Tibetan Buddhist Ritual

Many students ask questions about how to set up a proper Tukdrup Barché Kunsel shrine for group practice or at home. Phakchok Rinpoche has kindly requested his artist to prepare detailed diagrams that we may follow.

In this video teaching, Phakchok Rinpoche reminds us that the essence of our mind is already enlightened. Yet, even though our nature is pure, that does not imply that we then can sit back and do nothing. We need to accumulate merit!

Hilary Herdman shows how ritual practice tames our minds as we perform particular physical and verbal actions.

In the Vajrayana context, practitioners utilize the bell and dorje as important symbolic ritual items. At the outer level, these two implements represent the indivisibility of means (vajra) and the wisdom recognizing emptiness (bell).

Fear of death often arises sneakily in the middle of the night. So, if we wake with this fear, we can learn to practice a simple long life meditation visualization.  When we experience this fear,  it indicates that our life force is becoming a little bit weak and so we need to make it become stronger.

Feast offerings are very important in the Vajrayāna tradition. Here, Phakchok Rinpoche describes the meaning and significance of this ritual practice. Additionally, he gives some very practical instruction on how we prepare for a feast offering. 

Malas : What are malas? Why and how do Buddhists use them? Malas are found throughout Indian traditions. The Sanskrit word mālā means garland–flowers were traditionally strung together on a continuous loop or thread. When we speak about Buddhist malas we refer to strings of beads. Buddhist practitioners use them to count mantra recitations and prayers.

Ritual dance performances occur on special days in the Tibetan calendar, particularly around the new year, and are an important way of transmitting the Dharma.

When we spin maṇi wheels in a clockwise direction, rolls of paper (or film) printed with mantras spin. In this way, we are turning the wheel of the Dharma for the benefit of sentient beings and accumulating merit.

For today’s message, Phakchok Rinpoche offers insight into Kyepar Pakpey, the seventh manifestation of Guru Rinpoche. At the heart of this practice is making peace with all sentient beings and showing respect for the environment and those beings and aspects of our world that we tend to forget.

Offering water bowls is an easy and pleasurable meritorious activity widely practiced in Tibetan Buddhism. Water’s purity gives it great power.

How do we skillfully share our understanding and our practice? Phakchok Rinpoche here shares some suggestions after years of working with students from many cultures.