Day 2 – 30 May 2020
It was another joyful morning, listening to His Holiness’ teachings on the 2nd day of the Thousand Hand Thousand Eyed Avaloketishvara (Chenresig) Empowerment. It was also a reason for all disciples and attendees to rejoice as His Holiness additionally gave today, the Simhanada Avalokiteshvara Empowerment. Simhanada’s primary activities include removing sickness and disease.
His Holiness’ reminder that Tantra (of which the understanding of emptiness forms an integral part) was not taught openly in the past and that was for a good reason. The teachings on emptiness such as the Prajnaparamita that was itself given at the Second Turning of the Wheel of Dharma were not taught publicly but in secret and were only revealed later to Nagarjuna (who was formerly head of Nalanda University). A prerequisite for any success in tantric practices is an understanding emptiness, as the untrained mind taking the form of a gross body, cannot become a deity through deity yoga. That is why Tantra is a practice that is can only have its effect if done by beings with sharp intelligence, and the secret mantra that is practiced as part of this is to protect of mind from ordinary perception and clinging to the illusion of an inherently existence “self”.
His Holiness then gave the Bodhisattva vows and reminded all that the path of the Bodhisattvas is to take the road to enlightenment for sake of sentient beings, solely for benefit of others, so that one can obtain the two bodies (Rupakaya and Dharmakaya) so as to better serve others.
May all who received the Empowerment abide in the bliss of wisdom and compassion, and remember that anything which arises from dependence, is devoid of inherent existence. Through that understanding, may all beings in this world put to rest all negative emotions and afflictions. I wish everyone a very safe, auspicious and happy month of Saka Dawa and join with all sentient beings in this world and its adjacent world systems, to rejoice in the sublime teachings of His Holiness.
🙏 Geshe Lama Konchok
Day 2 – English Translation
Day 2 – Chinese Translation