04. Teaching 1

01.11.2025

How we can rely upon Buddha Vajrapani

Teachings from Ven Geshe-la in 2005, Modern Buddhism, HTTYL, and OIOM.

Buddha Vajrapani has a function. In Kadampa Buddhism everything has a function. Ultimately the function of it all is to help us to have a peaceful mind, to be of benefit to others, and to attain enlightenment. If we follow this path it’s just a matter of when we will attain enlightenment. The word ‘simple’ comes up a lot in Geshe-la’s teachings. We just have to put the teachings into practice. This is our problem! If we identify with mental or bodily pain it’s difficult to develop the concentration we need to subdue the minds that cause them. Pain interferes with our ability to go deeper. This is why we need Buddha Vajrapani. His function is to destroy the delusions of living beings and to remove our outer obstructions. But remember there is no enlightenment without difficult conditions.

Geshe-la also explained that spirits can also be obstacles.

We are not this body that’s appearing. We can have all types of body throughout all our lives. We can impute body on anything. If we rely on Buddha Vajrapani he will help us to overcome the naga spirits. This is why he appears to trample snakes and his noose is in the shape of a naga. Nagas live near water and trees, and can be benevolent or malevolent. They can be responsible for various diseases and illnesses that humans experience. Relying on Buddha Vajrapani will help us to work with these naga-related difficulties. But it’s a dependent relationship. Maybe he helps by blessing our mind and making us OK inside, even though we may look ill on the outside. We need to have a good motivation. Because sometimes we can become consumed by it and we can become quite selfish. We think somehow we are special and get lost in our mental or physical pain. We’ve got to shift our mind from ourselves to others. We’re not denying it, but rather than identifying with it, we shift to others experiencing similar. From our pain comes great meaning - compassion. Just being born in this human body gives rise to suffering and pain. It’s possible to impute our I on a body that doesn’t experience pain.

When we’re locked in an experience of pain and suffering, we believe it’s real.

In UC on p93, Geshe-la talks about the 5 forces. These 5 forces are powerful minds. We can apply them to any practice, and throughout our day.

• The force of motivation
• The force of familiarity
• The force of white seed (merit)
• The force of destruction
• The force of aspirational prayer.
  • What are prayers? They’re virtuous wishes that we’re communicating to beings not of this realm - with Buddhas - asking. We’re purifying our winds and minds through prayer. All you need is faith.

Without these 5 forces we will just increase our self-grasping and suffering.

Our problem is that we blame others. And we’re concerned with others’ ‘purity’ when we should only be concerned with our own mind. We need to stop searching for purity in others, we will only be disappointed when we believe they have let us down. We need to respect everyone and have a mind of humility - this is the mind of a Kadampa.

The 5 forces can also be applied at the time of death - by training in them we are training on how to die peacefully which will influence our rebirth.

The 5 forces stop our mind from delusions gathering. We are weakening our delusions. So we can prevent the result from ripening. When painful minds of delusion arise, we can stand our ground, understanding they are temporary, and apply the 5 forces. We need to remind ourself that any object of delusion can be the object of our love.

Distraction and being influenced by others, bad habits, familiarity, inappropriate attention. If a seed, object, and inappropriate attention gather, delusion will develop. {From the Causes of Delusions in JPGF}

Buddha Vajrapani helps us to work with our outer and inner obstacles. He will help us through the 5 forces. We have to wage war on our delusions.