Heart Sutra (Sanskrit) by Imee Ooi

Mantra of Avalokiteshvara

Medicine Buddha Mantra

Metta Chanting

The Kalama Sutta

The Kalama Sutta:

Do not believe in anything (simply) because you have heard it.

Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.

Do not believe in anything because it is spoken and rumoured by many.

Do not believe in anything (simply) because it is found written in your religious b...ooks.

Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders

But after observation and analysis when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conductive to the good and benefit of one and all then accept it and live up to it.

Ksitigabha Boddisatva Sutta

Summary of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Vow Sutra Chapter 1:

Ksitigarbha was once born in the world as a son of a rich man, who vowed to deliver and liberate all sentient beings. He was also once born as a brahman girl. Her mother died and went to Avici hell because of her bad deeds. In order to save her, the brahman girl sold her house and bought vast amount of incense and flowers and other offerings to be generously donated to the stupas and temple of the Buddha of that era. She dedicated the merit of her good deeds to her mother and because of that her mother was liberated and ascended to heaven.

Take home lesson: when someone in your family dies, pray to Ksitigarbha bodhisattva, chanting his name, mantra or even better, sutra, donate generously to temples or people who need it and dedicate the merits to the dead person.

Summary of Chapter 2:

Ksitigarbha bodhisattva has the ability to transform into innumerable forms to fulfill his vow. He is able to divide himself into hundreds, thousands and millions of transformational bodies and employed extensive skillful means for the deliverance and liberation of sentient beings. He can also manifest himself, not only in the form of a Buddha, but also in the forms of a man, woman, god, ghost, river, stream, pond, king, minister, official, bhiksu, bhiksuni, upasaka, upasika, etc. He reassured Sakyamuni Buddha again and again that he would save all beings of future generations who have wicked karma.

Take home lesson: It is never too late to change and repent. With his innumerable transformational bodies, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva will always be there to save you if you sincerely call out his name. Better still, read his sutra!!

Summary of Chapter 3:

In response to Lady Maya, Buddha Sakyamuni's mother's question, Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha described various sins which will make a person fall into Avici hell, amongst them are: fail to fulfull his filial duty toward his parents, shed the blood of a Buddha, ridicule the 3 Jewels, fail to respect the sutras, steal property of Buddhist establishment, slander bhiksu or bhiksunis, commit adultery with monks or nuns or kill or harm others in sacred places, pretend to be a sramana but not one at heart. Avici hell is a unique and one of the most dreadful hells as punishment is meted out day and night, kalpa after kalpa without a moment's interruption or relief.

Summary of Chapter 4:

Ksitigarbha was once born as a king. Together with another friend of his who was also a king, they cultivated the 10 virtues for the benefit of sentient beings. His friend became a buddha, while Ksitigarbha vowed not to become a buddha before he could deliver all sinful suffering beings. Ksitigarbha was at another time, born as a filial daughter called Bright Eyes. When her mother passed away, she sought help from a monk to find out where her mother was. He entered samadhi and found out that her mother was suffering in hell because of her evil deeds when she was alive, namely eating fish roes and turtle eggs. In order to save her mother, the monk advised Bright Eyes to wholeheartedly recite the name of a See Morebuddha and paint his image. Bright Eyes worshipped the buddha, and later dreamt of him, telling her that her mother would be reborn in her house. Truly, her maid gave birth to a baby, and the baby talked to Bright Eyes even before 3 days old. She relayed her experience in hell, and said that because of Bright Eye's cultivation, she was able to be reborn as a human being, albeit in a low, mean class family. However, she would only live for 13 years. On hearing this, Bright Eyes made a vow that if her mother could be freed from the hell-states, she would deliver all sinful, suffering beings in all worlds. On hearing this, the buddha said that after her mother died after reaching 13 years, she would be reborn as a Brahmacari and live for 100 years. After that, she would be reborn in Asoka, and finally achieve Buddhahood. It was said that all beings who take refuge in Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva will be able to be delivered and liberated from retribution on the 3 evil paths of existence (hells, hungry ghosts and animals).

