Also See About Phowa Practice    Shitro Bardo Practice

Amitabha Buddha of Infinite Light

In Dewachen: Amitabha Buddha's Pure Land in the Western Direction

[Amitayus is closely connected with Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. Amitayus has the quality of long life.]

Keeping Courage

from His Holiness Penor Rinpoche's 1999 Teaching What is Meditation

Buddha Amitabha, for example, ultimately achieved that kind of result from his generation of Bodhicitta and his accumulation over many countless years of practices of commitments and aspiration prayers. So even as the Amitabha Buddha achieved Enlightenment over a long time based on aspiration prayers and the commitment to benefit all sentient beings, so we as practitioners must constantly apply the practice of the six perfections to benefit all other beings.

The Buddha Amitabha did not just do these aspiration prayers once or twice, or make this kind of commitment just one or 

two times.  It was over many aeons that he practiced these aspirations and commitments, such that whoever hears the Buddha Amitabha's name and does supplication prayers to Amitabha, they will instantly be born in his pure land. 

If one has single-pointed devotion to Amitabha Buddha and one carries through all of these supplication prayers, then even oneself as an ordinary person with an afflicted mind can be reborn in his pure land. 

It is all because of Amitabha Buddha's special aspiration prayers. 

So although there are countless Buddhafields, the Amitabha Buddha's pure land is very special because of these reasons.

We all could also achieve that kind of completion when we attain Enlightenment if we continue on the path and carry through our practices, generating Bodhicitta in as vast a way as possible. So we should not lose courage, thinking, 

"Oh, I cannot do it. I could never attain that kind of Enlightenment." It is not good to lose one's courage like that. Think instead that all these past Enlightened Beings, all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, they also attained Enlightenment and ultimate realization by beginning the same as us, standard beings, and if they could attain Enlightenment, we can also attain that same kind of realization.

So today, though there is much that has been taught, if one can just try to keep in one's mind to have one hundred percent devotion to Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, and if one will train one's mind by generating Bodhicitta and carry though the practices, then one can definitely have this kind of fruition. We can all do aspiration prayers, that in the future we can all attain Enlightenment within one mandala through these Great Perfection ("Dzogchen") meditations. 

Just as in the past such great  Great Perfection ("Dzogchen") realized masters like Garab Dorje and Shri Singha 

and so forth attained Enlightenment through these Great Perfection ("Dzogchen") practices, 

similarly we can also have that aspiration prayer to attain Enlightenment.

Translated by Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche.

© Copyright 1995 by Palyul Ling. All rights reserved. Please do not reproduce without prior written permission.

Buddha Amitabha Empowerment

Explanation by Khenpo Tenzin Norgey

PCD Dallas Teacher

Assuming a cosmic view, there are many world systems throughout space. 

Buddha Shakyamuni is the incomparable enlightened being of our world system, our universe. 

Multiplying our world system hundreds and thousands and thousands of times, 

the realm of Amitabha, Buddha of Infinite Light, extends far beyond that cosmic dimension.

The widely respected Palyul Ling Dharma teacher, Khenpo Tenzin Norgey Rinpoche explains: 

Amitabha Buddha is the source from where all the manifold Buddhas emanate. 

As the Dharmakaya, he is the crowning Lord of the Lotus Family of enlightened speech, 

from the Buddha Family of Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava.

Buddha Amitabha is revered by Buddhists of all traditions, 

primarily because of his vow  to nurture and protect all those who think of him with faith and devotion, 

who simply recite his name, or do his practice. He promised that all those who make heartfelt aspirations 

to be reborn in Dewachen, his Western Pure Land of Great Bliss would definitely take miraculous birth there 

without having to accrue masses of merit or engage in extensive practice. 

For this reason, the practice of Phowa, or transference of consciousness is also known as the profound path 

for attaining Buddhahood without meditation. Through aspirations, even ordinary people without any foundation in

practice can be free from birth in the six realms of cyclic existence and find freedom in Dewachen. 

Thus, the Pure Land of Buddha Amitabha is considered the easiest pureland in which to be born. 

This is the special vow that Buddha Amitabha formulated 

when originally giving rise to the altruistic mind of enlightenment, Bodhichitta.

From a vajrayana (tantric) point of view, Amitabha is the all-embracing truth body, 

the source from which the hundreds of thousands of Buddha emanations spring. 

This empowerment is extremely precious because of the immediacy of the blessings and directness of the lineage. 

Legend states that light rays from the heart of Buddha Amitabha emanated out to the center of the Dhanakosha Lake 

in the Northwest corner of the country of Orgyan, and from that, Guru Rinpoche, 

who is the quintessence of the enlightened activity of all the Buddhas of the ten directions, 

took miraculous birth in the pollen heart of a lotus flower.

Osel Nyingpo of Ojai, California December 11, 2005

On the occasion of the Amitabha Empowerment given by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche

Venerable Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche

The Great Perfection* Teachings: Buddha in the Palm of the Hand

Reliable and safe Phowa instructions and empowerment must be received only from an authentic and qualified teacher.

This Phowa teaching is presented by PCD Dallas main teacher and Spiritual Director -

Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche.

Understanding the process of dying, we can live a happier, more peaceful and far more productive life. 

As we enjoy life, we can prepare to die consciously and well: with hope, faith and dignity.  

The practice of Conscious Dying, or Phowa, is one of the profound teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. 

Phowa literally means "transference of consciousness". In Phowa practice, one learns to develop Awareness and Intent 

and then intentionally transfer one's consciousness into the Amitabha Buddha Pure Land at the time of death.  

