Teaching video: Why is it important to state Bodhichitta motivation and dedicate the merit of practice? answered by H.E. Zasep Tulku Rinpoche

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    Every Mahayana Buddhist practice or meditation should begin with a Bodhichitta motivation and end with a Bodhichitta dedication. This is what makes the practice “great” or Maha.

    In a short video, H.E. Zasep Tulku Rinpoche — spiritual head of Gaden for the West mediation centres — explains just why this practice is not simply symbolic — it is vital. The magnificent voice of Yoko Dharma finishes this short video with a wonderful chanting of the “Dedication of Merit.” [Rinpoche’s biography at end of the feature.]

    Watch the short teaching video [full transcript and meditation images below the video.]:

     

     

    Transcript of teaching by H.E. Venerable Zasep Tulku Rinpoche

    Buddha Weekly Presents

    Advice from the Teachers

    Bodhichitta Motivation and Dedication is Important to Daily Practice

    A student asks the teacher: “Why is it important to state Bodhichitta motivation and dedicate the merit of practice?”

    Rinpoche answers: “Thank you. I will explain the importance of motivation and dedication, according to Buddhist tradition.

    Motivation at the beginning, and dedication at the end. According to Kadam tradition and Gelug tradition, in the Lamrim teachings, mentioned it is very important to have right motivation in the beginning — the beginning of your practice.

     

    Buddha Weekly Tara in the Palm of Your Hand Zasep Tulku Rinpoche Buddhism

    Zasep Tulku Rinpoche is the author of Tara in the Palm of Your Hand, a commentary and practice of the 21 Taras (Available here>>)

    Let’s say you sit down to meditate, or do sadhana practice — whatever practice you do — you must, and should, begin with right motivation, pure motivation. That makes a big difference for your practice.

    For instance, when you generate Bodhichitta motivation, pure motivation, you say, from your heart, “I would like to do this practice, meditation session, or sadhana practice, or mantra recitation, for the benefit of all sentient beings. Enlightenment for all sentient beings. May I become Buddha for the sake of all sentient beings, as soon as possible. For that reason, I am going to do Samatha Vipassana meditation, or I would like to do sadhana — say, sadhana of Tara, or sadhana of Avalokiteshvara.”

    So, now your motivation is Bodhichitta motivation.

    So then, throughout the practice, you spend one hour, two hours, three hours, doesn’t matter, throughout your time, your practice becomes Mahayana practice, because you cultivated pure motivation.

    When we say Mahayana, Maha means “great” and “Yana” means “vehicle”. So, what makes Mahayana and what makes Hinayana and so forth. See, if your motivation is Bodhichitta, you have Bodhichitta motivation, you practice your meditation and sadhana for the benefit of all sentient beings.

    So, that is the Mahayana. That is the big vehicle. It’s like you’re driving a big bus like a school bus — that’s Mahayana. There’s more space, and more room inside this vehicle. You can have many people in this bus.

    You keep going, keep going.

    Therefore, motivation, in the beginning, is important.

    If your motivation is simple, or a little bit unclear, or, impure motivation, in other words, “I want to do this practice just for myself” and “I want to get Enlightened” or “I want to escape from Samsara” and so on, then, the motivation is — it’s okay, but it’s not a great motivation. It is not benefiting so many. So, this is why motivation, in the beginning, is very important, and, the intention. As we say, generally, the “intention is important.” The intent. The thought counts!

    Dedication at the End

    So, now, the dedication at the end. Dedication means after the meditation, after the practice, you make sure your practice is, kind of, “saved.” Like you have a document in the computer. You make sure it’s saved, so then it won’t disappear.

    You dedicate your practice, again, to the cause of Enlightenment for all sentient beings. Then, your practice will become the cause of Enlightenment. It will benefit all sentient beings!

    So, you save, and preserve. It cannot be ruined; it cannot be destroyed by anger, or confusion of your own mind.

    If you have not dedicated the practice for the sake of Enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings, and later on you have some regret or some confusion about your practice, then, the practice you have done is not sure that it actually will become the cause of Enlightenment — or not.

    So that’s why motivation at the beginning, and dedication at the end is important.

    Tibetan word, according to Kadampa tradition, in Tibetan — tok ta ni la chow a nee [phonetic]. Tok, is a short word for Toma, it means beginning, ta is the last. Tok ta ni la — beginning and end — the two things you have to consider: motivation and dedication.

    Chant the dedication mantra along with the wonderful voice of Yoko Dharma.

    GE.WA DI.YI. NYUR.DU. DAG
    By this virtue may I quickly

     

    Buddha Weekly Gey wa di yi nyur du dag by this virtue may Dedication of Merit Buddha Temple Buddhism

     

    LA.MA SANG.GYEY DRUB.GYUR.NEY
    Attain the state of a Guru Buddha (Enlightenment)

    Buddha Weekly La ma sang gyey drub gyur ney attain the state of Engightenment Dedication of Merit.png Buddhism

     

     

    DRO.WA CHIG.KYANG MA.LU.PA
    And then may I lead every being

    Buddha Weekly Dro wa chig kyang ma lu pa then may I lead every being Dedication of Merit Buddhism

     

    KYEY.KYI SA.LA GO.PAR.SHOG
    Withouth exception into that state.

    Buddha Weekly Kyey kyi sa la go par shot without exception to that state Dedication of Merit Buddhism

     

    JANG.CHUB SEM.CHOG RIN.PO.CHEY
    May the most precious and supreme bodhichitta awakening mind

    Buddha Weekly Jang chug sem chog Rin po chey may the most precious bodhichitta awakening mind Dedication of Merit Buddhism

     

    MA.KYEY PA.NAM KYE.GYUR.CHIG
    Which has not yet been generated now be generated

    Buddha Weekly Ma Kyey pa nam kyey gyur chig Dedication of Merit Buddhism

     

    KYEY.PA NYAM.PA MEY.PAR.YANG
    And may the precious mind of bodhichitta which has been generated

     

    Buddha Weekly Kyey pa nnyam pa mey par yang may the precious mind of bodhichitta which has been generated Dedication of Merit Buddhism

     

    GONG.NEY GONG.DU PEL.BAR.SHOG
    Never decline, but always increase.

     

    Buddha Weekly Gong ney gong du pel bar shot never decline but always increase Dedication of Merit Buddhism

     

     

    ABOUT VENERABLE ZASEP TULKU RINPOCHE

    Buddha Weekly Zasep Tulku Rinpoche happy at Medicine Buddha event BuddhismRinpoche 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

    United States

    Buddha Weekly Yoko Dharma Recording artist Let Freedom Reign Buddhism
    Yoko Dharma in the studio with producer Marty Rifkin, who has produced for Elton John and Springsteen.

    Note

    Yoko Dharma’s brilliant vocalization of “Dedication of Merit” is used with her kind permission. Information on Yoko Dharma (or to download the track) please visit here>> 

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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.

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