Aspire to Be Born on the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain

~ We can change the entire course of our life. I recommend changing the course of your life each and every day. ~

-Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, Personal Link #198

We had a discussion last night about preparing ourselves to live the life we want, but at the same time preparing ourselves to face the inevitable transition from this life to the next. I was struck by how few students think about this, so I’d like to address it further this morning.

Some people have said they don’t mind being a feather in the wind, just blowing wherever their karma takes them. Others say they cannot even imagine themselves existing after this life. As a practitioner you must develop clarity regarding the path and your aspirations.

I want to encourage you to hold the intention to achieve a better rebirth. If you cannot actually envision yourself having a better rebirth in some pure realm, then at least intend to have a better rebirth in samsara. Don’t just remain passive and refuse to think about it. If you are passive, then your karma will be the only determining factor for your rebirth. But if you can actively maintain and renew your strong intention, it will ultimately prove to be a great support and a great advantage.

Aspiring to be reborn on the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain supplements the practices we already do. We will have the whole environment to support us there as well as the vajra master and the assemblies of the other masters to guide us. We can practice with them to complete our Vajrayana path. If we are Nyingma practitioners, that is why we should aspire to be reborn on the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain.

I’m not saying that other pure realms or buddhafields are unimportant or that one shouldn’t aspire to be born in one of them. I feel there are far more significant reasons to base your intentions on the aspiration to be born on the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain, especially for Nyingma practitioners.

The most important recitation is the Vajra Guru mantra, OM AH HUNG BENZAR GURU PEMA SIDDHI HUNG. For those who create a real connection to it, the Vajra Guru mantra is exactly like a wish-fulfilling jewel. Meeting a mantra is, to a great extent, no different from meeting a deity. The Vajra Guru mantra in particular holds a lot of power and we can use it as a supplication to be reborn on the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain, especially if our intention is accompanied by the recitation of 100 million mantras of Guru Rinpoche during one’s lifetime.

We must continually aspire to be reborn on the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain, even to the extent of dreaming about it and becoming able to go there in our dreams. Develop this aspiration to the point that when anything happens, your habit is to spontaneously think of your reliance on Guru Rinpoche immediately. Feel that Guru Rinpoche is actually present in your life in every moment, supporting you and guiding you. Then you can genuinely rest at ease.

Recite the E MA HO supplication single-pointedly, in a heartfelt way, so that you truly connect with what you are reciting. Don’t read this supplication without actually thinking about your next life. Although you may have been a Dharma student somewhere else, or a serious student of mine for a long time with years of practice, there still may be something lacking. That could be my fault, although I thought I had communicated this. That’s why I wrote the Guru Rinpoche Supplication that we recite every day. I thought this was already clear in people’s minds, but maybe I haven’t communicated as clearly as I’m trying to do right now.

We can enjoy our lives fully because we’re connected with Guru Rinpoche and the practices he left for our benefit. When our life is ending, we can die with a secure mind, knowing we will continue our path on the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain. I’m encouraging you to understand how very rare this tendrel is, and how profoundly favorable your situation is already.

Read the full teaching online at:
https://assets.mangalashribhuti.link/studypractice/Aspire_To_Be_Born_PL_198_Final.pdf

Listen to the full teaching on Soundcloud at:
https://soundcloud.com/mangalashribhuti/think-about-next-life-personal-link-198-may-30-2004/s-Crg4uPc8wel

Guru Rinpoche Supplication:
https://assets.mangalashribhuti.link/studypractice/texts/Guru_Rinpoche_Supplication_VDKR.pdf