Questions

Hi Brenda,

For the first question, I presume that you are asking in the context of group practice for Padmasambhava's birthday on 18/8. I've asked this question to Master Lian Jie before and I agree with him totally from my study of GM's books. As a general rule of thumb, we would need empowerment for all practices and chants that we undertake. For a group practice scenario, the person who leads the cultivation must have received empowerment him/herself. As for those partaking in the cultivation, you can still sit in for the cultivation and do the mantra and mudra but in order to receive the full benefit of the practice, you are required to write in to Seattle (TBF) to request GM to give you a distant empowerment. Once TBF receives your letter, your letter will be placed on the altar for three days and in that three days, GM will perform the distant empowerment.  

For the second question, the answer can be found in the True Buddha Sutra. During the great congregation in Maha Twin Lotus Ponds before GM's descend, he proclaimed that whosoever recites the True Buddha Sutra on his birthday (18th day of the fifth Lunar month) or on one's own Lunar birthday, or on the 18th day of each Lunar month, and at the same time offer the five offerings of flower, incence, light, tea and fruit, he/she shall have all his/her wishes fulfilled.  

So according to the Lunar calendar, the 18th of the 7th Lunar month falls on the 26/8. So that is a good day to recite the True Buddha Sutra.

Amitabha
DragonBall