Dear friends near and far,

As always, I hope this message finds you well, healthy and happy, as 2024 begins. In today’s Guru Rinpoche day, I would like to remind you of the importance of motivation.

As I have taught in the past, we can use the five fingers of one hand to remember the five types of motivation, working from the bottom (the pinkie finger) on up, to the thumb.

The first, lesser type of motivation for Dharma practice is to practice out of hope and fear, with the wish to obtain positive things and be protected from the negative. The second type of motivation (the ring finger) is undetermined, lacking any particular aim or direction. These two motivations keep us on the worldly path.

On the supramundane path, there are the motivations of beings of lesser capacity, middling capacity, and highest capacity. The third of the five motivations (the middle finger) is that of beings of lesser capacity, who wish to be freed from the lower realms. The fourth (the index) is that of beings of middling capacity, who wish to be freed from the three realms of samsara. Finally, the fifth and best motivation (the thumb) is bodhichitta, the wish for all beings to attain awakening.

It is extremely important to know how to identify one’s motivation, checking it repeatedly, and changing it when it is lacking. Whatever activity we do, the results will depend on our motivation—and this is especially true for Dharma practice. Our path in the Dharma is determined by our motivation and our view, but since in the beginning it is not easy to recognize the right view, we first need to focus primarily on motivation. This being the case, please remember to always check your motivation, and improve it whenever you can.

With all my love and prayers at the start of this Western new year,

Sarva Mangalam.

Phakchok Rinpoche

Please read the message below:

Dear friends near and far,

Samye Translations plays a crucial role in Phakchok Rinpoche’s endeavors, dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of the Dharma. Our primary mission involves translating Buddhist practices and commentaries, safeguarding and upholding Phakchok Rinpoche’s teachings, and conducting research on the Dharma and its historical context. In the past decade, our tireless efforts have borne fruit, resulting in the release of over 200 translations, the publication of five books, numerous booklets, and the creation of the Nekhor website and App. Samye Translations’ ongoing projects owe their existence to your unwavering financial support. To sustain our endeavors and ensure their continued success, we kindly invite you to consider extending your support through an offering. In this regard, Rinpoche wishes to convey the following message:

I want to give you the opportunity to participate in and make a meritorious connection with the translation of the Dharma. This is an important connection that each and every one of us needs.

In the past Guru Padmasambhava, Great Abbot Shantarakshita, and Dharma King Trisong Detsen personally participated in the translations of the Dharma scriptures and supported the translators, such as Lotsawa Vairocana. They further encouraged the Tibetan students to do so as well. It was thus that the lotsawas succeeded in their endeavor of bringing the Dharma to Tibet.

In a similar way by contributing to the translation of the Dharma into English and all the other languages, we are forming a continuous stream of ever-increasing merit benefitting the Dharma and helping us personally to study, practice, accumulate merit, and accomplish the Dharma. Whenever a person in the future will read these translations, the merit and benefit that they will receive will be equally shared with all of us who helped make this text available. To give an example: When building a monastery, for as long as the physical structure of the monastery with its monastic Sangha remains, till then our merit of helping to build this monastery continues.

The Guru, the Abbot, and the Dharma King are still accumulating merit, even right now, through all the translations that they have supported and are used by us right now. Hence, supporting Samye Translations in any amount of 5, 10, 100, or 1000 USD will directly benefit you and future students. In essence, this is a great accumulation of merit, similar to the other meritorious activities such as offering butter lamps, supporting the Sangha, building temples, giving medicine, and offering to the poor. So therefore, I would like to request each and every one to take this opportunity and connect with the translations of these precious texts which are being translated into your languages. I myself will take this opportunity and participate in making an offering.

Therefore, if you aspire to be a part of this collective endeavor, we encourage you to join us on this auspicious Penchu, Guru Rinpoche day falling on a Saturday, marking the last Tsechu (10th day), Guru’s day of the lunar year and auspiciously the 1st Tsechu of the Western calendar. The most impactful way to provide your support is by becoming a patron of Samye Translations and contributing through monthly offerings on our Patreon platform. To embark on this journey, please click the link to Patreon. However, if you prefer a one-time offering, you can find more information by clicking here.

Furthermore, we are delighted to offer our cherished patrons the opportunity to dedicate their offerings through the following link. Simply complete the form, and we will honor your dedications as you specify in the future. These dedications can include your name, a specific intention or cause you hold dear, or an individual you wish to include in the merit of your offering.

Warmest Regards,

The Samye Translations Team

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