Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol
Dear everyone, students, members and friends,
I have been thinking of this for quite a while, and from all aspects. An initiation whether it is lower tantra or higher tantra, specifically plants the seed of enlightenment in the disciple’s mind-stream, so that when they do their practice, hold on to their vows, and keep on to their samaya, it will actualize its seeds in this or future lives. Actualize means to obtain the qualities of the deity of which they are being initiated into.
Therefore, I would say 99% of the people are not ready for something like that, because for actual initiation, for actual initiate, for the actual initiation to be received by the initiate, one needs very strong guru devotion, and the guru devotion must be that, whatever the Lama or Guru tells you to do, you actually do it with no excuses, with no ramifications, and no justifications, or not escaping and you do it, and not only you do it because you have been told, you do it happily, because you trust and you believe that the Lama is giving you something to benefit you. And that’s one. And the second thing is that if we can take refuge in the Lama, and we can take refuge in the Lama’s deity, and take vows from the Lama, we basically surrender our death and our future lives and our mind and our soul to the Lama.
So if we can surrender something so big, and we can offer up something so huge to the Lama, something smaller such as doing certain types of work, having or not having a relationship, doing this type of practice or that type of practice, one shouldn’t have any doubt, so if the Lama give you assignments, many types, one shouldn’t have any type of doubt and restraints, and one should do it happily all the way, believing and trusting. Therefore if we can surrender, if we can give up our souls to the Lama for something so big, something smaller we should definitely be able to do, unless we don’t have full confidence in future lives, and therefore surrendering it up is not really a big deal for us. And that would be a wrong way of viewing things.
Anyways, in order to be able to achieve the blessing or the seed that has been planted in our mind-stream by the Lama, one has to have a very strong guru devotion, one has to hold one’s vows, the samaya correctly, vows or promises or commitments to keep during the initiation. Samaya is the relationship we keep with our Lamas, and the other people who receive initiation with us, and to also do the actual practice. Those three are very very important for us to receive initiation. And if we have been in Dharma for more than three four years, we should be able to do that. If we are still not able to do that, carry out the instructions of the teacher, directly or indirectly, or we are wishy washy in our practice, or we are always thinking of quitting or not doing, or doing, or running, or going here, or going there, then something like this is not good for us to receive.
I weighed the pros and cons, and I would like to confer the initiation of Avalokiteshvara, or in Tibetan Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol Tsokor Sum, which is the initiation that I have received from His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche in the United States many many decades ago, and I have kept up the practice all these years.
This Chenrezig is one face, two arms, sitting in a posture of ease, with one hand on the back holding himself up, and one hand on the front holding a mala gently over his knee, and he has two assistants, one is the black powerful obstacle destroyer Goddess Ekajati, and the other one is the Buddha or the Goddess of Great Activities Green Tara herself, so this is called Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol Tsokor Sum, which Tso is the main yidam Chenrezig, Kor is entourage means Ekajati and Tara, Sum means all three.
So this practice once we receive it we have to study the Bodhisattva vows, the 50 verses of Guru Devotion we have to study that very very well, before we receive this and after we receive this we have to hold that up very well, we have to have very strong guru devotion, and everyday, right upon waking, we need to recite Om Mani Padme Hum, one round on our rosary, every single day for life.
And the beautiful thing about this practice according to His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche is that if we have strong guru devotion which means we stick with our guru, we don’t run, we are very stable, we keep our mind still, and we hold on to our vows, we do the Om Mani Padme Hum, then whatever negativities we have committed, even if we are supposed to fall into the three lower realms, we will not fall into the three lower realms. It is impossible for us to go to the three lower realms. So for one lifetime, we are delayed to go to some place negative, and we are blessed to take rebirth in another good situation in our next life, in order that we can practise Dharma and delay and purify, giving ourselves another chance, delaying in going to the three lower realms for one lifetime. And that is like if you are supposed to go to jail, you don’t go to jail, you are given another chance to do good works, in order not to go to jail. So that is very very powerful.
In fact, Chenrezig is Avalokiteshvara or Kuan Yin, Ngesung is the three lower realms, Kundrol means something that takes you out of the three lower realms. So Chenrezig specifically emanated for people to not go to the three lower realms, if we do this practice very very well. And this practice is suitable for people who have, I list in order but not chronological order: committed a lot of negative karma, people who have killed, people who have created heinous crimes, people who have broken their samayas, people who have broken their vows, people who are too old to do intensive practice, for physical and mental reasons, people who are unable to do intensive or deep practice for whatever positive good reasons for example mental impairment or accidents or sickness, people who are dying or people who have very fatal diseases which are incurable, it is very good for people (no offence intended) who are not able to do very in-depth practices due to limited mental faculties, and it is good for people who are fearful of their next lives, it is very good for people basically maybe met Dharma too late, or people whose habituation and negativities are way way too strong for them to turn around and change, this can be old or young, but it will be dependent on those kind of factors that this practice will be very good for.
