-Arm Black Mahakala,
about 2 weeks after Drikung Ontrul Rinpoche's programme.
Khenpo Tsering
Dorje, our Palyul Teacher, may be resuming His bestowing
one of Nyingma lineage's truly main terma cycles - the Longchen
Nyingthig, either mid December 08 or mid year 09. Keep your
beads clicking !!
Whilst
planet earth revolves and its beings stalks ubiquitous in search
of food, CAS's duo "Lotsawas-to-
____________
Programme
Details
What are
they ??
The 3 Roots
of the 100 Deities in Hayagriva and Vajravarahi is a
unique and special presentation of the famed Hundred
Deities as the
Body Mandala of the great yidam Hayagriva and Vajravarahi in union. This
practice consists of all Three Roots of the Teacher, the Yidam
as well as the Dakini, respectively personifying the Buddha, His
Qualities and His activities. This is one of the heart-central
practices of the Drikung Dzogchen Yangzab cycle as revealed and
preserved in the precious Drikung Kagyu Lineage.
The "Demon
Destroying King" is an extremely secret cycle in the
Drikung Dzogchen Yangzab. This practice personifies Buddhahood's inconceivable
abilities and powers when introduced to the disciple and
uncovered. It is supremely powerful and is effective in removing
any obstacles to Buddahood. Like the 3 Roots practice,
it contains the complete presentations and instructions required
for attainment of Buddhahood.
The Dzogchen
Protectors ( like the dakinis and protectors in general
) represent the divine activities of Buddhahood. In this case,
the protectors of this cycle are Ekajati, Rahula and Dorje Legpa,
a protector-trio unique to the Dzogchen teachings, themselves
embodying some of the highest ideals and principles of Buddhahood. These
Protectors are known to be so powerful and terrifying in their
manifestations and activities, they are known to be "dangerous"
to practitioners who do not exert in maintaining their vows and
practices.
Pre-requisites
The 3 Roots of
the 100 Deities in Hayagriva and Vajravarahi Empowerment on 31
October can be taken by students who have faith in the practice.
The restricted
Empowerment on the Demon Destroying King on 1 Nov, its practice
instructions ( except for the first session in the evening
of 1 Nov from 5 pm to 7 pm which is open to the general students
) as well as the Empowerment of Dzogchen Protectors should
only be received by serious students.
Serious students
are generally understood to be students who practise the Three
Principle Aspects of the Path and wants to attain Buddhahood soonest
possible for highest good of all mother sentient beings.
( See Gen Wangchen's
teaching: http://video.
Subsequent
Commitments
Serious students
who intend to practise the Drikung Dzogchen Yangzab will
need to keep the Pratimoksha 5 Precepts, the Bodhisattva and the
Tantric Vows in addition to the mantras of the Demon Destroying
King and the 3 Roots Deities.
( See Loseling
Khensur Rinpoche's teachings on the 3 sets of vows: http://www.casotac.
Students taking
the 3 Roots just as a blessing will not have subsequent
commitments.
Texts
Friends @
CASonline: S$18/- per text
Not Friends @ CASonline:
S$25/- per text
( There will be
3 texts in total - a) 3 Roots of the 100 Deities in Hayagriva
and Vajravarahi b) Demon Destroying King c) Dzogchen Protectors
)
The practice texts
of the Demon Destroying King and the Dzogchen Protectors will
only be made available to committed students.
All contributions
will go into benefitting the Dharma programmes.
