Purification Practice

Venerable Thubten Chodron leads a guided practice to calm the mind by meditating on the breath, visualizing the Buddha, and then reciting "om ah hum" while visualizing that light flows into our body from the Buddha that purifies our past negative actions of body, speech, and mind.

Transcript

So,

I'll lead you in a little meditation to begin with.

And we'll meditate on the breath,

Which is a nice neutral object.

You don't have to have any kind of religious beliefs in order to meditate on the breath.

You just need to keep breathing,

Which is highly advised.

And,

You know,

Just be aware of your breath and the flow of your breath.

And especially let yourself be content to sit here and breathe.

I think that's a really important element of all of it,

Just to be content doing what we're doing,

You know,

Without this mind that says,

I should be doing something useful like making money,

Or I should be doing something useful like returning phone calls.

Or,

You know,

How we fill our mind with all these other things we should be doing that we really derive no pleasure from and no benefit from.

But,

You know,

We think it's somehow un-American to sit quiet and be peaceful.

Don't we?

You know?

Like,

Who ever heard of sitting quiet and being peaceful?

I mean,

We're supposed to be making bombs and doing something,

You know?

But I think it's very good for us to learn how to sit quiet and be peaceful.

And I think especially if you're a parent,

You know,

To be able to be peaceful and sit quietly and then show that to your kids.

Because how many kids ever see their parents being peaceful and quiet?

Or do they usually see their parents just going,

Ahhhhhh,

You know,

And running here and running there?

So,

You know,

Kids learn by example,

Don't they?

Yeah.

So just learning to,

You know,

To be peaceful and quiet sends a very powerful message to your kid that it's okay,

You know,

To be like that.

Okay.

So we'll begin with a little body scan to release tension.

So be aware of yourself sitting here on the cushion,

Inside your body,

So to speak,

In this room with like-minded people.

And be aware of sensations in your legs and your feet.

If there's any tension there,

Then let it relax.

Be aware of the sensations in your stomach and lower abdomen.

And if there's any tightness there,

Then just let it go.

And turn your attention to your chest and arms,

Shoulders,

Back.

Check if there's any tension there.

And one nice way to release it,

If there is,

Is to lift your shoulders up towards your ears and then let them drop.

Do it a couple of times.

And then be aware of the sensations in your neck,

Face,

And jaw.

Your jaw is clenched,

Then let it relax.

And just let the facial muscles also relax.

So your whole position is firm,

Stable,

But also at ease.

So again,

Just remember what that feels like.

Then let's set our motivation.

And put our meditation and our sharing the Dharma tonight within the context of benefiting all beings through working on ourselves and purifying our own mind,

Developing our own good qualities.

So set that intention to repay the kindness that other beings have shown us through making progress on the spiritual path.

And then become aware of your breath.

Just breathe normally and naturally.

But pay attention to each in-breath and each out-breath.

And if there's a pause between an in-breath and an out-breath,

Or an out-breath and in-breath,

Be aware of what's happening then.

So simply be aware of your present experience.

Don't go into the past or the future.

Just be with what's happening right now.

And in that way,

Let your mind relax and let your mind also become quite clear.

Because you're simply focusing on what is and letting yourself be content to be who you are and do what you do.

So I'll have some silence now to do that.

Right?

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And so for a few moments contemplate what your highest spiritual aspirations are,

And in your words,

But in your own words,

But silently address the Buddha and say what you would like to say and request the Buddha's inspiration to be able to eliminate hindrances so that you can progress along the path and to inspire you so that you can realize the meaning of the Dharma.

Just think about what your spiritual aspirations are and in your own words,

Request the Buddha.

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And think that the Buddha is very pleased with your past and wants to help you actualize your spiritual aspirations.

And so to do this,

Radiant white light radiates from his brow into your brow,

To your forehead,

And as it enters you through your forehead,

It fills your entire body,

Every cell,

All throughout your nervous system.

And as this white light flows from the Buddha into you,

Think that all the negative actions that you've created through your body,

Things such as killing,

Stealing,

Unwise sexual conduct,

That all these things are completely purified so that no trace of them remains.

Just focus on that white light flowing into you and feeling like all negativities that you've created physically are being purified.

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And now focus on the Buddha's throat,

And from it radiates vibrant red light that goes from the Buddha's throat into yours,

And as it enters you,

It flows throughout your entire body.

And this brilliant red light purifies all negativities that you've created with your speech.

