Posted by Admin in BUDDHISM IN OTHER LANGUAGES | 22 Comments
Letter from the USA: Surprising Numbers for a Pure Mind Yoga practitioner ( Thư từ nước Mỹ: NHỮNG CON SỐ BẤT NGỜ VỚI HÀNH GIẢ THANH TRÍ )
Last week, I had a small project for my data visualization course — to quantify my daily activities in a week. For example, I can count how many times I say “sorry” and “thank you” or how many hours I spent processing emails. I decided to quantify my chances to practice the 5th Mind Dharma, in other words — how many times I stand up, sit down, wake up, go to bed, etc. Here is the result.
The result after a week.
Each branch is a mindful moment.
Though the data is incomplete (because I am not always mindful of recording what was happening), it is still surprise me. On a typical day, I have around 104 chances to generate Bodhicitta. On the most “productive” day, I have as many as 157 chances.
To be clear, I often forgot to practice the 5th Mind Dharma. About a month ago, I called the Guru and asked him why I couldn’t remember the practice. I was only praying once or twice a day, and sometimes, I neglected the prayers for weeks. He told me not to worry, I will get it eventually. Indeed, after this small assignment, I remember to pray a bit more, especially when standing up, sitting down, and opening/closing the door. It is delighting for me to see the progress.
Among the 16 activities, eating has the most noticeable effect. Usually, I would eat while mind-wandering about trivial matters or consuming the endless feed of social media. Now, with a little mindfulness, I enjoy my meal a lot more. I think of all sentient beings and pray that they can eat the Budda’s food. Instead of spending 10-15 minutes mindlessly, now I can generate Bodhicitta, and that what the Buddha has recommended us to do:
“The offerings of Brahmin Velāma is vast, indeed…But if one offers that to the Buddhas, the unexcelled, perfect Enlighteners, that would be even more fruitful. That would be even more fruitful if one helps build dwellings for the Sangha in four directions. That would be even more fruitful if one takes refuge in the Three Jewels and keeps the five precepts. That would be even more fruitful if one generates compassion to all sentient beings in a moment as short as the time to finish milking a cow…”
That would be even more fruitful if one generates compassion to all sentient beings in a moment as short as the time to finish milking a cow…
Thanks to Pure Mind Yoga, I have many chances to generate compassion for all sentient beings every day. Additionally, Pure Mind Yoga practitioners can also practice the fourth Mind Dharma, “Lotus Walking Dharani.” On average, a person walks 2500 steps and day (webmd.com), which translates to 1250 recitation of the Mani mantra. The value of having many chances to practice does not base only on quantity but also the frequency, as in the description of the great attainer Marpa: “Apart from three sessions of practice in holy space, the yogi practices Dharma uninterruptedly in daily life, like a non-stop flowing river. This is called mind purification that frees us from ignorance. Non-distraction means meditation.”
“Apart from three sessions of practice in holy space, the yogi practices Dharma uninterruptedly in daily life, like a non-stop flowing river. This is called mind purification that frees us from ignorance. Non-distraction means meditation.” – the great attainer Marpa
Dear Holy Guru,
Thank you for inspiring me to practice the Dharma every day, every time, everywhere with simple, convenient, and effective practices. Thanks to Pure Mind Yoga, I can see the Buddha’s Dharma exist around me as it always be. I pray for the good health and longevity of the Guru for the benefit of all sentient beings. May all sentient beings attain the happiness of Buddha’s nature. May the Covid-19 pandemic will soon be over.
Om Mani Padme Hum
Disciple Cao Dieu Nhat Nguyen
Vietnamese version: Thư từ nước Mỹ: NHỮNG CON SỐ BẤT NGỜ VỚI HÀNH GIẢ THANH TRÍ
Thank you Om Mani Padme Hum 🙏🙏🙏🐾🐾🐾
Thank you so much Guru
This article is so perfect and what a wonderful teaching i trying to do this my self as I am doing things though out the day but sometimes miss doing cause I get busy doing some things that takes my mind having buddha and you Guru and violet has help so much getting though the covid-19 pandemic so much I thank you and these teachings help so much as well with having the lockdowns and and being limited on what you can and can’t do like not seeing to many people of gathering with large groups and just being careful what’s going on and Buddhism is the best at keeping a peaceful mind
Thank you so much again guru
Om mani padme hum
I am glad to see how Pure Mind Yoga has helped to occupy your life with peace in mind and free it from worries under the pandemic. Please read more!
