Amitabha Phowa (Powa) Teaching / Guided Meditation from Ven. Zasep Rinpoche Overcome Fear of Death

[@garypuckettmuse]

This happened to me spontaneously ten years ago. I knew nothing about Tibetan Buddhism and never heard of any of these practices at that time. I believed I was about to die, completely believed that and I was absolutely fine about it. Suddenly a tremendous force of energy that felt like a rocket taking off from the middle of my chest blew me straight out the top of my head into a timeless, infinite "space". It was absolutely still after that great surge of movement. I was suspended in an "atmosphere" that was lit with like the light shining off a grey pearl. It was a soft glow, pale grey but luminous. It was perfection. Suddenly I became aware that my mind had intruded and I was shocked and horrified as though it had chased me down. Then my mind said to me"This is all potential in perfect equipoise" which is a word I was unfamiliar with. I felt immense dread from the intrusion of my mind as I understood that where I was was no place for my mind. Now me and my mind started to meld together and a ball of energy that was spinning so fast it seemed still came into view. It came toward "me" (there was no body involved) and as it spun so fast I was caught at the tail end of this energy and flung violently back into my body the way I had left which was out the top of my head. I landed with a really hard and crushing blow back in to the center of my chest. My heart was crushed. It was the saddest moment of my life. To this day, honestly. I saw the "personality" apart from myself. I wanted nothing to do with it anymore. v I felt like I was putting on a lead spacesuit every time vI had to don my personality to interact in this world.. My own personality held no interest for me and I realized how in love with ourselves we are even if we feel like modest, humble "not materialistic" people. That personality vitality is always at work and we are dragged along for the ride. Nothing in this world holds any fascination for me since then. I don't have anything against "life" but I know what it is like to be free. It can never be forgotten or unseen. There is no turning back from that. I've never seen this exercise before, I just happened upon this video. I wonder how one can separate a play acting exercise from the real experience. If we do this exercise when death comes will we just be "remembering" doing the exercise -- use our personality and it's memory to *recall* doing the exercise instead of having the genuine experience? The mind plays so many tricks on us. For years I tried not to think about my experience because I did not want to fossilize it in the language of my human personality and I didn't want to confuse remembering it with the actual experience. Memory and language and form are such huge obscurations. Most of our lives we are just re-enacting memories or casting them into the future or wallowing in them in the past. How to have a fresh experience? How to have a "beginner's mind"? How to find the freedom to have genuine novel experiences which spontaneously arise? And what if we just trust that the moment of death will be what it is and it will be inevitable? This is a hard problem for me because I now have this desire to go back there, to relive that, to recreate it even though I know there is no moment which can ever be recreated, every moment is like Shiva's drum that destroys and creates everything with each beat. Other people must have these experiences. I always wonder why people don't say anything about them. Does it sound too crazy?v. Do people not trust their own perceptions? If this happened to me it must happen to many people and these exercises wouldn't even exist had not the wise elders known this is the way to approach so it's not actually surprising that ordinary people would also have these experiences. After all the great teachers were mere mortals at some point band it is there that they learned about these matters and developed methods for assisting others into the next realms. Hope this was of use to someone.I tell this story to help others feel comfortable with their own experiences and know these experiences are not just fantasies that people will never attain. I am a regular mortal person, nothing special at all. May all beings be free -- and you all will, I know that now for sure.

[@onlymelodic109]

Thank you for taking the time and sharing this wonderful experience!

[@ingot95]

I appreciate you sharing this experience, it helps me when contemplating / meditating on powa

[@harrymckenzie3725]

What a blessing that we can all have access to this teachings. Thank you so much

[@Sarah.J.S75]

Thank you so much for these teachings Rinpoche 🙏🏻❤️🌺

[@stargazeronesixseven]

🙏 Thank You So Much Master for this Rare & Precious NÅMÖ ÅMÏTÅBHÅ BÜDDHÅ Phowa tutorial! Many Happy Good Blessings in Return to Ven Master Zasep Tulku Rinpoche ... 🕯🌷🌿🌎💖

[@fuzzylogics139]

Few days ago the face of a red, blue eyed Buddha just appeared in my minds eye during meditation practise. It showed itself like, casually. I felt just neutral but surprised a little.. Today I looked up "Red Buddha" out of curiousity and found Amitabha. This is the first video I found. I'm a lay person and just a beginning practitioner with no clear direction about "path" except for I just want to be a kind and loving beeing.. All I can rember from listening to teachings is to put no special value on nor attach to things you see/ feel during meditation. But as I am looking for direction, have no 'school' I really follow nor found a practise to stick to.. Yeah well I have no conclusion now either haha.. But maybe it was a hint though.. Thank you so much for putting up this video!

