Coincidental?

Sunday night I had a dream. I dreamt that I was going into an apartment. I saw my Aunt Shirley, godbro and my mom's friend Mandy inside the house. I saw clearly the unit number was 06-18. Then the house opened into a very big field outside. I saw my aunts and uncles and cousins eating and enjoying themselves with a variety of local food. I noticed Uncle William eating his favourite bowl of noodles.

Then I saw my Mom praying and bowing some distance away. So I went closer to have a look. At first I saw an empty high throne lavishly decorated, normally where the lama or rinpoche sits. Then within seconds, I saw the four-armed Avalokiteshvara floating in front of the high seat. He was very fair almost to the colour of translucent white. I saw myself quickly bowing down and prostrating to Avalokiteshvara in the dream.

Avalokiteshvara (otherwise also known as Chenresig or Guan Yin), is the bodhisattva who emanated from the eye of Amitabha Buddha when he was moved to tears by the plight of sentient beings. He is the embodiment of compassion, as he vowed not to return to buddhahood until he had liberated every single individual in all realms of existence. He is said to have manifested in our era as Padmasambhava, and also the manifestation of Guru Rinpoche, in the heart of a giant lotus. HH Dalai Lama, who is said to be the Living Buddha, is also the emanation of Chenresig / Avalokiteshvara.

Recalling, on Sunday, while I was at home, I had played my favourite version of "Om mani padme hum" by Boris Grebenshikov repeatedly the whole day. This is the mantra of Avalokiteshvara/Chenresig. Also on Sunday evening I had been personally blessed by HE Lati Rinpoche, a great practitioner, after I renewed my refuge vows.

Was it so coincidental that I had just received the Guru Rinpoche initiation a few days ago? Was this a message from Buddha about my new house? I am not sure. But I am very sure the Buddhas had time and again, ensure I can see and feel their presence. I am blessed.

New house

Today we received news from the Housing Board that my house will have to give way for new developments. The Government will relocate and provide us a house nearby. Potentially there will be 3 areas we can choose from. This is my parents' house. I think it is a turning point for me, whether for good or for bad. Whether I will continue to stay with them or I will look for another house myself, I have yet to decide. All I know is, I am looking forward to having my own house. But who is going to help pay for my parents' new house if I were to leave and find my own house?

My parents definitely want their own house in their name. I also want my own house under my name. If I were to continue staying with them, I will have to fork out money to help them finance the house. Even if I do not stay there, I will still have to help them pay for the house. And if I have my own house by then, I would have to service my own house too. I do not think this is a win-win situation for me, financially-speaking. Unless I find someone to help me willingly. Or unless I strike big lottery. I need an answer soon.

Experiencing the masters

Today is an auspicious day. It is the day where Buddha descended from Nirvana, hence any meritious actions will multiply 10 million times over. It also happened to be the 80th birthday of the sage, Sai Baba.

By chance, I had chanced upon the newspaper advert announcing where Sai Baba's birthday celebrations will take place. So I went to check it out. I do not know why I went. Maybe because I was curious. And also because he appeared in my dream recently. It was just an instinct reaction. Many people were there chanting mantras, and many worshippers were also Chinese, which took me by surprise. Anyhow, at the altar where Sai Baba's photo was, it struck me that it was the same pose as he had appeared in my dream. Both his hands were raised slightly, as if to bless you. In my dream, he had raised his hands and blessed me on my head, with his omniscient smile. I was asking someone there if they have a photo of Sai Baba wearing white gown. She said normally Sai Baba wears saffron orange gown. Only for special occasions then he will be in white, like today, he was wearing a white gown on his birthday. In my dream, he was indeed in white gown. I was also elated that I was given small packs of his vibhuti white holy ash. It was so fragrant smelling.

In the afternoon, I went for the puja of Padma Benza in the afternoon and also to receive the initiation in the evening. Padma Benza is the name of Guru Rinpoche and Padmasambhava, the founder of Buddhism in Tibet. Padmasambhava had a miraculous birth, having sprung from a multicolored lotus in the form of an eight-year-old child. Padmasambhava was a historical teacher, who is said to have finally converted Tibet to Buddhism. He was a renowned scholar and meditator. Padmasambhava was predicted by Shakyamuni Buddha: "Fifteen years after my death, one will come with greater capacity than myself – one with the power to establish the teachings of Vajrayana in the world." Padmasambhava subdued all the negative forces which had caused obstacles to the establishment of the teachings. He was an emanation of Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light who represents the indestructible speech of all the Buddhas. He was known as the "second Buddha".