I am also doing my activities more consent. I try to observe more things, the events that happen around me. By lifting me I pray praying for all beings find enlightenment. That all beings are free from suffering, and that all beings can be in the pure land of Buddha. I am changing my eating habits, and I am trying to carry out all Guru’s advice. Starting with the correct look, and keep silenced to listen better.
Dear Holy Guru, Thank you for another great article. Since following these teachings I have become more aware of all around me and find I am more careful with speech think before opening mouth. I am thankful and appreciate all that I have learned here Thank you. OM MANI PADME HUNG.
Tantra Himataru.
I am glad that you have grown the mindfulness through rehearsal of Pure Mind Yoga. Keep it up and please read more!
verry good process indeed, i gotta learn practicing it daily
Who teaches you?
Dear holy guru,
Thank you for sharing this article. I can relate to this, with all of my health issues I become selfish and oblivious to all of the wasted time. I need to stop being selfish and feeding my ego. I feel lost when my health fails and scared. I forget everything. I forget to reach out and to pray for others. Forgive me guru.
Matt you live well for all sentient brings appreciating your kindness and knowledge.
Om many pandme him
Don’t worry about it! I forgive you!
Thank you dear holy Guru, you are kind and generous.
Thank you for sharing this experience.
I have recently started learning these 16 prayers through an online course I am taking. I love them. Very easy to incorporate into my daily life. I find myself not only saying them when I engage in the various activities, but also when I see others engaging in the activities.
Of course, the real struggle in putting these prayers into practice is not that it is difficult, but that it is easy not to do them, as your article beautifully demonstrates.
However, I have found that with a little effort and mindfulness these prayers become a complete joy. For me, among other things, I have found they bring mind back to the present moment and it brings mind back to Dharma. It also effects how I interact with others, knowing that I just prayed for their enlightenment.
Knowing my own struggles with putting such good practices into practice, it is wonderful to hear of another’s journey.
Many thanks and many blessings!
“Knowing my own struggles with putting such good practices into practice, it is wonderful to hear of another’s journey”, I like these sentences!
Dear Brother,
I am benefited to read your letter. how your developing yourself gradually to attain Buddha’s mind.
Abrar
Please more read!
Thank you Guru. Your dharma practice is awesome
Dear Guru
Thanks for sharing this article
Om Mani Padme Hum
Please read more!
Dear Guru,
I bow my head down to touch your lotus feet.
Guru’s merit is immeasurable!!!
Thank you, Guru, for sharing and allowing me to read Đệ tử Cao Diệu Nhất Nguyên’s letter.
I was fascinated by the visual representation of number of opportunities to practice Dharma throughout our days thanks to the very special method of practice, our most compassionate Guru, has invented and taught us. It’s one thing to have an idea in the mind but actually seeing a visual helps make the idea less abstract and more concrete.
I was touched by the following:
“He (Guru) told me not to worry, I will get it eventually. Indeed, after this small assignment, I remember to pray a bit more, especially when standing up, sitting down, and opening/closing the door. It is delighting for me to see the progress.”
I was touch by this passage because it clearly illustrates Guru’s immeasurable compassion and patients, and demonstrates the fruits of following his guidance with Guru devotion. Without a doubt, Guru knows what is important for us to worry about and what is important to not worry about!
May we all learn to practice like a non-stop flowing river for the benefit of all sentient beings.
May all of us, our Guru’s disciples, always remember to contemplate and practice the three marvellous essences of the path to enlightenment (renunciation, bodhicitta, and emptiness) in the base of faithful Guru devotion.
May all sentient beings have favorable chance to meet a Tantric Guru in this life, then follow him to reach the happiness of the Buddha Nature.
May Guru and consort live long and healthy for the benefit of all sentient beings.
May the death, illness, suffering, pain, and fear caused by the Novel Coronavirus pandemic come to an end.
Om Mani Padme Hum
Tantra Lanidha (Ralph Keating)
Guru knows what is important for us to worry about and what is important to not worry about! Yes, that’s right!
Dear Holy Guru
Thank you for this article. Since I started to practice these prayers in my life, I have noticed changes in my disposition and I don’t feel the same stress as I did before. Sure,sometimes they slip my mind and I am more aware of it next time. Before I always ate my food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack it didn’t matter) to television or phone. I have started more and more to put the phone away when I eat and I don’t sit in front of the television anymore.
When I’m at work in our break room, every person sits with there phone while eating. It is like every one is in there own little world.
I thank Guru for helping me on a better path in life
May Guru be healthy
May all sentient beings be free from hurt and suffering
Om Mani Padme Hum
Thank you for your comment! I am glad that your mental health and your life quality have been improved a lot with the help of Pure Mind Yoga. Please read more often to maintain the good habit!