In chapter 4, Ksitigarbha bodhisattva also talked about the retribution of various misdeeds. For instance, those who indulged in perverted lust would be reborn as peacocks, pigeons and mandarin ducks. Those who quarrel or fight in the family, would be dumb or have ulcer sores in the mouths. Those who indulge in hunting would die from fright or See Moremental derangement. Those who disobey parents would meet with calamities. Those who spend money unreasonably would be deficient or have complete extinction of the necessities they seek. And many others....

Take home message: Basically this is a chapter of cause and effect. You reap what you sow. If you realize you have done misdeeds, there's still time to repent and take refuge in Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. If your loved ones just passed away, it will be good to chant the Ksitigarbha Sutra for him/her to help eradicate his/her bad karmas.

Summary of Chapter 5:

In response to Bodhisattva Samatabhadra's question, Ksitigarbha explained the various names of hells and the situations of the retributions. These hells are created by the people themselves who commit these malefactions in all the worlds. The power of karma is so great as to be compared with Mount Sumeru and as deep as the immense oceans.The power of karma can also block the way of Buddhadharma. Therefore, do not ignore a minor evil and think that it is guiltless. There is retribution after one dies, even as small as a hair or fibre, and this must be taken.

Take home lesson: How much good merit have you accumulated? Have you accumulated more bad karma than good ones? You may end ...

Summary of Chapter 6:

Buddha Sakyamuni praised Ksitigarbha in front of an assembly of all beings, explaining how Ksitigarbha benefits the human and heavenly beings with his blessings and merits. Any good man or woman who worships and prays to Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, including painting, drawing or molding the image of Ksitigarbha, will be exonerated from all his sins and karmic blemishes.

An ugly woman who wholeheartedly pray to Ksitigarbha, will, in her next life, be born as a princess, royal lady or daughter of a high official. A person who sings praises and offers incense and flowers in front of Ksitigarbha's image, will have protection of thousands of demons and deities.

Some people may have chronic terminal illness, can neither live nor die, and always have nightmares dreaming of ghosts or dead families. This is due to karma under judgement. If anyone suffers from this kind of phenomenon, this sutra should be read out loud. In addition, one may take any favorite articles of the sick person, such as jewelries, house, etc, to give to charity. Speak of this 3 times in front of the sick person and make sure he hears you clearly.

If anyone dreams of demons, deities, ghosts or even forms grieving, crying, distressed, or terrified, they must have been relatives from their past lives who have fallen into the evil paths. This person should read this sutra in front of images of buddhas or bodhisattvas 3 or 7 times. Thus, these relatives can be released after reciting this sutra, and they will never again dream of those spirits.

People of lower positions, such as maid or slaves, who recite Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha's name 10,000 times during a 7-day period at end of their present lifetime, will be reborn with fine features in noble families.

Summary of Chapter 7:

All beings who have accumulated bad karmas will fall into the evil paths after they die. To help them reborn into a better life, relatives can hang banners and canopies, burn oil lamps, reading and reciting venerated sutras or names of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas or by displaying images of Buddhas or of other holy ones. It is very important not to kill any living things or sacrifice animals during the few days after someone's death. If the family can do many good deeds for the dead during the first 7 days, the dead can avoid evil and be reborn in heaven or back as a human. Having said that, it will be much better for the deceased to accumulate good merits when he is still alive, as after his death, he will receive only 1/7 of the relative's merits. The remaining merits belong to his relatives. The deceased will be judged after 49 days. After that he will follow his karmic retribution and suffer. That's why the deceased longs for help from his children and relatives during the first 49 days. Relatives should prepare vegetarian meals and should not even eat before offering it to Buddhas and the monks.

Take home lesson: Rather than waiting for your relatives to do good deeds on your behalf and chant Ksitigarbha sutra for you after you die, it's better to chant it yourself and accumulate good merits when you're still alive. After all, you never know whether anyone will do it for you after you die. Besides, you only get 1/7 of it if somebody else ... See Moredoes it for you. For relatives of a deceased person, the first 49 days is of utmost importance. If the person hasn't accumulated any good merits when he was still alive, this is your last chance of saving him, preventing him from falling into the evil realms!!