I was given the empowerment by the well-known H.E. 2nd Beru Khyentse Rinpoche. I also saw 43 precious relics which he brought with him for this event, many of which are more than 1000 years old and miraculously created. I circumambulated the relics many times which gave me unbelievably immense blessings.

Many Lives, Many Masters

A few months ago, godbro lent me a book "Many Lives, Many Masters" written by Dr Brian Weiss. As a traditional psychotherapist and a non-Buddhist, Dr Brian Weiss was astonished and skeptical when one of his patients, Catherine, began recalling past-life traumas that seemed to hold the key to her recurring nightmares and anxiety attacks. His skepticism was eroded, however, when she began to channel messages from "the space between lives," which contained remarkable revelations about Dr. Weiss's family and his dead son. Using past-life therapy, he was able to cure the patient and embark on a new, more meaningful phase of his own career. This book will open doors for many who have never considered the validity of reincarnation.

Godbro himself has been told by a psychic that he has went through more than 200 lifetimes before him. Hmmm..... I wonder how my past lives were like?

Mama-nim

Had a reasonably nice weekend. Sat morning went to my niece's new school for her orientation. She is starting Primary One next year in Mahabodhi School, a very good school. As her parents queue up to purchase her uniforms and books, I surveyed the premises. The place is a little run down. They are rebuilding the school next year. In the courtyard where students assemble every morning, stood a big statue of Buddha. My sis, Raee and myself bowed our heads and clasped our hands in silent prayers. I pray that Buddha will oversee Raee's development in school and also in her spiritual path. We were really delighted that Raee finally did managed to gain admission into Mahabodhi. Buddha did hear my prayers earlier. Thank you, dear Tatagatha, The Blessed One.

Sun went lunch with Mom, Granny, Aunt Stella and my godbro to a Korean restaurant I frequented. I found their prices very economical and food good. I like their set lunch of a main BBQ dish with rice and a few dishes of their appetisers like kimchi, beansprouts, fish cakes, veggies etc etc. We had their set lunch, and also tried spicy kimchi ramen and ginseng soup. Mom was craving for Korean food after watching "Jewel In The Palace" where the royal maid-main lead actress, ChangJin cooked many delectable interesting dishes we have never seen before. I like the character of Lady Han, played by actress Yang Mi-Kyung, who was the mentor of ChangJin. Reel life and real life she looked so different, but nevertheless she is so so elegant and pretty in both. Watching this K drama series is our nightly affair. Ever so often, every few minutes, "Mama nim...." and "Ye...Ye" are uttered. "Mama ni" is how they address any elderly ladies or seniors and even the Empress. And "Ye" simply means "yes". Their speech and gentle demeanour are stuck in my mind right now. Ye...

This weekend also attended my dharma teachings by HE Lati Rinpoche in the evenings. I guess it did make my life more meaningful and me more grounded. Ye...

Problematic

I made few trips to the repair center to fix the MP3 player this week. I had bought it on a friend's behalf. The MP3 player was spoilt after being played the first round. It hanged. Intermittent problem. After collecting it from the service center, it hanged again as soon as I plugged it into the PC. So I had to bring it back again. I do not know how to explain to my friend about the problem. All I know is I had to get it fixed. I do not know why this piece was so problematic, when my own MP3 is functioning perfectly fine. It caused problem for me. It caused problem for my friend. It caused problem for me. Fated lah.

Unmask the thief

"You say such clever things to people, but don't apply them to yourself; The faults within you are the ones to be exposed."


You may have received numerous teachings and know, in theory, how to progress and to avoid obstacles. Nevertheless, if you do not apply these instructions to yourself, your knowledge will remain sterile, like the wealth of a rich miser who deprives himself of food and starves to death.

If you sincerely want to progress, open your eyes to your own defects. It is your own mind that you must examine, as if in a mirror. To maintain a conceited opinion of yourself, seeing defects only in others and regarding your own flaws as good qualities, will certainly prevent you from making any progress. The best teachings expose our hidden faults. To unmask a hitherto unsuspected thief effectively puts an end to his doings.  

- The Hundred Verses of Advice of Padampa Sangye (Explained by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche).

Do less

Smile less.
Talk less.
Move less.
Funny as this may sound, but it should do me much good.

