The Three Nobilities (Speaking Tree, 19/04/'10)

THE THREE NOBILITIES – Prelude to Mantra Recitation

When you chant and recite any mantra, you must bear in mind the importance of the Three Nobilities: Bodhichitta, Non-Objectifying Wisdom and Dedication. This brings benefit to the one reciting and for those it is meant to bring benefit.
There are two things to be borne in mind alongwith this: Firstly, to keep secret of your mantra recitation and its result. Secondly, one must also be mindful not to speak others who are not Dharma practitioners about one's practice and accrued benefit. If we are not mindful of this, the result will not be perfect due to many forces that may be counter active.
These three nobilities are as important as your yearning to achieve the result at the end by reciting the specific mantra.

The 1st nobility is called Bodhichitta, which is ‘Awakened Mind’ and means generation of a special motivation to benefit all sentient beings with the virtues being accumulated. So this motivation should be generated prior to any kind of virtuous practice. You can read this line to motivate yourself for the benefit of others: "I will benefit all sentient beings bestowing them with the Eternal Bliss and Qualities."

The 2nd nobility is called Non-Objectifying Wisdom, which means whatever virtue is accumulated or practiced, it's practiced without any sense of clinging desires in the mind. This, in other term, called primordial awareness is maintained during the main practice itself. One should be fully aware without any clinging or self-centric desires such as, ‘I am the one who practices this virtue’ or ‘this is the virtue I'm practicing and for them I practice’ and so on. In fact, one should cut through such kinds of thoughts from one's mind stream. So when the mind is devoid of such discriminative thoughts, all emotions naturally calm down. It is therefore called Non-Objectifying Wisdom, the true and primordial awareness of all beings.

The 3rd nobility is called Dedication, which means whatever virtue has been accumulated, for example here by chanting and reciting the mantra, it is dedicated for the benefit of sentient beings to rid them of their suffering and bringing them happiness. Probably, the dedication prayer is chanted only after the virtuous practice. Chant this line as a dedication prayer: "Gewa Ma-ghen Drodug Kunla Ngo – which means “May all motherly sentient beings attain enlightenment through the power of my virtues that I have accumulated by chanting and reciting the mantra."
It is of crucial importance to feel what other beings need. Feel what you need. To our surprise we will find out that the need and requirement is one and same, that is happiness. Each and every being needs nothing more than happiness. So it is with us. Therefore all sentient beings are similar and even same. However, remember that just like us, other sentient beings too get trapped in the net of sufferings, pains, torture, afflictions, emotions and so on. Now feel and chant this: “May all sentient beings be free from sufferings and its causes.” This is the real definition of compassion.

Extend this practice further from one being to two and four – that’s from your family then to neighbourhood to town to cities to country and further towards all sentient beings.

Practice this daily and see the results. Remember, the Dharma belongs to nobody. It is his/hers who endeavours most.

Girish Deshpande – The author is a practitioner of Nyingma Buddhism

Sky Nature of Mind ( Speaking Tree , 5th May 2010)

CLOUDS AND THE SKY – Mind v/s The Mind

In every sentient being the buddha mind is omnipresent. We don’t have to go looking for it. We don’t have to do strive to perfect it. It has been with us ever since birth and it is always perfect! Just as the sky. This is the nature of our mind. Who would want to strive to perfect a cloudless sky?

It is a foregone conclusion that all beings want happiness and not suffering. Besides the four natural sufferings of birth, sickness, old age & death, right from the smallest insect to human beings all of us want to be happy at all other times. So why do our actions of body, speech & mind work often in contradiction to what we really want and end up bringing suffering to us? The reason is simple. Because we allow them to. Is there a way we can correct this way of working of the mind? Yes, there certainly is, only if we attempt to clear the clouds that cover the beautiful sky.

Now, if we already have the problem identified - that of exploring the spontaneously present, perfect, sky-like brilliance of the mind - what holds us back from finding solutions to it? The teachings in Buddhism speak of them as the Four Faults. Lets explore them briefly.

1. Being too Close: Have you ever tried to see your face without the help of a reflection? It’s not possible. In the same manner, masters say that the nature of the mind is so close to our mind that it finds it difficult to see it.

2. Being too Profound: How often have you waded into unknown waters? You take a few steps and the fear of the unknown stops you. In a similar manner, we have no idea how deep the nature of mind would be. We cannot fathom its depth. So we don’t make an attempt. If we knew how deep or profound it is, we would have made atleast some attempt to gauge it.

3. Being too Easy: It is often that we have not attempted something simply because it was too easy. So it is with the nature of mind. Something that has always been with us, always perfect, gets a priority that is low amongst other worldly distractions & attractions.

