The Miracles of Guru Rinpoche
"In the view of pure perception, everything is pure. In the view of impure perception, everything is impure."
– Guru Rinpoche
– Guru Rinpoche
A Miracle Birth
According to tradition, his birth is considered a miracle - he was manifested as an eight-year-old child on a lotus flower in the middle of Lake Dhanakosha in the kingdom of Uddiyana. This miraculous appearance gave him the name "Padmasambhava," which means "born from a Lotus". His birth is symbolic of the spontaneous and pure nature of enlightenment.
From an early age, Guru Rinpoche displayed extraordinary spiritual prowess. He received extensive training from numerous enlightened masters across India. Under their guidance, he mastered the teachings of Sutra and Tantra. His profound realisation and mastery of esoteric practices prepared him for his monumental task of spreading Buddhism in Tibet. His rigorous training and practice under these enlightened beings enabled him to achieve extraordinary realisations and powers.
"Let your mind be as vast as the sky, but let your actions be as fine as a grain of sand."
- Guru Rinpoche
Spreading the Dharma in Tibet
In the 8th century, the Tibetan king Trisong Detsen invited Guru Rinpoche to Tibet to subdue the local demonic forces and establish Buddhism. Guru Rinpoche’s arrival marked a significant turning point in Tibetan history. Through his immense spiritual power, he pacified the hostile spirits and converted them into protectors of the Dharma. He founded the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet, Samye, and initiated the translation of Buddhist scriptures into Tibetan, laying the foundation for Tibetan Buddhism.
The Samye Monastery, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet, is another monumental legacy. Guru Rinpoche subjugated the negative spirits that hampered the construction of the temple. He performed various rituals and practices to pacify these forces, ensuring the successful completion of the monastery within five years. Samye, which means “inconceivable” became a centre for Buddhist learning and practice, attracting scholars and practitioners from all over the region.
Under his lead, Guru Rinpoche also undertook the massive task of translating Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit to Tibetan. This colossal effort ensured that the teachings of the Buddha were accessible to the Tibetan people. He worked closely with Tibetan translators like Vairocana and Kawa Paltsek, producing translations that remain foundational texts in Tibetan Buddhism till today.
A Life Replete with Miracles
Guru Rinpoche was known to have performed numerous miracles - which are considered “miraculous” when considered from an ordinary, mundane perspective, though not necessarily unusual from the viewpoint of absolute reality.
Thekchen Choling Singapore’s Guru Rinpoche Rupa
Miracle 1: Poisoned Food Transformed into Nectar
In one account, a wicked king attempted to poison Guru Rinpoche by offering him contaminated food. However, due to his omniscient awareness, Guru Rinpoche knew of the treachery but chose to accept the food nonetheless. He transmuted the poison into nectar, which emitted a divine glow that illuminated the surroundings. The wicked king, witnessing this transformation, was struck with the realisation that Guru Rinpoche was a realised being, a living Buddha.
Miracle 2: Escape from the Copper Vessel
A group of tirthikas (heretical non-Buddhists) conspired to eliminate Guru Rinpoche by trapping him inside a copper vessel bound with iron and casting it into the Ganges River. Instead of drowning, the river's waters began to churn and flow upstream. Guru Rinpoche emerged from the vessel, performing a mystical dance in mid-air. This display of levitation earned him the epithet, “The Youth who Soars in Space like a Garuda.”
Miracle 3: Triumph Over Five Hundred Heretics
During a period of doctrinal conflict, numerous Buddhists were abandoning their practice after being defeated in debates by heretics. Guru Rinpoche challenged these heretics to a debate and emerged victorious. When the heretics resorted to chanting harmful mantras, Guru Rinpoche used his trident to reflect the negative energies back at them, causing an earthquake that buried them. In his compassion, he then guided their consciousness to a pure realm, preventing further misuse of their powers through spells and black magic.
Why do we pray to Guru Rinpoche?
As seen from his miraculous activities and skilful actions, Guru Rinpoche has the power to overcome all obstacles to Dharma practice and Dharma propagation. He has the ability to see through ordinary appearances, and is able to heighten our wisdom and awareness by having faith in him. This will allow us to have personal breakthroughs in our life.
Conclusion
The wisdom, teachings, and lessons of Guru Rinpoche continues to live on today.
At Thekchen Choling Temple, we welcome anyone and everyone who wants to deepen their understanding of Tibetan Buddhism, to reconnect with themselves through a spiritual legacy that continues to inspire practitioners around the world.
If you are interested in knowing more about Guru Rinpoche and deepening your connection to him, do join us for a one-day immersive experience, A Date with Guru Rinpoche, happening on 13th July 2024 (Sat). There will be Vajrayana teachings and guided recitations of various Guru Rinpoche prayers led by Singha Rinpoche.
These are the following prayers that we will be engaged in during the event:
• Guru Rinpoche Mantra
• Seven-Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche
• Prayer to Guru Rinpoche for Removing Obstacles and Fulfilling Wishes
• Guru Rinpoche Tsog Offering
Click here to find out more about A Date with Guru Rinpoche!