I would like to confer this initiation and whoever attends this initiation must have my direct permission because it is an initiation, and I am very strict with things like that. And I will assign the person in which they can go through in order to receive the permission to attend. Some will be invited automatically, and some must request to attend. And when you attend, you should not eat meat, you should not engage in alcohol or strong drinks, one should wear very clean clothes, one should not wear ornaments or makeup, one should come very simple and clean, and with the good motivation that for all sentient beings that you will become a fully enlightened being, you will gain the highest attainment through Avalokiteshvara Chenrezig practice in order to benefit others. And therefore once one has received this practice, guru devotion is utmost. Holding the vows of Bodhisattva. There is no Tantric vows, this is Bodhisattva vows and is utmost. Number three is to do Om Mani Padme Hum every single day.
For those who have more time and they prefer, there is a short sadhana, about 1½ – 2 pages, that is very short, that one can do every day to this deity to make a connection. And I have given this initiation twice before in Malaysia to people. One time it was to a group and another time it was to a nun, a Hinayana nun in Seremban who was being afflicted by spirits, and she can hear the spirits at night opening her door, closing her door, disturbing her and she’s done a lot of practices in her centre, she’s done a lot of ritual and couldn’t get rid of it. The divination came out this initiation is necessary. So when she received it, I heard that she started to practice and all the interferences had stopped. So I have given this initiation twice in Malaysia.
Before receiving this initiation I will assign people to give a class on the vows of a Bodhisattva and to act, and to understand and to know it very well, to familiarize and also the 50 verses of Guru Devotion must be very familiar and be able to hold it, otherwise no point. If you receive this initiation, you do Om Mani Padme Hum, a year later, two years later, three years later, you run away, you lose faith in your teacher, you don’t want to co-operate, you make excuses, then it is better not to receive this initiation now. Stability of the mind is most important for tantric practice because breaking the vows, breaking one’s commitments, instead of receiving the benefits, we receive the opposite which is rebirth in the lower realms and that is not a threat but that is what it says according to Shakyamuni in the tantric teachings.
The date, place and time of the initiation I will let people know because I have to prepare myself also and who can come I will let them know. And whoever is chosen to receive this initiation I request you not to run around telling people you are going to receive it, I request you not to tell people you are going to get it, you are going to go for it, don’t create unhappiness in people’s minds who cannot come, that is not Dharma. And for those of us who are not chosen, if you feel jealousy, or you feel lack of confidence or you feel angry or unhappy towards your teacher that is the very reason why you cannot receive it. So if you check your mind and you feel like that then you are not able to receive it.
But if you check your mind and say “oh I’m not chosen but Rinpoche must have his reasons, therefore I’m going to aspire to receive it in the future and I’m going to work harder, I’m going to do Dharma more, I’m going to be stable”, if you think like that you create the causes to receive it. That’s a good way of checking your mind.
So after the initiation I will give a commentary on the practice of this deity, in short forms, to people who are fortunate to receive it, fortunate because this is a great practice. These are my thoughts and I will request someone to write all this out when I’m taping, in just written English, not edited, but just the way I spoke, so this will be directly from me. Most likely I will post this on the KH Website and also my blog and I’ll have it spread around.
So therefore let me repeat this initiation is of Avalokiteshvara together with his assisting deities of Ekajati and Green Tara. And you must have very strong guru devotion, stable, firm, you must hold on to the Bodhisattva vows, strong, firm, and when you break them sometimes you must do the purification practice clearly, and you must do Om Mani Padme Hum minimal of one mala per day upon waking, so when you wake up you do it immediately. Om Mani Padme Hum , you think about Chenrezig and your Guru is one and do Om Mani Padme Hum immediately. And then whatever you want to do for the rest of the day that is fine. If you have time, you can do the sadhana, if not just one round Om Mani Padme Hum, that will be very good.
My motivation for giving this initiation is to be of benefit to my students and friends and special people who I would like to prevent them from entering into a lower realm or to have difficulties in their future life and also by reciting Om Mani Padme Hum to receive the benefits of planting the seeds of attaining great love, supreme compassion and ultimately Bodhichitta, or the selfless wish to benefit others. And Chenrezig’s practice is specifically to destroy selfishness and self grasping, self absorption and everything related to me, me, me, and the self, and the reason for that is all of our problems, insecurities, all of our failures, and all of us being not able to achieve more is due to our selfish mind, the mind that always grasp to itself. And the reason we’re not able to think more, or achieve more, or to be able to comprehend more again it is because of our narrow thinking, our fix thinking, our fixated thinking, our projected thinking and our thinking that is specifically related to our environmental upbringing which we are not able to let go and we are stuck on it and we replay it in our mind over and over and over again like a tape recorder, and therefore we act out of that and we create a lot of problems and sufferings for ourselves.
