Purifying Negative Karma Advice Video: How to Purify Obstructions and Defilements with Vajrasattva Practice and Other Buddhist Meditations, Answered by Venerable Zasep Tulku Rinpoche
In the eighth in a Buddhist practice video series, “Advice from the Teachers”, the Venerable Acharya Zasep Tulku Rinpoche, Spiritual Head of Gaden for the West Centers, answers a student’s question [play video below]:
What practical advice would you give to a new student to purify their mental difilements and bad karma? Can you speak about Vajrasattva purification?
[Transcript below video]
Play video here:
Transcript
Zasep Rinpoche: “Purification for a beginner. There are two types of purification. Purification according to Sutra, and purification according to Tantra.
According to Sutra, basically, meditation itself is the purification. According to Pali tradition its called ‘Visudimada’, Path of Purification, and you meditate every day, cultivate awareness, mindfulness — that would be very good for purifying the mind.
Also, I would suggest one should practice ‘Metta’ and ‘Karuna’, loving kindness. Meditate on love and compassion, for yourself, for others. That will purify our mental defilements and purify our karma.
According to Tantra, one of the most powerful purifications is meditations on Vajrasattva. Recite the mantra of Vajrasattva, the 100-syllable mantra [mantra below transcript]. If you don’t have initiation, you can say the mantra, no problem, you can visualize Vajrasattva in front of you. [Or] Above your crown, as well.
Imagine — as you say the mantra — imagine purifying nectar coming from the heart of Vajrasattva, and the nectar enters through your your crown [of your head] and enters into your body, first purifying the body. The nectar flowing down through the body. And as if flows down it purifies all the bodily karmas: disease, sickness, unwholesome karmas of the past, unwholesome karmas of the bodies are purified. Say the mantra, lets say 21 times.
Then you do the purification again, this time purifying the speech, the speech karmas. This time, the nectar comes down from the heart of Vajrasattva dissolves into you, into your body, and slowly fills up your body, and then [you visualize] the unwholesome karmas of the speech coming out from the mouth. They are expelled. Gone. Imagine your speech karma is purified.
The third time, nectar comes down from Vajrasattva’s heart, dissolving into you directly into your heart, and then you mind is purified, mental karmas such as fear, attachment, ignorance, and confusion disappear, are dispersed. Disappeared straight from your heart. This is very powerful.
Say the mantra, the 100-syllable mantra of Vajrasattva, and then imagine Vajrasattva becoming smaller and smaller entering through your crown and dissolving into your heart. Imagine Vajrasattva is always with you as a personal yidam deity. This is very powerful way to purify your body, speech and mind. There are other purifications, but I think this is good enough for the beginner.”
In Part 9 of this Series, students ask Rinpoche the question: “What advice do you have for senior (advanced) students for their daily practice? Can you merge practices to simplify?”
100-Syllable Vajrasattva Mantra for Purification of Negative Karmas and Obstructions
Lovely sung version of Sanskrit 100-syllable mantra (text and explanation below video):
Sanskrit version of 100-syllable mantra (with more extensive English translation; for shorter English translation see Tibetan version below. Should be chanted in Sanskrit or Tibetan, not English.)
Note: For pronunciation there are generally no long vowels, so “a” is always ‘ah”, “e” is usually “eh” sound, and “i” is usually “ee”sound, “u” is “ew”. For example “anupalaya” would be pronounced “ah-new-pah-lah-yah.” Also, “sh” or “th” is always pronounce “s-h” or “t-h” separated. A soft “sh” s is indicated by Ṣ or Ś.
For example, “TVENOPATIṢṬHA” is pronounced “T-ven-oh-pah-teesh-t-ha” (ending in “ha” not “tha”). Likewise, for “Phat” this is pronounced “puh – hat” (p, then hat) but as an forceful exhalation. For guidance listen to the video below.
oṃ vajrasattva
The most excellent exclamation of praise, the qualities of Buddha’s holy body, speech, and mind; all that is precious and auspicious. Vajrasattva, you whose wisdom is inseparable bliss-emptiness,
samayam anupālaya
And whose pledge must not be transgressed, lead me along the path you took to enlightenment,
vajrasattva tvenopatiṣṭha
Make me abide close to your holy vajra mind,
dṛḍho me bhava
Please grant me a firm and stable realization of the ultimate nature of phenomena,
sutoṣyo me bhava
Please grant me the blessing of being extremely pleased and satisfied with me,
supoṣyo me bhava
Bless me with the nature of well-developed great bliss,
anurakto me bhava
Bless me with the nature of love that leads me to your state,
sarvasiddhiṃ me prayaccha
Please grant me all-powerful attainments,
sarvakarmasu ca me cittaṃ śreyaḥ kuru
Please grant me all virtuous actions and your glorious qualities,
hūṃ
Seed syllable of the vajra holy mind, the heart essence and seed syllable of Vajrasattva,
ha ha ha ha hoḥ
Seed syllables of the four immeasurables, the four empowerments, the four joys, the four kayas, and the five wisdoms,
bhagavan sarvatathāgatavajra
You, who are the vajra of all who have destroyed every obscuration, of all who have attained all realizations, of all who have passed beyond suffering, and of all who have realized emptiness and know things just as they are,
mā me muñca
Do not abandon me,
vajrī bhava
Grant me the nature of indestructible union, the realization of your vajra nature,
mahāsamayasattva
You, the great pledge being with the holy vajra mind,
āḥ
Make me one with you. Syllable of uniting in non-duality.
hūṃ
Syllable of the wisdom of great bliss.
phat
Syllable that clarifies the wisdom of inseparable bliss-emptiness and destroys the dualistic mind that obstructs realization.
