General notes to the pujasAmitabha Buddha
Amitabha is one of the 5 dharani Buddha. Out of all the Buddhas, the blessing of Amitabha is the greatest. His practices are the easiest to practice and the main characteristic of His practice is that they are simple. As a result of his unique aspiration, His pureland is happier than the rest. The qualities of His pureland are inconceivable, and it is the easiest pureland to go, as whoever aspire to obtain rebirth there will be fulfilled.
It is a “never to return” pureland, even if one with negativities can be reborn there. Therefore, one must make aspirations to obtain rebirth in Amitabha pureland.
Lineage of the initiation and 1000 offering
There are many practices on the deity, Amitabha. Out of these, there is one of making aspirations for rebirth in Amitabha pureland through the 1000 offering puja. The method of 1000 offering is from the famous master Khenchen Padma Namgyal. He accomplished this practice and spread this close blessing lineage to Khenchen Jigme Drapa, who in turn transmits it to the guru himself, the 13th incarnation of the 32nd Ganden Tripa, Ganden Tritul Rinpoche. The former two masters were distinguished practitioners in Rinpoche’s household.
Khenchen Padma Namgyal wrote the text” Padma Drawa”, which mean literally the lotus garland ornament, the text for the initiation and 1000 offering practice.
1000 offering
One is to perform a 1000 of each: reciting the sadhana, perform prostrations and circumbation. One is also to offer the same number of the complete set of 8 offerings. Using the power of visualization and recitation, one blesses the substance and multiplies the merits.
In this way, one makes offerings to Amitabha and the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the 10 directions. For the living, the 1000 offering is the most supreme method to accumulate one’s merits and purification of one’s obstacles. As for the deceased, the 1000 offering is also the most supreme method to purify obstacles and to obtain liberation.
Aspiration prayers
The accomplished Charme Rinpoche saw in his vision the Amitabha pureland and wrote an aspiration prayer, contained in the text known as the Charme Demo. It is full of blessings and is easy to memorize.
In order to obtain accomplishment, one is to be familiar. Therefore it is with the same reason that one practices the aspiration prayers to obtain rebirth in His pureland. Making aspirations is the greatest cause to obtain rebirth in Amitabha pureland, as it is the steer wheel of one’s merits.
Tsog and Mami Molam
The meaning of tsog means confession and offering. Performing tsog generates inconceivable merits as the guru and disciples, together with Amitabha and retinue feast on the Tsog visualized as nectar. With this, breaches of samaya can be restored and heavy negativities can be purified. It also creates the cause for the guru, vajra brothers to reside together in His pure land, enjoying immeasurable bliss.
Tsog is also an offering to repay one’s karmic debtors as well as repaying the kindness of one’s present parent.
In Mami molam, it is the offering of lamp. The light represents bodhichitta and wisdom. The combination of all the lights of the participants means making big aspirations and the dispelling of ignorance. It is the cause of one’s accomplishment and the development of one’s wisdom
Concluding puja
In this puja, Amitabha manifest as Amitayus. He then manifest as the longevity nectar and pills. Partaking them would remove sickness; increase one’s majesty and vitality. They balance the 4 elements (earth, water, fire, wind) in one’s body and increase one’s blessings.
Introduction to the meaning of initiation
The meaning of initiation is to obtain the authority for deity practices. It is the preliminary for deity practice in the vajrayana tradition. For some deity practice, one cannot practice without obtaining initiation and even if one does practice, one does not obtain any benefit from it. Thus, the need for an initiation.
Initiations require a blessing lineage. As the initiation of vajrayana also falls under the Mahayana tradition, bodhichitta is essential. Bodhichitta refers to the aspiration to liberate all sentient being from suffering and to lead them to the state of enlightenment. With these in mind, generate faith that only the triple gems have the power to liberate sentient beings. With this attitude, we receive this initiation.
About Amitabha pureland
In the Amitabha sutra, it is said that other than the 5 unpardonable sins and slandering of Buddha Dharma, one can obtain rebirth in Amitabha pureland, despite having other negativities. This is due to the inconceivable power of the vows of Amitabha. Therefore His pureland is the easiest pureland that one can obtain rebirth.