____________
"The Sure-Steps to Enlightenment. ( Meditation on the Lam Rim - rough, authentic notes. ) TOPIC FIVE Karma Note: [ In relation to the first Lam Rim Topic which we should have gained some confidence and firmness of experience, it will carry deeper blessings, maturity and impressions to begin each sub-topic: A, B C and so on with "Our perfect Teacher teaches that ....." ] Other Notes: ( Every Lam Rim topics are sequential progresses. Eg One: Topic Four is a sequential follow-up to Death & Impermanence since when Death strikes, only Dharma will help. And the gateway to Dharma, is Refuge. To take Refuge, we need to know the qualities of the Guru, Buddhas, Dharma and Sangha Eg Two: Topic Five is a partial growing forth from Topic Four since when Death strikes, only karma follows. Therefore, it is critical that we know what actions to adopt and abandon to squash problems whilst acquire bliss. ) A Karma is Definite The Spiritual Friend/s or Teacher/s "Our perfect Teacher teaches that ....." Everything action is a causal seed that inevitably results in happiness or suffering. Good begets happiness. Bad begets suffering. ( While contemplating the above, do 108 times mantra of your Yidam - Chenrezig, Tara, Yamantaka or others. Or you can do the mantras until you feel the topic has firmly been internalised in your mind !! ) B Karma is determined by Motivation "Our perfect Teacher teaches that ....." Results of action/s are affected by Motivation. Good Motivation begets happiness. Bad Motivation begets suffering. ( While contemplating the above, do 108 times mantra of your Yidam - Chenrezig, Tara, Yamantaka or others. Or you can do the mantras until you feel the topic has firmly been internalised in your mind !! ) C Karma is affected by the Object "Our perfect Teacher teaches that ....." The
Object/s towards which we direct our actions determine the 'scale'
and 'depth' of Karmic results. Karmic actions related to the
Gurus, Buddhas, Dharma and Sangha will yield 'strong' results.
( While contemplating the above, do 108 times mantra of your Yidam - Chenrezig, Tara, Yamantaka or others. Or you can do the mantras until you feel the topic has firmly been internalised in your mind !! ) D Karma
is affected by the 'Length of Time' "Our perfect Teacher teaches that ....." The
longer the length of time lapses before Karma ripens, the 'stronger'
will be the results. ( While contemplating the above, do 108 times mantra of your Yidam - Chenrezig, Tara, Yamantaka or others. Or you can do the mantras until you feel the topic has firmly been internalised in your mind !! ) E What to adopt "Our perfect Teacher teaches that ....." Happiness results from the below: ( 3 of Mind ) - Wisdom - Love and Kindness -
'Un-Attachment' [ as opposed to Greed and Grasping
] ( 4 of Speech ) - Truthful speech - Uplifting-Kind speech - Speech that reconciles, not separate - Meaningful speech ( 3 of Bodily-actions ) - To give-protect life - To practise generosity - To be morally-prudent in relationship- ( While contemplating the above, do 108 times mantra of your Yidam - Chenrezig, Tara, Yamantaka or others. Or you can do the mantras until you feel the topic has firmly been internalised in your mind !! ) F What to avoid "Our perfect Teacher teaches that ....." Sufferings results from the below: ( 3 of Mind ) - Ignorance - Hatred-Anger - Greed-Attachment ( 4 of Speech ) - Untruthful speech - Harsh-hurtful speech - Speech separates relationships- - Meaningless speech ( 3 of Bodily-actions ) - To kill-take life - To steal - To be improper in relationship- ( While contemplating the above, do 108 times mantra of your Yidam - Chenrezig, Tara, Yamantaka or others. Or you can do the mantras until you feel the topic has firmly been internalised in your mind !! ) G Two of some of the most effective karma-purifying strategies "Our perfect Teacher teaches that ....." These
are two of some of the most effective methods of purifying negative
karmas. Even the 'Five Heinous Karmas' are totally purified
with these 'Four Powers' conjoined with the two strategies. ONE Prostrations to the 35 Confession Buddhas
TWO Vajrasattva
Practice with the 'Four Powers' Do the Vajrasattva 100 Syllable Mantra or Vajrasattva Short Mantra OR Reciting any mantras, sutras while relying on the respective authentic practice-text/
( These 2 texts are avialable via requests @ contact@casotac. 'First
Power' Regret ¨C Knowing that the negative action/s will yield suffering and pain. 'Second
Power' Never to re-commit the negative action/s. 'Third
Power' Do
the 'opposite' of the negative action/s. Eg: Now I give and
protect lives instead of killing. 'Fourth
Power' Relying on Vajrasattva, the 35 Confession Buddhas or any holy practices. ( While contemplating the above, adopt and practice them !! ) [ Here ends the main points dealing with the Fifth Topic of the Lam Rim teachings. Firmly do it till it becomes your mind. ] ____________ Lam Rim Bonuses What is a Guru ?? a) Some teachers considered a Guru to be someone whom you have relied on and lived with for years, learning the basics of the Dharma all the way into the tantras. This is applicable and true especially in a monastic context. b) Some teachers teach that from a technical point of view, someone whom we have received initiation, especially a Highest Yoga Tantra class is a Guru. c) Some teachers teach that if we find ourselves being benefited greatly from this person's teachings, short instructions or even just being in his or her presence, probably due to past lives' connections, is a Guru. The proper way to practise the Dharma: a) Listening: We listen to the Dharma b) Contemplating: We re-think and contemplate on what we have heard c) Applying: We apply it in our daily lives