The stick

This weekend I sat closed up with His Eminence Kyabje Lati Rinpoche to listen to his teachings. There were probably about 40 of us in the room with 18 of Rinpoche's monks. I was probably only a metre away from the monks and about 2 metres from Rinpoche in his high seat. I could feel Rinpoche's gaze at me for a good one minute as we chanted our opening prayers and mandala offering. His eyes were very kind and endearing, as if he knew me. It was as if he was chanting prayers for me. Then I bent down my head so that I would not cry. The atmosphere was emotionally warm. As I looked at the monks chanting, suddenly there was a flashback, it was as if I had seen and been in this particular moment before, it was oddly familiar.

Lati Rinpoche then proceeded with his oral transmission of the 6 Paramitas with his eyes closed almost throughout the entire delivery. It could not have been more appropriate for me as he talked about "Perfection of Patience".

Patience is simply the undisturbed mind not affected by the cause of suffering. It is possible for one to possess patience in one's mind, even in the midst of pain and suffering. When the mind is disturbed, it is anger. Anger is the main obstacle to patience. There is no greater sin than anger. There is no greater sin than a disturbed mind through anger. Too much anger can cause one's appearance to be ugly in the next life and deprive one of wisdom. Being angry will destroy one's good karma.

We can use anger to practise patience. The object of anger is our enemies, and we cannot destroy all the enemies we meet. However the main enemy we can control is the enemy (anger) within us. Rinpoche gave an example. If someone used a stick to hit us, we would be angry. If we examine the cause of harm, the stick would be the direct cause, and it was not even the person who hit us. We should be angry with anger itself. Buddha Shakyamuni said: "The able accepts afflicted emotion as the enemy and not the person."

When someone harms us, we should not be angry. The main cause of being harmed by others, is due to our own past negative karma. We should reflect that when we are angry with someone, we should not retaliate, we should instead be happy that we are going to get rid of this negative karma. If we retaliate and causes others to suffer, this negative action of retaliation will bring forth bigger suffering in the future.

At this juncture, this weekend's lessons came at the right time for me to reflect on the past week's emotional outburst. I should get rid of the "stick".

Better and better!

Today was sis birthday. We didn't really celebrate. Just a simple order-in meal at her home. In the red packet I gave her, I wrote: "Dearest sis, may you have a peaceful and calm birthday. May you be happy today and throughout the rest of the the year and forever. Hope that our lives will get better and better in the near future!"

Feel

Today 10 Nov, for no reason at all, I woke up feeling so sad. Early in the morning, while I was putting on my make up, I snapped a few photos of myself close up with my mobile phone. I often do this to see how was my disposition at the present state.

I had learnt a little about face reading. I saw the area between my eye brows (which is the Life Palace) is a little dark. This is the most important area in terms of face reading. No matter how much powder I put on to cover the dark area, it was still there.

Thankfully nothing drastic happened in the office for the rest of the day. Except I bumped into a 50-year-old colleague. I noticed that his normally-bushy-black eyebrow suddenly has a strand of white hair. Not a good sign. If you normally have black brow hair and suddenly there is a white strand of hair that shoot out, it is not good news.

Another colleague in her late 30s was in a foul mood today and kept muttering "I am not in a good mood today" and gave me a slap on the shoulders while chatting. I was very uncomfortable. In the cab back home tonight after a long tiring meeting, I passed by 2 stalled cars along the road, which had crashed into each other. Hmm...not a good sign too, I thought.

Back home, just as I stepped into the house I heard my dad scolding my mom, so I ended having a strong argument with him. At first I was calm as I tried to reason with him, I tried to knock "some sense" into him, but he refused to listen, insisting he was right. He has not changed after all these years. Even after having his life saved twice, he has not learnt to appreciate his wife, and still cause her much worry and grief till today. Afterwards I cried so hard. Never did I cry so hard for a long time.

By midnight, I quickly settled down and prayed and prayed, saying a few malas of the Vajrasattva prayers (to clear away the negativities within me). I so much did not want to lose my temper, I wanted to keep calm, but the one moment of anger drove whatever logic and patience out of the windows. Nowadays, I have an acute sense of my surroundings. And these signs and feelings and things I saw today, was a prelude to the outburst tonight. It was gut feel. I was so so sad today.

Magnifying glass

I am looking forward to the dharma teachings. Why is there a need to attend teachings? One of my gurus whom I respect alot, His Holiness 101st Gaden Tripa Rinpoche, said:

"The sun is always there, but a piece of paper does not burn up despite being under the sun. Sparks can only be created in the paper by the aid of a magnifying glass, as it concentrates the heat of the sun onto the paper.

