How To Make Merit In The Daily Life

Lam Shenphen Zangpo, kuenselonline.com

Q: As a Buddhist practitioner, I like attending teachings and try to bring them into my daily life. Is this not enough? Why do we also need to make merit?

A: For people with good karma, it is possible to attain enlightenment by just listening to the teachings. The Chinese Zen monk Hui Neng is a good example of this. He awoke merely upon overhearing someone chant the Diamond Sutra.

However, most of us are too lost in the clouds of delusion for this to occur. Even if we listen to the teachings diligently, there is still every chance that we will not fully grasp the meaning. This occurs because of lack of merit.

We all naturally possess wisdom, but the clouds of ignorance cloak it. Merit provides a means for the light to shine through, and so enables us to see reality. In this respect, we can consider merit as a kind of ‘ability’.

Merit actually benefits on two levels. On an ultimate level, it is one of the causes of full enlightenment, while on a mundane level it provides a means to live wisely. How many people, for example, enjoy wealth, good health and live in beautiful surroundings, yet idle away their days watching Hindi soaps, playing video games or drinking. The inability to raise their lungta is entirely due to lack of merit. Even having the ability to relax and savour a cup of tea is contingent on merit.

In terms of mind, how does merit function? Well, our present situation did not arise from nowhere and at random, but is part of a flow of intertwined events that are both the result of the preceding event and the cause of the next.

In practical terms how does this function? Take, for example, a trip to Siliguri. From the moment the idea to visit the city was conceived, a series of events unfolded that allowed us to arrive there. First, we purchased a bus ticket, got on the bus and finally in Jaigaon, got transferred to another vehicle. We did not suddenly appear in Siliguri the moment we thought about going there, nor did we arrive without the right combination of causes and conditions. Our current situation is the same. It arose through a succession of events, with each being the result of the former and the cause of the next.

In this context, merit can be defined as anything that has a positive effect on this flow, such as thoughts, words or deeds that challenge ignorance and lead to the truth. Take compassion as an example. By benefiting others, we lessen our attachment to the false view of an independent self. Prostrations, likewise, crush our pride, while rejoicing in others good fortune serves as an antidote to jealousy. Listening to Dharma teachings, offering butter lamps and undertaking mandala practice are all excellent ways to generate merit.

In contrast, thoughts, words or deeds that preserve the wrong view, such as violence or arrogance, contaminates the flow and leads to inauspicious results.

How do we make merit? If you do not drink, for example, then make a vow to maintain this practice for the benefit of all beings. The ‘merit-meter’ will continue to tick away every moment that you do not consume alcohol. Likewise, if you decide to refrain from taking meat, but cannot do so on a daily basis, then make a vow to be a vegetarian on just one day a week. Later, when the act is complete, dedicate the merit to the enlightenment of all beings. Dedicating merit in this way is like adding a drop of water to the ocean.

In conclusion, merit is an essential aspect of life, and when combined with wisdom leads to full enlightenment. Therefore, we should not underestimate the benefits of merit, but strive to generate thoughts, words and deeds that lead to the truth whenever and however we can.

Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche said: “We cannot accumulate merit if we have a macho sense of pride and arrogance that we have already have enough truth and virtue and now are going to collect more. The person who collects merit has to be humble and willing to give rather than willing to collect…”

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Medicine Buddha

by Soraj

Medicine Buddha’s full name is “Bhaisajyaguru Vaiduryaprabha” which means something like “The Medicine Teacher whose Light is that of Lapis Lazuli.” There is a big difference between a Buddha like Medicine Buddha, and the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. Buddha Shakyamuni was a historical person who was born as a prince and later abandoned his princely and very luxurious life to pursue the life of a wandering ascetic. He founded Buddhism, which became one of the world’s greatest religions. He lived between the 5th and 6th centuries before Christ and died (or “entered Parinirvana”) when he was 80 years old.

Medicine Buddha, on the other hand, is completely different. He is an embodiment of the wish to free all beings from all illnesses, not only physical ones, but also mental and spiritual ones. He does not, strictly speaking, live among us in flesh and blood; however, it is neither the case that he lives in heaven like the gods. After all, gods in heaven belong to samsara and they also have to die and be born again so long as they have not attained nirvana.

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How to Buy a Singing Bowl

By Dirk Gillabel, soul-guidance.com

After having seen and heard the singing bowls, you may want to buy one. It is important to know how to select a good bowl, you do not want to later regret that you spent your money on a poor quality bowl. Here are a few tips to take into account when you have decided to invest into a unique healing instrument.

Photo: Guru Rinpoche Singing Bowl

First, find out who is importing singing bowls. If you just go to a shop to buy one, the best bowls have most likely already disappeared. Contact the importer, express your interest in the singing bowls, and leave your telephone number so he can call you back as soon as a new shipment has arrived. In Belgium I knew of four people who imported singing bowls, and only one was a shopkeeper. By leaving my telephone number with all of them I was always one of the first to look through a new shipment.

Take your time. Depending on how big the shipment is, it can take a lot of time to find the bowl you really like. Once I spent more than an hour going through a room full of well selected bowls. The choice was difficult, and I ended up with two of them. Most importers are very patient and understand the need to thoroughly check the goods. After all a singing bowl, especially a bigger one, is expensive. If you have your own strikers, take them with you. You will want to hear how a bowl sounds with both hard and soft strikers, and often shops will only have the harder kind. At least take a small piece of felt or wool to wrap around the hard striker at the shop. If you have a soft drum mallet, take it along.