Summary of Chapter 8:

The assembly at Trayastrimsa Heaven was also attended by Deva Yamaraja and all ghost kings and sons of heavens. Evil Poison Ghost King said that it was demon kings' karmic retribution that made their retinue continuously travel the world creating much evil and little virtue. So, to increase their virtue, whenever they pass a place and see a person who would perform even a slight good act - such as hanging up a banner or a canopy, buring a little incense, or recite even just one sentence or word of the sutras, they will order all powerful ghosts and gods of the lands to protect this person and never let any evil thing, disease or bad luck happen to this person or his household.

After the birth of a baby, care must be exercised not to kill any animal in order to feed the mother with meaty delicacies and not to assemble many relatives to drink liquor or eat meat while singing and playing musical instruments; for such indulgences bring down curses upon the mother and the baby.

Even after a person who has performed many virtuous deeds while alive, dies, there are hundreds of thousands of spirits and gods of the evil paths, who feigning either to be parents or dead relatives, try to lead the dying one towards them to receive him on the evil realms. Someone who is approaching the end of his life, might be in a coma or unconsciousness, and thus not able to differentiate the virtuous from evil. His relative ought to provide major offerings and read and recite the revered sutras and invoke the names of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Such virtuous acts could divert the dead one away from evil paths, and all the maras, demons and gods would then withdraw and be dispersed.

Take home message: When someone is dying, stay by his side and keep on chanting Buddha's or Bodhisattva's names, or any sutras. Better still do it before the person falls into unsconsiousness. Get the person to recite it himself, too. Buy a pre-recorded buddha's name chanting available from Buddhist shops and place it by his bedside. Ask the dying person not to follow anyone except Buddhas; not even his own parents!!

Summary of Chapter 9:

When someone is approaching the end of his life, if any of his relatives, on his behalf, invoke aloud the name of just one Buddha, such a dying person will be exonerated from all karmic retribution for his sins other than the 5 unpardonable offenses ( killing father, killing mother, killing arhat, wounding Buddha, dividing Shangha (monks).

Summary of Chapter 10:

Buddha Sakyamuni explained to Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha the comparative merits which are earned from the virtuous act of giving done by living beings in the worlds. Various good deeds which will earn someone great merits are:

1. Do favors with benevolent hearts for the poor, blind, deaf, mute or crippled, asking others to help, or comfort the suffering with tender words. As a result, he will own 7 treasures completely, not to mention food and clothing.

2. Offer sacrifices or make contributions to Buddha's temple or to the image of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Sravakas, or ... See MorePratyekas. As a result, he can always be Great Brahma Heaven King for ten aeons.

3. Rebuild or repair any ruined or broken temples or images, repair a torn sutra, or encourage others to do so. As a result, he will be a Wheel Turning King for hundreds or thousands of generations.

4. Give medicine, food or bedding to old people, sick people or pregnant women and make them peaceful and happy. As a result, he will be a king of Pure Dwelling Heaven for 100 aeons, he will be a king of Six Desire Heaven for 200 aeons, an he will surely become a Buddha.

5. Dedicate the merits of his charitable deeds for the benefit of the entire sentient beings in these worlds. As a result, he will finally become a Buddha.

6. Plant even the smallest good root of Buddhadharma. As a result, the bliss gained will be indescribable and beyond compare.

7. Make donations and offerings on seeing Buddha's, Bodhisattva's, Pratyekabuddha's or Cakravartin's images. As a result, he will gain immeasurable bliss and always dwell among beings and devas, enjoying extraordinarily wonderful happiness. Morever, if he should be able to dedicate the rewards thus gained for the benefit of the entire Dharmadhatu, the bliss will defy comparison.

8. Read a Mahayana sutra, even one single word or sentence, show a respectful heart, praise it reverently and dedicate the sutra to others or the Dharma world. As a result, his welfare will be beyond description.

9. Worship, praise, places his hands together in respect, and bestow a gift when he sees a new Buddha temple or Mahayana sutra, or repair, clean up any old, ruined or broken temple or sutra himself, or persuade others to do so. As a result, he will be kings for 30 generations.