[@ugyendema2775]

OM AMI DEWA HRI! 🙏🙏🙏😇

[@PavaniGanga]

💛🙏💛 Highest respect and gratitude to Venerable Zasep Tulku Rinpoche. Thanks for subtitles. I have saved the transcript to file.

[@estella2lenne]

May these meritorious virtues adorn the Buddha's Pure Land. Repay the 4 weighty sources of kindness above and relieving the sufferings of the 3 paths below. If there are those who see or hear this, may all give rise to Bodhicitta/Bodhi Mind. At the end of this one retribution body, be born in the land of Ultimate Bliss together. Namo Amitabha 🙏🏻 #thankyouRinpoche

[@1000indunil]

looking for the powa teaching years in my life. OM

[@varun76890]

I was very interested in practicing this after reading up about it on the preface of Bardo Thödol, thank you Zasep Rinpoche for sharing your knowledge.

[@retaparasram5439]

Om Ami DEWA Hri thank you master for lessons of Amitabha Phowa teaching you explain everything so clearly and simple and in English I will follow the instructions you taught us thanks for your patience to teach this with your eyes closed which shows it came from your heart ,Om Ami DEWA Hri .🕉️🌸🏵️🌺💖🌹🌸🏵️🌺🇨🇦

[@nitinawachar2938]

omg ,made so easy even for beginers thanks a lot master

[@wizz7622]

can you describe it what happened?

[@sagaradhikari3099]

I love and trust amitabha buddha and i have been initiated "wang" by rinpoche in my country... I have not been able to practice seriously... But i do recite mantra everyday... Though i am too willing to submit rest of my life in the practice... I didnt know about phowa... May i be able to take phowa practice and guidance from guru or lama as early as possible... Praise to amitabha buddha ❤

[@barbaratruitt9484]

Thank you🙏🏻🙏🙏🏿🙏🏽❤️

[@davidmyokai852]

Thank you very much Sadhu sadhu sadhu ❤🙏🌹❤️

[@hellakrautter6046]

Thank you so much for teaching this to a broad audience so now in war times we know what we can do

[@marenmichatsch1598]

Thank you very much thank you very much thank you very much free Tibet maren from the universe

[@Ansh-vajra]

Best teaching ever... 🙏🙏🙏😇😇

[@gaia4429]

Tashi Delek Blessings dear Master 💕

[@danielchang9377]

Very interesting. "Hick" ascending and "Ka" descending. I have learned "Ah Peh" for ascending.

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Thanks for sharing! and thanks for watching.

[@jankastono6965]

Thank you so much Rinpoche for this video. I'm interested to prectice it.but I need a Guru.... 😇😇😇🙏🙏🙏

[@mohinighosh2164]

Thank u master🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@tantricsoul5768]

Om Amitabha Hrih

[@julienmussot5565]

Très bonne approche de la pratique du Powa Tibétain. Merci à Zasep Tulku Rinpoché.

[@prajnasword]

I love him! Very clear and quite charming.

[@thinleyongmu3277]

thank u RIMPOCHELA...

[@ShaktiSimona]

Thank you Rinpoche, very clear, very straight. 🌺

[@huiwuwei]

Hvala

[@oracleowen]

Om ami dewa hri

[@sagaradhikari3099]

Dear rinpoche it would be very compasonate if you make Another video as 'guided meditation'. So that we can follow with you as you guide us step by step the whole visualization process...

[@IwanSetiawan-ol5jg]

Namo Amituofo 🙏

[@parikkhitbarua9719]

Shadhu Shadhu Shadhu 🌷🌷🙏🙏🙏🌷🌷

[@jankastono6965]

I think its a highest meditation. One should have strong concentration to visualize Amitabha Buddha. If someone is going to practice it, should have learn from a Guru face by face. Because after tranferring conciousness I'm affraid never come back again.If I want to learn&practice it, can I asked Rinpoche needs his guidanve please? Thank tou so much 😇😇😇🙏🙏🙏

