Chenrezig and Other Practices for New Student
Rinpoche sent the following advice to a new student on which practices to do for the rest of her life.
My dear one,
Thank you very much for your kind letter. I am very sorry for the long delay in replying. It is very good of you to help the Loving Kindness Peaceful Youth Project.
So, my suggestion concerning your practice is you should do Compassion Buddha practice. There is a practice of Chenrezig Yoga, with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I am sending this to you.
Regarding the purpose of reciting OM MANI PADME HUM — this is not only for you to recite, but anyone who wishes for happiness should recite this mantra, even cockroaches, ants, elephants, snakes, and crocodiles; all of them should recite it. But, unfortunately, they don't have a human body and so do not have the opportunity to recite it. It brings all happiness, but, most importantly, generates compassion for all living beings.
From compassion you are able to achieve all happiness up to enlightenment, and then you are able to cause all happiness, including enlightenment, for all the numberless hell beings, preta beings, animal beings, human beings, asura, and sura beings.
Each day you should read some part of a lamrim text. Read slowly and mindfully, so that it becomes meditation. But, of course, read from the beginning, finish, and then go back to the beginning again. Do this three times.
I think this Chenrezig Yoga might have a lamrim prayer in it. If not, then add a lamrim prayer. Reciting a lamrim prayer makes your life extremely meaningful, and each time you recite it, it brings you closer to enlightenment and closer to enlightening all sentient beings.
In the morning it would be very good if you can do prostrations, reciting the names of the Thirty-five Buddhas. When doing prostrations you focus on the merit field, with all the Buddhas, Dharma and Sangha. Every evening before going to bed, either with prostrations or sitting, recite the long Vajrasattva mantra, at least half a mala or 21 times. If you recite the short mantra, OM VAJRASATTVA HUM, then recite this 28 times. This purifies today, this life's, and the last life's negative karma and stops it increasing the next day. Negative karma doubles each day that it is not purified.
Then, do one guru yoga each day, such as Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga or Guru Puja, if you have time.
Please go through the attached advice that I have put together as the most important practices to focus on.
Please make your life most meaningful with the thought of bodhicitta.
With much love and prayers...