Dear Lucy,

Anything that happens in life from a Buddhist perspective is due to karma. So it would apply to this situation too. If the situtation is very bad, you can go to consult your doctor, especially if you have allergies. Thank you.

Dear LC,

No it is not a sign that there is something wrong. If it is causing a big issue, then you can stop reciting (as long as you don’t have the commitment to recite) or recite less for now. Within your Higher Tantra practices, as you mentioned, focus on the purification elements strongly such as Vajrasattva practice for 1-2 weeks and then try to recite the Shurangama Heart Mantra again. Such feelings when they only happen during certain mantras or prayers, usually indicate some form of negative karma that is effecting you when engaged in that specific practice. So you just need to purify it, using your other practice. After a while it will go away if you have purified enough. If not, repeat concentrating on the purification aspect of your main practices, and then try again.

I hope this helps.

Dear Nina,

Thank you for your question. This is not a form of Tara that is commonly practised within the Gelug Tradition, hence we cannot provide you with any information regarding the mantra. If you have heard this mantra being taught by a particular guru, you can approach them for more information.

Usually within Gelug practice all Tara mantras would start, with OM TARE, rather than OM NAMA TARE. However, the mantra that you have mentioned could be an additional mantra or a longer mantra.

In general, we practice Green and White Tara forms and also the 21 Taras stemming from both the Surgyagupta and Atisha lineages. If you are interested in other forms of Tara, we have an article here on Suryagupta’s 21 Taras, along with short praises and mantras for each: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/suryaguptas-21-taras.html

I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Khang,

Thanks for your questions.

If you have a pendant, you can bless it yourself through the process to bless images yourself: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/prayers-and-sadhanas/how-to-bless-buddha-images-yourself.html

As for blessing strings, Protector Strings are always blessed by the Protector in trance of an oracle. There is no other way for this. Other types of blessing strings are blessed in different ways.

Hence in order to get a blessing string, it is best to get them from a temple where they have been blessed properly.

I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Sangay,

Please consult the relationship compatibility calculator here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/horoscopes/the-chinese-zodiac.html

Thank you

Dear Max,

Thank you for your questions. It may not be clear in the way that the article was written, but Shangmo Dorje Putri is an extremely fierce Protectress. Even within the Gelug traditional she is considered very fierce and is feared. The reason she was polite to Domo Geshe Rinpoche was because that even though she is fierce, she is also very respectful towards lamas and high-level Dharma practitioners.

For example there are stories in how she is very caring for the heads of the two Sakya Houses, because they are all either emanations of the enlightened beings or high-level practitioners. However, she can be very wrathful towards those household staff or relatives who are not practising properly or who are doing negative things.

In general, for most practitioners she is not a a gentle Dharma Protector, but she is very fierce, only towards very high-level practioners she is gentle. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Bhavisha,

Yes, any practice can be used to purify a specific karma. When starting the practice think about the particular situation and the cause if you know it. If you do not know it, you can search the Dharma books for understanding the general causes and think about those. The importance here is regret for having engaged in a particular negative action that is causing the situation. Then engage in the practice, and as part of the practice understand that our actions have consequences and refrain from doing that particular negative action. So to purify a specific karma, it is how you bring in and focus on the Four Opponent Powers during your practice.

While it can be done in this way to help purify a specific karma, the practice itself will also purify other karmas at the same time. The amount of purification practice necessary to purify a particular karma, depends on the strength of that karma and also if that karma has ripened and you are experiencing the effects, the strength of the effects of that karma, etc. So some situations can be purified quicker and easier than others.

I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Niklas,

Thank you for your questions.

The Diamond Sutra is a Mahayana text that presents the Buddha’s teachings on the Perfection of Wisdom through a dialogue with his disciple Subhuti. The sutra emphasises the concept of emptiness by deconstructing our attachment to conventional designations and dualistic thinking.

Basically it teaches that the Buddha, the Dharma, sentient beings, and even enlightenment itself, lack inherent existence and are merely conventional designations dependent on causes, conditions, and mental imputation.

Through this understanding of emptiness combined with great compassion, we can accumulate merit without clinging to the concept of merit-making, benefit beings without grasping at the notion of beings to be saved, and ultimately achieve liberation from the cycle of samsara while recognising that there is no inherent liberation to be attained.

Benefits include:
1. Accumulation of a lot of merit
2. Purification of negative karma
3. Development of wisdom
4. Protection from obstacles
5. Cutting our attachment
6. Benefiting sentient beings through dedication
7. Creating the causes for a good rebirth
8. Mental and emotional stability
There are many other benefits also.