By the same logic, despite being exposed to the Buddhadharma, sparks can only be created by the guidance of the Guru as the teacher concentrates the blessings of the Three Jewels onto you"
 

--- His Holiness 101st Gaden Tripa Rinpoche

He was there

I just received good news today from my god-bro. He has finally found a permanent job with a reputable advertising firm and he is to service a big global account. This is his first permanent job and he got it on the spot after 3 hours of interview.

He said it was such coincidence. Just last Monday, I had brought him along for Buddha Shakyamuni initiation. Before the initiation, we offer light to Buddha Shakyamuni and bathed him with holy water. During the initiation, Lati Rinpoche had told us to visualise that Buddha Shakyamuni is present in front of us. On Buddha Shakyamuni's right is Maitreya Buddha (the Future Buddha), and to his left is Chenresig Buddha (Chinese equivalent of Guan Yin, The Goddess of Mercy). After the initation, we circumambulated around the huge statue of Buddha Shakyamuni 3 times.

Then last Wednesday, my god-bro went for a meditation class at a place very near his office of his temporary job. During the class, the teacher (who is not a Buddhist practitioner and whom I think is a psychic), told god-bro that she can see Buddha Shakyamuni behind god-bro and Maitreya Buddha was right behind Buddha Shakyamuni. She even told god-bro that she owed my god-bro in her past life, that was why he came to her class, and that was why his office was just 20 metres away from her class.

Anyway, on Friday, my god-bro was interviewed by a well known advertising firm and he got the job on the spot. I am so very happy for him. Previous job interviews he attended, he was always the last 2 finalists selected but always lost it in the end. He has been searching for a permanent job for almost a year. We had been praying for him for so long. I told god-bro to remember to give thanks to Buddha Shakyamuni and to go make some donations. He is indeed blessed.

Cure is Compassion

Ever so often, we come across someone who may irritate us through their action or speech or body language or for any slightest non-descript reason. It may be a colleague who cracked the wrong joke at us. Or it may be your sibling messing up your stuff. Or it may be a door salesperson with his aggressive sales pitch. It may be a stranger digging his nose in public. Or it may be a stranger bumping into you accidentally. Sometimes, it may even be just ourselves thinking unhappy thoughts.

We often reciprocate all these with anger in return. And unhappiness ensue. In the end, both parties became disturbed and resentful and more anger results.

For Chinese, sometimes we attribute all these clashes with that person who made us angry to our birth dates (ie. 八字). But what happens if the person who clashes with us is our loved one, or mom or dad? I always believe that for every problem, there should be a solution. If we know someone clashes with us, there should be some remedy to counter the effects or to nullify the impact. Check with the experts.

Anyway, without dwelling too much in metaphysics, if we can generate kind thoughts about our "enemy", put ourselves in their shoes, sometimes the anger may just vanish into thin air. Developing kindness and patience for our enemy will help us generate compassion. And the very act of having compassion is the root cure to all problems.

HH Dalai Lama said: "Genuine compassion is based not on our own projections and expectations, but rather on the rights of the other: irrespective of whether another person is a close friend or an enemy, as long as that person wishes for peace and happiness and wishes to overcome suffering, then on that basis we develop genuine concern for his or her problem ...... It is possible to have anger without hatred. It is possible to have compassion without attachment. If we are clear between these, it will be useful in our daily life and in our efforts toward world peace. I consider these to be basic spiritual values for the happiness of all human beings, regardless of whether one is a believer or a non-believer."

Think Twice

Just saw a glimpse on TV of the gourmet program where Taiwanese host Zeng Guo Cheng took viewers on a tour of Qingdao cuisine. Along a street in Qingdao China, he came across a hawker selling cooked eggs of almost hatched chicks. Many patrons were squatting by the roadside savouring these eggs/chicks. It was probably a delicacy to them.

It was so gross looking at him eating the egg, poking at its visible body, feet, head and beak of the almost-formed chick, with feathers attached. It was totally heartwrenching to me. It was totally unacceptable to me that I almost puked. I was disgusted with the cruelty we humans resort to in order to satisfy our hunger or culinary cravings.

Then again, aren't we equally cruel to savour the normal egg yoke and white, even though it was not formed yet. And omelette, hard boiled, stir-fried, in whichever manner. And what about the chickens, in our burgers, in our chicken rice, in herbal soup, roasted, BBQ, in whichever manner. It really made me think hard. I am quite sad actually. We should never ever harm other humans or animals (unborn or otherwise). Although my present diet has lesser meat now than before, the show tonight really set me thinking and considering a totally vegetarian diet. Those animals do not have a choice, but we humans do have a choice.