The Dharma in gist: The Three Higher Trainings a) Keep and live-by the precepts-commitment b) Cultivate concentration- c) Cultivate Wisdom
____________
Quote/s from the Buddha's holy scripture
5.1. The Lord
said: ''Ananda, let us cross the Hirannavati River
and go to the Mallas'sal-grove in the vicinity of
Kusinara.''423 ''Very good, Lord'', said Ananda, and
the Lord, with a large company of monks, crossed the
river and went to the sal-grove. There the Lord said:
''Ananda, prepare me a bed between these twin sal-trees
with my head to the north. I am tired and want to
lie down.'' ''Very good, Lord'', said Ananda, and
did so. Then the Lord lay down on his right side in
the lion-posture, placing one foot on the other, mindful
and clearly aware. 5.2. And those
twin sal-trees burst forth into an abundance of untimely
blossoms, which fell upon the Tathagata's body, sprinkling
it and covering it in homage. Divine coral-tree flowers
fell from the sky, divine sandal-wood powder fell
from the sky, sprinkling and covering the Tathagata's
body [138] in homage. Divine music and song sounded
from the sky in homage to the Tathagata. 5.3. And the Lord
said: ''Ananda, these sal-trees have burst forth into
an abundance of untimely blossoms ... Divine music
and song sound from the sky in homage to the Tathagata.
Never before has the Tathagata been so honoured, revered,
esteemed, worshipped and adored. And yet, Ananda,
whatever monk, nun, male or female lay-follower dwells
practising the Dhamma properly, and perfectly fulfils
the Dhamma-way, he or she honours the Tathagata, reveres
and esteems him and pays him the supreme homage. Therefore,
Ananda, "We will dwell practising the Dhamma properly
and perfectly fulfil the Dhamma-way" - this must be
your watchword.'' 5.4. Just then
the Venerable Upavana was standing in front of the
Lord, fanning him. And the Lord told him to move:
''Move aside, monk, do not stand in front of me.''
And the Venerable Ananda thought: ''This Venerable
[139] Upavana has for long been the Lord's attendant,
keeping close at hand, at his beck and call. And now
in his last hour the Lord tells him to stand aside
and not stand in front of him. Why ever does he do
that?'' 5.5. And he asked
the Lord about this. ''Ananda, the devas from ten
world-spheres have gathered to see the Tathagata.
For a distance of twelve yojanas around the Mallas'
sal-grove near Kusinara there is not a space you could
touch with the point of a hair that is not filled
with mighty devas, and they are grumbling: "We have
come a long way to see the Tathagata. It is rare for
a Tathagata, a fully-enlightened Buddha, to arise
in the world, and tonight in the last watch the Tathagata
will attain final Nibbana, and this mighty monk is
standing in front of the Lord, preventing us from
getting a last glimpse of the Tathagata!"' 5.6. ''But, Lord,
what kind of devas can the Lord perceive?'' ''Ananda,
there are sky-devas whose minds are earth-bound, they
are weeping and tearing their hair, raising their
arms, [140] throwing themselves down and twisting
and turning, crying: "All too soon the Blessed Lord
is passing away, all too soon the Well-Farer is passing
away, all too soon the Eye of the World is disappearing! 5.7. ''Lord, formerly
monks who had spent the Rains in various places used
to come to see the Tathagata, and we used to welcome
them so that such well-trained monks might see you
and pay their respects. But with the Lord's passing,
we shall no longer have a chance to do this.'' 5.8. Ananda, there
are four places the sight of which should arouse emotion425
in the faithful. Which are they? "Here the Tathagata
was born" is the first.426 "Here the Tathagata attained
supreme enlightenment" is the second .427 "Here the
Tathagata set in motion the Wheel of Dhamma" is the
third .428 "Here the Tathagata attained the Nibbana-element
without remainder" is the fourth .429 114.1] And,
Ananda, the faithful monks and nuns, male and female
lay-followers will visit those places. And any who
die while making the pilgrimage to these shrines with
a devout heart will, at the breaking-up of the body
after death, be reborn in a heavenly world. .......... 5.10. ''Lord,
what shall we do with the Tathagata's remains?'' ''Do
not worry yourselves about the funeral arrangements,
Ananda. You should strive for the highest goal ''411
devote yourselves to the highest goal, and dwell with
your minds tirelessly, zealously devoted to the highest
goal. There are wise Khattiyas, Brahmins and householders
who are devoted to the Tathagata: they will take care
of the funeral.'' ......... 5.13. And the
Venerable Ananda went into his lodging435 and stood
lamenting, leaning on the door-post:436 ''Alas, I
am still a learner with much to do! And the Teacher
is passing away, who was so compassionate to me!'' 5.14. And the
Lord said: ''Enough, Ananda, do not weep and wail!