10. Plant minor root in the Dharma world, such as making contributions or offerings, repairing a temple or binding a book of sutras. Such good deed, if dedicated for the benefit of the entire Dharmadhatu, will gain so much meritorious virtue that such person will always enjoy superior, wonderful happiness for hundreds of thousands of future lives. However, if the same deed should be directed only to the benefit of the members of one's own families or to themselves, their reward will enable them to enjoy happiness for only 3 future lives.

Take home message: Do all the good deeds listed above, accumulate plenty of good merits, and dedicate those merits for the well-being of all sentient beings in these worlds.

PS. Thank you very much to my friend Arthur Tjandra for summarizing and sharing such a wonderful Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Vow Sutra to all of us. May Buddhas, Botthisatvas and good spirits always be with you. Sadhu...Sadhu...Sadhu...

Cultivation

For those who interested in cultivating, you should cultivate the right way by taking refuge with a Vajra Master. There are many masters in the world. All are good. But, you probably want to learn from someone who has attained enlightment. I suggest you to read these:
http://www.tbsn.org/english2/talklist.php?classid=1

http://www.wihara.com/forum/true-buddha-school/1137-23-questions-answers-true-buddha-school.html

http://tbtts.org/translation_work/Sadhana/refuge.eng.html

NAMO BUDDHAYA!!! May everybody be happy and the world be in peace!

How to be broad-minded ?

Dharma Talk by Living Buddha Lian Sheng on 23/4/93
(page 166-168 Achievement of Rainbow Light Body volume six)
Translated by Yuan Zheng Tang.

When my disciples wrote to ask me : `How to be broad-minded ?` I always told them : `You have to look at the sky, sea and mountain; and travel widely !`

My reason is rather simple. The sky and the sea are immense and the mountain is usually tall, grand and spacious . By looking at them, one will become broad-minded.

In the Buddhist Sutra, Buddha had encouraged those who were narrow-minded in outlook to think of the `ten immeasurables` constantly. These ten immeasurables are:

1. Sentient beings are immeasurable. In the five thousand years of Chinese history, many people have lived and died. Where are the gains and losses? Everything will be reduced to emptiness. Once we can appreciate this point, our mind will be broad-minded.

2. Space is immeasurable. I have always asked people to take a look at the boundless sky . If we are able to emulate the sky, our minds will be broadened.

3. Time is immeasurable. The Universe that we exist in may have a long history , be it a million, billion or even trillion years. Therefore the five thousand years of Chinese history dwarfs in comparison. It is only a drop in the ocean, in terms of time. There is nothing for us to fight and to hate. Therefore `time is immeasurable` can be used to broaden our minds.

4. Dharma Realm is immeasurable. The ten Dharma realms consist of the six realms of existence plus the four realms of saint and sage . The number of sentient beings in one of the ten Dharma realms is already impossible to count, let alone all the ten Dharma realms. Hence we talk about Dharma Realm is immeasurable.

5. Paranirvana is immeasurable. Paranirvana is quietness, emptiness and completion. Hence it is immeasuable.

6. The births of Buddhas are immeasurable. The number of Buddhas that are born into the Samsara world is immeasurable . We talk about the thousand Buddhas in ****, and the thousand Buddhas in the future. Many more will descend to this world. Therefore the births of Buddhas are immeasurable.

7. Wisdom is immeasurable. It has no boundary, and inconceivable. Hence his wisdom is immeasurable.

8. Mind is immeasurable. Of course, human mind is rather limited. What we refer here is the immeasurable mind of the Universe.

9. Meditative stabilization is immeasurable. In deep meditation, one will be able to assimilate oneself into the cosmic mind. The power derived from meditative stabilization is unlimited, therefore meditative stabilization is immeasurable.

10. Law of Karma is immeasurable. Our past determined what we are today , and what we do now will decide what we are in the future. Therefore the law of Karma is immeasurable. The causes and effects may last for three lives, ten lives, one hundred lives or even one thousand lives.

If we keep the above-mentioned `ten immeasurables` in mind, we will be broad-minded. Jealousy and the thought of harming others will not come and bother us. Strictly speaking, although the sea and the mountain in this material world still have a boundary, we should congratulate ourselves if we are as broad as them . As cultivators, we must train our minds to be as broad as possible. When Buddha talked about the ten immeasurables , he wanted all the cultivators to know and emulate the cosmic mind.