Perfecting

Once, I had an assistant for about 4 months. It was really an experience. I shall call him Dash. He was a 30-year-old albino. When Dash came for his job interview, he really made a difference. I was not biased and I did evaluated him based on his capabilities, although he was quite new to the nature of the job requirements. He did impressed me, because he was confident, outspoken and seemed like an extrovert, a go-getter. Albeit being a bit clumsy and quirky in his dress sense. However I thought he could induce some creative juice in my department. He got the job.

From then on, everyday was a new discovery to me about this guy. Everyday was a shocking revelation to me. Every assignment I gave him, he gave me a positive "Ok! No problem!". Yet almost every assignment he did not deliver. He tried to impress me with his antics, his knowledge of "the market" situation, he bragged about his pretty girlfriend. For a 30-year-old man, he seemed to get more childish by the day.

In a middle of a meeting, a colleague remarked about a contact he knows, Dash would, out of the blue, stood up, dashed right out of the room in super speed, his foot steps thundering through the entire office, and he came back, holding a name card of someone he "used to know who might know that contact". My colleagues just stared at him in bewilderment.

In a seminar event, he suddenly stood up, his face all screwed up, and came running to me "I think now I need to go do my big business in the toilet!".... Shocked, I said "you could have gone anytime you know". To which he replied "My principle is never to shit when I work!" and dashed out. I was utterly shocked. Un-comprehensible.

Once he sent a completely non-professional letter to clients which I did not approved and he did not enclosed the important documents which he was supposed to send. I received many complaints after that. There were many many mistakes he commited at work that were non-forgivable. I did not want to judge him, so I gave him many more chances, gave him many counselling sessions but each time he left me totally disappointed. He turned out to be the exact opposite of what he had us believed him to be. He turned to be a very negative person, who could not focus on his job well, he kept talking and promising but yet never deliver. He wasted lots of time doing the unnecessary.

I often told him there was "no need to give me the whole world, just give me what I want", I told him he can make a difference if he tries to give himself and others a chance, try to focus in his job and all would be well. Even after he left, he did not seemed to have changed, and seemed to get himself into trouble and more trouble.

My only piece of advise for him:

We might always be falling short of perfection in our thought, word and deed at the moment. But we can fall short less and less. This is the meaning of "perfecting" - it is not perfection itself yet, but it perfects in good time. And what is "good time"? It is the rate of improvement which you are at ease with without any hint of regret of not being diligent enough. (quoted from Unknown).

何日君再来

Yesterday I went for my massage in that small shop. Stella, a plump lady in her 40s usually did my massages. And she is getting better at it each time, because today her strokes were strong and it was painful at some areas! She said I was probably too tired.

Anyway, while Stella was massaging my foot, I learnt that she was a Teresa Teng fan. This year was Teresa Teng's 10th death anniversary. Teresa Teng, a popular Taiwanese singer, with her soft and smooth voice captured huge fans worldwide. She died in 1995 of an asthma attack. A sad ending for great famous singer.

Stella recounted an incident in 1995 to me. When Teresa Teng passed away, Stella was so sad that she bought a book about her. The front cover of the book was Teresa's photo. Stella put her book standing up besides her writing table which was next to her bed. Every night Stella would gazed at her idol's photo and talked to it.

One night, at about 3am, Stella was awakened by a very familiar, sweet and clear voice singing in a distance. She was sure that no one would be singing at that unearthly hour! She was, however, unsure where the singing came from. It was only after a day later that she thought could it be...? And it was then she realised it was the 7th day after the passing of Teresa Teng. She was sure yet she was unsure.

On the 14th day, again Stella heard the same voice singing to her when she was lying in bed getting to sleep. This time she began to be scared. She just could not stopped hearing the sweet singing her ears heard. After that night, she quickly kept Teresa Teng's book away. Stella's tale was so moving that I couldn't help but empathise with her. She has lost her idol, the world has lost a gifted singer. Reminds me of a song....

好花不常开， 好景不常在。
愁堆解笑眉， 泪洒相思带。
今宵离别后， 何日君再来？

3 Days Only

My sis finally decided to get a maid to help with the housework and her 2 growing kids. With the bio-data sent by the agent, this maid was a friendly and smiling maid who has never come to Singapore to work before. After my sis' phone interview with her in the Phillipines, this maid was finally chosen. She arrived last week. She appeared to be a stern looking lady who never smile, she kept peering and staring at people, or just stood frozen with nonchalence. Looks can be so deceiving.

