Lecture 172 of Khenpo Sodargyi's "Lectures on Entering the Practice", Part 9, "Wisdom"

Some time ago, I reminded everyone that when listening to the Dharma, you must be dignified and dignified. You should concentrate on hearing and receiving the meaning of the Dharma and listen with respect. I see that many people outside behave very well when listening to the Fa in front of TV or CDs, but there are also very few people who are listening to the Fa while talking on the phone, or walking around or eating. This is not reasonable. Before listening to the Dharma, you must do what you need to do first. Do not engage in other behaviors during the hour of listening to the Dharma. Patrul Rinpoche said that even the rosary beads and prayer wheels should be put down.

 

 

Of course, as a practitioner, you should always hold rosary beads and prayer wheels when you are not listening to the Dharma. There is a saying in Tibet: "A true practitioner cannot do without rosary beads and prayer wheels." Nowadays, there are many lay people outside who often hold rosary beads and spin prayer wheels when they are at work or at home. Especially during the chanting stage before and after listening to the Dharma, it is a good habit to use a prayer wheel. Fellow Taoists who did not have this habit before, I hope they can correct it in the future. They should recite "Samantabhadra's Vows" and spin the prayer wheel before and after listening to the class.

 

 

When you recite the prayers at home, it is best to use a prayer wheel. When chanting, you should put down all the messy things, chant with your heart, and use the prayer wheel at the same time. In fact, there is a kind of behavior when doing homework, such as putting your palms together and chanting attentively. No matter how short the time is, you should persist in doing this for a period of time every day. This is very important for practitioners. When walking, regardless of whether your heart is pure or not, you should hold a prayer wheel. In his later years, the Dharma King's wish-fulfilling treasure, the most essential and broadest aspiration was to promote the prayer wheel. Seeing, hearing, remembering and touching the prayer wheel is a very special cause and convenience for rebirth in the land of bliss. Do not underestimate these good roots. As mentioned earlier, even those who realize emptiness will not fall into emptiness or leave the accumulation of worldly good roots.

 

 

Each of us will face death. When your death comes, even if everyone in the world becomes enemies, they can't really harm you. The only thing that can harm you is the bad karma you have created. Even if everyone in the world becomes friends, You have all the wealth in the world, and you won’t be able to take any of it with you when you die. The only advantage is to practice good deeds and plant good roots in Alaya. Everyone has to go through this long path of death. If you don't prepare now, it will be very foolish. Therefore, in the process of studying, thinking and practicing, don't leave the good deeds passed down by the Dharma King's Wish-fulfilling Treasure. This is a request I made by the way.

 

 

The most profound revelation - the merits of turning the prayer wheel

 

 

Teacher Sakyamuni Buddha said: "With the power of this prayer wheel, all good gods protect, save, and relieve all untimely death and pain, and no one can compare with children, wealth, enjoyment, food, clothing, slaves, etc. If it is said No good deeds of body or speech can exceed the power of this prayer wheel."

 

 

Master Ugyen Padmasambhava said: "In all the Buddhist dharma translated from India into Tibetan, there is no good deed done by body and speech that has greater merit than turning the six-syllable mantra prayer wheel."

 

 

Chamei Rinpoche said: I have never seen a Dharma with greater merit, greater power, and more profound meaning than this Dharma.

 

 

Zopa Rinpoche explained: "In areas where prayer wheels are built, all sentient beings (not just humans, but also insects, etc.) will not fall into the three lower realms. They will obtain a heavenly body or be reborn in a pure land."

 

 

Master Bodhi Lion said: The merits of turning a prayer wheel once are equivalent to reciting the Tripitaka once; turning it two times is equivalent to reciting all Buddhist sutras; turning it three times can eliminate one's own body, speech and mind. , mind all the sinful obstacles; if you turn it ten times, you can eliminate the sins and obstacles like King Sumeru; if you turn it a hundred times, your merits will be the same as that of King Yama; if you turn it a thousand times, you and others can realize the Dharmakaya; if you turn it ten thousand times, you can achieve the Dharmakaya. , can liberate all sentient beings from oneself and others; those who turn it one hundred thousand times, can quickly reach the place where the sea of ​​Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva meets the saints; those who turn it one million times, can make all living beings in the sea of ​​samsara find peace and happiness; those who turn it thousands of times, can So that all sentient beings in the six realms of reincarnation can be plucked out of the sea of ​​suffering; the merits of those who turn hundreds of millions of times are equal to those of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva.