Om Mani Padme Hum

The Origin of True Buddha Sutra and the Significance of Repentance

The following teachings are from the attachment to the True Buddha Repentance Sadhana.

Dharma Teaching on `the Origin of True Buddha Sutra and the Meaning and Significance of Repentance` - based on book #75

In Buddhadharma, repentance is considered to be very important. Specific rituals for performing repentance have been codified as Repentance Rituals or Repentance Sadhana. They include:

- The Emperor of Liang Repentance Ritual: initiated by Emperor Wu of Liang as a compassionate act for the deliverance of the soul of his empress, Chi Shi
- Water Repentance Ritual: initiated by the monk Wu Da, based on the repentance of the holy sangha
- Golden Light Repentance Ritual: created by Master Tian Tai, based on the Golden Light Sutra
- Guan Yin Repentance Ritual: a repentance to eradicate malevolence based on the Guan Yin [Avalokitesvara] Sutra
- Amitabha Repentance Ritual: a repentance of supreme purity related to Amitabha Buddha
- Lotus Repentance Ritual: created by Master Tian Tai, based on the Dharma Flower Sutra [also known as the Lotus Sutra]. It is also referred to as the Repentance of the Six Roots or the Dharma Flower Samaya Repentance
- Bhaisajya [Medicine Buddha] Repentance Ritual: based on the Merit Generating Sutra of Bhaisajya Guru Vaidurya`s Fundamental Vows
- Vaipulya Repentance Ritual: created by Master Tian Tai, based on the Sutra of Infinite Meanings

True Buddha Repentance is a repentance to purify the transgressions of body, speech and mind. It is based on True Buddha Sutra, a spontaneous revelation of Living Buddha Lian Sheng. This sutra was his heart-light emanation and it was conceived through his spontaneous insight and tacit understanding.

True Buddha Sutra exemplifies great wisdom, which is also called prajna. This prajna is as deep as the ocean and as vast as space; it is boundless, for authentic Buddhas and authentic wisdom are indeed immeasurable. True Buddha Sutra exudes fragrance; it is wholesome in itself, utterly virtuous, and praiseworthy, for it exalts the True Buddhas of the Western Paradise. One who delves into this sutra will attain wisdom as expansive as the ocean.

What does `True? mean? It means truthful and authentic. As I have stated before to all my disciples and numerous readers, if you take refuge in True Buddha School, practice True Buddha Tantra, and obtain a spiritual response (fruition) in any one of the practices, but still do not attain Buddhahood, I, Lu Sheng Yen, will take full responsibility. I write and teach Buddhadharma in all sincerity. All of my writings and Dharma teachings are entirely truthful. Everything about Padmakumara and the realm of Maha Twin Lotus Ponds is truthful and accurate. If there is one untrue word, I vow to break into pieces. In fact, in order to liberate living beings, I have vowed to do anything necessary, even at the cost of my life, to the point of breaking into pieces, so that each being can attain the Pure Realm of Padmakumara. What else could this teaching be, other than `true??

Padmakumara liberates all living beings by virtue of his true and authentic vow. The key word here is `true? everything is truthful and not an illusion nor a fabrication. `True?is the decree of True Buddha School, which encompasses the Ultimate Truth.

What is a `Buddha`? A Buddha is one with perfect realization; an enlightened being who is self-enlightened and enlightens others. A Buddha embodies two kinds of wisdom. The first is the wisdom of unsurpassed true understanding, also called Anuratta Samyaksambodhi. The second is the wisdom of all seed wisdoms, also called Bodhisattva Wisdom. By means of true cultivation, one can attain the realm of Buddhahood and arrive at the Buddha Ground [the highest ground in spiritual cultivation].

