In this episode, Geshe Tashi continues his commentary on Maitreya’s Prayer of Love, which, spoken by Lord Buddha, is taken from the Mahayana Sutras. Geshe Tashi is also using a commentary by Chone Jetsun Drakpa Shedrup.
Geshe Tashi gives us a detailed recap of last episode’s verses, including the definition of bochicitta in Tibetan and English, and what that means for us practically. He further explains that this text takes the Seven Limbed Prayer or Seven Practices as a framework, while at the same time explaining the Six Perfections. The first two verses correspond with the first of the Seven Practices – prostrations. “What is a prostration?” Geshe Tashi asks us. A prostration to the Buddha grows out of understanding the qualities of the Buddha and developing respect. From respect, the actual prostration will come. Otherwise, Geshe la says, making a prostration is just habit, just culture, and not useful.
Verse 3 brings us to purification, a way to psychologically cleanse our system, the third of these Seven Practices. Once again Geshe la highlights the importance of using the Four Powers in our mental hygiene:
1. The Foundation – Refuge, bodhicitta or compassion
2. Regret – acknowledging our unwholesome behaviours and the certain results that will follow
3. The remedy, or antidote
4. Determination, the resolve not to do it again
Verse 4 looks at the wholesome results of our practices and daily actions, our beneficial habits and understandings, and how to maximise these and offer them to others. Here we are advised to make skilful dedications, setting our intentions so that our good work and its results become the causes or seeds for omniscience – a fully awakened mind that has the quality of being inexhaustible. Within this verse we can find another two of the Seven Practices, offering (2) and dedication (7).
Apologies for the delay in getting this up for you. We are very happy to let you know, however, that Geshe Tashi is now looking much further ahead with his online teaching schedule. Except for a likely break over the summer, he has let us know that we will be receiving regular weekly teachings from him into the foreseeable future. Thank you for visiting this blog, watching the videos and for your wonderful comments, you have all helped make this happen.
With best wishes as ever,
Your Admin Team
Maitreya’s Prayer of Love (Verses 3 & 4)
Jampai Monlam
Controlled by negative habits,
In the sight of the Buddha
I have often given harm to others.
I shall confess these actions
Yet from the beneficial actions of my body, speech, and mind
I pray that the merit generating the seeds of omniscience may never be exhausted.
May I further accomplish this accumulation of merit
By performance of the three actions (of body, speech, and mind.)
FPMT, translator unknown
https://foundationsofbuddhistthought.org/
Khen Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering taught in London for over 25 years and is currently Abbot of Sera Mey Monastery in Karnataka State, India.
Thank you very much, Geshe la and for kindly letting us hear the original verse and direct translation. I hope the situation is OK in India.
Dear Geshe-la and admin team, Thank you so so much for making these special teachings so available. I’m helping to bring back plants and trees into our fire affected area here in Victoria, Australia, and these teachings keep me focussed on kindness and compassion when I feel overwhelmed. They keep my heart open and able to be present. I can’t find the words to thank you all but the image of a tiny blue wren splashing in the bird bath and bees collecting nectar in the huge flowering gum opposite come somewhere close!
Thank you Geshe-la and please live long to continue the teachings for all sentient beings.
Thank you Grace for the lovely image you have offered us, so much appreciated!
Continued thanks for clear and solid teaching from the generosity of your heart – a guiding light when Samsara’s ocean tides can so easily ship wreck our good intents. Thank you Geshe Tashi and the Admin team for making the Dharma available – much appreciated.
That’s a pleasure Chris, thank you.
Tashi delek
Thank you. A calm oasis in this mad, mad world.
Jeh-yong
Dear Geshela Thanks again for sparing time within your Sera Je responsibilities to impart the Buddha Dharma across the ether…..as always very beneficial to listen …..things down under are almost back to normal….whatever that meant at the time…..
Thank you dear Geshe-la for these teachings. They are most timely, especially this weekend when not far from my house, there have been demonstrations, some of which have been peaceful,, but also sometimes there has been anger, violence, civil unrest. Your teachings have had a calming effect. Your commentary on the monastery’s rubbish collection was relevant too, at least I think so, reminding me that the rubbish in my mind is also needing to be removed! I look forward to the next instalment on this text
Alison
Thank You Geshe LA
This lesson in particular helps us to develop deep faith in our daily practices and yearn for the spiritual well being of all now an in many lives to come.
What a privilege to hear your teachings
hi geshla
colm from jamyang here
im still fat but i have not killed anyone this year ?thanks to you showing me how a human can have dignity and venrable traits.
im nowhere near that but you gave me hope when you was in london as i had little.
as painfull as it was too see you leave mike murry is now helping me to be a better bodhisattva.
hope you are well and if you need anyone killed in london it would be a privilige to carry it out ?
seriously you are a spark of light in what can be darkness all around.
should have listened more should have practiced more but if not in this lifetime……?
Thank you Geshe Tashi