Why sponsor a reading of the Prajnaparamita? (Drikung Boston)
Why sponsor a reading of the Prajnaparamita? (Drikung Boston)
https://www.drikungboston.org/
Is it more like a request by this temple for help/donation?
Or is there a background practice here that I'm not aware of? Is there a benefit for the donor? Do they become a participant in the benefits of reading this text by donating?
Is it more like a request by this temple for help/donation?
Or is there a background practice here that I'm not aware of? Is there a benefit for the donor? Do they become a participant in the benefits of reading this text by donating?
IF YOU PRACTICE WITH A STRONG BELIEF IN WHAT
YOU ARE DOING, THEN THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT
YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR PRACTICE.
CHAKUNG JIGME WANGDRAK RINPOCHE
YOU ARE DOING, THEN THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT
YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR PRACTICE.
CHAKUNG JIGME WANGDRAK RINPOCHE
Re: Why sponsor a reading of the Prajnaparamita? (Drikung Boston)
Sponsoring Pujas, recitations, etc... are standard to many traditions.
First and foremost, this offers lay people an opportunity to accumulate merit.
Second, yes it helps to support monastics etc...
Shaun
First and foremost, this offers lay people an opportunity to accumulate merit.
Second, yes it helps to support monastics etc...
Shaun
Re: Why sponsor a reading of the Prajnaparamita? (Drikung Boston)
Many sutras explain the benefits and merits obtained from listening/sharing/copying/printing this and other sutras. I think there is a chapter on this in the '10,000 line' version of the Prajnapramita on the 84,000 website.
'When thoughts arise, recognise them clearly as your teacher'— Gampopa
'When alone, examine your mind, when among others, examine your speech'.— Atisha
'When alone, examine your mind, when among others, examine your speech'.— Atisha
Re: Why sponsor a reading of the Prajnaparamita? (Drikung Boston)
Chapter 3 in the 8000 Line version (which is the one being sponsored) is largely similar.
In Nepal it's more common to split the folios between different reciters so it can be done in an hour. In Japan, tendoku allows the whole thing to be recited with just the titles of the fascicles being read. So, it is impressive that this lama is going to single handedly recite from cover to cover 108 times.
Re: Why sponsor a reading of the Prajnaparamita? (Drikung Boston)
May I know why we do this? A lama/teacher reciting 108 times? As opposed to each one of us doing it? And by donating, are we then participant in the benefit of the teacher reciting it?Zhen Li wrote: ↑Sat Sep 17, 2022 6:46 amChapter 3 in the 8000 Line version (which is the one being sponsored) is largely similar.
In Nepal it's more common to split the folios between different reciters so it can be done in an hour. In Japan, tendoku allows the whole thing to be recited with just the titles of the fascicles being read. So, it is impressive that this lama is going to single handedly recite from cover to cover 108 times.
IF YOU PRACTICE WITH A STRONG BELIEF IN WHAT
YOU ARE DOING, THEN THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT
YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR PRACTICE.
CHAKUNG JIGME WANGDRAK RINPOCHE
YOU ARE DOING, THEN THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT
YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR PRACTICE.
CHAKUNG JIGME WANGDRAK RINPOCHE
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Re: Why sponsor a reading of the Prajnaparamita? (Drikung Boston)
If one sponsors someone to do a practice, then both the sponsor and the practitioner reap the same merit. This is basic Mahayana Buddhism. We do it for the two purposes of self and others -- one's personal benefit and the benefit of all sentient beings covered by the sky. How wonderful!
Pema Chophel པདྨ་ཆོས་འཕེལ
Re: Why sponsor a reading of the Prajnaparamita? (Drikung Boston)
This is a good question and in terms of the spread of merit, pemachophel is correct.Nalanda wrote: ↑Sat Sep 17, 2022 2:53 pmMay I know why we do this? A lama/teacher reciting 108 times? As opposed to each one of us doing it? And by donating, are we then participant in the benefit of the teacher reciting it?Zhen Li wrote: ↑Sat Sep 17, 2022 6:46 amChapter 3 in the 8000 Line version (which is the one being sponsored) is largely similar.
