john04/22/02 at 23:31:48#1??? Can someone out there enlighten me on where to obtain a copy of "Four Preliminary Practices" (she jia sin fa) in English/Roman verses ?
Reason: I had just started to practice teaching of Grand Master Lu.
Million thks in advance...
om mane padme hum !
:)
Lyciss04/23/02 at 00:34:48#2Re: Need help...John,
have you taken refuge in Grand Master and recieved the refuge empowerment? if you are close to seattle or near a TBS temple you can call in advance to make an appointment to be empowered or if you arent near any you can write to receive remote empowerment:
Grand Master Lu,
True Buddha Foundation,
17102 NE 40th Ct,
Redmond,
WA 98052,
USA
give your name and say you are wanting to take refuge in Grand Master and are seeking refuge empowerment... it is also customary to send a donation to give as an offering to the buddhas on your behalf...
then on the 1st and 15th days of the lunar calendar at 7am you can perform the taking refuge practice at your home by reciting the fourfold refuge
Namo Guru bei,
Namo Buddha ye,
Namo Dharma ye,
Namo Sangha ye
if you havent taken refuge and recieved the refuge empowerment they consider it illicit to practice the TBS Dharma because lineage is important.
after all that you can start practicing the Four Preliminary Practices found here...
http://world.tbsn.org/uk/LondonTemple/ebooks/aom/aomcha~2.htm
John if you dont mind can you tell us a little about yourself... like your age and where you live?
om mani padme hum
lian hua dance04/23/02 at 09:05:03#3Re: Need help...For the 4 preliminary practices, how "illicit" is it for someone to practice without empowerment?
I think it may not be so bad - just not so efficacious.
At the temples, people are warmly invited to come and take part in group practice, which consists of the 4 preliminary practices, regardless of whether or not they have taken refuge.
I think two things: (1) if anyone were seriously doing the 4 preliminary practices, they would want to get empowered to get the full benefit, and (2) if someone were "trying out" the practices without empowerment, they might want to withhold judgment as to what the effects are, as the effects will evolve with time, commitment and empowerment.
Lian hua dance
Lyciss04/23/02 at 10:10:44#4Re: Need help...Yea ur probably right about that Dance and i wonder what the comparison is... even with empowerment if your intention isnt there it might be equal to practicing as if you had never even recieved it... i like the way Grand Master explains it... you can attend a college course but if you havent actually been enrolled you wont recieve the certificate upon completion...
its probably no big deal to practice the Four Preliminaries without empowerment but how much progress will you really have and what about any further progress if you do happen to have any responces?
om mani padme hum