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Yes, it is a high practice, but Rinpoche specifically guided (see note below which was from him) this as an Amitabha practices for that reason. Please note the guidance in the note below. If you have a need for the practice (for example, loss of a loved one) it is permissible to practice with Amitabha. However, if you are doing it as a "regular practice" you absolutely should seek out teaching first. Either way, Powa should not generally be over-practiced. If you have an interest in doing this as a serious practice, you should always seek a qualified teacher. This video is meant for both education, and for people who want to engage in the practice for the loss of a loved one, etc. (Amitabha practice never requires empowerment. Ending with Amitayus mantra reinforces long-life.) Here is the note on the practice: NOTE: This is generally a higher tantric practice, and normally requires guidance (in person) from a teacher of lineage. Because this is Amitabha Powa - it is acceptable to practice (if one is serious) for students who need Powa practice (for example, someone who is preparing for death, has a loved one who might die, or a student who is serious about Powa practice), but who do not have Higher Yoga initiation. This is because this is Amitabha Powa, and Amitabha and his Pureland, are accessible practices to anyone. I ask students to view this as an educational video and - if practiced - to do so seriously, and preferably under guidance of one’s teacher.

[@perrylow1128]

To understand the qualities of Sukhavati (Amitabha's realm) you can read the Sukhavati Sutra.)

[@LynnYap]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@marcossummers9228]

Wonderful old man! Very wise..

[@reginadegiovanni6685]

Very interesting

[@lobsangwangyalladingpa6871]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏💐

[@28105wsking]

Dear Rimpoche, It is so nice to see you again. I can not recognize you at all from the young man I knew in Toronto so many years ago when i was still Ani Yeshe from Buffalo! Thank you for this teaching which Lama Yeshe gave us at Tushita in McCleod Ganj years ago. Because of all the little strokes I have had I could not remember very well what I was supposed to do. I just need to ask one question. I was successful at the retreat then - of 10 days. But now that Im 72, I do want to do a frequent morning practice. Is it safe to do this alone or will I just not come back down? We have all heard stories of people who passed away in retreat, so I was wondering?

[@BuddhaWeekly]

I'll pass this on to Rinpoche, Wendy. I do remember that you shouldn't do it too often (The exeption is Chittimani Tara Powa.) Having said that, this is the reason we do Amtayas meditation at the end - as Amitayas is the Buddha of Infinite Life (long life).

[@1000indunil]

❤

[@julianav4804]

🌼🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🌼

[@ХУРЭЛБААТАРОЧИР-е4у]

🙏🙏🙏🙇🏻‍♂️🙇🏻‍♂️🙇🏻‍♂️🇲🇳🇲🇳🇲🇳

[@YASHSEP14]

In which Indian monastery I can go to learn POHA ?

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Although we can't point you to a particular temple, Phowa is a common and important practice is many lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. Search for a local Tibetan Rinpoche, temple or guru. Not every teacher may offer this practice - it is important to meditate on Amitayus (long life practice) at the end as instructed here. It's best to follow teacher advice. Normally, Phowa is NOT a practice you do often, unless you are preparing for passing or helping another person with their passing.

[@elizabethmcdowell9141]

What would be the proper Powa for someone who has taken their own life? What prayers can I say for them?

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Wishing you every support at this difficult time. Do you or this person have a personal teacher? If so, I'd kindly suggest you ask the teacher of your lineage. Generally, though Amitabha is the most accessible, loving and compassionate practice, so the Amitabha Phowa recommended here by Rinpoche (and many other teachers) would be highly valuable if you plan on doing a Phowa. Phowa is an advanced practice however. The traditional practices for deceased, regardless of cause of death, is typically the Bardo Thodol, the Tibetan Book of the Dead, which is often called "liberation through hearing" as the tradition is you recite it with the deceased to help guide them as they journey through the three bardos. But, without teacher guidance, I'd strongly suggest Pureland practice, chanting Amitabha's Pureland Dharani (which is very profound and powerful) and his Mantras. I have in the past, played the Dharani on a constant loop for 49 days, the tradition time in the bardo to help comfort the deceased. It helps purify karma, and plants the seed for the pureland. We have an audio on streaming for it if you don't have it, or there's a video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYDGZoyZidOMgLs&t Wishing you the very best through this difficult time. Om Amitabha Hri. Om Ami Deva Hri.

[@dorjetashi9855]

thank you guru ji,do I need guru initiation before I practice this path?

[@BuddhaWeekly]

For Phowa practice it is normally recommended to have initatiation, however as Venerable Rinpoche explains Amitabha Phowa is more open and he provided this teaching for those of us in need of this practice -- especially in this guided meditation presented by Rinpoche, which is a very basic visualization. Other forms of Phowa most certainly do require empowerment.

[@experiencesoflife3007]

🙏🙏🙏🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌺🌺🌺🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@raneilalonzo]

Tujechey. Tashi delek 🙏

[@stj971]

Tuteche Lama Tashi deleg

[@TheMoonlightMage]

Is this a closed practice? Like does it need initiation?