 

 

"The Great Water Wind Wheel Tantra" says: "The merits of a yogi who practices for seven years are not as good as the merits of turning a prayer wheel once; the merits of diligently practicing the six paramitas in a great calamity are not as good as the merits of turning a prayer wheel once; The merit of hearing the Tripitaka and Four Tantras during a great kalpa is not as good as the merit of turning a prayer wheel once."

 

 

Khenpo Sodarji: ...Through these teachings of the master, I summarized my life, and finally made a sincere wish: "As long as I have breath in my lifetime, I must promote the practice of turning prayer wheels."

 

 

Khenpo Sodarji: Some people think that turning the prayer wheel is just a Tibetan tradition and may not have such great merit. This idea is totally wrong! You should take a look at what the scriptures say. Do you have the power to deny these merits? For me personally, even though I have studied Buddhism for so many years, I am more and more convinced of the merits of turning the prayer wheel...

 

 

Khenpo Sodarji: The merit of spinning a prayer wheel is particularly great, especially when a person dies, if there is a prayer wheel next to him, then there is no need to break the Wa Dharma. ...The Dharma King left several teachings when he was close to passing away. The last one was to use a prayer wheel. This was the last will and testament of the Dharma King. It has the greatest merit and everyone must use it and never give up. ...If someone dies and you really have no time to save him, or no one saves him, or the person does not believe in Buddhism, put a prayer wheel in the direction of his head (it can be placed around the head, not necessarily on the top of the head), then he You will never fall into the three lower realms. I often think like this: "When I die, will there be any Vajra fellow Taoist around me? If so, I will ask him to put a prayer wheel next to my pillow. This will also give me a kind of comfort in my heart. On the one hand, I do know the merits of the Guanyin Mantra."

 

 

Khenpo Sodarji: If you want to truly gain some merit, you must understand the merits of spinning a prayer wheel. The Buddhist scriptures say: "All worlds are filled with seven treasures. The merits of making an offering can be measured, but the merits of turning a prayer wheel with great intention cannot be measured. The dust particles on the earth in all worlds can be counted one by one. The blessings of a six-syllable mantra prayer wheel are countless;

 

 

The merit of giving to every living being in the three realms can be measured, but the merit of turning a prayer wheel once to benefit all living beings cannot be measured..."

 

 

Khenpo Sodargyi: ...there is a very famous dakini in Tibet named Sichionkhan Dolma (that is, Linsa Qiuji in the "Tibetan Book of Life and Death"). She often goes to the bardo realm, although she has been to the Eighteenth It is a hell, but I have never seen anyone who used a prayer wheel fall into hell. Some masters said: "Even if you kill eighteen people, turning the prayer wheel can get rid of the obstacles of sin."... Guru Rinpoche said: "Good men and good women, who wish to be reborn in the land of bliss, should diligently turn this prayer wheel." , the five uninterrupted sins can also be purified by this." Chome Rinpoche also said: "Those who have committed the five uninterrupted sins, the eight sins of sin, and those who commit adultery, precepts and killings and other serious crimes, as long as they use the prayer wheel, their sins will not pollute themselves at all. Continue and achieve perfect liberation." We have to believe in the teachings of so many eminent monks and great sages. It would be a pity if we are still unwilling to use and promote them!

 

 

Khenpo Sodarji: You often turn the prayer wheel with your body, often recite the Guanyin mantra with your mouth, and often think of benefiting all sentient beings in your heart. If you can do this, you are a veritable practitioner. We measure the quality of a person's practice in Tibet. , which is also based on this standard.