4. Being too Wonderous: How many times we have left something untried because we see the immensity of the task? So it is with our conceptualized, narrow, small & contrived minds. We just don’t believe that we can actually attain enlightenment which is the base or root nature of our minds.

These faults were contemplated hundreds of years ago in Tibet. A nation then, and perhaps even now, dedicated in pursuit of enlightenment. If this was relevant to a civilization of that kind, imagine how relevant it is in the modern world of sheer materialism and confusion.

The sadness is that there are not too many things expressed about this naked, virgin state of our mind. Scientific pursuits & discoveries that drive global thinking don’t even believe something like the base mind exists. They speak of the mind as the intellectual mind of thoughts, skills & emotions. The fact is that intellectual mind cannot understand the primordial mind as it exists in the relative plane while the other on an absolute plane. Yet, there are occasions when unknowingly we have experienced a fleeting glimpse of the presence of such perfect state of mind. Say, while watching a scintillating ballet performance or whilst listening to a perfect rendition of a raga, or when amidst nature in total silence and other similar pristine moments.

So if this state actually exists, what can we do to observe and experience it more often, if not stay in such a state at all times? Look inward.

During the course of my training, i was astonished to learn that the Tibetan word for ‘Buddhist’ is nangpa, which means “inside-er”! To seek the lessons of living & dying not from the sources outside but by peeping into the nature of our own mind. Alas, in today’s times we have been driven to habituating ourselves to seek answers outside, thereby enslaving ourselves further. All this, under the false garb we foolishly call freedom. How contradictory! People fear to look within themselves, not knowing what they will find. Whether they will be able to face what they will find. They are afraid that they will be treated like social outcasts amongst friends, like mad people, left alone to live life in solitude. And this conceptualized, misplaced approach plays perfectly into the ploy of the wily ego, who could have asked for nothing more!

The truth is that the answers you genuinely seek will come to you only from within the nature of your mind and not the nurtured mind. Even if you get the most accomplished teacher, his/her only responsibility will be to guide you through the unknown pathways with the help of teachings and practices, cutting thru the obscurations of the contrived mind and make you discover the true nature of your mind. And in doing so, help you dispel the fears of sickness, old age & death and understand better the prospect of life, death and after life.

Endeavour on, dear friends! Let the winds of awakening blow away the clouds from the sky nature of your mind. Introduce yourself to the perfect sky that is your very own and has always been with you. This is the only happy way out from here! Buddhahood to you.

Girish Deshpande
(The author is a Pune based Dharma practitioner)

WALKING WITH THE BUDDHA, (Speaking Tree Paper, 11/04/'10)

- Travelogue Of An Urban Seeker.

Violent thoughts had been storming the mind for too long now and there was no other way for a settlement but a sabbatical. For a few years now i had sensed that at a time when emotions were panning the globe like never before, there must be a lasting way to sort out imbalances of the within and without. To empower oneself to justify, seek and perhaps redefine man’s relation with man and that with himself, rather than with his god. There were breaks that i had taken in the past too, to try and iron these out thru trial but they had at best been seriously flirting attempts and therefore limited in wholesome benefit. This time, as i was to realize later, would be life altering, making a committed attempt by treading the Way of Awakening in the footsteps of the Buddha.

Few months earlier to the plan, i sought permission from the wife of 20yrs. With the first go-bye signalled, i now turned to my young spiritual friend of 2years. Chogyal Wangdi, a Lopon by designation thru 17yrs of merit-worthy practice, has a Masters in Philosophy from the Nyingma University of Tibetan Buddhism, Karnataka. It was from him that i picked up the nuances of the tradition during my two week stint at Bylakuppe, a couple of years ago. He was delighted to know of my interest in travelling to Bodh Gaya, the very heart of enlightenment. Over the years, Chogyal, a Bhutanese, at 35 a decade younger to me in age, has been a beacon of guidance, a living Buddha for me. Encouraging in every way, compassionate, providing meanings and relevant information patiently, assisting whole-heartedly, answering every query mindfully he has been wisely and skilfully supportive all along. Whilst embarking on this sojourn, it was no different. Therefore, although not alone, yet now i was in solitude.

As the train chugged into Gaya station on a balmy October morn, it was well before daybreak. 3.45am. Suddenly the otherwise sleepy station came alive with the cacophony of autowallas, competing in fare & decibel, offering to take me and my faithful rucksack, to Bodh Gaya, a hours drive away. The bumpy ride tumbled thru an ocean of darkness towards the shore of enlightenment with the noisy chatter of diesel engine and pitter-patter of a light drizzle, for re-assuring company.

