Translated from True Buddha News Issue 375
Article: One Thousand Vajrasattva Mantras every day
Written by: Rongrong
Translated by: Jessie
Edited by: Dance Smith
Proofread by: Mimosa
The Padmakumara Translation Team
Website: www.padmakumara.org
During my period of cultivation in the mountains, I prepared a rigorous schedule of "homework" for myself to do everyday: I would wake up at six in the morning, then, after jogging, I would practice Treasure Vase Breathing, Guru Yoga, and do three sessions of the Inner Fire Yoga. I would do another three sessions of Inner Fire every afternoon. In addition to this, my most intensive homework was chanting the Hundred Syllable Mantra (Vajrasattva Mantra) one thousand times each day.
I am fully aware that the Hundred Syllable Mantra is Tantric Buddhism’s most fundamental mantra. It is a powerful, karma-eradicating, faith-fortifying mantra, and it is of the foremost importance when one goes to a mountain for retreat.
I set myself a goal - to chant 100,000 repetitions of the Hundred Syllable Mantra within the first 100 days of my retreat in the mountains.
I knew, deep down in my heart, that this was not an impossible task.
All humans have potential. Just like a spring, the more pressure we apply, the more strength we get back!
I divided my day into ten segments, and I chanted the Hundred Syllable Mantra one thousand times during each segment. In between mantra recitation, I would cultivate, meditate, and do Inner Fire Yoga.
Such practice is a combination of quietude and movement; it is what I would call a practice of mutual balancing.
What’s more, while I chanted, I also exercised, walked, did yoga exercises, practiced zhan zhuang , etc. Life was not dull at all!
Of course, I had to make sure that the quality of my chanting was not sacrificed while striving to achieve my goal of 100,000 recitations. I always maintained the visualization of my Personal Deity. I always reminded myself to shut out distracting thoughts and to concentrate on visualization.
Slowly, after chanting the Hundred Syllable Mantra more and more times, there came a great leap forward in terms of the quality of my chanting. My visualization became very precise and realistic; my spiritual response also became very obvious and concrete.
I always make it a point to encourage both myself and others. Cultivation must be accompanied by great conviction. Give yourself a goal, then clench your teeth and pull yourself through. Push yourself until you succeed.
Many Dharma brothers and sisters were greatly encouraged. They fearlessly worked hard at cultivation. Regardless of their ages, each one of them came up with their own cultivation homework. They are not slack at all!
I am very moved by all this hard work! I want to tell everyone: if I use ten percent of my strength in my single-hearted cultivation, these Dharma Brothers and Sisters will use five percent of their strength to cultivate. I believe that if I use twenty percent of my strength to cultivate, everyone else will be encouraged to use ten percent of their strength!
This is the true meaning of “Sangha”: Dharma Brothers and Sisters encouraging one another.
Rongrong
Article: One Thousand Vajrasattva Mantras every day
Written by: Rongrong
Translated by: Jessie
Edited by: Dance Smith
Proofread by: Mimosa
The Padmakumara Translation Team
Website: www.padmakumara.org
During my period of cultivation in the mountains, I prepared a rigorous schedule of "homework" for myself to do everyday: I would wake up at six in the morning, then, after jogging, I would practice Treasure Vase Breathing, Guru Yoga, and do three sessions of the Inner Fire Yoga. I would do another three sessions of Inner Fire every afternoon. In addition to this, my most intensive homework was chanting the Hundred Syllable Mantra (Vajrasattva Mantra) one thousand times each day.
I am fully aware that the Hundred Syllable Mantra is Tantric Buddhism’s most fundamental mantra. It is a powerful, karma-eradicating, faith-fortifying mantra, and it is of the foremost importance when one goes to a mountain for retreat.
I set myself a goal - to chant 100,000 repetitions of the Hundred Syllable Mantra within the first 100 days of my retreat in the mountains.
I knew, deep down in my heart, that this was not an impossible task.
All humans have potential. Just like a spring, the more pressure we apply, the more strength we get back!
I divided my day into ten segments, and I chanted the Hundred Syllable Mantra one thousand times during each segment. In between mantra recitation, I would cultivate, meditate, and do Inner Fire Yoga.
Such practice is a combination of quietude and movement; it is what I would call a practice of mutual balancing.
What’s more, while I chanted, I also exercised, walked, did yoga exercises, practiced zhan zhuang , etc. Life was not dull at all!
Of course, I had to make sure that the quality of my chanting was not sacrificed while striving to achieve my goal of 100,000 recitations. I always maintained the visualization of my Personal Deity. I always reminded myself to shut out distracting thoughts and to concentrate on visualization.
Slowly, after chanting the Hundred Syllable Mantra more and more times, there came a great leap forward in terms of the quality of my chanting. My visualization became very precise and realistic; my spiritual response also became very obvious and concrete.
I always make it a point to encourage both myself and others. Cultivation must be accompanied by great conviction. Give yourself a goal, then clench your teeth and pull yourself through. Push yourself until you succeed.
Many Dharma brothers and sisters were greatly encouraged. They fearlessly worked hard at cultivation. Regardless of their ages, each one of them came up with their own cultivation homework. They are not slack at all!
I am very moved by all this hard work! I want to tell everyone: if I use ten percent of my strength in my single-hearted cultivation, these Dharma Brothers and Sisters will use five percent of their strength to cultivate. I believe that if I use twenty percent of my strength to cultivate, everyone else will be encouraged to use ten percent of their strength!
This is the true meaning of “Sangha”: Dharma Brothers and Sisters encouraging one another.
Rongrong