Day One
The maid washed the clothes. Poured half the tub of washing powder, and afterwards asked Sis why the clothes were so soapy and asked Sis to teach her how to use the dryer. Sis asked her to iron Bro in law's shirt and pants, she completed in one hour. For a start Sis told her they would buy a calling card for her to call home. Sis brought her to my house to meet my parents. My grandma and aunt happened to be around. I was also around. When they left, the maid asked my sis many questions, who was my grandma, my aunt, and me... was my aunt married, was I married, what was I working as, are my grandma and aunt staying with us, did my aunt had a maid? was she a Filipina? etc etc....

Day Two
Maid told Sis if she insisted that she bathe twice a day, she wanted some medicine/tonic to improve her blood circulation so that she would not be giddy after bathing at night. Sis said she could bathe in late afternoons instead. Maid washed car, and kept peering at passer-bys, lost her concentration. She asked Sis when she could call her husband. So Sir dialled for her. She requested to make another call to her cousin. Sis relented.

Day Three
Maid woke up late. Maid used up the other half tub of the remaining washing powder and asked Sis why the clothes were still soapy. Maid asked Sis for some cotton buds to clean her ears. Maid asked Sis when would she be getting her salary. Sis said agent had already told her. Maid asked Sis if she could call home again. Sis said no. 30 minutes later, maid asked Sis then could she get her cousin to call her, my Sis said no. Sis fed up. 30 minutes later, maid asked Sis then could she get her cousin to call her at night. Sis said no! Maid asked Sis for some stamps and airmail envelopes to write home. Sis said ok she will buy for her. Maid asked Sis if she can drive. Etc etc.... Sis blew her top.

Day Four
Maid was sent back.

I shall

If a person fell from the peak of the king of mountains,
He would still fall, even though he thought, 'I shall not fall.'
If you receive beneficial teachings through the kindness of the guru,
You will still be liberated, though you think, 'I shall not be.'
- Nagarjuna

Empowered

On sunday I went to the opening ceremony of the public dharma programs conducted by His Eminence Kyabje Lati Rinpoche. There were probably a few thousand people present in the huge tentage near the national stadium. It was a grand sight indeed.

Lati Rinpoche and Mrs Goh (former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong's wife) proceeded towards the huge statue of Buddha Shakyamuni. Rinpoche together with his 26 lamas in attendance, conducted prayers, bathed the Buddha with a conch and cut the ribbon together with Mrs Goh. If I was not mistaken, I think I saw a huge butterfly following closely behind Rinpoche as he was heading towards Buddha Shakyamuni's statue. At the end of the ceremony, Rinpoche blessed 300 elderly folks who were living alone and Mrs Goh gave red packets and goodie bags for these elders too. Rinpoche also blessed the few thousands of us present and we were each given a White Tara pendant blessed by Rinpoche. White Tara is the bodhisattva goddess of longevity.

Tonight Rinpoche gave me the empowerment of Lord Shakyamuni Buddha. The empowerment or initiation grants permission, bestows help with, and gives access to, the benefits of a practice and meditation on Buddha. Rinpoche is understood as a representation of Buddha. Initiation is a spiritual energy that is characteristic of and inherent in the Buddha Shakyamuni practice that is passed on. RM, a buddhist practitioner, called this energy "grace" and likens it to " ... electrical power, invisible and very powerful." He said "....Buddha, the source of grace, is like a power plant and the lineage that transmits grace is the wire. As long as the wire is not cut, a bulb can be connected to it at any place, and the bulb is lit. But if the wire is cut, one may have a power plant at one end and a bulb at the other, but it is impossible to get any light. If the lineage of transmission has been interrupted..., it is impossible to receive grace through an empowerment. The lineage has become entirely sterile."

Our ordinary mind is hard, unripened. While the stream of the nectar is poured into us during the ceremony, we meditate that we transform into the Buddha state, thereby purifying all our negative thoughts and obscurations. We manifest our mind as the Buddha's mind. Our whole being is transformed into the mandala of the Buddha. Om muni muni maha muni ye soha!

I am very grateful to Lati Rinpoche for this initiation. Now I can practise and meditate on Shakyamuni Buddha with renewed confidence and with a new understanding. And also, perhaps a new life?