According to Buddha Shakyamuni, if one were to compare the merit of filling the 3000 fold universe with the 5 treasures and the merit of generating a single thought of faith in the Amitabha Pureland, the merits of latter will be the most supreme. Therefore if one makes aspirations and has faith, there is no doubt about obtaining rebirth in His pureland.
Amitabha pureland is one of “no- return.” Once there, one is free to visit other purelands at a single thought. As compared to other pure realm, accomplishment in His pureland is much faster. Therefore the merits of His pureland are inconceivable.
Initiation preliminary
The initiation preliminary is divided into 3 parts: the part of the guru, the part of the disciples and the part of both the guru and disciples.
As for the guru, he will do self-visualization practices, inviting of the wisdom beings, consecrating the mandala, requesting the Buddhas’ and Bodhisattvas’ permission to transmit the initiation to disciples, purifying obstacles and offering the torma, which is visualized as whatever the obstructers desired, as well as casting the protective circle in the premise.
There are 3 parts to the torma offering: the peaceful, semi-wrathful and wrathful. When the guru offers the torma, one must visualize the torma as one’s obstacles and they are being cast out of oneself when the lama brought the torma out of the premise.
As for the disciples, one is require doing prostrations, visualizing ones’ negativities being purified when the guru pours over the mirror. This visualization is to purify oneself to become a suitable vessel for receiving the initiation. One is also to offer a mandala as receiving the initiation is beyond any comparison. This symbolizes the offering of one’s body and the universe to guru as Amitabha in person.
One is also require to recite the 4 line requesting prayer together with the guru. The meaning of the prayers are as follows:
“Guru and Amitabha, Chenrezig and Vajrapani, inconceivable Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, (I) request blessings and initiation.”
As for both the guru and disciples, we are to take refuge and the bodhisattvas’ vows. It is the preliminary of any initiation, without which there is no firm foundation.
One is to visualize the premise as Amitabha pureland, the guru as Chenrezig, the initiation instrument i.e. the initiation vase, and initiation torma as Amitabha and His retinue. One should firmly believe that they are in front of oneself and thus one take the refuge and Bodhisattva vows, repeating after the guru.
The meanings of the prayers are as follows:
“ I take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, the 3 jewels.
In all negativities I confess and regret.
I rejoice in all merits.
With these, I make the bodhichitta aspiration.”
Initiation proper (main part)
1) Self-visualization
Visualize oneself as Amitabha; to one’s right is Chenrezig, on the left, Vajrapani. Sitting on a lotus with moon disk, red in colour, holding a begging bowl, wearing the 3 robes and sits in the vajra posture.
The right of oneself is Chenrezig, white in colour, one face 4 arms, first two hands folding at the chest, the left holds a crystal rosary, the right, a lotus, standing on a lotus with moon disk.
The left of oneself is Vajrapani, 1 face 2 arms, blue in colour, holding a vajra (right) and bell (left). Visualized thus.
On the 3 deities three places, there is an Om (white), Ah (red) and Hung (blue). From the deities’ three places, lights of the respective colours are radiated to Amitabha pureland and to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the ten directions. From them, immeasurable Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are emanated, big and small. They decent into oneself like rain (at this conjunction, the guru will ring the bell).
As the guru wave his vajra, visualized the vajra touches one’s head and sealed the blessings within.
2) The longevity 5 colour flag initiation
From the heart center of the guru as Amitabha inseparable, emanates the 5 elemental dakini (metal, wood, water, fire, earth). They dance on the rainbow in the sky. Holding the initiation vases in their left hand, they bestow the initiation upon oneself. While on the right hand, they wave the 5 colour flag, magnetizing all the essences of sentient beings and the universe, the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, daka, dakini and dharmapalas’ blessings, good qualities, merits, longevity. These are gathered and dissolved into oneself. This is done like lighting a lamp with another, without any loss to any. Thus ones’ majesty and radiance is increased, health is restored, and merits are increased.
3) The vase initiation
The initiation vase is filled with nectar consisting of 25 dharma pills. Visualize that the vase is filled to 1/3. On the surface of the nectar inside the vase, is the Amitabha pureland, with the 3 principle deities. The visualization should be like a mirage. From the 3 deities, white and sparkling nectars are flowing from (all parts of) their body, filling up the vase.