So Chenrezig is a very good opponent to that because Chenrezig teaches us to let go, Chenrezig asks us and blesses us, and plants the seed for us to have a bigger view and to surrender the selfish mind and to achieve a mind of peace, equanimity, and great compassion. And when we have equanimity from letting go of projections and we have peace from letting go of habituation due to selfishness, and when we have great compassion which is we forgive, then we feel a great sense of peace and happiness, and that is very important for inner peace and that is important for of course outer peace, because outer peace is dependent on inner peace. Therefore Chenrezig is a very good practice which can help us to achieve that.
My motivation is I hope people can achieve that, two fold, is to prevent rebirth into lower realm which most of us will be going, and to develop a great compassionate mind that can ultimately have great Bodhichitta. And that is my motivation for this and I will let the liaisons know about this first and I will disseminate it through the departments, and I will disseminate it through KH organization.
I wish everybody luck and I wish everybody happiness and I sincerely wish people to practise Dharma because the essence of life is not to eat, sleep, drink, procreate and have fun but the essence of life is to not waste the precious time which passes by so quickly and anytime our life can be taken away, anytime, by any causes, in any situation and it is beyond our control. So at the time of death, the most important is Dharma.
Tsem Rinpoche
this blogs you’ve post sound so real the compassion Is important in our time, I love Tchenrezie, I’ve same feeling with Tara and Manjushri they both greats in the help of all beings, we need all this help sometimes to see the reality of our mind
Dear Rinpoche ,
We are all very blessed , we are all indeed very very lucky to have you as our guru . When i read this postings on this initiation i am really really happy that you will be giving this “most precious gift” to the Kecharians or our friends.
Such initiation will be extremely good for this degeneration time in our lifetime. I am glad and honoured to have you as my lama , my guru. I wish you all the best in your selection , may you select the most worthy.
We all loves & cherish you very much from the bottom of our heart.
May you have good health and all your wish fulfills.
Say Hi ! to mumu. : )
Yours truly.
ck liew.
Yes CK Liew, we are so lucky to have met Rinpoche in Malaysia. There are so many people in the outlets asked how to meet Rinpoche in person and to receive his teaching.
I wish we all can receive this initiation together, it is also to train us up to have discipline and prepare for future higher practice. If we can hold the Bodhisattva vows and by the time we receive it, will be second nature to us.
I will give this initiation again and again, perhaps yearly. Perhaps more than once a year. So if anyone not chosen, lighten up and practice,learn and involve yourself more for the next time or the time after that. You must be prepared and do your homework before recieving this. If you do this practice well, I will consider you for maha anuttara tantric practices in the future in KWPC.
Sometimes ppl are not chosen because it would be less ‘burden’ for them if they recieve at a later time.
Tsem Tulku
Beautiful !
You are a great benefit to so many people
May all obstacles be cleared and may all of Kechara’s goals be reached.
Lots of love,
Ivy
Wonderfull!
Yes Rinpoche ,
Noted , agreed & understood. Will follow without fail ! Cant wait till KWPC manifest. Yippie ! ! !
There is so much one can learn by just reading Rinpoche’s blog. So so much teachings. It feels like a condensed Lamrim. I pray that many will have the merits to receive this initiation from Rinpoche.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thanks for sharing the knowledge.
Just a quick question, in reference to “rebirth into lower realm which most of us will be going” could you elaborate it a little more?
(Or should I direct the question to Wai Meng?)
H.E. Tsem Rinpoche:
yes I am also curious (and motivated) by the statement “rebirth into lower realm which most of us will be going”
whether this is to motivate, or to simply speak the truth I am curious. That sounds a lot like Christians saying everyone is always going to hell. Could you elaborate on this statement?
Dear Josh,
We have taken hundreds of thousands of rebirths within the 6 realms. Hence in each realm we have created karma to return again and again to that place. Until we are liberated from the self cherishing mind, we will have to go to all the 6 realms again and again. It is different than the Christians completely where in their theory, once you get there, you never get out. In Buddhist hells, it is a place to take rebirth, leave, take rebirth, leave, take rebirth until all karmas are extinquished like Shakyamuni or Tsongkapa.
Tsem Tulku
I asked a question below about samaya breakage and Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol. In a nutshell, the question is: if one receives Tantric teachings and CONSCIOUSLY AND WITHOUT REMORSE breakes their samaya and degenerates their committments/guru relationship can the Chenrezig initiation/practices safeguard even THEM from a lower rebirth? -Ron D.
I am interested in receiving this (or at least, preparing myself to receive it in the future). Chenrezig seems to capture the essence of Buddhism. Of course, so do the other Buddhas and bodhisattvas, but for a house-holder of middling capacity like me, Chenrezig seems a safe choice.
However, I do not live in Malaysia, and would have to plan in advance in order to attend. I’m not sure how that would work with your organization.
