A Brief Introduction to the Ghanti: An Instrument of Vinaya Practice

Ghanti is a Sanskrit word that refers to any instrument that is used to ring. Anything that we use as a bell is termed a ghanti in general. Moreover, according to the vinaya context, it is the wooden block instrument that gathers the sangha whenever they have to attend the ‘three fundamental practices’ and other monastic activities. There are four…

The Eight Stupas of the Sugata

The practice of building stupas in sets of eight goes back to a tradition that was first started during and just after the time of the Buddha. When Buddha Shakyamuni displayed many extraordinary deeds in various places, devoted laypeople residing in those respective places built stupas to commemorate them. They have different structures to symbolise the significance of the deeds…

A Brief Account of Shravasti

Shravasti, located in the fertile Gangetic plain in the present-day Shravasti district of Uttar Pradesh, was one of the six largest cities in ancient India and is now one of the eight sacred sites associated with the life and deeds of Buddha Shakyamuni. The city was founded by King Shravasta and the name Shravasti is attributed to this. It is…

A Jataka Story of the Buddha: A Fire-Born Child

Once when the Buddha was residing in Rajgir in the bamboo grove of Kalandaka, there was a householder named Rabsang, an avid admirer of non-Buddhists, and his wife Dedenma, a faithful devotee of Buddhists. When Dedenma was pregnant, the Buddha and his assembly who were on their way to beg alms were invited to their home and treated with respect.…

The Girl called De-nyid Bum: The One Who Remembers Her Past Lives

Part i The Story of a Zombie is a fascinating tale said to have been written by Nagarjuna. In the previous issue of Palyul Times was the prologue where a young beggar was given the name Dechö Sangpo by a spiritual master, who saw in him certain good qualities. The master instructed him in the processes of retrieving a zombie…

The Story of Saga: A Girl with Inexhaustible Wealth

After arriving in Shravasti, the Buddha stayed in the house of a girl called Saga, who was the mother of Mrigarmata. Saga went in front of the Buddha wearing beautiful ornaments. But no sooner did she feel ashamed, then she removed everything, wrapped it all up and gave it to the girl. Then she started listening to the Dharma. The…

The Threefold Excellence

In Buddhism, the main purpose of practice is to attain Buddhahood, or complete enlightenment. It is important, therefore, that our practices become its cause. To make every part of practice the cause of enlightenment, there are three main elements, which are called ‘the threefold excellence’. They are the excellence of bodhichitta, the excellence of non-conceptualization, and the excellence of dedication.…

How to Follow a Spiritual Master

In this age of degeneration, we are being tormented by sufferings due to lack of proper guidance by a proper leader. If we want to be liberated from this ocean of suffering, we need a proper ship’s captain. According to the Buddhist texts, a spiritual master is the only guide that can help us to go through this. Most of…

Introduction to the Four Branch Monasteries of Palyul

Palyul Namgyal Jangchub Choling is one of the six mother monasteries of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. It was founded in 1665 by Rigzin Kunzang Sherab (1636–1698) in Dege,  or what is now Baiyü County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in China’s Sichuan province. Rigzin Kunzang Sherab was also the first throneholder of the Palyul lineage; currently Karma Kuchen Rinpoche is the 12th throneholder. Palyul Monastery has…

The Nyingthig Lineage in the Palyul Tradition

Nyingthig (Skt. Chitta-tilaka), the Innermost Unexcelled Cycle of the Heart Essence teaching, is one of the most important teachings in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. It is the essence of all tantras, the pinnacle of all yanas, the mother of all scriptural transmissions, and the quintessential combination of the innumerable Clear Light Dzogchen teachings. The origin of the Nyingthig…