Guru Rinpoche Day
Dear Friends Near and Far,
I
hope you've all been happy and healthy. I am very well and just started
off with my travels for this year. I left the Valley this afternoon for
Malaysia where I'll be for the next few weeks. I'll be hopping from one
city to the next in Asia en route to North America via Australia and
then to South America, Europe and finally back home in October. I have
just started my journey and I'm already tired! But I'm certainly looking
much forward to seeing many of you during my stops around the globe.
It's
already late here in Malaysia and by the time I send this message out,
it'll probably land in your inbox on the 11th for those of you living in
East, for which I truly apologize. But for the rest of you in the West,
still the morning of 10th, Guru Rinpoche Day!
Anyhow,
about two weeks ago we were on a pilgrimage following the footsteps of
the Lotus Born in Nepal and Sikkim. It was a memorable trip still so
vivid and in memory of it, I would like to share Padmasambhava's last
instructions to his students before leaving for the Chamara Island.
At
the pass of Gunthang, on the border of Nepal and Tibet, as
Padmasambhave is getting ready to leave for the Chamara Island of the
cannibal demons, his students implore him not to leave them.
Padmasambhava has no choice but to leave, for the cannibal demons would
spill out from the Chamara Island into our world and destroy the human
race and only he can tame them with his wisdom and compassion. To the
grieving students, Padmasambhava encourages them by saying, ' for the
people of the future, I have left behind blessings in the form of body,
speech and mind.'
'I
have left "kutsaps"- representation of myself in the form of statues,
blessed them and concealed them with the intention that beings in the
future might see them, receive blessings and make a direct connection
with me.' He made the aspiration that coming into contact with a kutsap
would be no different than meeting Padmasambhava in person. Beings who
make such a connection will be blessed in this life and future lives. It
serves as a source of blessing, removes obstacles, as well as
strengthens and deepens one's connection to Padmasambhava.
'To
represent my speech there are the many treasure texts hidden. The
famous prayer to dispel obstacle, a terma of Chokgyur Lingpa is one such
example.
Guru Rinpoche, the Buddha of past, present and future,
Dewa Chenpo- Guru of Great Bliss- the source of all siddhas,
Dud Dul Drakpo Tsal- Wrathful One that Subdues Negativity- who removes all obstacles,
Grant your blessings we pray! Through them, may all our obstacles, outer, inner and secret- be quelled,
And may all our aspirations be fulfilled!
'And
for my mind representation, it is always with those who have a karmic
connection with me. For those who pray to me I am always there,
especially on the tenth day of the month, I will be there to dispel the
suffering of the beings.'
Sarva Mangalam,
Phakchok Rinpoche