The term `Buddha`, in its extended sense, includes:
- Buddha Sun: compassionate and all-embracing Buddhadharma is comparable to the sun shining upon the earth. It breaks through the delusion and ignorance of living beings just like the sun breaks through darkness. Without selfhood, it embraces all.
- Buddha Seal: the true expression of Dharma is predetermined and sealed by the Buddhas.
- Buddha Vehicle: the wisdom of the practice vehicle [yana] is the understanding of the inner-mind and the realization of the inner-nature.
- Buddha Nature: the immutable nature of enlightenment, the unborn and unending real body, which is embodied by each living being. This is True Suchness.

What is a `Sutra? [discourse]? `Sutra` is a Sanskrit term. A sutra is referred to as The Truth Spoken By All Buddhas, sealed above as The Wisdom Dharma-Nature Spoken By All Buddhas and below as The Ultimate Truth To Be Realized By All Living Beings. In essence, a sutra, originating from the Tathagata, exemplifies the principles of spiritual cultivation.

What is `True Buddha Sutra? It is a sutra depicting the tacit understanding of the Buddha Wisdom, written by the Holy Red Crown Vajra Master Lu Sheng Yen, who is an enlightened being with inner-mind understanding and inner-nature realization. It is an authentic sutra, since it is spoken by all the Tathagatas.

The mountains, rivers and the great earth, with all the phenomena contained in it, are portrayed in True Buddha Sutra.

This sutra is all-encompassing. It is both theoretical and practical. It is one and it also encompasses many. And it is righteous and trustworthy.

Let it be known! Padmakumara [Lotus Youth] is one of the emanations of the Buddhas. He is a true manifestation to be relied upon. He exhibits unfathomable transformations, nourishing living beings through the great earth. Of these transformations, True Buddha Sutra is the Precious Wish-fulfilling Jewel. It shines upon all living beings. It is truly remarkable. Whoever follows its teaching faithfully will attain immeasurable merit.

As for repentance, it is like washing away one`s transgressions. By performing repentance, one washes, scrubs and cleanses them away completely. In the past, as an analogy for transgressions, I have often spoken of clothes that have not been washed for hundreds of years. They are very dirty, but through repentance, it is as if the clothes are put in water and washed thoroughly. When you take the clothes out of the water, they are as clean as new.

Therefore, performing a repentance ceremony is like going through the process of washing; everything becomes very clean afterwards. No matter what you have done in the past, performing repentance will cleanse your body and soul, as long as you realize the true meaning of repentance.

There are two kinds of karma, black and white. What is black karma? It is negative karma created through the body, speech and mind. And what is white karma? White karma is created when behaviors and thoughts are virtuous.

Here is another analogy. Performing repentance is like entering a dark room and lighting a candle or a lighter. A completely dark room becomes bright, and everything in the room can be seen. The effect of repentance is like that. By bringing in a little light, your darkness is completely gone and your black karma is eradicated. One of the meanings of repentance is to clear away the darkness.

In Tantrayana, when your body radiates a light that does not come from outside, but is emitted from your own inner self, even when there is only one drop of light, that drop can eradicate the negative effects of all transgressions. Today, we are born as human beings. We are enshrouded [in karma], and we do not know that there is light in our bodies. Tantrayana teaches us how to radiate our own light by purifying the transgressions of our body, speech and mind.

First, the body has to be virtuous. What does it mean to be virtuous? In Mahayana, it means that the body cannot create negative karma. For example, we have two hands. There should not be a third hand which does devious things. The karma created through our six senses (six roots) eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind is very powerful. If your six roots are pure, this includes body, speech and mind. Then you will create white karma. Otherwise, you create black karma. As a spiritual cultivator, you should be creating white karma instead of black karma. You need to maintain the precepts [moral ethics] of the body, and keep it virtuous.

Second, your speech also has to be virtuous, which means that you should not lie, be fork-tongued, speak evil words, or engage in idle talk. Idle talk means talking nonsense, saying unnecessary things. If you talk this way too often, then you violate the precept. Being fork-tongued means that you often sow discord, you say one thing to one person and another thing to another person. You gossip too much, spread rumors, and create chaos. Evil words include coarse words. Lying is saying deceitful things. These kinds of speech create black karma.

