Tashi Delek.

It's hard to say good morning or good afternoon because it's a different timezone. It's better to say Tashi Delek. Today is the fifth day of our prayers for the pandemic to subside. Today we will recite two well-known prayers to Guru Rinpoche. Guru Rinpoche or Padmasambhava was a scholar and siddha from the land of Buddhayana who came to Tibet at the end of the eighth century. While in Tibet, he dispelled all the obstacles that prevented the Dharma from flourishing. He's one of the main figures in the early establishment of the Dharma in Tibet. This is why he is like a second Buddha to Tibetan people.

People admire and respect him because he is like a super hero. He has incredible powers and great majesty. No obstacle can stop him, no adversity can set him back. Since I was a child, I have a great faith in Guru Rinpoche. Until I was eight years old, the only prayer I know was the seven-line prayer to Guru Rinpoche. Whenever my family members or neighbors asked me to recite prayers, I used to recite the seven-line prayer for them. 

Now during this pandemic, many people have great fear and anxiety. It's natural to feel anxious in a situation like this, which we have never experienced in our lives before. Which is hard to know what's going to happen next. But when a big disaster happens, it's more important for us to calm our minds. So that we can think clearly and make the right decision. Because in the great crisis such as this one, many of the decisions we make can be a matter of life or death. 

A pandemic is different than a war. In a war we have a choice to surrender to the enemy, but in a pandemic we don't have that choice because we must win. In order to achieve victory over the pandemic, we must have strong resolve, conviction, and faith. We should be like Guru Rinpoche. We shouldn't try to begone our way out of obstacle. We have to face up to them. We must not be at fear.

The teaching on mind training tells us that sickness and adversity are spiritual teachers. We must dare to face hardship and overcome obstacles. If we understand that all our problems and sufferings can teach us something then obstacle can become our friends. But right now we don't have sufficient power ourselves so that's why we need to pray to Guru Renpoche. Because in this time of the generation, Guru Rinpoche's blessing and his power to clear obstacle are beyond compare. So that's why we will recite the prayers to Guru Rinpoche together. Thank you.

 

Prayers for Pandemic to Subside Day 5: Supplications to Guru Rinpoche