 

 

Introduction to the merits of turning a prayer wheel

 

 

The merits of spinning a prayer wheel are incredible. Chamei Rinpoche, who achieved the attainment of freedom of speech, said in "The Merits and Merits of Avalokitesvara Mantra Turning the Prayer Wheel": "I have never seen a Dharma with greater merit, greater power, and more profound meaning than this Dharma." What he said is similar to that of the Buddha. It's the same as what he said. "Because turning a prayer wheel is simple and easy, gets twice the result with half the effort, has huge merits, and achieves quick results, if you work diligently with your body, speech, and mind, you don't need to pray hard, and you will naturally receive the protection and blessings of the special protector of the deity. , to overcome all harm. People who usually turn the precious prayer wheel with secret mantras in their hands are equivalent to meditating on the three roots of the guru's deity and reciting all the mantras at the same time. It includes the sutras, tantras, teachings, and the four major The essence, the lifespan, blessings, and merits of all sentient beings in the three realms. If you practice any method, you will receive great blessings, rapid achievements, and vast undertakings. Turning this prayer wheel can get rid of adverse conditions and successfully achieve all undertakings in the world and beyond. . Turning this prayer wheel is like making a cloud offering of Samantabhadra that fills the space in front of all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, masters, deities, dakinis, protectors, and gods of wealth, making them happy and giving the siddhi happily. The body of this prayer wheel is pure, The merits are vast, will not mature into negative consequences, do not delay in reciting, and do not obscure the meaning of the Dharma. It is simple and easy to do, anyone can use it, and it can be turned by hand while walking and standing, and you can naturally obtain good roots (having the above characteristics) . The only method that can naturally achieve benefits for future generations is turning the prayer wheel."

 

 

In the past, there were countless achievers and well-known sages in the snowy land of Tibet who were very diligent in turning prayer wheels by hand, and some kept spinning prayer wheels with their hands throughout their lives. Many great masters, such as the famous first Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and the Great Perfection Rainbow Body Achiu Venerable Venerable Aqiu, were all practitioners of Guanyin Mantra and praying wheel all their lives. At that time, Dege Tusi had a similar table The prayer wheel is turned by hand, which is extremely cherished. During the day, when doing official duties, it is turned at all times. At night, when falling asleep, it will be turned by its attendants day and night. In addition, the Avalokitesvara mantra spinning prayer wheel also has its own special meaning. For example, some dharma lineage holders and lineage masters, before their death, passed on their commonly used prayer wheels and prayer beads to a disciple. This person is It is the successor of its lineage, or it is used as a basis for finding the next reincarnation of the Living Buddha, or it has other special meanings. Nowadays, there are also many eminent monks and great sages who advocate and carry forward this method of turning the prayer wheel of Guanyin mantra. For example, Dzogchen Drupa Rinpoche has been spinning the prayer wheel for decades, and he never leaves his hand to turn the prayer wheel; Dharma King Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche Actively promote the Guanyin mantra spinning prayer wheel. In addition to mass production for disciples to use, it also requires its disciples to keep their left hand on the rosary and their right hand on the prayer wheel. In the Buddhist academy, the great Khenpo Living Buddha took the lead. So, if we use both our left and right hands in this way, are we still afraid that we will not make progress in practicing the Dharma? If you add an electric one to rotate beside it, it would be even more perfect!

 

 

The merits of turning a prayer wheel are like picking up shells in the ocean

 

 

◎ The Buddha said to Arile Dakini: "Some monks and nuns who have broken the precepts of liberation, bodhisattva, and tantric vows can become pure if they turn this prayer wheel while repenting with a repentant heart."

 

 

◎ Holy World Zizui said: "The merits of making offerings of the seven treasures in all the worlds can be measured. The merits of turning the prayer wheel once with a broad mind are immeasurable. The motes of dust in all the worlds can be counted, and the blessings of turning the six-character Great Ming Sutra once. Virtue is immeasurable.

 

 

◎ Master Ujin Padmasambhava said: "Relying on the merits of turning the prayer wheel, you can achieve all the favorable conditions for practicing the law, eliminate all obstacles, diseases and harmful conditions, 360 kinds of diseases and obstacles, and 800,000 kinds of demonic obstacles. Twenty-one thousand kinds of sudden demons, three hundred and sixty kinds of original demons, curses, unlucky hexagrams, nightmares, bad omens, serious disasters, and all other negative karma."

 

 

Vajra, the secret master, said: "Turning this prayer wheel is more powerful than practicing the Longevity Dharma a hundred times, observing the wheel of protection a hundred times, and doing the wheel protection a hundred times."