In Nepal it's more common to split the folios between different reciters so it can be done in an hour. In Japan, tendoku allows the whole thing to be recited with just the titles of the fascicles being read. So, it is impressive that this lama is going to single handedly recite from cover to cover 108 times.
As regards the technical side of things (speaking from my experience and not from the case of this particular lama's sect), we should not really just open a sutra and read it like a novel. There is a framing opening and closing puja that needs to be done, and this can also work to enhance the efficacy of the recitation. If the right set of deities, bodhisattvas, and so forth are present, they can both protect the recitation from maras and help the intended results of the recitation/puja be fulfilled as wished.
So, it is generally more effective for a trained ritual specialist to be paid to do such a recitation so the average busy layperson doesn't have to learn all these from scratch. To put it another way, you can either train for a decade to become a skilled acharya and then do the puja, or you can pay a skilled acharya to do the same puja and get the same benefit in a much shorter period of time.
Re: Why sponsor a reading of the Prajnaparamita? (Drikung Boston)
But none of that should discourage a lay practitioner from picking up and sutra and just reading it, imo. Not everything needs to be a ritual.Zhen Li wrote: ↑Sun Sep 18, 2022 4:47 amThis is a good question and in terms of the spread of merit, pemachophel is correct.Nalanda wrote: ↑Sat Sep 17, 2022 2:53 pmMay I know why we do this? A lama/teacher reciting 108 times? As opposed to each one of us doing it? And by donating, are we then participant in the benefit of the teacher reciting it?Zhen Li wrote: ↑Sat Sep 17, 2022 6:46 am
Chapter 3 in the 8000 Line version (which is the one being sponsored) is largely similar.
In Nepal it's more common to split the folios between different reciters so it can be done in an hour. In Japan, tendoku allows the whole thing to be recited with just the titles of the fascicles being read. So, it is impressive that this lama is going to single handedly recite from cover to cover 108 times.
As regards the technical side of things (speaking from my experience and not from the case of this particular lama's sect), we should not really just open a sutra and read it like a novel. There is a framing opening and closing puja that needs to be done, and this can also work to enhance the efficacy of the recitation. If the right set of deities, bodhisattvas, and so forth are present, they can both protect the recitation from maras and help the intended results of the recitation/puja be fulfilled as wished.
So, it is generally more effective for a trained ritual specialist to be paid to do such a recitation so the average busy layperson doesn't have to learn all these from scratch. To put it another way, you can either train for a decade to become a skilled acharya and then do the puja, or you can pay a skilled acharya to do the same puja and get the same benefit in a much shorter period of time.
'When thoughts arise, recognise them clearly as your teacher'— Gampopa
'When alone, examine your mind, when among others, examine your speech'.— Atisha
'When alone, examine your mind, when among others, examine your speech'.— Atisha
Re: Why sponsor a reading of the Prajnaparamita? (Drikung Boston)
Yeah. I asked about that here: https://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?t=40999pemachophel wrote: ↑Sat Sep 17, 2022 11:21 pm If one sponsors someone to do a practice, then both the sponsor and the practitioner reap the same merit. This is basic Mahayana Buddhism.
I'm trying to find sources where I could read/watch/listen more. If you have some, I'd love to learn more about it.
IF YOU PRACTICE WITH A STRONG BELIEF IN WHAT
YOU ARE DOING, THEN THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT
YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR PRACTICE.
CHAKUNG JIGME WANGDRAK RINPOCHE
YOU ARE DOING, THEN THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT
YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR PRACTICE.
CHAKUNG JIGME WANGDRAK RINPOCHE
Re: Why sponsor a reading of the Prajnaparamita? (Drikung Boston)
I fully believe you actually. I just wish I could read more about it or hear a teaching about it. The other poster said "Not everything needs to be a ritual." That was my thinking also before until I learned it's not a mere ritual and that there's actually something more happening there. I just wish I could find some source, teachings, sutras that explain this more so I have some kind of basis for this. Got something you can share?Zhen Li wrote: ↑Sun Sep 18, 2022 4:47 am As regards the technical side of things (speaking from my experience and not from the case of this particular lama's sect), we should not really just open a sutra and read it like a novel. There is a framing opening and closing puja that needs to be done, and this can also work to enhance the efficacy of the recitation. If the right set of deities, bodhisattvas, and so forth are present, they can both protect the recitation from maras and help the intended results of the recitation/puja be fulfilled as wished.