As for why we can do Dharma Protector practice after Sutra recitations or any Dharma practice for that matter, is to clear obstacles and create the conducive conditions that we can be successful in our spiritual practice. You can watch a teaching by Tsem Rinpoche on Dharma Protector practice here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/one-minute-story/powerful-explanations-on-dharma-protectors

I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Mathew,

Thanks for your question. This mantra that you have provided is for the Protectress Ekajati, according to her practice within the Nyingma and Kagyu schools. Here at Kechara, we practice the Gelug school, so I can’t comment as to if you can recite this mantra or not. Usually, as a protector in both the Nyingma and Kagyu schools, if I remember correctly, you need to have received certain initiations or permissions in order to engage in her practice as a Protrectress.

Within our particular tradition Ekajati can be practised as part of the Chenresig Ngensong Kundrol practice. In this tradition, she looks quite different from the Protectress form of her standing, up with one tooth, etc as she is commonly found online. You can read a little more about the practice and see images of her here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/chenrezig-ngesung-kundrol.html

Within this practice, her mantra is OM EKA TSATI HUM SOHA. If you would like, you can recite this mantra.

Ekajati represents the ability of the Buddhas to destroy our obstacles. This includes protecting from black magic and spirits, removing negative energies and overcoming extreme difficulties. In particular, Ekajati grants great bliss and the realisation of emptiness.

I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Karen,

We are replying below to your questions and will provide the translation to Spanish below. We don’t speak spanish, so we have tried to answer your questions using online translation.

1. Buddhism believes in cyclical time. So there are ages where Dharma exists, and there ages in which it does not. I believe that you question is what happens during the times where there is no Dharma. We believe that during this time people behave simply out of their emotions and physical needs, thereby just collecting karma and not focusing on spiritual or higher forms of practice.
2. I’m not sure if I understood your question correctly. During practice, we can invoke the energies of an enlightened being and their blessings to enter our bodies through prayer and mantra recitation to have a certain effect. For example, through Manjushri’s practice you can gain a better intellect and memory, etc.
3. I’m sorry but I do not understand this particular question. I think there may be an issue with translation
4. It is very rare that an enlightened being enters a person naturally. There would be many other accompanying signs if this were to happen. Usually, as in the case of oracles, this only happens when an oracle has undertaken intense years of traning under a highly qualified lama. If you are taking trance, please see help at your nearest Buddhist temple.
5. We cannot comment on Bon rituals, as Bon is a completely different religion than Buddhism. We do not know anything about the Bon tradtion.

I hope this helps in some small manner. Thank you.

—

Estimada Karen:

Respondemos a sus preguntas a continuación y les proporcionaremos la traducción al español. No hablamos español, por lo que hemos intentado responder a sus preguntas mediante traducción en línea.

1. El budismo cree en el tiempo cíclico. Por lo tanto, hay épocas en las que el Dharma existe y otras en las que no. Creo que su pregunta se centra en qué sucede durante los períodos en los que no hay Dharma. Creemos que durante este tiempo las personas se comportan simplemente por sus emociones y necesidades físicas, acumulando karma y sin centrarse en prácticas espirituales o superiores.
2. No estoy segura de haber entendido bien su pregunta. Durante la práctica, podemos invocar las energías de un ser iluminado y sus bendiciones para que entren en nuestros cuerpos a través de la oración y la recitación de mantras y tengan un efecto determinado. Por ejemplo, mediante la práctica de Manjushri se puede mejorar el intelecto y la memoria, etc.
3. Lo siento, pero no entiendo esta pregunta en particular. Creo que puede haber un problema con la traducción.
4. Es muy raro que un ser iluminado entre en una persona de forma natural. Habría muchas otras señales acompañantes si esto ocurriera. Normalmente, como en el caso de los oráculos, esto solo ocurre cuando un oráculo ha realizado años intensos de entrenamiento con un lama altamente cualificado. Si está en trance, busque ayuda en su templo budista más cercano.
5. No podemos comentar sobre los rituales Bön, ya que Bön es una religión completamente diferente al budismo. Desconocemos la tradición Bön.

Espero que esto le sea de ayuda. Gracias.

Dear Prakriti Khadka,

We are sorry, but we don’t understand your question. Please do send us another message clarifying what you mean by “LHO” and we will be happy to help.

Dear Nina,

Thank you for your question. From a Buddhist perspective, we would not use practices of deities in order to bless us to engage in forms of divination from other systems. These days tarot cards have become very popular in social use, but there is an instrinsic link between the cards and the spiritual systems they were used in originally. Though people use the cards, the do not practice these original spiritual systems anymore, hence the cards can become portals for negative beings. Rinpoche discuss all of this in the teaching here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYZpiCuaLk4

From a Buddhist perspective, we only use divination systems that have arisen from the enlightened beings themselves rather than other systems which can open us to unseen dangers.

In regards to spreading Dharma to others, we don’t actually need to use methods such as cards, etc. The strength of the Dharma lies in transformation, so when we transform ourselves to become better people and others see this, they will automatically see this improvement and want to implement Dharma practice in their own lives.

I hope this helps.

Dear Khang,

Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, I do not have all the mantras at hand in their original Tibetan.