: I must admit if I were still the same person 3 years ago, I would have run the other way instead of challenging myself to go for this initiation. Of course, this does not mean that Rinpoche would confer this initiation on me either. I am sure Rinpoche also seriously doubts that I am ready for this. I used to doubt very much that I was ready for anything truly spiritual. Rinpoche is right, of course – 99% of us are not ready. However since the talk Rinpoche gave last night on Guru Samaya, I realized that if I keep telling myself I am not ready, I will never be ready. And if I keep holding onto that belief, then my transformation will never begin. Without those vows, my negative karma will continue, whether I like it or not. And I do realize that it is my negative karma that makes me perpetuate my cycle of failures, quitting, running away and losing. Nothing good can ever come out of this. Nothing good has ever come out of it. So, I do have a choice – I can continue avoiding this and take the risk of falling into the lower realms which seems certain as of now, or I will make a conscious and committed effort to break that cycle. I know I may not deserve those vows, but I do need them desperately. I do not want to continue in my self destructive path anymore. Hence, I decided that I will challenge myself and go all the way. I want to destroy every negative habituation that resides in me. I want to be a REAL winner, life after life. I seriously do not want to come back life after life, not retaining or achieving any spiritual progress at all.
As Rinpoche mentioned, Guru devotion is key to receiving initiations. Is it a trap and a prison? Yes it is a trap! It is a trap to keep our inner maras under control, and a prison for our negative habituations to not act up.
The 50 verses, the bodhisattva vows, the refuge vows all are guidelines to counter our natural negative habituation…that in time and through practice of holding these vows, our natural tendencies becomes purified resulting in achieving attainments. Rinpoche has said in the past that he is not one to just give initiations out of people’s fancies…but Rinpoche’s wish is that we understand what we have received, the reasons why and to practice to gain the benefits.
Rinpoche, thank you for giving this initiation.May I be amongst the fortunate ones to be receiving this initiation when Rinpoche offers it to us.
Thank you Rinpoche for giving such a detailed write up on this initiation of Avalokiteshvara. We should all know what we need to prepare ourselves towards if we would want to be the right receptors for such initiation. Rinpoche is even compassionate enough to tell us how we should deal with our feelings of jealousy and anger that may arise when we are not invited for this initiation. It is exactly because we feel that way which show our minds are still not ready at all.
We should all encourage each other to work towards receiving this initiation, because our guru is tyring all kinds of ways and methods to free us from sufferings. So as dharma brothers and sisters, we do have a responsibility towards each other.
I pray that all of us will have the good fortune to receive this holy scared Avalokiteshvara from Rinpoche one day.
Dear Josh,
I would like to offer some of my thoughts regarding the lower realms. (This is not meant to override what Rinpoche has already written in the post below, but stands as an understanding from a student/practitioner)
To talk about rebirth into the lower realms is not meant to be a threatening, controlling method, as is employed in certain religions. In the Buddhist context, when we contemplate deeply upon karma, cause&effect, we will realise that most of our actions up until this point have not really been very good. Mostly, we act out of selfishness, we hurt people unknowingly or we chase after negative things that bring unhappiness to ourselves and the people around us. We react out of anger, jealousy, hatred, desire and attachment…
If you read the Dharma texts about karma, and how these kinds of actions lead to certain effects (see The Wheel of Sharp Weapons), we can see clearly how we are already creating “hell on earth” for ourselves right here right now. We don’t need to go to the three lower realms to experience terrible suffering right where we are in the lifetime. Look at people who suffer terrible diseases and need to go into hospitals and surgeries constantly; people who suffer such terrible depression & mental health problems that they kill themselves! the physical abuse that children have to suffer by their own parents; drug abuse, addictions, wars, poverty around the world… the list is endless. We have these “hells” right where we are.
When we talk about the three lower realms, it is to urge us to contemplate the sufferings that we are creating for ourselves, the extremes of which are shown clearly to us in the states of existence in these realms.
We can never be 100% sure if we are going to be reborn as a toad, or as a spirit or in the worst of hells. Even if someone came and told us “oh you’re going to be reborn a pig in your next life” our naturally doubting minds will probably still question this and not believe 100%. But we can believe in suffering right here and now.
To talk about the suffering of the 3 lower realms is not meant to be depressive, scary or chase us away from practice. It is to motivate us to do something more positive, beneficial (for ourselves and others) and, by thinking strongly of karma, to create the causes for much happier circumstances.
I hope this has been of some help!
“Guru devotion is key to receiving initiations. Is it a trap and a prison? Yes it is a trap! It is a trap to keep our inner maras under control, and a prison for our negative habituations to not act up.”
Susan, I like this a lot! Rinpoche often calls us “slaves to our ego” which is really how it is. We’ve already put ourselves into a kind of “prison” of our attachments, so the commitments of taking vows and initiations is actually nothing new to us. We already have very great “commitments” to all kinds of things – relationships, money, reputation, fame.
