Preventing Earthquakes
Rinpoche suggested some practices to be performed to prevent earthquakes in Taiwan. He also recommended specific practices for protection against harm from earthquakes and fires.
The entire Kangyur, the collection of all the Buddha's teachings, should be recited to prevent further earthquakes. It would be very beneficial to have the Sangha of all four Tibetan traditions recite the Kangyur once, to lessen the effects of earthquakes in the future. However, it has to be recited as close to perfect as possible. It would be best if this recitation of the Kangyur could be sponsored by the wealthy businesspeople of Taiwan, perhaps even with government help. This is not because it is very expensive, but to give these people the opportunity to create merit. If this is difficult, we can find other sponsors. Also, Samayavajra practice needs to be performed to purify degenerated samaya vows.
For protection from harm from earthquakes, write the following mantra horizontally on a long strip of paper. Then consecrate it with black agar incense and gywong (you can obtain this from a Tibetan doctor). This mantra should not be shown to other people. Put it on the walls of your house for protection. People can also wear it.
Write the following:
OM AH BHARA CHAKRA SHRI TAY MUNAY YAY AH PAH NA YA.
Protect this place from all the dangers of earthquakes RA KYA RA KYA
If a person is going to wear it, write the whole mantra, and then also write: “Protect the bearer of this mantra from all the dangers of earthquakes RA KYA RA KYA.” These instructions come from Gampopa Dagpo Lhaje.
If there are lamas nearby, the mantras can be blessed by them. If not, just think that all the wisdom of many buddhas absorbs into this mantra and is stabilized forever. Wear this protection and also place it around your house with strong faith. If performed with strong faith, these methods can help. However, that doesn’t mean that they purify the karma to experience earthquakes or fires. You have to perform separate practices to purify that. But these practices can provide the conditions for you not to experience earthquakes and the dangers of fire. The most important technique to help you to avoid experiencing earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, or floods is to purify the cause, which exists in your mental continuum, which is your own mind. This is to abstain from committing negative actions and to live in pure morality.
Therefore, these mantras can help. Mountains of gold and diamonds or millions of dollars can’t stop these dangers, but these methods can help.
For protection from fire, put a little poisonous blood on a square piece of paper. Then, write this mantra with ink mixed with crystal powder:
TADYATHA OM TARE TUTTARE TURE EH KHA TZAA DI SHANKHARA SHANKHARA AGNI BAHA YA SHANKHARA TSARA TSARA TSIRI TSIRI BUHURU BUHURU BHARA MARA TAM BAHAYA BHARA MARA TAM BAHAYA JALA NAM JANA LAM SVAHA
Put this mantra into a white tsa tsa. Then, hide the tsa tsa in the southeast corner of your home or property, since this is the direction of the fire deity. Put it in a place where it won’t be damaged, together with auspicious water-based substances such as crystal or coarse sea salt. It is said that this will protect the place from fire, even the fire that will end the world. This is a terma – the hidden treasure of Guru Tseten Gyältsän.
General Practices
All the Dharma centers in Taiwan should perform the following practices to prevent future problems from earthquakes. It is important for the students to do these practices. Every day, the geshes should recite Nam tsa nan gya and Tra shi tseg pa. Also, please take the eight Mahayana precepts as often as possible, and pray that there are no more natural disasters in your area or anywhere else.
Recite Lama Tsongkhapa’s migtsema mantra as much as possible, while making strong prayers.
Recite the Padmasambhava prayer (The Prayer Eliminating Obstacles and Accomplishing Wishes). It is very powerful. Recite it at least three times in the morning and evening, but more if possible.
Read the Diamond Cutter Sutra and the Heart Sutra to purify negative karma.
Recite prayers to Tara, especially the Praises to the Twenty-one Taras.
Recite the Lion-Face Dakini prayer.
Keep reciting these prayers for three to five months.
Also, reciting OM MANI PADME HUM with tonglen practice for one hour each day can prevent dangers connected with the earth element. You can also read the Ksitigarbha Sutra.