What do you need to look for? First, it is important to find a bowl you really like. The sound of it has to please you. Not just a little bit, you need to feel connected to its fundamental and the different partials. If you do not find a bowl that fits you, wait for another shipment. Singing bowls are a serious investment, and you do not want to end up with a bowl that has little effect on you. Remember that you are buying it for meditation and/or healing. Read more »

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The best Tibetan Incense online shop: more than 450 kinds!

New Arrivals and Total Sale in the Tibetan Incense Shop

We have new things in the Tibetan Incense Shop!

We now have a greater variety of Incense, more than 450 different scents.

And that is not all! We also have many other goods from Nepal and Tibet such as:

• Singing Bowls
• Ritual Items
• Malas
• Textile

And much more!

Currently we’re inventorying all the new items, once this is done you will be able to see a description of each new item on our website (you may already see them categories…)

And since there is so much new stock, we are happy to announce a sale on all of our old stock!

So come on in and get 40% off all of the items on sale!

Once announced, the sale lasts for 24 hours! So hurry!

The sale starts on June 29th @ 4pm EDT (21:00 BST) and ends on June 30th @ 4pm EDT (21:00 BST)
Don’t miss your chance!

Hope to see you amongst our happy consistent clients!

Peace, Karmapa Chenno… Om Ma Ni Pe Me Hung…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There are some of our new items…

Meditation Incense from Bhutan

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The best Tibetan Incense online shop: more than 450 kinds!

H.H. the 17th Karmapa Visits Russia For The First Time

In June 2009, His Holiness the 17th  Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje is visiting Russia on an official invitation of the Head of the Kalmyk Republic, Kirsan Ilumzhinov. H.H. the 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje is the head of the Karma Kagyu Buddhist tradition.

17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje

Karmapa is planning to visit St. Petersburg (June, 9-11), Elista (June, 11–15), Moscow (June, 15–17), Irkutsk (June, 18–19), Ulan-Ude (June, 20–21), and Vladivostok (June, 24–26). During His visit to Russia, His Holiness will make Buddhist dedications, visit the Buddhist sacred places and meet His followers.

On the 12th of June, Russia Day – a national holiday in Russia, H.H. the 17th  Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje is meeting the Head of the Kalmyk Republic, Kirsan Ilumzhinov. In the Kalmyk capital city of Elista, His Holiness will visit the international festival “Compassion without Borders” as an honorable guest (June, 12–15). He will also visit the Central Hurul “the Golden Temple of Buddha Shakyamuni”, the Stupa of Enlightenment, and will give initiations on the 2nd Karmapa Karma Pakshi (Bakshi) and the Buddha of Compassion (the Loving Eyes).

“Of course, the visit of the spiritual leader of such a high rank is a great blessing for me personally, and for all the people of our republic. I think that when he comes, when his feet step on our ground, we will have more rains, more harvest, and more animal yield. On the other hand, it is good for people – we will become calmer and kinder”, – said the Head of the Kalmyk Republic Kirsan Ilumzhinov at the press conference. This conference was dedicated to the opening of “The Days of the Traditional Russian Buddhism”.

“The Russian Buddhism is not something exotic, something faraway and oriental. Although Karmapa visits Russia for the first time, already in the 13th century the Kalmyk, then called the Oirats, received the lineage of the Study from the 2nd Karmapa – Karma Pakshi (Bakshi). That means that historically speaking the Kalmyk have had a long-lasting connection with the Karmapas and the Kagyu School. That is why, among other rituals in Elista, Karmapa is going to give initiation on Karma Pakshi. No doubt, Karmapa’s visit is a memorable event, first of all, for Buddhism practitioners, for His disciples, and for everybody interested in Buddhism. But it is also a great blessing for the whole country”, – said Alexander Koybagarov, the President of the Russian Association of the Buddhists of the Karma Kagyu School.

In Buryatia H.H. the 17th  Karmapa will give initiations on Guru Rinpoche and will carry out the Bodhisattva Promise Ceremony. His Holiness is also going to visit the Ivolginsky Datsan to see the sacred Buddhist thing – the incorruptible relics of Hambo Lama Itigelov. “The High Lamas – are reincarnations, they bring knowledge. The 17th  Karmapa is a person who has realized himself in 17 lives as an enlightened teacher, as Buddha. It is a special, good karma, and every Buddhist should appreciate that, no matter which school of Buddhism he refers himself to. All the Russian Buddhists are waiting for His Holiness to come”, – said Yanjima Vasilyeva, the director of the Pandito Hambo Lama Itigelov Institute.

During His stay in St. Petersburg, Karmapa will visit the state reception given in His honor in the Buddhist Datsan. He is also invited to visit the Hermitage Museum to get acquainted with the art collections, especially, the Buddhist Art collections from the Eastern Art Department.

“It is an entirely fantastic story: the 10th Karmapa was a great artist and sculptor. His two works are kept in the Hermitage. These are a Thangka (a painting on silk) depicting Buddha Shakyamuni and a sculpture of Avalokiteśvara – Buddha of Compassion (Eng. the Loving Eyes, Tib. Chenrezig). And now, after 400 years, the 17th  Karmapa comes to look at His works in the remarkable treasure-house of the Russian Art. All the seventeen reincarnations of Karmapa, who is also called “the King of the Tibetan Yogis” or “the Treasure that Makes the Wishes Come True”, are famous for their extraordinary talents. Good wishes made near Karmapa come true, and amazing things happen around Him. We hope that this time something wonderful is also going to happen,” – said Alexander Koybagarov, the President of the Russian Association of the Buddhists of the Karma Kagyu School.

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