Sukhāvatī Retreat in Ubud, Bali

Phowa and Teachings for Swift Rebirth in the Pure Land of Dewachen, the Blissful Buddha Field of Amitabha

Image Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Samye Hermitage Bali rejoices in the announcement that Phakchok Rinpoche will offer a very special retreat opportunity in Bali, this October. For the first time, Rinpoche will bestow a combination of three special instructions with the associated precious reading transmissions as well:

The Seed Tantra, Only Child of All Buddhas, or Sangyé Sechik, is one of the most important liberation texts in the Dzogchen tradition. Retreatants will receive teachings and transmissions for reciting this text, which liberates upon hearing and wearing.

The practice of Phowa, or transference of consciousness at the time of death, the swift path that guarantees freedom from samsaric states. Retreatants will be provided the teachings, transmissions and conditions to receive the sign of accomplishing the phowa practice during the retreat itself.

And, the Concise Amitābha Breathing Practice taught by Guru Rinpoche, a profound yet simple visualization practice to be done before sleeping. Retreatants will learn this simple, profound breathing visualization practice – inseparability with Amitabha Buddha through breathing.

Please note that this retreat will not be live-streamed. It is open only to in-person attendees.

Space is running out for off-site accommodation, so register now to avoid missing out. Registration for off-site accommodation will close on May 31st.

The Sangyé Shechik Seed Tantra

The Seed Tantra, Only Child of All Buddhas, or Sangyé Sechik (sangs rgyas sras gcig) is one of the most important liberating instructions in the Dzogchen tradition. Its importance was greatly emphasized by Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and his teacher, Samten Gyatso. Phakchok Rinpoche will bestow the transmission of both the long and short versions of the text, and alsoelucidate key points of the text. The text can then be recited aloud both for the benefit of oneself and others.

The short Sangyé Sechik encapsulates the essence of the longer Great Perfection tantra bearing the same name, a tantra that grants liberation upon hearing (thos grol). As part of the All-Penetrating Wisdom Heart (dgongs pa zang thal) revelation, this short text is one of six tantras that grant liberation through wearing (btags grol).

This text was originally composed by Guru Rinpoche and revealed by Rikdzin Gödem Ngödrup Gyeltsen (1337–1408), the famed discoverer of the so-called Northern Treasures revelation and founder of Dorjé Drak monastery.

Phowa Practice and Amitābha Breathing Practice

The practice will be based on The Transference of Consciousness Practice of Lotus Lord of Dance, a text composed by Khenpo Karma Rinchen Dargyé. This concise text combines the instructions for the sacred transference cord as taught in “The Six Dharmas to Benefit Beings,” a teaching of The Great Compassionate One, Dredger of Samsara (Khorwa Dongdruk), with the transference instructions of Lotus Lord of Dance (Pema Garwang).

During this retreat, Phakchok Rinpoche will instruct retreatants in visualization techniques that allow the consciousness to be transferred to the dharmakaya nature, to a pure realm such as Sukhavati, or to a human rebirth in an excellent Dharma environment. A skilled practitioner may be able to apply these instructions at the time of their own death. And for all others, familiarity with the practice will make the conditions more conducive when phowa is performed on their behalf by a lama.

In addition, Rinpoche will give the reading transmission and instructions on the Concise Amitābha Breathing Practice taught by Guru Rinpoche, a profound and easy-to-practice text compiled by Kyapjé Jamyang Khyentsé Chökyi Lodrö. Rinpoche will guide us through the visualization and the special benefits of this nightly practice for achieving inseparability with Amitabha Buddha. Rinpoche has also included, in this practice, aspiration verses from The King of Aspiration Prayers to inspire students. Regular recitation of this short practice creates familiarity and great devotion to Buddha Amitabha. This practice is also a form of preparation for the bardo of passing and onwards.

Further Explanation of Phowa Practice, Buddha Amitabha, and the Pure Land of Dewachen

According to the Vajrayana tradition, the practice of phowa, or transference of consciousness at the time of death is a swift path that guarantees freedom from samsaric states. Through the practice of visualization, a lama can eject consciousness from the aperture of Brahma at the crown of the head. Then the lama transfers that consciousness into Sukhavati (Dewachen, in Tibetan) the pure buddha-field of the Buddha Amitābha. Through this process, the dying person does not experience the painful and frightening bardos and does not take rebirth within the six realms of cyclic existence.

In Dewachen, the conditions for receiving Dharma teaching and practice are superior, and one can quickly attain awakening and thereby benefit other beings. Thus the aim of rebirth in a pure land accords with the bodhisattva vow to bring all other beings to complete and perfect enlightenment.

According to Tibetan Buddhist teachings, due to the compassion of realized beings, even those with heavy negative karma can be sent to a pure land through such instructions. The Precious Master of Oḍḍiyāna, Guru Rinpoche, taught that Phowa could benefit even those who had committed many non-virtues. He instructed,

Through transference at the proper time,
Even perpetrators of the five deeds of immediate fruition
Will gain rebirth in the higher realms or liberation.

Due to the blessings of the lineage masters and the power of the teaching itself, a qualified lama can directly transfer these to disciples. In this upcoming retreat, Phakchok Rinpoche will give clear and direct instructions on the appropriate visualization and the physical practices necessary to perform the practice. When disciples have great faith and trust in the lama and the practice, they can manifest clear signs of accomplishment within a short period of time. Practitioners who dedicate themselves to this practice achieve the ability to transfer their own consciousness. And those who have less time and energy to devote can still rely on a lama to perform the transference at the time of death. Training in this practice during one’s lifetime ensures a smooth result.

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