Bodh Gaya, 120kms that takes 5hrs from dusty Patna, today a small town in Bihar, no more than 5sqkm, is the very place where Prince Siddhartha Gautama of the Sakya clan was transformed into Sakyamuni Buddha, meditating un-distracted for forty-nine moons, amidst what once was dense forest. The leafy premises of the well-planned Mahabodhi temple inspire nothing else but peace & serenity, infusing the right energies the seeker aspires. Although many locals follow other faiths, there is no doubt that central to Bodh Gaya, is Buddhism.

It was still before daybreak when I arrived at the Bhutan Monastery which was to be my home over the next two weeks. Like most urban night watchmen, this one was asleep too. I was reasonably sure he would have gone back to bed once he had opened one of the rooms i had managed to book ahead, since he said “Ab aap bhi so jao…subah baat karenge”. The journey had begun.

Except for the outside of the main temple area, where once witnesses unfortunate sights of karmic suffering, each day the sprawling, carefully manicured, warmly inviting, well shaded, immaculately clean, Mahabodhi temple premise comes alive at 4am. Central to all the ‘action’ is the Bodhi Tree, the fourth generation of the original under which Enlightenment was attained just before daybreak by the Supreme Master. Monks, bhikkus, bhikkunis, lamas, practicing laity, believers, tourists from all over the world, South East Asia in particular, converge here for reasons of prayer, altruistic ceremony, meditation, chanting, seeking, understanding, redeeming, confessing, reading, prostrating, offering & receiving alms with utmost respect & dignity, all co-habiting in a state of heightened awareness and harmony as part of the community, called Sangha. Alongside, playful squirrel, chatty birds, friendly campus dogs and other sentient beings feel included too.

Chogyal had kindly arranged for me to meet with two teachers in his friends, both Lopons, Sonam Phurbu and Tenzin Dorjee, both also practitioners of the Nyingma tradition. Well, it kind of worked well since each one knew one language well! Doubts along the Way were addressed by them with alacrity in Hindi & English.

The ensuing days had an intensely definitive pattern. Praying, Meditating, Reading, Practicing, Seeking. Praying, Meditating, Reading, Practicing, Seeking some more…and was i in bliss? The Buddha Dharma is as exciting as it is exacting a finger that points towards cessation of suffering. It is his who endeavours most, advised the famed Sakya monk.

By now i had decided to take refuge in the (root) Teacher, the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. It is the refuge that makes the difference between a Buddhist and a non-Buddhist, i was told. "Is there an obligation to follow ones parents’ faith?" crossed a thought. And i was at peace with the answer. So, also were taken the Bodhichitta vows, the Guru Yoga vows, the Purification vows, Empowerments and other necessities. The turmoil within was all of a sudden secured with unparalleled happiness. Unimaginable joy permeated within. The mind emptied and cleared. The Buddha smiled.

I have since changed faith. I am now a Nyingma Buddhist.

‘Nyingma’ means ‘old’ or ‘ancient’, and has its roots in Tibet, introduced by Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava or Lotus Born, 8th CE), the Second Buddha. ‘Dzogchen’ or Great Perfection teachings are central to the Nyingma tradition.

As forces of the universe conspired to further my journey despite blown-up railway tracks, i was able to travel further into Sikkim. At Gangtok, it was to seek blessings of HH Dodrup Rinpoche at Chorten Gompa. Leaving the hustle & bustle of Gangtok, i headed for the hills. With Mt. Kanchendzonga and her lovely little sisters in the peaks of Kabru, Simvo, Pandim, Narsing as formidable companions, it was unabated seeking opportunities at the heritage monasteries of Pemayangtse and Sanga Choeling, both of the Nyingma sect.

The commanding views of these mountains around me were mesmeric. Sample this: To wake up on Diwali day and realize the meaning of ‘festival of lights’ to be the silent golden glow of the first rays of the sun bounce off the lording massiff! Isn’t this what some called nirvana? Incidentally, there are plenty of delightful walks & hikes from here to suit every interest level. Some offer inspiring views of the mountains upclose.

In co-existing tranquillity, my mind and i moved further into the hills on a plateau near the sacred lake Kechoperi. And as divine intervention would have it, i was able to meet with a senior lama whose family ran a rudimentary homestay. So fondly Pala lama took to me that he offered his prayer cottage for the days i spent there. With Pala, all of energetic 83yrs, few more days of intense practice followed.

On the travel back, it was crucial to gain insight into integrating the practices with turbulent urban life, making living & dying seamless experiences, in equanimity, with proper realization of the Way.

