Question asked by Yue
Hello pastor. I have 2 questions, firstly is do we need Tantric practice to achieve enlightenment or do we not. If we do need Tantric practice, what happens to people who have transformed and changed but just didn't get to Tantric Practices yet. Are they reborn in samsara again, a pure land, etc. My next question is how can we try to include spritual practice every srcond of our day?
Dear Yue,
No, it is not necessary to have Tantric practice to achieve enlightenment. However, if you do have tantric practice and practice it properly, the journey to enlightenment is quicker.
Whether you have tantric practice or not, if you don’t reach enlightenment in this life, then two things happen after we pass. One is that we take rebirth in a Pureland, if we have generated enough merits and a connection with a deity through formal practice. The second, more common, is that we take rebirth in samsara, but due to the merits generated, in a rebirth and situation where we can once again meet the Dharma and continue practising in that lifetime.
Spiritual practice is included in daily life in two ways, the first is the formal way of practising Sadhana (daily prayers) and meditation. The second and most important is actually transforming the mind to become a better person, being mindful of our actions, speech and thoughts.
It’s not easy to explain this here, but a great teaching that you can refer to is known as the Lamrim, or Stages on the Path to Enlightenment. This sets out the entire path of practice (non-tantric). You can get a copy of the book here: https://www.vajrasecrets.com/lamrim-liberation-in-the-palm-of-your-hand. I hope this helps.