Rinpoche recently kindly gave us an explanation of the Bodhisattva Vows which was just so enriching and enlightening – the way he explained each and every single one of the main and auxilliary vows showed us clearly how the vows actually free us from the prison we have already created for ourselves.
Actually, the vows bring us back to who we really are, which is the real freedom – a mind of clarity, generosity, altruism. If we truly follow all that is contained within these vows, we “have no choice” but to do great things for ourselves and others. We are literally being “forced” towards wonderful things!!
After hearing this, we looked upon ourselves and realised really, how stupid we have been to have fear of these vows. We’re like a frog in the well, thinking we’ve seen the whole world through that tiny round orb of sky we spy from below. Someone lifts us out and puts us beside in a big lake but we croak and grumble, “But the lake is so difficult to navigate; what if my hind legs get tangled as I jump across the weeds? What if I get lost?” Stupid frog!
Thank you rinpoche for written very clear and details on how we can prepare ourself to get ready to another step of spiritual path which is to receive the initiation. Many people might ask why there are so many things or conditions require? Because it bring great benefit for us ie not go to lower reams, control next rebirth etc.. I just could not stop thinking about people who receive this initiation how they can be benefit to other and themself from vows that they hold. They will inspire other to want to be like them from their actions.
Guru samaya (relationship between student and guru) is very importance, we must have a clean or good relation with the teacher. Then the Refuge vows, bodhisattva vows and tantric vows are help us to stop our negative habitual and then how the virtue actions arise. If one hold vows very well, one will collect merit and one will not go down to 3 lower reams. Its very important to never give up in our vows.
Hello,
I really like how you explain to everyone your thought process on why you chose the Chenrezig tantric initiation and how you clearly explained what an initiation is, the benefits and the significance of it.
After reading about this, I feel really worried for those people who have received initiation but have either regretted or through laziness stopped holding onto their vows or merely forgot about them.
I think that those who have received the Chenrezig initiation from you (and from other high lamas) are extremely lucky. Although it might seem hard to hold the specified vows, to be able to hold them and in effect become and remain a good person seems like a win-win situation to me.
It seems like a good training course to prepare you for death (oh dear, sounding a bit morbid here!). Sometimes when I go to bed I think about what it would be like to die there and then. I try to think about how the senses will slowly dissolve and think about how I would feel if when I’m doing that, that really is it. Would I feel scared? What’s the last thing I’ll think about? Will my mind be all over the place from fear and anxiety?
As written above, if one was to receive the Chenrezig initiation and therefore think about Chenrezig upon waking up, followed by reciting her mantra, what a good way of training yourself so that when the time comes your mind is not everywhere!
Doing it everyday must leave such strong imprints that could be carried on onto the next life. How awesome
I hope that one day, when I am ready, I can receive the initiation…one dayyyy
Terima Kasih Rinpoche!
O Chenrezig! Avalokitesvara! Guan Yin Pu Sa! Kannon Bosatsu!
Om Mani Padme Hum!
If not for Thee, where would I be?
All those years of sitting in my mind
No matter what belies,
You were always on my mind!
Om Mani Padme Hum!
When I was a Christian, You sat in my mind
Now as a Buddhist, You sat in my heart
Such is that which chimes
Ringing, take Him to heart
Om Mani Padme Hum!
O Great Thousand Handed One
O Great Thousand Eyed One
Help me see which is the One
And finally I bow to the One!
Om Mani Padme Hum!
I am very happy that Rinpoche will confer the initiation of Chenrezi Ngesung Kundrol to chosen Kecharians in the near future. I rejoice for the chosen ones.
May everyone have the fortune to receive the initiation of Chenrezi Negesung Kundrol. May everyone be able to hold their vows. May everyone have strong guru devotion. May everyone be able to complete the spiritual path to enlightenment. May every one have good health and long life. May everyone be happy and well. May everyone be free from suffering. May everyone quickly develop bohdicitta and sunyata. May there be world peace here and now and forever.
So much effort went into learning up the pujas for this initiation from our visiting monks Kating Rinpoche and Gen-la a few months back in preparation for when Rinpoche feels the initiates are ready.
I like how Rinpoche gives us clear examples to help us check our minds to see if we really are ready to hold vows, whether we have what it takes internally to take the vows seriously. I was caught out the other day with such a simple thing as speaking out. Sure I may not have an answer to a question posed but to keep quiet when I could say something anything is better than saying nothing at all. And hence I broke one of my vows. Rinpoche kindly let me know… seeeee you broke your vows! And you say you want to take vows… please!?@!
Yes Rinpoche was using the situation to teach me where I am at, but it was a very good lesson, so simple that it shows how easy it is to break vows throughout our day continually, so that no matter what practice we’re given we will most likely break a few vows if not all in the space of 24hrs. I’m glad that Rinpoche is serious about vows, when we’re ready Rinpoche is soo full of initiations to share with us.