As the nectar overflows, visualized that the nectar enters through one’s gate of Brahma, into the central channel to the 4 chakras and to the rest of one’s body, from foot to head. This eliminates the 4 obscurations and obtains the initiation of Amitabha’s body, speech, mind and activity. This creates the cause for obtaining the 4 kayas of the Buddha.
4) The statue initiation
Visualize the statue as Amitabha. From Amitabha’s 5 places (forehead, throat, heart center, 4 fingers below the navel and secret place), immeasurable emanations of big and small 5 coloured (white, red, blue, yellow and green) Amitabha are radiate forth, and dissolve into one’s 5 places.
One obtain the (cause of the) 5 kayas, the 5 wisdom and the fruit/state of the 5 Buddhas
This blesses one to be reborn in Amitabha pureland and to see Him in person.
5) The torma initiation
The torma is visualized as Amitabha and His retinue. Like cloud, they descend on one’s head. They dissolved into light and enter into one’s central channel.
Thus one obtains the blessing of Amitabha and the 3 jewels. One’s longevity, merits and wisdom will increase. This blessing eliminates one’s sickness and obstacles.
At the time of one’s death, a transformation Amitabha will (appear and) deliver oneself to Amitabha pureland. The lotus will bloom and one will see Amitabha and hear His teachings. One will able to abide in His pureland eternally. One’s practice will progress through the Bhumis and finally, full enlightenment.
6) The vajra initiation
Visualize the (5 spoke) Padma Raga (red ruby) vajra. On the tip of the vajra are the 5 dharani Buddhas. On the bottom of the vajra are the consorts of the 5 dharani Buddhas and in the center are Amitabha and the 3 jewels. Visualize the vajra dissolve into oneself, as it is place upon one’s head.
One obtains the initiation of wisdom strength and the state of the 4th (out of 5) path to accomplishment.
7) The begging bowl initiation
Visualize that at the top of the blue lapis begging bowl filled with longevity substance, is Amitabha and His retinue. When it is placed on one’s head, it dissolves into one’s body. This blesses oneself to be able to enjoy all the possessions of Amitabha pureland.
Notes for the Amitabha concluding puja
The 8 auspicious sign and 7 royalties initiation, with the partaking of longevity nectar and pill.
The meanings of the 8 auspicious initiations are as follows:
1) Parasol: obtain the dharma parasol to protect all sentient beings. Obtain longevity in this life.
2) Golden fishes: the Mahayana wisdom light will illuminate the 3000-fold world. Obtain longevity in this life.
3) Conch shell: proclaim the glory of the dharma in the 3000-fold world. Obtain longevity in this life.
4) Lotus: save all sentient being from the suffering of samsara. Obtain longevity in this life.
5) Vase: obtain perfect knowledge in the 3000-fold world. Obtain longevity in this life.
6) Auspicious knot: fulfilling sentient beings needs through the dharma. Obtain longevity in this life.
7) Dharma wheel: turn the wheel of dharma for sentient beings. Obtain longevity in this life.
8) Victory banner: immeasurable life, i.e. full enlightenment. Obtain longevity in this life.
The meaning of the 7 royalties initiation are as follows:
1) Dharma wheel: one can turn the sublime wheel of dharma. Obtain the siddhi of longevity.
2) Wish fulfilling jewel: one is full of auspiciousness and obtain all wishes.
3) Minister: one has the power to control all elements of the world
4) Queen: one can enjoy the 4 joys.
5) Elephant: one’s vows will be firm and complete
6) Horse: one’s determination will increase and be successful
7) General: one’s obstacles and bad conditions will be removed
The partaking of the longevity nectar removes sickness and purifies negativity. The longevity pill is blessed during the 3 days and partaking of it will improve one’s health, prolong longevity and improve one’s luck.
Vajra (body) accomplishment
One obtain the vajra accomplishment where one’s body becomes a vajra body which is unchanging i.e. Buddhahood.
Dedication
One dedicates the merits for the purpose of all sentient beings’ enlightenment and their rebirth in Amitabha pureland. Buddha Shakyamuni said that all dedication and aspiration is for the dharma to remain in samsara and for their propagation, as well as the longevity of the gurus. Therefore, our dedication should be done according to the Buddha’s teachings.
