Losar Tashi Delek to all! I am wishing you all the best on the first Guru Rinpoche day of the Tibetan New Year, the year of the snake. The first month of the Tibetan year is called the Miracle Month (Chotrül Dawa), commemorating the Buddha’s display of a miracle on each of the first fifteen days of the month in order to instill faith and devotion in the Buddha Dharma. Buddha Shakyamuni also thereby created an opportunity for beings of future generation to increase their merit dramatically, as any action done during this period of fifteen days—good or bad—is millions of times more impactful. In particular, on the fifteenth day of the month, the Festival of Miracles (Chotrül Düchen), the impact of any action is multiplied by 10 million, so that any positive action results in 10 million times more merit.
On this auspicious Guru Rinpoche day, falling within the Month of Miracles, I would therefore like to remind you of the fundamental teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni on wholesome conduct, as he expressed it himself:
To restrain our physical behavior—
Not killing, stealing, or being sexually inappropriate;
To speak no lies or deceit, nor to engage
In reprimand and abuse, or vain and idle talk;
To avoid attachment to the objects of our desires,
As well as anger and hostility;
And to let go of all harmful views—
That is the conduct of bodhisattvas.
In short, if you are wondering how to conduct yourself as a bodhisattva, it is actually quite simple: do your best to avoid the ten non-virtues. Therefore, please memorize this list of ten, and check your behavior against it at all times.
The great Tibetan master Dromtönpa Gyalwé Jungné gave some further advice that can help us avoid falling into negative behaviors:
It is a mistake to confide in someone you have just met.
It is a mistake to trust someone you have not examined.
It is a mistake to be fooled by someone you have examined.
It is a mistake to entrust tasks to someone who is careless.
Keeping these wise words in mind, please remember to be mindful of your conduct at all times, and please take this precious opportunity of the Month of Miracles to accumulate a wealth of positivity.
With all my love and prayers,
Sarva Mangalam.
Phakchok Rinpoche
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