“Lama Chopa is the highest yoga tantra sadhana.”
This piece is extracted from the advice of Singha Rinpoche on the Lama Chopa text. First things first, reading Lama Chopa like a book is not recommended. One needs to receive proper initiations of the three main highest yoga tantra deity texts. It is a secret practice and not meant to read for fun.
If we have received the initiations, we have to become our highest yoga tantra deity and perform it as a whole set of rituals. We read it only when our Guru permits. And then, the moment we pick it up, it becomes an automatic lifelong commitment to recite it and offer Lama Chopa every day for the rest of our lives. Doing so is non-negotiable. And since it will be like a meditation process, it is best to memorize it in our native language.
Lama Chopa means Guru Puja. It is the most powerful sadhana where we make offerings to our Guru. The Guru here is not to be seen as a human being because then we will not see the activities of more profound wisdom. We will start to judge everything a human being does and put it onto our Guru. And things can become contradictory.
Hence, we need to have solemn renunciation – of others and then of self, realizing the emptiness of all outer phenomena, and then of inner phenomena.
Once we can see that the “outside” does not truly exist, then “I” also does not truly exist either. But this is not easy for most of us. The fastest method to accumulate vast and deep merit is to cultivate the Guru Puja. To see the Guru and to offer the Guru. We can see the outside as the Guru, but what is the inner meaning of the activities of the Guru? And then there are the deities that reside in the body of the Guru. If we can train to see like that and practice as such, we will receive the Abhishek. It will come even if we do not ask for it. Our minds will become moisturized with the dharma that can be of benefit for all sentient beings.
The intent of Buddhism is not to give us happiness. When Buddha said, “May you be well and happy, what it meant was “May you cherish being well and may you choose to be happy.” So we must reflect upon this and then choose to be fulfilled in heart and mind.
Samsara is all about ignorance, anger, and greed. All our complaints are about ignorance, anger, and greed. Because our happiness is only temporary, it causes us great suffering. But when we hold something that fulfills our own and other being’s needs, it is even more significant than the feeling of being happy. That’s why when we cultivate Buddhism, it is not for happiness but fulfillment.
Dharma Teaching by Singha Rinpoche and edited by Sandeep Nath
28 Feb 2021
Sacred Mirror
The Sacred Mirror represents consciousness and the element of space. Clear, pure and bright, the mirror reflects all phenomena objectively without bias, thereby reminding us to practice objectivity and to rise above our judgmental minds. On a more subtle level, it reflects the Buddha’s core teaching of emptiness – that nothing exists on its own side without a dependent arising cause.
Pinnacle of the mirror
The pinnacle of the mirror, formed by the white crescent moon, flaming red sun and an orange flame of fire, represents the completion stage of Vajrayana practice.
Light Rays
The light rays radiating from the Sacred Mirror represent the flourishing of the Buddha’s teachings, fanning out to the furthest reaches of the universe.
Full Moon Disc
The moon disc represents Bodhicitta, the aspiration to become a Buddha to benefit all sentient beings.
Blue Lotus
Divinely fragrant, blue lotuses bloomed only in the Buddha’s time. By incorporating it into the temple’s logo, it is symbolic of the ever-present Buddha in Thekchen Choling. Moreover, a lotus flower represents purity, perfection, compassion and renunciation, similar to how the beautiful lotus remains untainted even though it had arisen out from the muddy waters.
Nine Precious Jewels
These nine precious jewels represent the Guru, Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, yidam or mind-seal deity, Dharma protector, the sky, earth, and the human realm.
Two Dragons
The two dragons represent continuity and harmony and create the cause for the temple to enjoy the strong support of members and benefactors for Dharma to flourish.
Golden Khata
The flowing golden khata represents the auspicious increase of all Dharma activities.
The Seven Gems of the Chakravartin or a Wheel-Turning King
1. The precious horse represented by a unicorn’s horn
2. The precious elephant represented by its tusks
3. The precious queen represented by round golden earrings
4. The precious minister represented by square golden earrings
5. The precious general represented by a pair of crossed swords
6. The precious jewel represented by the triple-eyed gem
7. The precious Dharma wheel represented by a branch of coral