It is interesting to note that Shakyamuni or Tsongkapa had to go through all the 6 realms again taking rebirth, leave and the process repeats until their karmas are extinguished. Being ignorant, I assumed Shakyamuni became an enlightened Buddha in one lifetime but it wasn’t so. Before Shakyamuni was reborn as a prince, he was previously reborn as an animal, a farmer, in hell and so on. It sounds like a deep cleansing process that we have to get rid of our negative energy before we receive positive energy in us.
So before we receive any initiations at all, it would be logical that we create the cause to receive it in the future by following the vows loyally. I had better start laying down the ground work for this now.
As far as I can remember Rinpoche has only given one time on this particular Initiation at one of his friend’s house in Petaling Jaya. There was much preparations to do. Rinpoche directed the setting up for the Initiation. It was very lavish. There was a big crowd that came especially old people. There were lots of young people who were allowed to take the Initiation also. Rinpoche did not put any restrictions to participate. Reason why this time is more strict is people do not keep the commitments that was given to them thus making them break Guru Samaya. In the past Initiation Rinpoche only gave a commitment of one mala of OM MA NI PADME HUM to do daily. Most people don’t do it causing them to create bad karma for themselves with broken samaya.
Our Guru Tsem Rinpoche’s motivation for giving this initiation seems to be of twofold:- 1) To prevent people like us from entering into the lower realm or to have difficulties in future lives. 2) By consistent recitation of the mantra “Om mani padme hum” will receive the benefits of planting the seeds to attaining great love, supreme compassion and ultimately boddhicitta (or the selfless wish to benefit others). What a great and compassionate Mahasiddha our guru is! His main concern is to help and guide us by whatever means which will be most beneficial and with the most concern and care only for our ultimate liberation! H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche has chosen a rebirth to be amongst the most difficult circumstances to be closed to those who would desperately need him the most. Tsem rinpoche has been recognised and regarded as a real-life Boddhisatva by his teachers and students alike. How blessed we are to have such a great, generous and compassionate Boddhisattva to be our Guru!! “OM MANI PADME HUM”.
I saw this 3 deities and wondered their names when I was in KP not long ago.
Very good advice! Doing 1 mala of Om Mani Padme Hung every single morning to make it a habit.
Also think why we are reciting the mantra every day.
Many years ago, Rinpoche gave this initiation to a group of people Now this is another opportunity for people to receive this initiation and be prevented from going to the lower realms.
May many people have the merits and be the fortunate ones to receive this initiation from Rinpoche.
wow spiritual intellect beyond any human imagination one arm two arms one thousand arms of campassion beyond any western mind but here he is , i think he need be in holly wood maybe someday someone will make a movie about this maybe it will be bigger than seven years in the mountains
Rinpoche reminded us many many times, “the essence of life is not to eat, sleep, drink, procreate and have fun ….. at the time of death, the most important is Dharma.”
How fortunate I am to meet Rinpoche and may I continue to work hard for dharma and have a strong motivation that I would receive this Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol initiation to prevent myself to go into lower realm and continue to practice & serving dharma.
May many more people receive this initiation from Rinpoche in near future.
Dear Rinpoche
Thank you for blessing the people who are ready with this initiation and a even bigger thank you for explaning and emphasising the consitency and stability of mind before one can be initiated. I used to wonder ‘how nice’ when I hear my frens telling me thay receieved this initiation from that lama or some kinda emporwerment from that lama and I also wanted to join that bandwagon. In a way I am glad I wasn’t in a position to do so as when I examine myself, stability is not yet there, not all bodhisattva vows are practiced daily, purification practices at only beginning stage.I would have created even more negative karma. As my base is not yet stable and strong. Still, I hope within next few years after letting go of this negative habits and being diligent in guru yoga practice, perform the preliminaries and incorporating dharma in our daily lives, I shall be a worthy student. With folded hands.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the important things about Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol. What is the benefit for an initiation, and what we have to do, like hold our vow,we will not fall into the three lower realm.
Like Rinpoche said , we have to keep a very strong guru devotion,do our sadhana , follow Rinpoche instruction.
I better recite Om Mani Padme Hum everyday , to plants the seed.
Thank you Rinpoche
Guru devotion is a powerful method to help us change our habituation from samsaric centered to spiritual centered. Leave it to ourselves , all our actions are tainted with worldly concerns.Following the Guru’s instructions without any question or doubt help us to shift from worldly to spiritual in the quickest possible way.
It is said in the Lamrim that following the Guru’s instruction is the source of all virtues and merits because his actions of body, speech & mind arise from pure and sincere motivation.
My Dear Lama
I will work hard to be worthy of this initiation or any initiation that you will bestow upon me in the future.
