Be Careful Not to Contaminate Your Recitation

by Drubwang Konchok Norbu Rinpoche

If you recite the mantra with a very pure intention, it is most beneficial to all sentient beings. What you will achieve through the recitation is Buddhahood. Therefore, make the best effort during the retreat to do only virtuous deeds in your body, speech and mind and avoid non-virtuous ones. Your recitation is what you can “take” with you to your next life. Also, be careful and mindful of not allowing afflictive emotions like jealousy etc. from arising. Always maintain a calm and delightful state of mind. Rejoice that you have this great opportunity to recite this mantra. If you harbour negative thoughts when you are reciting, such thoughts can spoil your merits. Hence, keep a pure and perfect state of mind at all times.

Feel the sense of tremendous joy from having had this great chance to recite the mantra. So recite with happiness and joy, and not with negative thoughts.

 

Being able to recite the mani mantra is the most difficult opportunity to obtain. Yet you have found such a rare opportunity. As a Buddhist with a precious human life, what you have to achieve ultimately is Buddhahood. The six-syllable mantra can close the doors to the six realms of samsara. If you recite the mani mantra, you can be reborn in the Western Pureland and attain enlightenment. Be careful not to contaminate your recitation.

RECITE THE MANI MANTRA AT ALL TIMES 

Today is the last day of the retreat and we are going to complete 100 million of the mani mantra. During this retreat, we have purified our negative karma and made great supplications. And as a result of our efforts, it is raining today. This is an auspicious sign. The recitation should be done not for oneself but for the benefit of all mother sentient beings and the flourishing of the Buddha’s teachings. If you do this, your recitation will benefit you in this life and the lives to come.

Recite the mani mantra at all times. Keep praying so that you may attain complete enlightenment. The great benefits and blessings of this retreat are symbolised by this rain, which will bring peace, harmony and happiness everywhere. Avoid negative deeds and afflictive emotions at all times, and concentrate on the recitation of the mantra. Always clearly differentiate between what is virtuous and what is non-virtuous. Try to cultivate virtuous deeds as much as possible, as they are the causes of attaining enlightenment. Committing negative deeds will only land you in the lower realms. There is a very strong bond of samaya between the people of Singapore and I. Also, supplicate to Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) to attain realisations. Everyone here is very fortunate to be blessed with great karma and past aspirations. You have attained the endowment of a precious human body and have very successfully, without any obstacles, almost come to the end of the retreat.

I have always prayed for the benefit of all sentient beings and the spreading of the teachings of the Buddha. I pray that everyone can attain complete enlightenment. Likewise, you should pray in a similar manner. And pray that all your negative karma committed since beginningless lives can be purified, so that you can attain enlightenment.

Remember, the three ‘kayas’ are one and the same in essence. They are the true nature of our minds. Thus, they are spontaneously and primordially accomplished in our own minds. To realise this, you need to practise the virtuous deeds well, such as the practice of the six paramitas (or Perfections) – the perfection of generosity, the perfection of morality, the perfection of patience, the perfection of diligent effort, the perfection of meditative concentration, and the perfection of wisdom.

You should also always make the effort to avoid performing negative deeds. Make this effort till the end of your life. If you do so, you will gradually realise the three ‘kayas’ within yourself.

Recite the mantra out of very deep and strong loving-kindness for all sentient beings. Do not harbour negative thoughts of covetousness and the intention to harm others etc, otherwise, your recitation will be tainted. If you do the recitation with loving-kindness, compassion and Bodhicitta, your recitation can lead you to the realisation of the three ‘kayas’. So bear in mind – recite with all-embracing compassion at all times.

REGRET CAN PURIFY YOUR NON-VIRTUOUS DEEDS 

It is an extremely auspicious moment as we have created the cause to attain ultimate happiness. I’m very happy that so many of you are able to participate in this retreat and recite the mani mantra. Your efforts will definitely benefit all mother sentient beings in the six realms of samsara. All sentient beings are our parents. Therefore, you should always recite the mantra out of loving-kindness and compassion for all mother sentient beings. If you do so, the results of your practice will manifest at the time of your death. Think of all mother sentient beings with compassion and love all the time. And purify your non-virtuous deeds and afflictive emotions out of a sense of regret. If you regret your non-virtuous deeds, they can be purified. When you are doing your dedication prayer, think of all mother sentient beings and dedicate the merits of your practice to their benefit from your heart. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for attending the retreat.