Lying,

Divisive words,

Harsh speech,

Idle talk,

Whatever kind of words that you've said to others that you have regret for.

Think that all that energy,

That karma from those words is being purified so that nothing remains as that red light flows into you through your throat and spreads throughout your body.

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And then brilliant royal blue light flows from the Buddha's heart into your heart.

So not from your physical heart,

But from the center of your chest,

Your heart chakra,

From the Buddha's heart chakra into your heart chakra.

And this very brilliant blue light purifies any kind of negative thoughts or harmful emotions that you may have had.

Things that have led to coveting or malicious thoughts,

Wrong views.

So angry thoughts,

Craving,

Selfishness.

Think that all that is purified as the blue light flows from the Buddha's heart into your heart.

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And now the white,

Red,

And blue light all flow at the same time from the Buddha's brow,

His throat,

And his heart respectively into your brow and throat and heart.

And so think that your body,

Speech,

And mind simultaneously are being purified as the white,

Red,

And blue light flow into you and completely fill your body and nervous system.

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And now again the white light flows from the Buddha's brow into yours,

And this time it brings you the blessings and inspiration of the Buddha's physical faculties.

So this time as the white light is flowing into you,

Think that you're developing the Buddha's physical capabilities.

And as we imagine this white light flowing into us,

Let's also chant the syllable om three times,

Very long and slow,

So that we chant and visualize the white light coming at the same time and really feel that we're receiving the blessings and inspiration of the Buddha's physical faculties.

So we can chant together.

Om.

Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om And then as the red light flows from the Buddha's throat into your throat,

It brings with it all the realizations of the Buddha's verbal faculties.

So it increases your ability to speak kindly,

Truthfully,

At an appropriate time,

And in a way that creates harmony.

The white light flows from the Buddha's throat into ours.

We chant the syllable ah three times.

Ah.

Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah And now as the blue light once again flows from the Buddha's heart into yours,

It brings with it all the realizations of the Buddha's mind.

So equanimity,

Infinite love and compassion,

Joy,

Wisdom,

All the wonderful qualities that you want to develop,

Joyous effort,

The ability to concentrate,

And so on.

And as this blue light flows from the Buddha's heart into ours and then fills our body,

We chant the syllable hum three times.

Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om And now again,

All together,

The white,

Red,

And blue light all at the same time into your brow,

Throat,

And heart respectively.

So you're filled with the Buddha's inspiration and blessings.

And we'll chant om ah hum each syllable one time slowly.

Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om And now the Buddha comes from,

He moves from the space in front of you to the top of your head,

Facing the same way as you.

And he melts into golden light.

And this golden light sinks into you,

Going through the top of your head,

Descending down the center of your body,

And settling at the heart chakra in the middle of your chest.

And feel like your mind and the Buddha's mind have become inseparable.

And that your body has become very clean and clear.

So concentrate on that for a while.

Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om And then this light at your chest also radiates outward,

Filling your whole body,

And radiates out to all the other living beings around you.

So people in the room,

In the city,

The state,

The country,

The world,

The universe.

That this light from the unity of your mind and the Buddha's mind goes out in every direction,

Touching each and every sentient being.

Bringing peace and calmness to their body,

And peace and joy to their minds.

Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om And feeling that connection between yourself and all other living beings.

And dedicate the positive potential or the merit created through your meditation so that all these living beings may indeed attain enlightenment.

Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om

Reviews

This was a transformative meditation experience for me, thank you.

Thank you for a wonderful visualization and purification practice.

May the merit gained in our acting this go to the alleviation of suffering all beings.

Absolute 🎋🎋🎋🙏🏼

Thank you for this blessing. And this gift of practice. May all being be free from inner and outer harm.

✨Thank you so very kindly 🙏🏼 💕 🎇💫
Namaste 🙏🏼 🌺

Beautiful practice. It seemed to go by so quickly and I stayed conscious throughout.
Your guidance is wonderful.

I love this practice and find ir very useful and inspiring... Thanks very much

Thank you for your compassion.🙏

So good- would love a meditation like this that includes all the chakras. The other ones felt like they wanted in too!

What a wonderful experience 😇🦋😊 Thank you! 🙏

buddha is within me and u. How peaceful How loving It is to live

Starts with calm abiding and then moves into purification practice. A very powerful meditation.

Treat yourself to this! Very relaxing

A wonderful meditation so deep and clear - thank you so much - NAMASTE 🙏🏽💖🙏🏽

Really enjoyed teaching

Wonderful and blissful!

Most relaxing and calming.