According to the Buddhist sutras, if you refrain from lying, being fork-tongued, saying evil words or engaging in idle talk, then you will not be violating the speech precept. Then what should you say? You should say virtuous, kind, gentle, caring words, words that encourage others to be virtuous. Those are good words. If you are unable to say good words, then you might as well pretend to be dumb and not say anything at all in order to avoid creating speech karma. Spiritual cultivators do not say meaningless things, instead we say things that are supportive and beneficial. We encourage others to be virtuous and perform good deeds. We also say words that are full of wisdom. Then we will be creating white speech karma.

Then there is also karma created through the mind. Because they are intangible, some people may think mental transgressions are lawful. When you violate the precepts related to the mind, other people can`t tell. However, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas can. Therefore, this violation is considered as a kind of transgression also.

Actually, mind karma is extremely powerful because all karma, including that of body and speech is generated through the mind. Mind karma is considered to be the initiating karma, because action follows intention. According to the sutras, the mind of a human being is like a wild horse: it leaps incessantly. You learn this very well when you start to meditate; as soon as you sit down, wooaah?the thoughts never rest. Mind karma, too, never ceases.

So how do you purify your mental transgressions? Tantrayana teaches that you should let your mind and your heart return to Emptiness by suspending it in [empty] space. It may seem that [empty] space is external to you, but in reality, there is both inner and outer Emptiness. You retrieve the outer Emptiness into your inner self, and merge the two.

According to the Sutra of Universal Accomplishment, you can utilize outer Emptiness to gain inner Emptiness. After you realize outer Emptiness, then you can generate inner Emptiness, and when the two merge, this is called the Emptiness of Dharma-Nature [Fa Xing Kong]. When you have realized the Emptiness of Dharma-Nature, then a circle of light will manifest in your body. This is what you strive for in your cultivation.

A Tantric cultivator sees both external and internal light. You utilize outer light to generate inner light. When you can emit your own inner light (heart-light) through performing repentance, then you have achieved the purpose of the repentance. You will enter into a state of clear radiance. Your inner self, your body and mind will become clear and radiant. Otherwise, you are so enshrouded with layers upon layers [of karma] that you are unable to see any light.

When you can direct your mind to enter into the realm of Emptiness and let your heart-light shine, then you have realized the meaning of performing repentance. You will have a phenomenon where your body will become clear-light and radiant. In Tantrayana, theoretically, this is the method to generate inner light.

Then where is the mind? The mind has entered into Emptiness. When you can stop all thought, enter into Emptiness, and let your inner-light shine, this is called the purity of the mind. When your body has been purified, your speech has been purified, your mind has entered into Emptiness and you have arrived at a thoughtless state, like in the highest state of the Formless Realm, then you have attained the realm of mind purity.

By following Tantrayana cultivation methods, when your body, speech and mind are purified, then your inner light will be generated naturally. To purify your mind, you need to make use of meditation and the practices of vital energy [Chinese: Qi, Sanskrit: prana], channels [Chinese: Mai, Sanskrit: nadi], and lightdrops [Chinese: Ming Dian, Sanskrit: bindu]. When you train our Qi, you harmonize your heart and mind. When your Qi is harmonious, lasting and stable, then your mind is too. On the other hand, when Qi is agitated, so is the mind. So Tantric Energy Yoga trains your mind; when you train your breathing to be soft, calm and long, the mind will gradually enter into a serene state. When you maintain this serenity, the mind will not fly all over, and your thoughts will subside into an unperturbed state.

When your Qi has become robust, unperturbed and pure, your mind will enter into a state of purity. Immense clarity will be experienced. In this thought-free state, inner light will shine. This is mentioned in the Sutra of Universal Accomplishment. It is very important.

What is the purpose of meditation? It is to train us to generate inner light by purifying body, speech and mind, because inner light can only be generated when body, speech and mind are purified. This is a key point! Why are you taught to purify your body, speech and mind? It is to let your inner light shine. Once your inner light shines, then you will have gained enlightenment, and all of your transgressions will have been eradicated.

Complete purification the generation of inner light through the purification of body, speech and mind is the primary significance of all repentance practices.