Much love and care
Valentina
This is another precious teaching i have received from Rinpoche. i am very fortunate to have learnt about Guru Devotion as it is the very first step to start and work on as a solid foundation before we move on with any initiation. We have to put our 100% trust in our Guru’s instruction like how we listen to a doctor when we are sick and require medical treatment. Thank you Rinpoche.
Dear His Eminence Tsem Tulku Rinpoche
Thank you Rinpoche that sharing us such great initiation and I wish to make request for receive Chenrezig initiation if I have the opportunities and be able to receive. Thank you !
Dear Rinpoche,
I have heard You mentioned many times that Guru devotion (follow instruction, persevere, do not run away, etc) is very important to any initiations, otherwise it will not be beneficial or both the Lama and the students.
I know it is not appropriate to request for initiation here, as such, I will write on officially to request for this initiation. I have problem doing deep practice because my mind is never calm, of course, along with many other problems.
I have one question though. I am now doing my daily Namgyalma Sadhana. If I am fortunate enough to receive this initiation, do I continue to do Namgyalma Sadhana and add the Chenrezig into the Sadhana?
With folded hands,
lew
Dear Lew
We have many problems and Rinpoche knows them more than we do ourselves..Thus, Rinpoche is able to prescribe practices for us to tap into enlightened energies and invoke such qualities in our mindstream. Therefore, whatever practices Rinpoche has given is to be continued because it is what we need…and further practices received, if we are fortunate enough is added to what you have received.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for your article, teaching us on Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol initiation. I understand that for most initiation to be most effective is not the chanting, meditation or prayers but keeping our samaya clean, have good guru devotion and to follow our Guru’s instructions without any doubts. You are most kind to us to save us from going to the three lower realms for one more lifetime. May I be able to use every opportunity I have to benefit others.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for presenting again this article on Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol initiation and practice. For most of us, who cannot let go of our self-cherishing mind to achieve a mind of peace, equanimity and great compassion, it will be blessed for us to receive this initiation.
However, strong Guru devotion is key to receiving this initiation. The main reason is that only through Guru Devotion can we cut our ego and self-cherishing effectively.
Dear Rinpoche, thank you for posting this explaining to us what Chenrezig Negesung Kundrol initiation is and in general what is an initiation. It is a very powerful practice because it can prevent the practitioner from going to the three lower realms so that they may continue to purify and collect merits to support their spiritual progress.
However, Guru Devotion is still the key as far as spiritual practice is concerned, whether we have initiation or not. With Guru Devotion, we can gain attainments, see results in the fastest time. Without Guru Devotion, our spiritual practice will not gain results at all, we will be going round and round in the 6 realms.
There are so many great masters, if we examine carefully, all of them practise Guru Devotion, there is no exception.
Therefore, it is important that we start our practice with Guru Devotion before anything else. Follow our guru’s instruction, without questions, without doubts, do it happily.
普度三途观音大士法门是宗喀巴大师传承里最殊胜的普度法门之一。这个法是格鲁派的不共法门。其修持的对象是大慈大悲的观世音菩萨，施行满愿的绿救度佛母以及忿怒除障的一髻佛母。仰仗此三尊佛菩萨的力量，再加上传承祖师的加持力，修学此法门的行者可以摆脱三恶道之苦难。
除了佛菩萨殊胜的加持力，传承祖师们因知道现代社会人们修行的困难而特别传下这份精短的仪轨，使我们能够每天在短短的时间里头圆满免除三恶道痛苦的愿望。
Dear Rinpoche:
Thanks for the detailed teaching about Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol’s initiation and the importance of guru devotion and commitment in order to receive this initiation. I fully agreed one must be readied especially the mind-readiness with right motivation to benefit others before being invited for the initiation.
This is the initiation of compassion besides holding vows and recite mantra, one must translate compassion into action therefore his/her motivation must be pure, sincere and correct else how could he/she practice selflessness in order to achieve the quality of Chenrezig? Honestly that is no meaning to receive this initiation if we still carry even 1% of selfishness in us.
Thank you very much for the teaching.
Take good care.
With love,
VP
Rinpoche is always tirelessly thinking of ways to benefit people . This teaching and plans to give Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol initiation to people who are “ready” will “save” so many from going to the lower realms in their next life . If the practice and samaya with the Guru stays strong and pure , those initiated will be guaranteed a good rebirth in the lands of the Buddhas for them to have another opportunity to do Dharma ! Marvelous !! Rinpoche , you are really very very kind ! Thank you dear Rinpoche . It is now our duty to “deliver” our side of the promise so that we become suitable vessels to receive these initiations and teachings and from then move on to more transformations to benefit all !! OM MANI PADME HUNG !!!
Thank you rinpoche for sharing this knowledge to us and we can learn this teaching and know more about Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol..