Accepting and taking of vows ceremony
First, one recites these prayers with the guru:
“ SANG GE OPAME LA CHAR CHAL LO
GONG PO CHER PA ME LA CHAR CHAL LO
DA SIN DAWA CHEN NA JIE WA SOL”
The meaning of the prayers is as follows:
“Prostrations to Amitabha,
Prostrations to protector Amitayus,
(I) make aspirations that all sentient being obtain rebirth in Amitabha pureland”
One is advised to recite (i.e. not compulsory) one mala of this prayers everyday without fail. The merit of reciting this prayer is that during the bardo state, one will be able to see Amitabha and obtain rebirth in His pureland. This is due to the power of the vows and aspirations made by Amitabha. This is mentioned in Buddha Shakyamuni’s scriptures.
To receive the vow for the recitation, one repeats after the guru. The meaning of the vow is:
“Whatever the guru instruct and order,
We are willing and able to fulfill all his task.”
Offering of oneself to the guru
To offer oneself, one recites the prayers after the guru. The meaning of the recitation is as follows:
“ From now onwards, I will offer myself to the guru for his needs,
Please treat me as your disciple, and
Please utilize my services as much as you can.”
The meanings of the 8 auspicious initiations are as follows:
1) Parasol: obtain the dharma parasol to protect all sentient beings. Obtain longevity in this life.
2) Golden fishes: the Mahayana wisdom light will illuminate the 3000-fold world. Obtain longevity in this life.
3) Conch shell: proclaim the glory of the dharma in the 3000-fold world. Obtain longevity in this life.
4) Lotus: save all sentient being from the suffering of samsara. Obtain longevity in this life.
5) Vase: obtain perfect knowledge in the 3000-fold world. Obtain longevity in this life.
6) Auspicious knot: fulfilling sentient beings needs through the dharma. Obtain longevity in this life.
7) Dharma wheel: turn the wheel of dharma for sentient beings. Obtain longevity in this life.
8) Victory banner: immeasurable life, i.e. full enlightenment. Obtain longevity in this life.
The meaning of the 7 royalties initiation are as follows:
1) Dharma wheel: one can turn the sublime wheel of dharma. Obtain the siddhi of longevity.
2) Wish fulfilling jewel: one is full of auspiciousness and obtain all wishes.
3) Minister: one has the power to control all elements of the world
4) Queen: one can enjoy the 4 joys.
5) Elephant: one’s vows will be firm and complete
6) Horse: one’s determination will increase and be successful
7) General: one’s obstacles and bad conditions will be removed
The partaking of the longevity nectar removes sickness and purifies negativity. The longevity pill is blessed during the 3 days and partaking of it will improve one’s health, prolong longevity and improve one’s luck.
Vajra (body) accomplishment
One obtain the vajra accomplishment where one’s body becomes a vajra body which is unchanging i.e. Buddhahood.
Dedication
One dedicates the merits for the purpose of all sentient beings’ enlightenment and their rebirth in Amitabha pureland. Buddha Shakyamuni said that all dedication and aspiration is for the dharma to remain in samsara and for their propagation, as well as the longevity of the gurus. Therefore, our dedication should be done according to the Buddha’s teachings.
Accepting and taking of vows ceremony
First, one recites these prayers with the guru:
“ SANG GE OPAME LA CHAR CHAL LO
GONG PO CHER PA ME LA CHAR CHAL LO
DA SIN DAWA CHEN NA JIE WA SOL”
The meaning of the prayers is as follows:
“Prostrations to Amitabha,
Prostrations to protector Amitayus,
(I) make aspirations that all sentient being obtain rebirth in Amitabha pureland”
One is advised to recite (i.e. not compulsory) one mala of this prayers everyday without fail. The merit of reciting this prayer is that during the bardo state, one will be able to see Amitabha and obtain rebirth in His pureland. This is due to the power of the vows and aspirations made by Amitabha. This is mentioned in Buddha Shakyamuni’s scriptures.
To receive the vow for the recitation, one repeats after the guru. The meaning of the vow is:
“Whatever the guru instruct and order,
We are willing and able to fulfill all his task.”
Offering of oneself to the guru
To offer oneself, one recites the prayers after the guru. The meaning of the recitation is as follows:
“ From now onwards, I will offer myself to the guru for his needs,
Please treat me as your disciple, and
Please utilize my services as much as you can.”
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