 

 

◎ Master Wujin Padmasambhava said: "By inheriting the power of this prayer wheel, you will gain great freedom from heaven, ghosts, and humans, as well as food, wealth, and Dharma. Dreams, omens, and all other disobedient evils will be banished."

 

 

◎ Chamei Rinpoche also said: "Those who commit the five uninterrupted sins, the eight sins of sin, and commit adultery, precepts and killings, and other serious crimes, as long as they use a prayer wheel, their sins will not pollute their self-continuity at all, and they can obtain complete liberation."

 

 

◎ Chamei Rinpoche once said: "Those who turn this prayer wheel will not be reborn in a home with wrong views, a home with blind, deaf, mute and lame people, a poor and lowly home, a home with butchers, fishermen and other low-caste families. A family of noble caste, Buddhist believers, and good Dharma practitioners."

 

 

◎ Khenpo Sodarji: Some of the merits of spinning a prayer wheel are as follows: A person spins a prayer wheel on a mountain, and the wind blows through the prayer wheel, and then touches other living beings, then this living being will not fall into the lower realms; When turning a prayer wheel, if someone sees it, the good roots of liberation will be sown in their eyes, and they will directly or indirectly obtain the status of Bodhi. When you turn the prayer wheel while walking, all sentient beings passing by will have good roots planted in their continuum. ; Use the prayer wheel when crossing rivers or bridges, and all living beings in the water will be liberated. Therefore, turning the prayer wheel is of great benefit to all living beings. After understanding this, we have to practice it.

 

 

◎ Khenpo Sodarji: If there is an elderly person at home, he must learn to use a prayer wheel. If you are truly filial to your parents, you should let them do nothing but recite the Avalokitesvara mantra, recite Amitabha, and spin prayer wheels all day long. … In our Tibetan area, when a person reaches his fifties or sixties, his family will let him retire. He does not have to do anything but recite the Guanyin mantra and turn the prayer wheel wholeheartedly.

 

 

◎ Khenpo Sodarji: When we recite the Diamond Sutra and the Amitabha Sutra with our mouths, the merits are very great; when we perform kowtows, circumambulation, etc. with the body, the merits are also great. However, according to the teachings of the Buddhist scriptures, these are not the same as turning the prayer wheel. Compared with the merits of the latter, the merits of the latter far exceed the former.

 

 

◎ Zopa Rinpoche: It is also mentioned in the teachings that praying wheels can prevent harm from non-human beings and other sentient beings, and can also relieve diseases, so I thought that praying wheels can be used for treatment. Any sentient being who is sick, such as AIDS or cancer, whether they understand Buddhism or not, can use the prayer wheel for meditation and healing. I know a very small number of people who have completely recovered from terminal cancer through meditation. If someone is suffering from AIDS, cancer or other diseases, the patient (or a family member acting on their behalf) can spend a few hours a day turning the prayer wheel and visualize using two methods: The first is that you visualize the light coming from the prayer wheel. The mantra radiates out, illuminating you and purifying you of all diseases and their causes, your negative thoughts and the habits they have left in your mind continuum. Then visualize the light illuminating all sentient beings, purifying all their suffering, bad karma and obstacles; the second visualization is that the light radiates from the mantra, like a vacuum straw above the dust, attracting all diseases and inhuman harm. and, most importantly, the causes of disease, negative karma and obstacles. It all gets breathed into or integrated into the prayer wheel. Visualize and purify yourself in this way. When it is over, visualize the light radiating from the prayer wheel, purifying the sufferings and obstacles of beings in the six realms. These are integrated into the prayer wheel, and all sentient beings, including ourselves, can be liberated, realize the entire Bodhi path, and achieve the status of the Great Compassionate Buddha. If you meditate like this, do it for as many hours a day as possible, it will definitely have some effect.

 

 

◎"The Complete Works of Mani" says: "Place the prayer wheel of liberation in a high place, and all living beings can be liberated wherever the wind blows. If you turn the prayer wheel with the power of fire, all living beings can be liberated wherever the smoke blows. Certain rivers, ponds, and streams By turning a prayer wheel with the power of water, fish, shrimps, and crabs can all be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss... Just by touching it with your hands, you can achieve it in the future. If a person ends his life and turns a prayer wheel above his head, he may not have any thoughts. Reciting the Sutra of the Dead, etc., can also lead to liberation."