Tuesday, May 03, 2005

May 3rd...Understanding.....

Today Norbu forgot the battery to his camera. : ) I do have photos he took in earlier weeks though, and they're posted below. He reports they were able to complete the floor of the platform today. All that's left is the railing, and some rig to get the sand and pot up to the platform. Quang joined the crew today, and has committed to coming out every weekday morning!

As I have been working (at my job) I wanted to share a story with you today. I've quoted the text below from Mirror of Freedom's booklet "Stupas: Incalculable Sources of Blessing by Tulku Sang Ngag Rinpoche". Thank you to Padma Publishing/Chagdud Gonpa Foundation for permission to reprint from their text here!

"In terms of the practical means by which is a stupa is designed and constructed, the rituals performed, and the substances are prepared, the majority of accomplished Tibetan masters have relied on the teachings the Buddha Shakyamuni gave in the human and the god realm. These instructions are contained in Drimed Namnyiy, the "Two Stainless Cycles". Regardless of the outer form of a stupa, the inner consecration is identical in every case and is based on these two cycles.

One of them, the Odzer Drimed or "Stainless Light Rays" cycle, was conferred by the Buddha when approached by a Brahmin named Sergyi Dawa. This Brahmin, far from being a Buddhist, was a learned teacher of an extreme philosophical view that was at real variance with the Buddha's teachings, and he had thousands of students. Due to insight gained through meditation, he had a premonition that he would die within seven days, which frightened him very much. He wanted to save himself, but was powerless to do so. He had heard a great deal about the compassion and wisdom of the Buddha, and so he went to him for help. The Buddha's first response was, "You have every right to be concerned. You're facing not only an untimely death, but such a store of negative karma that your mindstream will be reborn again and again in lower and lower realms of existence until you are finally born in a hell realm." The Brahmin replied, "You are omniscient; please give me the means to offset this obstacle." The Buddha answered, "Under normal circumstances, you would experience this suffering, but there is no need for you to do so. There is a stupa in a certain location. All you have to do is repair, refurbish, and reconsecrate it and you gain enough merit to offset your negative karma." So out of his compassion the Buddha transmitted the teachings, mantras, dharani mantras, and the means of constructing and consecrating a stupa. Then he said, "Your life at present is similar to a lamp running out of oil. This will be like pouring oil into the lamp and sustaining your life force. It will also exhaust the negative karma that would have lead to rebirth in lower states. When you finally pass from this life, like a snake shedding its skin you will leave the world behind and attain birth in a pure realm, a realm of bliss." So overjoyed was the Brahmin that he took what the Buddha said to heart. He used all of the means that had been placed at his disposal to restore and reconsecrate the stupa.

Through the power of the Buddha's words, the power of the mantras and dharani mantras that the Buddha transmitted, and through his own efforts, the Brahmin experienced a miraculous transformation. His sick and dying body became strong, majestic presence and he lived for a long time. The effects of this astonished Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. The bodhisattvas who were students of the Buddha were amazed that he had bestowed such powerful kriya tantra teachings. Recognizing their very special nature as a means of purification and spiritual development, the bodhisattvas codified them, thus providing the scriptural sources for this unbroken lineage of practical methods for building and consecrating stupas."

This is the kind of opportunity present here in Maryland, right now, in this modern world! So please do join us, offer your support to this effort, whether in the form of prayers, as a donation that allows us to purchase needed supplies, or with your very presence, coming out and working with us. We open this opportunity to any being who wishes to join us! We offer this in order to bring benefit, and an end to suffering, for all those seeking relief...

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