Have I not already told you that all things that are
pleasant and delightful are changeable, subject to
separation and becoming other? So how could it be,
Ananda - since whatever is born, become, compounded
is subject to decay - how could it be that it should
not: pass away? For a long time, Ananda, you have
been in the Tathagata's presence, showing loving-kindness
in act of body, speech and mind, beneficially, blessedly,
whole-heartedly and unstintingly. You have achieved
much merit, Ananda. Make the effort, and in a short
time you will be free of the corruptions. 5.15. Then the
Lord addressed the monks: ''Monks, all those who were
Arahant fully-enlightened Buddhas in the past have
had just such a chief attendant as Ananda, and so
too will those Blessed Lords who come in the future.
Monks, Ananda is wise. He knows when it is the right
time for monks to come to see the Tathagata, when
it is the right time for nuns, for male lay-followers,
[145] for female lay-followers, for kings, for royal
ministers, for leaders of other schools, and for their
pupils. 5.16. ''Ananda
has four remarkable and wonderful qualities. What
are they? If a company of monks comes to see Ananda,
they are pleased at the sight of him, and when Ananda
talks Dhamma to them they are pleased, and when he
is silent they are disappointed. And so it is, too,
with nuns, with male and female lay-followers. ......... 5.20. Just then
the Mallas of Kusinara were assembled in their meeting-hall
on some business. And Amanda came to them and delivered
the Lord's words. [148] 5.21. And when
they heard Amanda's words, the Mallas, with their
sons, daughters-in- 5.22. And Amanda
thought: ''If I allow the Mallas of Kusinara to salute
the Lord individually, the night will have passed
before they have all paid homage. I had better let
them pay homage family by family, saying: "Lord, the
Malla so-and-so with his children, his wife, his servants
and his friends pays homage at the Lord's feet."''
Arid so he presented them in that way, and thus allowed
all the Mallas of Kusinara to pay homage to the Lord
in the first watch. 5.23. And at that
time a wanderer called Subhadda was in Kusinara, and
he heard that the ascetic Gotama was to attain final
Nibbana in the final watch of that night. [149] He
thought: ''I have heard from venerable wanderers,
advanced in years, teachers of teachers, that a Tathagata,
a fully-enlightened Buddha, only rarely arises in
the world. And tonight in the last watch the ascetic
Gotama will attain final Nibbana. Now a doubt has
arisen in my mind, and I feel sure that the ascetic
Gotama can teach me a doctrine to dispel that doubt.'' 5.24. So Subhadda
went to the Mallas'sal-grove, to where the Venerable
Amanda was, and told him what he had thought: ''Reverend
Amanda, may I be permitted to see the ascetic Gotama?''
But Amanda replied: ''Enough, friend Subhadda, do
not disturb the Tathagata, the Lord is weary.'' And
Subhadda made his request a second and a third time,
but still Amanda [150] refused it. 5.25. But the
Lord overheard this conversation between Ananda and
Subhadda, and he called to Amanda: ''Enough, Amanda,
do not hinder Subhadda, let him see the Tathagata.
For whatever Subhadda asks me he will ask in quest
of enlightenment" and not to annoy me, and what I
say in reply to his questions he will quickly understand.' 5.26. Then Subhadda
approached the Lord, exchanged courtesies with him,
and sat down to one side, saying: ''Venerable Gotama,
all those ascetics and Brahmins who have orders and
followings, who are teachers, well-known and famous
as founders of schools, and popularly regarded as
saints, like Purana Kassapa, Makkhali Gosala, Ajita
Kesakambali, Pakudha Kaccayana, Sanjaya Belatthaputta
and the Nigantha Nataputta - have they all realised
the truth as they all make out, or have none [151]
of them realised it, or have some realised it and
some not?'' ''Enough, Subhadda, never mind whether
all, or none, or some of them have realised the truth.
