:: Phowa Retreat 2009 - Q & A

By His Eminence 4th Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche & HIs Holiness 7th Phakchok Rinpoche

from Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery, PO Box 1200, Boudhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Excerpts held on Thursday June 4 2009 at Rangjung Yeshe Buddhist Society Penang, Midlands Centre

from December 2 to 6 2009, at the Copthorne Hotel, Tanjung Bunga, Penang, His Eminence will be teaching for the first time in a large public setting in Malaysia the special Phowa practice. Phowa in Tibetan or Transference of Consciousness Upon Death is one of the most renowned skillful method employed by Buddhist practitioners to be reborn in Amitabha's Western Pure Land of Great Bliss.

Concise introduction in simple question & answer format

Q. When we arrive at Amitabha Buddha's Pure Land what happens to our bad karma & obscurations?

A. Reaching Amitabha Buddha's Western Pure Land of Great Bliss does not automatically free us of the effect of negative actions nor eradicate our obscurations that prevent us from attaining full and complete enlightenment.  Otherwise, merely being reborn in Amitabha's Buddhafield will be the equivalent of Buddhahood.  As is taught extensively in the Pure Land Sutra, after rebirth in Amitabha's Buddhafield, we easily continue to purify our negativities and reach enlightenment.  Because, infinite emanations of Amitabha are present everywhere to turn the wheel of dharma and everything in the environment from the inanimate (like sounds of wind, water, and so forth) to the animate (birds, bees and so forth) emit sacred sounds of dharma and dharanis that turn our minds towards virtue and practice.