How to cultivate and practice Buddhism

This is a discourse transmitted by HIS HOLINESS DORJE CHANG BUDDHA III
MASTER WON KO YESHI NORBU HOLIEST TATHAGATA

Today you, who are a rinpoche, respectfully requested a
discourse on the dharma relating to the question
What is cultivation? This is a very fundamental lesson;
indeed, the first lesson. Nonetheless, this is an important
matter that many cultivators, including those who have
practiced cultivation over many years, do not understand
and are confused about. It is difficult to incarnate as a
human being. It is even more difficult to incarnate as a
human being with the opportunity to encounter the true
Buddha-dharma. Thus, today I will enlighten everyone on
dharma relating to the question What is cultivation?
The essence of learning Buddhism lies with carrying
out what we learn in our cultivation. We use good and bad
causes and conditions as objects of cognition. Therefore,
we must first understand what cultivation is. Cultivation is
cultivating the increase of good karma and cultivating the
avoidance of bad karma. It is increasing good karmic
conditions, planting good causes, and reaping good effects.
It is avoiding the increase of bad karmic conditions, not
planting bad causes, and avoiding the reaping of bad
effects. But the term cultivation has a rather broad
meaning. We must first understand what cultivation is.
There must be that upon which the cultivator can rely.
Without that which can be relied upon, your cultivation
can easily become erroneous, non-Buddhist cultivation.
For example, the cultivation of demonism entails
cultivating the behavior of demons. The cultivation of
Buddhism entails cultivating the behavior of Buddhas.
Therefore, there must be that upon which the cultivator

can rely. There must be models that the cultivator can
reflect and rely upon.
All other religions espouse eliminating evil, promoting
good, restraining selfishness, and benefiting others. The
cultivator cannot rely upon this alone, for this is
cultivation without understanding the purpose of
Buddhism. This alone is not the practice of true
Buddhism. Thus, in our cultivation, that which we rely
upon is the Buddha. The perfect enlightenment of the
Buddha is the model for our cultivation. We use our three
karmas of bodily actions, speech, and thoughts to emulate
everything about the Buddha. We thereby keep ourselves
far away from all impure karma based on delusion and all
evil conduct. We thereby constantly stay far away from
that which is evil or bad. By not being involved with that
which is evil or bad, our three karmas do not increase bad
causes. Rather, we must carry out all good karma. Even
one kind thought is something we should increase and
never decrease. We should increase our good karmic
affinity, good causes, and good karma every day. Simply
put, we must always avoid that which is evil or bad and
accumulate that which is good. Hear the complete audio book on WWW.BuddhaTv.tv

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Keep a Clear Mind.
   
   Be Patient.
   
   Practice kindness.

2. Witness the self and realize the truth of no self is in the mind.

3. Every day review what you have said and done in relation ship to all that you encounter.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III discourse as much as possible.
• Learn, Understand with a clear mind and practice diligently.
• It is not Buddhism to just know and understand the Dharma.
• But a Buddhist practices and puts into action through body speech and mind the teaching of the Buddha.

[michaelinasmom]

on 2/10/2009 Simple How-To. Everyone should practice this. 5*

[WordWhizKid]

on 12/2/2008 Very interesting! I have read some of the dalai lama's books and am interested in learning more.