For the main mantra, you can see see the Tibetan text in the background on this image on Kecharas FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Bu1c3FhhS/

Thank you and hope this helps.

Dear Karla,

Thanks for your question. There is no need to worry, it was an unintentional action, so there is no negative karma involved, nothing bad will happen to you because of it.

What you should do is get yourself another pendant if you would like, have it properly consecrated, before you wear it. If you do not have any one near by who can do it for you, such as at a Dharma centre, then you can do it yourself following the same procedure as blessing a statue, which can be found here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/prayers-and-sadhanas/how-to-bless-buddha-images-yourself.html

I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Danielle,

Thank you for your message and we are very sorry to read that you have been going through such a situation.

We do have certain practices that can help with overcoming black magic and spirit harm. Such as the practice of Dorje Shugden: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/beginners-introduction-to-dorje-shugden.html, the fierce goddess Sengdongma: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/protection-from-black-magic-and-spirits.html or the wrathful emanation of Dorje Shugden known as Trakze: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/trakze-to-dispel-black-magic-spirits.html

While these methods are available here, we would suggest you to contact us https://www.kechara.com/contact/ so we can learn more and advise you on a more specific level. Certain practices are better at solving certain conditions quicker than others, so when we have more information, we will be able to help you better. I hope this helps. Thanks.

Dear Max,

There are multiple emanations in Dorje Shugden’s entourage, they are all manifestations of Dorje Shugden himself, you can read more about them here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/dorje-shugden-mandala.html

In addition, when you invoke Dorje Shugden, the Dharma Protector Setrap also comes with his entire entourage. Two other Dharma Protectors also assist Dorje Shugden, namely Kache Marpo and Namkha Barzin. All three are Dharma Protectors in their own right, and have their own prayers and rituals. However, when you practice Dorje Shugden they all come to help as well.

In additional you also have worldly Dharma Protectors such as Shangmo Dorje Putri who was placed in Kache Marpo’s entourage. Hence she goes where he is. And also Methar, who was placed into Dorje Shugden’s entourage under the care of Kache Marpo.

You can find articles about these protectors below

Dorje Shugden’s Mandala: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/dorje-shugden-mandala.html

Setrap: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/kechara-13-depts/inviting-lord-setrap-to-ones-abode-links-to-teachings.html

Kache Marpo: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/who-is-kache-marpo.html

Namkha Barzin: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/invocation-to-namkar-barzin.html

Shangmo Dorje Putri: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/shangmo-dorje-putri-the-bamo-of-sakya.html

Methar: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/methar-of-tengyeling-monastery.html

Hope this helps to answer your question. Thank you.

Dear Karma Lhaden,

We have two astrology calculators that you might be interested in:

Chinese Zodiac: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/horoscopes/the-chinese-zodiac.html

Tibetan Astrology: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/tibetan-astrology/tibetan-astrology.html

I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Edoardo,

Yes the mantra of Kurukulle can be recited without initiation. Though if you want to engage in the full practice, it is best to consult a qualified spiritual teacher. That being said, you can definitely recite her mantra. You can even setup an altar to her and make offerings to her daily in order to create a close connection with her.

Kurukulle performs magnetising and controlling activities to attract people, resources and circumstances for growth in all aspects of life. She removes obstacles, improves health and wisdom, and creates good conditions for Dharma practice.

She is sometimes called the Female Buddha of Love, because she helps us develop the ability to influence others positively and achieve respect, love and support by improving our communication skills and relationships with family, friends, superiors and subordinates.

Her mantra is OM KURU KULLE HRI SOHA.

I hope this helps.

Dear Nanhwa,

The teachings of the Six Munis are from the Guhyagarba Tantra and the Bardo Thodol scriptures. These are mainly practiced within the Nyingma traditions, rather than the Gelug tradition, which places more focus on other teachings and sets of tantra.

The Six Munis are:
1. Buddha Indra Kaushika for the God Realms
2. Buddha Vemachitra for the Demi-God Realms
3. Buddha Shakyamuni for the Human Realm
4. Buddha Shravasingha for the Animal Realm
5. Buddha Jvalamukhadeva for the Hungry Ghost Realms
6. Buddha Dharmaraja for the Hell Realms

All six are actually all manifestations of Buddha, to help the beings in those realms overcome the negative emotions that caused them to be born there, the prevailing delusions in those realms and their sufferings.

While they do exist, emphasis in the Gelug tradition is placed on other Buddha figures and practices. As far as I am aware there are no common prayers or practices for them. Most notably within the Gelug tradition, they are sometimes depicted within the Wheel of Life diagram, helping sentient beings in their respective realms.

If you would like to find prayers or practices to them, you would need to consult lamas or practitioners of the Nyingma tradition or purhaps the Kagyu tradition.

I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Rinchen Buddha,

We do not understand your question to be able to help you. Please post your question with more detail so we can assist you.

Thank you