The Generation Stage in Buddhist Tantra by Gyatrul Rinpoche

Author:Gyatrul Rinpoche [Gyatrul Rinpoche]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shambhala
Published: 2021-08-17T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER V

The Actual Practice: The Yoga of Meditative Equipoise

Part II

The Yoga of the Speech Recitation

The next section explains the yoga of vajra recitation in seven parts: (1) general understanding, (2) the particular necessity for practice, (3) the actual nature of the recitation, (4) different types of recitation, (5) the manner of reciting the mantra, (6) number of recitations and (7) activity upon completion.

General Understanding

A general understanding of the yoga of vajra recitation is approached by considering the object that needs to be purified by the yoga, the means of purification and the result. The object that needs to be purified through the yoga of speech is the habit of perceiving all sounds—names, words, syllables and anything that is spoken—as merely ordinary sounds with ordinary meanings.

Simply stated, the object to purify is your present, obscured experience of speech and the habitual instincts that accompany it. The practice of mantra recitation purifies this impure experience and results in pure, vajra-like speech. One achieves the Sambhogakaya and becomes imbued with the sixty qualities of the Buddha’s speech. All of one’s words become pleasing, meaningful and helpful. The means of purification is to recite the mantra, the pure sounds which the buddhas have given to us, over and over until they are like a spinning wheel of sound.

The result of this purification practice is the attainment of vajra speech. When you become enlightened, as you all will, your activity will be directed toward taming beings. Exercising the miraculous activity of vajra speech is called “turning the wheel of the Dharma.” We work to attain vajra speech and its attendant powers to prepare for this auspicious time.

The Particular Necessity for Practice

The second part discusses “the particular necessity for practice.” Through the power of the yoga of speech, the stains that obscure the mind are removed. Once this happens, speech reaches its full potential. It is like discovering the true nature of your speech for the very first time.

To activate the yoga of speech, summon the primordial wisdom deities by calling their names. Just as calling someone’s name naturally causes that person to draw closer to you, in the same way calling the wisdom deities by name brings them nearer to you. They come to see what you want.

This does not mean the wisdom deities will not come if you do not call them. They could come even if you did not call their names. You call their names—which is what you are doing when you recite mantras—because their names express their actual nature. A quote from the Dorje Kur (rDo rje gur) scripture reads: “To directly perceive the buddhas, bodhisattvas, dakinis and your own consort, get their attention by calling their names and invite them to come.” Reciting the deity’s name over and over purifies obscurations of speech and establishes the cause of vajra speech. This cause produces the condition that averts adverse conditions. The speech of the wisdom deities and your own speech will become the same—vajra speech.

The Actual Nature of Recitation

The third section discusses the manner of reciting mantras.

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