“Infinite Powers and Benefits” of the Vajra Guru Mantra: A Buddhist Practitioner’s Insight into the Teachings of Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava

From the Texts to the Heart: Understanding Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava’s Teachings Guru Rinpoche’s life-message is the essence of Vajrayana Buddhist philosophy and methodology, preserved through the centuries in texts and terma, biographies, lineage teachings, and oral transmissions that continue...

Jan 14, 2024 - 21:01

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“Infinite Powers and Benefits” of the Vajra Guru Mantra: A Buddhist Practitioner’s Insight into the Teachings of Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava

Buddha Weekly Guru Rinpoche Mantra Video Padmasambhava Buddhism

From the Texts to the Heart: Understanding Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava’s Teachings

Guru Rinpoche’s life-message is the essence of Vajrayana Buddhist philosophy and methodology, preserved through the centuries in texts and terma, biographies, lineage teachings, and oral transmissions that continue to illuminate the lives of millions across the globe.

To appreciate the depth of Guru Rinpoche’s teachings, we only need to explore the rich library of treasure texts or ‘termas’. These were teachings and practices concealed by Guru Rinpoche himself and later discovered by ‘tertons’ or treasure revealers[1]. In these texts, Guru Rinpoche’s teachings often focus on three central themes: the importance of the mind’s perception, Yidam, and the mantra practice. Mantra itself, a Sanskrit word, is translated as “mind protection.”

Mantra can be a Complete Practice with “Infinite Powers and Benefits”

The great Guru Rinpoche Padmasmbhava, Lotus Born, the second Buddha, taught many deep and profound teachings. Although he gave us some of our deepest and profound teachings and practices, he also foresaw the degeneration of times, the lack of time to practice that afflicts so many people in modern times.

Lady Yeshe Tsogyal, Wisdom Dakini, asked for and recorded his answer to an important question for modern times. As recorded in the Treasure Text of Tulku Karma Lingpa, Lady Yeshe asked the Compassionate Buddha about the practice of the Vajra Mantra as a practice for busy times. She asked him:

“You have spoken of many ways to remedy these afflictions, but beings in the future will have no time to practice. Those who do have a slight inclination towards practice will be beset by powerful obstacles. Beings will not get along with one other; supplies and materials will be insufficient. Such terrible times as these will be extremely difficult to avert. In such times, Guru, what are the benefits of relying solely upon the practice of the Vajra Guru mantra?”

The Master Lotus Born spoke thus:

“O, Lady of Faith, what you say is absolutely true. In such future times, that practice will definitely be of short and long term benefit for sentient beings. Although I have concealed many earth treasures, water treasures, rock treasures, sky treasures and so on which contain unfathomable pith instructions and methods of practice, in the degenerate times it will be terribly difficult for fortunate beings to find the conditions and circumstances to meet with the teachings; this is a sign that beings’ merit is running out.

“However, in such times as those, this essential Vajra Guru mantra—if recited with vast bodhicitta aspiration in great sacred places, in monasteries, on the peaks of high mountains and the shores of vast rivers, in places inhabited by gods, demons and evil spirits, at the heads of valleys, geophysical junctions and so on—by ngakpas with unbroken samaya, vow-holding monastics, faithful men, women of fine qualities, and the like, however many times—one hundred, one thousand, ten thousand, one hundred thousand, ten million, one hundred million, etc.—will bring inconceivable benefits and powers. Countries everywhere will be protected from all plague, famine, warfare, armed violence, poor harvests, bad omens and evil spells. Rain will fall on time, harvests and livestock will be excellent, and lands will prosper. In this life, future lives, and on the pathways of the bardo, fortunate practitioners will meet me again and again—at best in actuality, or else in visions, and at the very least in dreams. Having gradually perfected the levels and paths, there is no doubt that they will join the ranks of male and female Awareness Holders in Ngayab Ling.

“Even one hundred recitations per day without interruption will make you attractive to others, and food, wealth and enjoyments will appear effortlessly. If you recite the mantra one thousand, ten thousand, or more times per day, you will bring others under your influence with your brilliance, and blessings and powers will be continuously and unobstructedly obtained. If you perform one hundred thousand, ten million or more recitations, the three worlds will come under your power, the three levels of existence will fall under your glorious sway, gods and spirits will be at your bidding, the four modes of enlightened activity will be accomplished without hindrance, and you will be able to bring immeasurable benefit to all sentient beings in whatever ways are needed. If you can do thirty million, seventy million or more recitations, you will never be separate from the Buddhas of the three times nor ever apart from me; thus, the eight classes of gods and spirits will obey your orders, praise your words, and accomplish whatever tasks you entrust to them.

“At best, practitioners will attain the rainbow body; failing that, at the time of death, mother and child luminosities will meet; and at the very least, they will see me in the bardo and all their perceptions having been liberated into their essential nature, they will be reborn in Ngayab Ling and accomplish immeasurable benefit for sentient beings.”

Thus he spoke.

The Benefits of the Vajra Guru Mantra in Guru Rinpoche’s Own Words

the Great Master spoke thus:

“O, Noble Daughter, the Vajra Guru mantra is not only my essential mantra, it is the life-essence of the deities of the four classes of tantra, the nine vehicles, the 84,000 aspects of the Dharma, and so on. The heart essence of all the Buddhas of the three times, the lamas, deities, ḍākinīs, Dharma protectors, and the like is encompassed by this mantra. The reason for this is as follows. Listen well and hold this in your heart. Recite the mantra. Write it. Tell it to sentient beings in the future.