So, it is generally more effective for a trained ritual specialist to be paid to do such a recitation so the average busy layperson doesn't have to learn all these from scratch. To put it another way, you can either train for a decade to become a skilled acharya and then do the puja, or you can pay a skilled acharya to do the same puja and get the same benefit in a much shorter period of time.
IF YOU PRACTICE WITH A STRONG BELIEF IN WHAT
YOU ARE DOING, THEN THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT
YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR PRACTICE.
CHAKUNG JIGME WANGDRAK RINPOCHE
YOU ARE DOING, THEN THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT
YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR PRACTICE.
CHAKUNG JIGME WANGDRAK RINPOCHE
Re: Why sponsor a reading of the Prajnaparamita? (Drikung Boston)
There is certainly a place for simple sutra reading and study, but recitation with an intention to benefit beings and dedicate merit is a different matter and can be made more effective. The primary source for this practice is really in the Prajñāpāramitā sūtras themselves, starting with Chapter 3 of the Aṣṭasāhasrikā. Besides being mentioned in other sūtras, the practice is also discussed in Ādikarma literature like Ādikarmapradīpa, and there's a Tibetan Pustakapāṭhopāya manual which may be more specific to vajrayāna. The practice differs from place to place and tradition to tradition, and since this is a Kagyu subforum, it might be best to ask a Kagyu Lama about this matter. The practice need not necessarily be esoteric, since we are talking about exoteric Mahāyāna sūtras here.Nalanda wrote: ↑Mon Sep 19, 2022 11:44 am I fully believe you actually. I just wish I could read more about it or hear a teaching about it. The other poster said "Not everything needs to be a ritual." That was my thinking also before until I learned it's not a mere ritual and that there's actually something more happening there. I just wish I could find some source, teachings, sutras that explain this more so I have some kind of basis for this. Got something you can share?
Re: Why sponsor a reading of the Prajnaparamita? (Drikung Boston)
Aṣṭasāhasrikā happens to be unavailable yet on 84000. What translation is good for now?Zhen Li wrote: ↑Mon Sep 19, 2022 3:24 pmThere is certainly a place for simple sutra reading and study, but recitation with an intention to benefit beings and dedicate merit is a different matter and can be made more effective. The primary source for this practice is really in the Prajñāpāramitā sūtras themselves, starting with Chapter 3 of the Aṣṭasāhasrikā. Besides being mentioned in other sūtras, the practice is also discussed in Ādikarma literature like Ādikarmapradīpa, and there's a Tibetan Pustakapāṭhopāya manual which may be more specific to vajrayāna. The practice differs from place to place and tradition to tradition, and since this is a Kagyu subforum, it might be best to ask a Kagyu Lama about this matter. The practice need not necessarily be esoteric, since we are talking about exoteric Mahāyāna sūtras here.Nalanda wrote: ↑Mon Sep 19, 2022 11:44 am I fully believe you actually. I just wish I could read more about it or hear a teaching about it. The other poster said "Not everything needs to be a ritual." That was my thinking also before until I learned it's not a mere ritual and that there's actually something more happening there. I just wish I could find some source, teachings, sutras that explain this more so I have some kind of basis for this. Got something you can share?
IF YOU PRACTICE WITH A STRONG BELIEF IN WHAT
YOU ARE DOING, THEN THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT
YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR PRACTICE.
CHAKUNG JIGME WANGDRAK RINPOCHE
YOU ARE DOING, THEN THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT
YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR PRACTICE.
CHAKUNG JIGME WANGDRAK RINPOCHE
Re: Why sponsor a reading of the Prajnaparamita? (Drikung Boston)
Only Conze's translation is available.
I can't confirm that the Tibetan translation has the same chapters. The Chinese equivalent has differences, for instance. But I think it should largely be the same.
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Re: Why sponsor a reading of the Prajnaparamita? (Drikung Boston)
Because of the dedication of merit where we offer our efforts on behalf of all sentient beings, the value is the same. It’s important to note that we are one of those sentient beings so it supports the centre and gives us the same merit, if not more as actually reciting it.