I will teach you Dhamma, Subhadda. Listen, pay close
attention, and I will speak.'' ''Yes, Lord'', said
Subhadda, and the Lord said: 5.27. ''In whatever
Dhamma and discipline the Noble Eightfold Path is
not found, no ascetic is found of the first, the second,
the third or the fourth grade."'' But such ascetics
can be found, of the first, second, third and fourth
grade in a Dhamma and discipline where the Noble Eightfold
Path is found. Now, Subhadda, in this Dhamma and discipline
the Noble Eightfold Path is found, and in it are to
be found ascetics of the first, second, third and
fourth grade. Those other schools are devoid of [true]
ascetics; but if in this one the monks were to live
the life to perfection, the world would not lack for
Arahants. 5.28. At this
the wanderer Subhadda said: ''Excellent, Lord, excellent!
It is as if someone were to set up what had been knocked
down, or to point out the way to one who had got lost,
or to bring an oil lamp into a dark place, so that
those with eyes could see what was there. Just so
the Blessed Lord has expounded the Dhamma in various
ways. And I, Lord, go for refuge to the Blessed Lord,
the Dhamma and the Sangha. May I receive the going-forth
in the Lord's presence! May I receive ordination!' 5.29. ''Subhadda,
whoever, coming from another school, seeks the going-forth
and ordination in this Dhamma and discipline, must
wait four months on probation. And at the end of four
months, those monks who are established in mind44s
may let him go forth and give him ordination to the
status of a monk. However, there can be a distinction
of persons.'' 5.30. And Subhadda
said to the Venerable Ananda: ''Friend Ananda, it
is a great gain for you all, it is very profitable
for you, that you have obtained the consecration of
discipleship in the Teacher's presence.'' [153] ____________
"Support Dharma Propagation Fund ( DPF ) - Product Highlight". From The Tibetan Massage Oil - Juk Nuum Agar Dhethear
Do confirm first so we can transfer them from Ganden Trisur's place in We only have about 15 each to go. Suggested offering: ( Friends @ CASonline - S$14/- excluding postage ) ( Not a Friend @ CASonline - S$18/- excluding postage ) All contributions will go into CAS's life-saving DPF !!
____________ FOR
Friends of CAS ( May the Dharma flourish far and wide, bringing peace and liberation to all mother beings wherever they are !! ) Dear friends,
Alan Wallace is one of the who's who in the field of meditation/mind- Please don't miss this rare opportunity to attend his public talk and meditation seminar from 5-10 Dec 2008. Keep happy, Tara ____________ 'Buddhist' BeckhamsMonster and Critics, Sept 6, 2008Los Angeles, USA -- Victoria and David Beckham have turned to Buddhism. The couple - who live in Los Angeles with their three sons - have reportedly "embraced" the mystical religion and are now chanting every morning in a bid to help them deal with their hectic lifestyles. Victoria and David Beckham: A source said: "David and Victoria have gone completely Californian! David has begun wearing health, prosperity and performance beads around his wrist. He has started yoga and stretching classes after a knee injury, and then a teammate suggested Buddhist chanting to soothe his mind. "Now he and Victoria do a short five-minute chant when they wake up to start the day off on the right foot, repeating, 'Homage to the blessed one, the worthy one, the rightly self-awakened one.' " Former Spice Girls star Victoria, 34, has also reportedly incorporated holistic eating into her diet plan. The source added to Britain's Look magazine: "David and Victoria are really getting into the whole holistic, healthy vibe too. Victoria often picks up a soya latte at an organic cafe called Urth Caffe, which is next to The Bodhi Tree bookstore, where she bought hundreds of dollars' worth of self-help books." The pair have are even said to have employed a feng shui expert to ensure their mansion is appropriately arranged. The source revealed: "They have had Chinese Feng Shui experts come in to rearrange their home, hope it will improve David's luck on the soccer pitch and their chances of conceiving. They have turned into the ultimate hippy power couple!" ____________ tELL
A fRIEND "KNOW
DHARMA; SHARE DHARMA !!" Be
part of our thousand++ "Friends @ CAS"
( that belongs to Chenrezig & other holy
beings ) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx "I
wanna number my days in samsara. sUBSCRIBE mE NOW
!!" Email
contact@casotac. ____________ See
www.casotac. CASonline - Your Buddhist online news and teachings. (
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