His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Avalokiteshvara Empowerment on 29 & 30 May 2020 (Live Webcasts) – Day 1

Day 1 – 29 May 2020

It was a cause for rejoicing this morning, being able to listen to His Holiness’ teachings today as part of the 2 day Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara) Empowerment.

His Holiness began his teaching by reminding everyone of the importance of compassion, a basic human nature, as being a foundation for happiness; the more compassion we have, the better we are able to control our negative emotions and gain greater potential for happiness.

His Holiness then explained the significance of Chenresig as Tibet’s patron deity, and the importance of good motivation and intention as being essential in Dharma practice. Such motivation is all the more if one receives a tantric initiation, as Tantra is aimed at achieving the unique causes and conditions for attaining the two (form and wisdom) bodies of a Buddha by visualising oneself as a deity and reaching that state eventually.

A topic not often taught openly, His Holiness saw it fit to remind all who aspire on the path of the Vajrayana that Tantra is for the intelligent ones who seek benefit of these practices for the future lives, and those who practise it should accordingly strive for transcendence, and will naturally be blessed with benefits in this life.

His Holiness reminded disciples of why other great masters such as Chandrakriti have praised compassion one of the most important qualities of the Buddha, in that it is important at the beginning (before one enters the Boddhisattva path), middle (after one has become Boddhisattva) and at the end (when one attains Buddhahood). The quality of compassion being the seed of bodhicitta, of which Lord Chenresig is the embodiment, is most important.

His Holiness then explained that the practice of Tantras is to aid the practitioner in achieving the two bodies of the Buddha, namely the Form Body (the rupakaya) which from the collection of merit for the benefit of others, and the Dharma body (Dharmakaya) which is achieved through the collection of wisdom. He explained that the ordinary body cannot become the Buddha’s body which is why Tantra seeks to allow us to transform the perception of ourselves as within an ordinary body, into that of a deity. This physical body is not perceived as such but must first be dissolved into emptiness, then from within that state of emptiness, one arises in the form of a deity. To do so, the mind must meditate on emptiness and understand that nothing which arises through dependence, has inherent existence.

It is only when the mind is able to understand the lack of inherent existence of the self, which is neither the aggregates, nor within or without the aggregates etc that the mind which ascertains emptiness can arise in the form as a deity. After all, the “self” exists not intrinsically, but by virtue of labelling and perceptions of the mind.

His Holiness then gave the Boddhisattva vows, and reminded disciples of a few of the main root downfalls such as praising oneself and despising others, not sharing dharma teachings et, and explained that the main practice is to restrain self cherishing attitude, and to work with all sentient beings to reach Buddhahood together.

His Holiness then concluded how Lord Buddha taught progressively, allowing us to work from an understanding of emptiness from the 2nd Turning of the Wheel of the Dharma, as explained by Nagarjuna, to the understanding and ability to get into the state of subtle clear light, as was taught during the 3rd turning of the wheel of the Dharma and elaborated upon by Maitreya through Asanga.

His Holiness then advised disciples and students to generate a calm state of mind before sleeping tonight, chanting the 6 syllable mantra OM MANI PADME HUM, and/or that of Hayagriva, which by way of reminder is HRIH BENZA TODA HAYGIVA HULU HULU HUM PHET.

I hope you all benefit from this summary and would encourage all Dharma Friends to attend the Empowerment proper, scheduled to commence 11:30am. Try to be early, and I wish you all auspicious conditions and restful sleep.

🙏 Geshe Lama Konchok

Day 1 – English Translation

Day 1 – Chinese Translation