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing on initiation of Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol Toskol sum – Chenrezig + Ekajati and Green Tara. I understand now about Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol Tsokol Sum, their qualities. We need to be someone that has integrity and clean Guru samaya to receive this initiation.
Although i am not familiar with Chenrezig in the male form for tibetan buddhism, but since young, i have a strong connection with Guan Yin. My mum used to bring me to a buddhist temple and we will chant the name of Guan Yin and i have faith that i can always count on her on situation that i’m in danger or fearful, or i need to need to get something done. She is very compassionate and will just come and help any beings that call for her help.
Currently i am reciting one mala of “Om Mani Padme Hum” daily. May i have the quality of Chenrezig – great compassionate and boddhicitta to support and help whoever in needs.
For some of you who may be curious to learn a little more about what Guru Devotion is, I’d like to share this short video with you which may be of interest. entitled “What is Guru Devotion” It is hosted by Jamie Khoo with Rinpoche explaining about Guru Devotion. http://youtu.be/lQ7fsKT5jtY
If you like the above video you might want to check out this link http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/creative-videos-promo-by-kechara-books.html as there are 10 such videos in this blog site. These videos all came from Rinpoche’s teachings Gurus for Hire, Enlightenement for Sale.
I hope you will enjoy at the same time learn a little more about Guru Devotion from watching these specially edited videos for you.
I was reading the Bodhisattva vows recently and the commentaries by Dagpo Lama Rinpoche.
These vows are amazing, they take us on another level, one in which we can’t even “hide” behind our vows, they make us more intelligent, they “force” us to break complaisance-ness.
They are really made to make us think deeper and not “parade” as “good guys”, but engage in the real deal and WALK THE PATH – nor more “PRETENDING” the path, this even if it makes us look silly, even if we loose face, even if we face awkward situations.
I bet a lot of us (and me) do enjoy when someone comes and say: “Oh you are so kind, you are so good, you are so knowledgeable, etc…” and then our ego becomes Ego and EGO and EEGGOO and EEEGGGOOOOOOO, and even though we might look like an angel, we’re turning into a monster.
Guru devotion.
50 stanzas.
Bodhisattva’s vows.
Definitely, an essential ground for higher practices such as Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol.
Gosh, I am not ready… Gosh not.
But I do aspire to it, just like the Christians say: “God, I am not worthy of your name, but just say a word…”
woh, this is a wonderful & powerful practice ! Whoever my dharma brothers & sisters have the merits to receive this initiation of Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol Toskol sum from Rinpoche, I congratulate them from the bottom of my heart…
I wish someday my family members & i too have the merit to receive this sacred practice from our Guru.
Thank you, Rinpoche…. wish you good health always !
Dear Rinpoche,
Rinpoche always so compassion and skillful to save as many people as H.E can. To save people as fast as possible. H.E is fighting against time to benefit as much people as possible, using a lots of methods/ ways, e.g: gives talks, build Stupas, build Chamang, having Kechara that organised pujas, Kechara Paradise which is like a small temple in shopping centers. H.E is like Chenrezig, very skillful and compassion.
With folded hand I prostrate and say Thank you.
Again and again, reminded me about keeping promises, stable mindset,not giving up, not running away when facing difficulties and Keeping Strong Guru Devotion. May I learn, remember and hold my daily prayer dearly to my heart. May my Guru Devotion always strong life after life.
Thank you Guru _/\_
Thank you Rinpoche for always thinking of us. You have done so much that make sure we are ok. No matter who is going to receive the initiation. I thank you from the bottom of my heart with folded hand.
Thank you for sharing Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche for this invaluable teaching on how to create the causes for and prepare for the Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol initiation. Rinpoche has always said that Rinpoche would not give initiations easily not because it is some exclusive club but that because Rinpoche would not give it if the recipient was not ready, and to me, that is pure compassion. Rinpoche would never give us something which we will not be able to do and inadvertently create negative results for ourselves. May i create the causes to receive initiations from Rinpoche by keeping good samaya.
With folded hands,
Sharon
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for giving us a chance to take better rebirths in the future and to motivate us to drop our own negativity. I learn that no matter how powerful and effective an initiation is, unless we are ready and committed to follow through with dedication and responsibly, it is as good as not having received one in the first place and because we break our promises, we pay a heavy price for that too. Rinpoche (with folded hands) is always kind and loving towards us but are we worthy of this love and care? This is just not a philosophical talk that I feel like contemplating whenever I want to. But it is something that must be put into action and I actively and sincerely create the causes for it.
With folded hands,
Wendy
Dear Rinpoche, Thank you for explaining tha Chenrezig Ngeseomg Kundrol initiation and practice. I think every Buddhist would like to receive this initiation and practice. As explained we will be born in a good place with dharma and near a guru so that we can continue to learn and practise. Thank you again Rinpoche for sharing this valuable information with us and hope many will be able to receive this initiation. Om Mani Padme Hum