True Buddha Repentance relies on the Perfect and Sublime Wisdom Power of the Buddhas, transmitted through the lineage empowerment of True Buddha Root Guru. By performing repentance earnestly, we purify all black karma we collected since beginningless time, through the power of the blessings of the Buddhas, so that we can shine a clear and radiant light.

Dharma Teaching given by Grand Master on March 6, 1993, following the Great Compassion Repentance Ceremony

Repentance is very important. Since the heart initiates all transgressions, there is a repentance verse that says, `Transgressions start from the heart, therefore they should be repented from the heart`.

The heart controls all transgressions created by the body, speech and mind. Therefore it is necessary to perform repentance whole-heartedly, which means using all your heart to repent.

Dharma Teaching given by Grand Master on October 29, 1989, following the Water Repentance Ceremony, based on His Holiness` meditation

A repentance liturgy generally includes the following three focal points:
-Repentance through the reading of sutras
-Prostration to all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Deities
-Chanting of the Karma Eradication Mantra of the Seven Buddhas

In chanting sutras, it is essential to produce superb and magnificent sounds with the sixty-four qualities of Brahman sounds, which are listed below:

flowing-water-like, gentle, pleasant, cordial, innocent, graceful, crystal-clear, sweet, glad-to-hear-about, superior, perfect, harmonious, soothing, benevolent, kind, melodious, comforting, enthusiastic, happy, delightful, tranquil, authoritative, clarifying, distinct, endearing, pleasing, awe-inspiring, explanatory, making-sense, beneficial, free-of-mistakes-and-redundancies, lion-like, naga-like, thunder-like, king-of-dragon-like, songs-of-kinara-like, kalavinka-like, Brahma-king-like, jirajiva-bird-like, like-the-wonderful-sound-of-Indra, resonating, not-too-high, not-too-low, can-join-any-sound-naturally, flawless, constructive, undefiled, agreeable-to-the-senses, non-disparaging, constant, stable, can-join-any-gathering, pleased-by-everything, inducing-all-beings-to-be-happy, talking-about-the-mind-and-behavior-of-living-beings, pleasantly-entering-the-hearts-of-living-beings, generating-faith-in-living-beings-who-hear, inducing-equanimity-in-living-beings-who-hear, beyond-imagination-of-living-beings, fulfilled, gratifying, dignified, eminent, and fulfilling-to-all.

We should use the `My-Head-Bows-to-Buddha`s-Feet` prostration to prostrate to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Deities. The following is a step-by-step description of one prostration:
1.Stand behind a prayer mat with both hands folded together in the prayer position in front of your chest.
2.Bring your right palm down to the middle of the mat. At the same time, kneel on the mat.
3.Put your left palm on the front-left corner of the mat and bring your right palm to the front-right corner.
4.Bow your head to touch the mat between your hands.
5.Turn your hands so that the palms face upward. Visualize your hands touching Buddha`s feet (thus the name of `My-Head-Bows-to-Buddha`s-Feet?.
6.Return your hands to their previous position so that the palms are touching the mat.
7.Raise your head.
8.Move your right palm to the middle of the mat.
9.Bring your left hand to the front of your chest, in a half prayer position.
10.Stand up while using your right hand to push upward. Bring both hands together to the prayer position in front of your chest.

The Karma Eradication Mantra of the Seven Buddhas
The mantra is `Li Po Li Po Di, Qiu He Qiu He Di, Tuo Luo Ni Di, Ni He La Di, Pi Li Ni Di, Mo He Jia Di, Zhen Lin Qian Di Suo Ha.`

The Seven Buddhas are Sapta Buddhas of the Past. In the previous ninety-first kalpa, there was a Buddha called Vipasyin. In the previous thirty-first kalpa, there were Buddhas called Sikhin and Visvabhu. In the present Bhadra kalpa, there have been Buddhas called Krakucchandra, Kanakamuni, Kasyapa and Shakyamuni.

The history of the origin of the Seven Buddhas was taken from the Sutra of Dirgha Agama, the Sutra of the Seven Buddhas, translated by Fa Tian of the Zhao period of Sung dynasty, and the Sutra of the Seven Buddhas Speaking all Mantras.

From:
http://www.tbsn.org/english2/talk.php?id=150&classid=9&page=0&keyword=