[@BuddhaWeekly]

It's best to refer to your own lineage and teachers, as always. For this particular practice, as Rinpoche taught, Amitabha Phowa is beneficial for serious practitioners, not necessarily initiatiated. It is meant for people preparing to go to the Pureland -- so, people far along in practice, and/or who feel their time may come in the next few years (i.e. practice for the Pureland.) It doesn't need initiation for Amitabha (Amitayus usually does, and most other Phowa practices certainly do). It is desirable though, to at least have instruction (initiation and instruction are not quite the same, although they go together. Ideally, you need both). This video certainly is instruction in the simpler Amitabha Phowa -- but again the motivation has to be to "practice" not to actually "eject" your consciousness. It's a visualized practice. Also, important to remember, in most lineages, the Pureland is actually the heart of the Deity. There is nothing wrong with visualizing going into the heart of your deity (Yidam means "heart bond" afterall.) But, training, for sure (as per this video, or more extensive, because it shouldn't be done frivilously. The reason why it doesn't necessarily require initation is that Amitabha is the Buddha of Infinite Light and Infinite Life. While Phowa, when practiced naively, in theory can "shorten your life" - as Rinpoche said, after all "you're wishing to go to the pure lands" -- (and visualization is very powerful in convincing the mind)-- here, because it's combined with Amitayus/Amitabha Long Life practice you're reinforcing your will to live and your life force at the same time. However, again, it's really not for casual practice, and it's better to have instruction, and -- if undertaken as instructed here, it is important to do it as Amitabha / Amitayus Phowa -- a long life practice. When in doubt, always seek advice of your teacher.

[@TheMoonlightMage]

@@BuddhaWeekly Thank you 😊

[@Fellow_Traveller1985]

Is this the same as astral projection?

[@JeffMcDuffie72MeridianGate]

No

[@kittywampusdrums4963]

I have done both. It shares a similar dynamic but what's different is the "location of focus" that we (consciousness) phases into place at. Basically yea it's projection outside of your own body however into someone else's. It might interest you to check out a mystery tradition I'm part of, it's called Drukama. These things develope as "siddhis" or side effect abilities when we evolve further in our own self-realization.

[@Vangsanhtinhdo]

Thank you very much for making this video

[@simpernchong]

No.

[@trantien1974]

Can I practice Amitaba mantra?

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Yes, it is a powerful and open practice. Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light is a positive, affirming, wonderful practice. You can chant any time, but in formal practice, such as meditation, you can visualize Amitabha (usually as a red Buddha in meditative equipose) in front of you. It can be very affirming to also visualize white light going from Buddha's crown into your crown, red light to your throat from his throat, and blue light from his heart to your heart. In Sanskrit: Om Amitabha Hrih In Tibetan pronunciation: Om Ami Dewa Hrih Hrih is the seed syllable of Amitabha Buddha.

[@trantien1974]

Thank you very much! May all being sentiments free from suffering.

[@lucifer7458]

@@BuddhaWeekly rinpoche, what is the difference namo amitabhaya and om ami dewa hrih, is it the same or does it have different meaninf, pls tell me guru

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Sorry, we missed responding to you. Namo Amitbha means "Praise to Amitabha" or "I bow to Amitabha" Fo, in the Chinese version Namo Amituofo means "Buddha" Om Ami Dewa Hrih on the other hand is Amitabha's mantra, which is very profound and has many deep meanings. Om is short for A - U -M the sacred Sanskrit syllables that represent the Buddha's Body, Speech and Mind. Ami is Ami Dewa is Amitabha and Hrih is his most sacred Seed Syllable. Namo is a praise, you might 'start with that and then do mantra chants, although in the Pureland practices, where everything is profound, yet simple, Namo Amituofo or Namo Amitabaya is also a complete practice.

[@TatjanaBardeli]

🤗🤗🤗😍🥰😇☺🙂💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙❤

[@oriundo1213]

❤🙏

[@alexiscourchinoux4904]

Lastima que la transcripción en inglés no esté correcta y la traducción al español pésima. Excelente exposición sobre Powa.

[@BuddhaWeekly]

Obrigado por nos informar. Estamos gradativamente legendando manualmente. O inglês aqui é gerado automaticamente, como você disse, nada bom. Tentaremos transcrever este em breve, então a tradução deve ser melhor. Tenha paciência conosco, pois somos todos voluntários, obrigado!

[@stj971]

Tutetche

[@JeffMcDuffie72MeridianGate]

The real phowa comes from an India yogic practice where through certain internal training a hole opens at the crown where the soul can leave.