There are times in one’s life when dependant co-arising forces converge to fulfil our justified, virtuous and higher aspirations. This was it for me. I finally found myself walking with the Buddha. And i hope to keep pace, gently and mindfully.

Back from sabattical...

greetings to all!

I'm back from the 4 week sabattical. It was gainful as i have returned less confused in worldly ways. :-)

10 days at bodh gaya were extremely enriching. The place (Mahabodhi temple) and the surroundings around it are incredibly beautiful & peaceful. Ofcourse, at the entrance one sees the usual sights of unfortunate people in suffering due to poverty, hunger, sickness on a/c ripening karma. Once inside the large, well -planned, very clean & leafy premises are energizing yet tranquilizing.

Days usually began at 4am and closed 7pm with mind comprehension practices, learning and reading, under guidance from senior monks. Stayed at the Bhutan monastery.

Thereafter Sikkim it was which began at gangtok with the blessings from HH Dodrupchen Rinpoche, a highly regarded & very senior lama. I then wormed my way for another week into some parts of west & south west Sikkim with the fabulous Kanchendzonga range as companion all thruout...and again practicing with a senior lama. The festival of lights for me this year was to see Mt. Kanchendzonga & her lovely little sisters being lit up by the first surge of early morning sunrays! enthralling. (see pic)

During this sabattical, i have taken refuge vows, ground & path empowerments & purification vows amongst other necessities, and am now a practicing nyingma buddhist. of the 6 sects, nyingma, meaning 'ancient' or 'old' is the oldest and follows the tantryana-vajrayana lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.

All for now. Will try & post some pics. hope you all had a splendid diwali with family. ( Please Read: Walking with the Buddha, Speaking Tree, that carried a full-page on this wonderous journey!)

Life Coaching thru the Speaking Tree!

Thru many a sojourn and practices undertaken, some life coaching lessons have been learnt. Some have been carried thru the Times of India, Speaking Tree for the benefit of readers. Here are two of them....Cheers to life!

The Math of Suffering & Happiness:

'Life 365' newspaper, Pune, May 2012 This piece is penned for the benefit of all my friends out there inclined towards logic & equations, because & therefore, if & then, much the same way as we interpret the Law of Causation, of cause & effect, in Buddhist terms.

And for those friends not as much initiated to the balancing of equations, fret not. These are simple words merely arranged differently, to be largely interpreted the same way as ‘if you do this, that will happen’. It’s quite easy, try it.


Suffering Suppressed = Suffering + Accumulated interest on suffering

Suffering Released = Happiness / All Bliss

Suffering Released with Indifference = Negative karma resultant & therefore continued suffering

Suffering Released with Awareness = Positive karma resultant & therefore All Bliss

Resultant Effects:

Negative karma resultant + dharma practices = Moving towards happiness

Positive karma resultant + dharma practices = Afterlife in higher realm / Nirvana

Negative karma resultant + non dharma practices = Afterlife in lower realm

Positive karma resultant + non dharma practices = Moving towards suffering

Being defined that:

Suffering: Condition or mind state bound with afflicted emotions (“zagche”) or kleshas (“nonmyong”).
Awareness: Understanding the true nature of happiness/root nature of things, in equanimity, blunting discriminatory emotions.
Dharma (in the context of Buddhist teachings): Cessation / Freedom from suffering / Nirvana
Dharma practice: Practices related to freedom from suffering.

Four premises for happiness as offered by HH the 14th Dalai Lama:

1. The purpose of life is happiness. It is our birthright.
2. Happiness is determined more by the state of one’s mind than by one’s external conditions, circumstances, or events—at least once one’s basic survival needs are met.
3. Happiness can be achieved through the systematic training of our hearts and minds, through reshaping our attitudes and outlook.
4. The key to happiness is in our own hands.

Easily, the choice is ours!

Obama's Glance!

The by now famous "Obama Glance" is typical sensationalization by press. Ofcourse you know the one i'm talking about..the one on the staircase in which the Prez was 'caught' stealing a glance of the rear endowments of a Brazilian girl.

My take? Two positions for consideration:

1. So long as the look/glance/stare does not discomfort the 'object' (in this case, it happens to be the Brazilian girl) &
2. So long as the subject's karmic mind doesn't get into overdrive, meaning, in this case, it doesn't engage thoughts arising from passion, craving & desire...

Iff (meaning: if and only if)the above essentially dont happen simultaneously, then leave alone cursory glance, one can even meditate observing such & other beautiful forms of nature, the human body and everthing beautiful around us!

Observation Mindfulness! Getting the mind to a state of Awareness without Clinging.

Entertaining a thought without accepting it, is a realized mind, said Voltaire.