About the Amitabha Buddha Initiation and Teachings
Amitabha Buddha practice is a well known practice in Buddhist Mahayana and Vajrayana lineages. Lord Buddha commented extensively in the Amitabha Buddha Sutra about Amitabha Buddha and His Pure Land and explained in detail on how that Pure Land was arrayed, as well as the essence of the inner qualities of the Pure Land.
In general, there are countless Pure Lands, most of these Pure Lands are not easy to attain rebirth in; most require high qualities of realization such as the practitioner has to have externally pure Vinaya vow, internally pure Bodhisattva vow, and most internally pure Vajrayana vows, and so one have such high qualifications to be reborn in such a Pure Land. And in some Pure Lands, one will have to be truly realized, some have to have great accomplished practice of Vajrayana, such as the creation and completion stages. Some require attainment of the stage of Mahamudra or the stage of Mahasandhi. So it is possible that in this dark age of ours, some individual may still have the possibility to attain those stages, but most likely many ordinary people like us, due to not enough diligence purification wisdom or merit, not enough of the view of emptiness and meditation, so we are stuck in samsara.
But Lord Buddha Amitabha, before His enlightenment, while He is still engaging in Bodhisattva activities and conduct, had pure and sincere motivation when He vowed that when He attained the state of Buddhahood, whoever would hear His name, see His picture, or remember Him, all will be able to go to His Pure Land after death, and continually obtain enlightenment. Such motivation became effective and available to this dark age of ours. So our only opportunity to obtain rebirth in a Pure Land is to receive empowerment and teachings of Amitabha and put this into practice. This will ensure us, without going to different realms, that one can attain the state of a 10th level Bodhisattva. When one goes to the Pure Land, one can obtain enlightenment without hindrance.
--Lama Lodu Rinpoche
About the Karma Kagyu Mahamudra Preliminary (Ngondro) Practices Teachings
These teachings should be of great interest to anyone who is practicing Ngondro, who is anticipating practicing Ngondro, or who has an interest in the Karma Kagyu tradition of the Path of Mahamudra. These Preliminaries provide a strong foundation for anyone who wishes to practice in the Kagyu tradition.
About Lama Lodu Rinpoche
Lama Lodu Rinpoche is an authentic Dharma Master of an unbroken lineage of transmission. Rinpoche’s students, both new and long-time practitioners— and indeed all sentient beings— are the fortunate beneficiaries of Rinpoche’s great kindness, clarity, and wisdom. Please join us for Rinpoche's special teaching on the Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha of Limitless Light and the Western Pure Land, Sukhavati, and Mahamudra Preliminary Practices (Ngondro) Teachings.
Personal Interviews
Rinpoche will have some limited time available for personal interviews during the day on Monday and Tuesday, April 8 and 9. Please email Kati at [email protected] to inquire about scheduling.
Amitabha Buddha practice is a well known practice in Buddhist Mahayana and Vajrayana lineages. Lord Buddha commented extensively in the Amitabha Buddha Sutra about Amitabha Buddha and His Pure Land and explained in detail on how that Pure Land was arrayed, as well as the essence of the inner qualities of the Pure Land.
In general, there are countless Pure Lands, most of these Pure Lands are not easy to attain rebirth in; most require high qualities of realization such as the practitioner has to have externally pure Vinaya vow, internally pure Bodhisattva vow, and most internally pure Vajrayana vows, and so one have such high qualifications to be reborn in such a Pure Land. And in some Pure Lands, one will have to be truly realized, some have to have great accomplished practice of Vajrayana, such as the creation and completion stages. Some require attainment of the stage of Mahamudra or the stage of Mahasandhi. So it is possible that in this dark age of ours, some individual may still have the possibility to attain those stages, but most likely many ordinary people like us, due to not enough diligence purification wisdom or merit, not enough of the view of emptiness and meditation, so we are stuck in samsara.
But Lord Buddha Amitabha, before His enlightenment, while He is still engaging in Bodhisattva activities and conduct, had pure and sincere motivation when He vowed that when He attained the state of Buddhahood, whoever would hear His name, see His picture, or remember Him, all will be able to go to His Pure Land after death, and continually obtain enlightenment. Such motivation became effective and available to this dark age of ours. So our only opportunity to obtain rebirth in a Pure Land is to receive empowerment and teachings of Amitabha and put this into practice. This will ensure us, without going to different realms, that one can attain the state of a 10th level Bodhisattva. When one goes to the Pure Land, one can obtain enlightenment without hindrance.
--Lama Lodu Rinpoche
About the Karma Kagyu Mahamudra Preliminary (Ngondro) Practices Teachings
These teachings should be of great interest to anyone who is practicing Ngondro, who is anticipating practicing Ngondro, or who has an interest in the Karma Kagyu tradition of the Path of Mahamudra. These Preliminaries provide a strong foundation for anyone who wishes to practice in the Kagyu tradition.
About Lama Lodu Rinpoche
Lama Lodu Rinpoche is an authentic Dharma Master of an unbroken lineage of transmission. Rinpoche’s students, both new and long-time practitioners— and indeed all sentient beings— are the fortunate beneficiaries of Rinpoche’s great kindness, clarity, and wisdom. Please join us for Rinpoche's special teaching on the Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha of Limitless Light and the Western Pure Land, Sukhavati, and Mahamudra Preliminary Practices (Ngondro) Teachings.
Personal Interviews
Rinpoche will have some limited time available for personal interviews during the day on Monday and Tuesday, April 8 and 9. Please email Kati at [email protected] to inquire about scheduling.
