Buddhist Fasting Practice - The Nyungne Method of Thousand Armed Chenrezig

Abstract

Foreword by H.H. the Dalai Lama ; Introduction ; Definition of Nyungne Practice ; Source of the Practice ; Level of Practice (Where Nyungne Belongs) ; General Benefits of the Practice ; Section One; Eleven-Faced, Thousand-Armed Chenrezig ; The History of Thousand-Armed Chenrezig ; Benefits of the Practice ; Obscurations of Body, Speech, and Mind ; How Purification Works ; Purification of Body, Speech, and Mind ; Story of the Woman Who Killed Many People ; Importance of Lineage and Guru ; Gelongma Palmo’s Biography ; Gelongma Palmo’s Disciples ; Khenchen Tashi Ozer ; An Inspirational Story ; Section Two; Praises to the Buddha, The Twelve Deeds ; Thirty-five Buddhas Confession Prayer ; The Three Heaps: ; First Heap: Homage by Prostration ; Second Heap: Confession ; Third Heap: Dedication ; The Four Powers: ; Power of Reliance ; Power of Remorse ; Power of Remedy ; Power of Commitment ; The Vows Of Nyungne ; The Eight-Precepts Vow ; The Sojong Vow ; The Eight Vows of the Restoring and Purifying Ordination ; The Powerful Benefits of the Sojong Vow ; Seven-Branch Offering Prayer ; The First Branch Prayer: Prostration ; The Benefits of Prostration ; The Second Branch Prayer: Offering ; The Third Branch Prayer: Confession ; The Fourth Branch Prayer: Rejoicing ; The Fifth Branch Prayer: Request to Turn the Dharma Wheel ; The Sixth Branch Prayer: Beseeching Buddhas and Bodhisattvas Not to Pass into Nirvana ; The Seventh Branch Prayer: Dedication of Merit ; Accumulation of Merit and Wisdom ; Visualization 89 Field of Accumulation of Merit Phase ; The Three Aspects of Deity Yoga: Clarity, Purity, and Stability ; The Three Sattvas ; Complete Steps of the Creation Phase (Self-Generation) ; Deity Meditation with Five Purifications and Perfections, Blessing Being the Sixth ; Essential Elements of Thousand-Armed Chenrezig ; Additional Aspects of the Visualization and Their Meanings ; Self-Generation Continued ; The Frontal Visualization for the Purpose of Worship ; Section Three; Mantras of Nyungne ; Benefits of the Recitation of the Dharani ; Benefits of the Six-Syllable Mantra ; How the Six-Syllable Mantra Relates to the External, Internal, and Secret Aspects ; Recitation of the Mantra Is of Six Different Kinds ; The Power of Mantra ; Benefits of Practice ; Songtsen Gompo’s Verses on the Mantra OM MANI PEME HUNG ; Additional Dharanis and Mantras ; Explanation of the Po Homage Prayer ; Praise to Chenrezig’s Body ; Praise to the Qualities of Chenrezig’s Mind ; Praise to the Quality of Chenrezig’s Supreme Knowledge ; Praise to the Quality of Chenrezig’s Compassion ; Praise to Chenrezig’s Speech ; Benefits of the Praise ; Benefits of the Prostrations ; Ending Prayers and Offerings ; The Special Wish Prayer and Torma Offerings ; Receiving Blessing Water at the End of the Ceremony: Final Purifying Symbol ; Ending the Fast ; Concluding the Practice ; Final Confession ; Completion Phase ; The Actual Self-Dissolution ; Section Four; Preparation for the Actual Ceremony ; Preparing Oneself ; Empowerment and Instruction ; Preparing the Shrine ; Location of the Practice ; Auspicious Days to Do the Practice ; Actual Practice ; Three Components of Perfection ; Nyungne Practice 166 Cleanliness ; Power of Breaking the Vows ; Pure Physical Action ; Additional Rules ; Food and Drink ; Bending the Rules ; Samaya Commitments of Nyungne ; Section Five; Benefits of Vegetarian Diet and Fasting; Vegetarian Diet 182 Spiritual Benefits ; The Suffering of Sentient Beings ; Animals Are Sentient Beings ; Karmic Habits ; Animal Cruelty ; Lunar Feast ; Conclusion ; Questions and Answers ; Section Six; Nyungne Practice Text ; Praises to the Buddha, The Twelve Deeds ; Heartfelt Praise to Lord Chenrezig ; Thirty-five Buddhas Confession Prayer ; The Fasting Ritual of the Noble Eleven-Faced Chenrezig, Called the Omnipresent Happy Omen ; Additional Prayers Dedication of Merit ; Offering Prayer (before a meal) ;