Very nice video chanting in Tibetan version (text below video):
Tibetan version of 100-syllable mantra with pronunciation and English (rough) translation (Should not generally be chanted in English. This is just for reference):
OM
Syllable of the most supreme exclamation of praise.
BENZAR SATO SA MA YA
Vajrasattva’s Samaya
MA NU PA LA YA BENZAR SATO
O Vajrasattva, protect the samaya.
TE NO PA TISHTHA DRI DHO ME BHA WA
May you remain firm in me.
SU TO KA YO ME BHA WA
Grant me complete satisfaction.
SU PO KA YO ME BHA WA
Grow within me (increase the positive within me).
ANU RAKTO ME BHA WA
Be loving towards me.
SARVA SIDDHI ME PRA YATSA
Grant me all the accomplishments,
SARVA KARMA SU TSA ME
As well as all the activities.
TSITTAM SHRE YAM KU RU
Make my mind virtuous.
HUNG
Syllable of the heart essence, the seed syllable of Vajrasattva.
HA HA HA HA
Syllables of the four immeasurables, the four empowerments, the four joys, and the four kāyas.
HO
Syllable of joyous laughter in them.
BHA GA WAN SARVA TA THA GA TA
Bhagawan, who embodies all the Vajra Tathāgatas,
BENZRA MA ME MUNTSA
Do not abandon me.
BENZRI BHA
Grant me realization of the vajra nature.
MA SA MA YA SATO
O great Samayasattva
Previous Buddha Weekly Advice From the Teachers Videos:
Video 1: Advice for Students on Karma>>
Video 2: Advice for Students dealing with loss of a loved one>>
Video 3: Advice for Students coping with memory loss, Alzheimers or early dementia>>
Video 4: Advice for Students coping with the loss of a beloved pet>>
Video 6: Advice for the New Student to Buddhism>>
Video 7: Advice for Keeping Motivated in Your Daily Practice>>
Video 9: Advice for Advanced Vajrayana Students on Managing Commitments>>
Teaching schedule Zasep Tulku Rinpoche 2017
Mongolia
About H.E. Zasep Tulku Rinpoche
Rinpoche is popularly known for his approachable teaching style, strong humor and teachings based on a long lineage of great lamas. His own gurus included the most celebrated of Gelug teachers: His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, His Holiness Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Venerable Geshe Thupten Wanggyel, His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, Venerable Lati Rinpoche, Venerable Tara Tulku Rinpoche and Venerable Khalkha Jetsun Dampa Rinpoche.
Rinpoche is spiritual director of many temples, meditation centres and retreat centres in Australia, the United States and Canada. He was first invited to teach in Australia by Lama Thubten Yeshe in 1976.
More on Zasep Tulku Rinpoche>>
Gaden for the West Meditation Centres
Australia
- Vajra Ling, Uralla, N.S.W.
- Losang Gyalwa Mandala, Sydney, N.S.W.
- Tenzing Ling Centre, Quamaa, N.S.W.
- Dorje Ling Retreat Centre, Lorina Valley, Tasmania
Canada
- Chittamani Mahayana Buddhist Meditation Centre, Ottawa, Ontario
- Gaden Choling, Toronto, Ontario
- Medicine Buddha Centre, Calgary, Alberta
- Potala Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Centre, Thunder Bay,Ontario
- Tashi Choling, Nelson, B. C.
- Zuru Ling Society, Vancouver, B.C.
United States
- Golden Blue Lotus Tara Meditation Center, Moscow, Idaho
- TsongKhapa Center, Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Vajrayogini Center, Seattle, Washington
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Venerable Zasep Rinpoche
Author | Buddha Weekly
Rinpoche is spiritual head of many Dharma Centres, and teaches around the world. Originally from Kham province in Tibet (born 1948) Rinpoche has taught in the west since 1976, after he was first invited by Geshe Thubten Loden and Lama Yeshe to teach at the Chenrezig Institute in Australia. Today, he is spiritual head of the Gaden for the West centres in Canada, U.S., and Australia and also spiritual director of the the charities Gaden Relief Project (Canada) and Manlha Tus NGO (Mongolia). He is the author of three books, including his latest release in 2018 with a rare English commentary and practice instructions for Gelug Mahamudra.