In old Tibet, ordinary people without the time or resources to pursue a dedicated meditation and spiritual practice 

trained in the vajrayana meditation practice of "Phowa". 

Phowa is also known as the Tibetan Buddhist “insurance policy’ for death and dying.

Once in the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha in the state of one's True Nature (Buddha Nature), 

further teachings are received and successful meditation is facilitated and achieved.

Ultimately leading to Complete Enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.  

Also, if done with strong compassion and devotion, Phowa practice can help the dying on their journey 

toward enlightenment or at least to a higher spiritual awareness. 

Any practice or prayers done on behalf of the dying will help to purify any negative karmas.

 And will assist in releasing non-trained individuals from the unexpected suffering and turmoil 

of non-conscious dying and enable them to die peacefully.

Phowa is a critical practice in dying well and consciously. 

Instead of being driven without choice or control through the intermediate after death state (Bardo) 

and into a new rebirth in the cycle of existence, with successful Phowa practice the consciousness transfers 

directly into the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha for further training leading to Enlightenment.  

Through meditation training and practice, individuals (at their own unique pace) can achieve 

greater and greater understanding of both their own True (Buddha) Nature and the Nature of Absolute Reality. 

This process is of critical importance not only in this life but in the dying process as well.  

The teachings of Tibetan Buddhism - consisting of developing and achieving the state 

of Absolute Compassion and Wisdom [Complete or Absolute Enlightenment] –  

provide a process for the understanding of our True Nature and also the Absolute True Nature of Reality. 

(The Absolute True Nature of Reality is perceived in totality only by the enlightened awareness of an Enlightened Being.)

Meditation practitioners of superior abilities will achieve Enlightenment in this lifetime. 

Of course, complete Enlightenment in this one lifetime of practice is rare. 

Sincere and dedicated practitioners will achieve more understanding of their True Nature (Buddha Nature) during their life. And will therefore at least attain a higher level of spiritual awareness during the dying process. 

A very successful outcome is to immediately transfer consciousness into the Clear Light of Wisdom at the very instant of death.

However, this outcome requires a dedicated meditation and spiritual practice and a highly developed level of spiritual awareness. And many individuals do not have time for dedicated meditation practice while also pursuing daily life, working, raising a family, etc.

As in old Tibet for the past 1000 years of unbroken Palyul lineage and also for today - for individuals living a busy modern life with many distractions and demands on time who cannot follow a regular and dedicated meditation practice and training - the Phowa practice is recommended and ideal.

Further Research and Reading:

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mind of Clear Light: Advice on Living Well and Dying Consciously

"W hether you live a day, a week, a month a year, make that time meaningful. Involve your thoughts in what is beneficial in the long run. The longer you live, the more beneficial it will be." 

Tsele Natsok Rangdrol, THE MIRROR OF MINDFULNESS: The Cycle of the Four Bardos

Presentation of Tibetan Buddhist teachings on the endless cycle of experience, the four bardos: life, death, after-death, and rebirth. Instruction is aimed at inspiring and helping the practitioner achieve liberation from deluded existence and awaken to complete enlightenment for  the benefit of others. 

Dudjom Rinpoche, COUNSELS FROM MY HEART  

As a teacher of legendary kindness and wisdom, Dudjom Rinpoche (deceased, former head of the Nyingma lineage) is highly regarded. This volume contains some of the very few of Dudjom Rinpoche's teachings that have ever been translated and published. In it he discusses the Three Jewels, self and cyclic existence and the bardo states between life and death.

Thurman, Robert A. F. (trans.) . Bardo Thödol: The Tibetan Book of the Dead  Thurman, Robert A. F. (trans.) . Bardo Thödol: The Tibetan Book of the Dead 

Khenchen (Head Professor) Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche  

is the Spiritual Director of Palyul Changchub Dargyeling Meditation and Study Centers in the United States. 

His Holiness Penor Rinpoche (founder and head of Namdroling Monastery, Bylakuppe, India; see www.palyul.org) 

has authorized Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche to represent Namdroling Monastery and to teach, 

confer empowerments and to give personal instruction in Buddhist practice. 

Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche is the representative of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche in the US. 

He is an authentic and qualified teacher, a recognized scholar and a Dzogchen master. 

Khenchen Rinpoche is also one of the three senior Khenpos (Professors) at Ngagyur Institute at Namdroling Monastery

in India; where he is responsible for the last three years of the nine year training for Buddhist shedra (seminary) students.  

Khenchen Rinpoche has been teaching in West for over 20 years; and his fluent English, sense of humor and deep insight 

into Western culture make him a reputable and popular teacher. He graduated at the top of all four traditions of 

Tibetan Buddhism in shedra (seminary school) and was awarded the Silver Medal 

for academic accomplishment by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche has been our best-kept 'secret' in the US! His ability to simply and easily explain 

and teach even the most complicated concepts in a very condensed form has led to his teaching commitments growing

 expotentially beyond the US. This year, he is traveling and teaching in India, Singapore, 

Taiwan, the Philippines, Germany and Australia, as well as the US.

Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche has received all of the major lineage empowerments and transmissions of the Nyingma

school and Palyul lineage and has done intensive dzogchen practice under the guidance of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche 

and other eminent dzogchen masters including Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche, 

Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche, Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche and Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche.

Palyul Changchub Dargyeling Dallas is honored to have Khenchen Rinpoche as Spiritual Director.