Reflection on My Second 30-Day Retreat
What I learned from Buddha
Part III
Holy Vajrasana Temple and Retreat Center, Sanger, CA April 2025
By Anjushri (Armine) Alioto
Almost a full year has passed since my last retreat and still the beneficial effects are present with me. So much so that I am compelled to share with you another installment from my silent retreat experience. Why is this so important? These words are simply words on a page. Look deeper for their karmic significance. How can these teachings be applied to a home practice?
We have just started the new class DCB35 Learning from Buddha. Remember HHDCBIII teachings that studying alone is not sufficient, cultivation alone is not sufficient for attainment and liberation. The power of the Buddha-dharma is truly transforming. We must merge the correct Buddhist principles together with cultivation and do a daily dharma practice to experience the true fruits of accomplishment.
With deep gratitude for the holy teachings of Dorje Chang Buddha III, and to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the 10 directions who guide us on our path to liberation.
Gently holding this intention in mind, I offer to you gifts that have been helpful for my home practice and cultivation.
“If You Learn Dharma but Do Not Cultivate Yourself, You Cannot Attain Accomplishment.”
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III in Learning from Buddha (p. 1)
Learning from Buddha
The yidam acts to guide and teach us according to our spiritual capacity and to help us overcome our weaknesses, helping us to help ourselves. With proper applied cultivation, we can awaken to the truth. No one else can do this for us. I must put forth effort and be diligent. Be sincere. Be compassionate to all living beings in the 6 realms of existence. No one is left out. All living beings must awaken to this.
Do not judge prajna. Prajna is prajna, supreme ultimate reality, marvelous existence. There is no attachment whatsoever in prajna.
Reading the words, thinking the thoughts are not enough. You must go through the language prajna and mind consciousness to truly experience what can only be realized through activation of illumination prajna devoid of form. Any description of this state is not sufficient, because true emptiness is not empty. Your experiential understanding of this is the activation of the fruit from causal conditions accumulated over eons. The perceiver is to realize the truth that is beyond existence.
Cultivation is the key to this ultimate understanding. Even bodhisattvas cultivate themselves. In this way through your cultivation, you will be helping and saving living beings in the 6 realms of existence. Reaching out a hand to them, so that they can pull themselves out of samsara. You are that helping hand.
When you see yourself in this manner, it will be helpful for your own awakening to see how you are attached and holding on without knowing that you are grasping the illusory.
“The effectiveness of Dharma is established upon the foundation of your cultivation.
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III in Learning from Buddha (p.9)
How Does One Learn Esoteric Dharma?
Karmic conditions must be suitable. Your karmic conditions are based on your past actions must accumulate. Your actions must be in accord with the Buddha. The three karmas must align with the actions of the Buddha. That is why you engage in daily cultivation practice. Through the practice of cultivation, you correct yourself and you refine your actions.
Your resulting karmic fruits are the karmic retribution that leads you on the path to purification, practice that is perfect. Perfect state of awareness with no flaws whatsoever, no hindrances, no obstacles. Only bright light. The bright light represents the 5 vidyas, the perfection that is present in the Buddha. One who has perfect action, perfect speech, perfect thought.
True Buddha-dharma is difficult to attain. Due to past sincere cultivation over many lifetimes in many realms, this lifetime is the result of your past efforts and also the efforts in this current lifetime.
Work Every Day and Every Night
Besides being strong and knowledgeable, you must be stable.
Only through your abilities to transform will you be able to withstand the requirements for maintaining your position in the realm of esoteric buddha-dharma of the Vajrayana aptitude. This is a new way of thinking and acting that will allow you to help others, surpassing your previous abilities.
Helping and saving others is the supreme manifestation of the Buddha-dharma. This ability lies far beyond what the ordinary mind can achieve. Enter into training day and night.
Many Methods Many Levels
I am remembering the teachings of HHDCBIII from Expounding the Absolute Truth Through the Heart Sutra. I realized that this was a transmission of learning and that I am not at a level yet to be completely aware of the teachings.
The teachings are a preparation on many levels. Learning comes in different ways. Consciousness changes. Oral transmission not in written form is for the protection of the dharma from misuse and evil manipulation. Whatever the results from the transmission is based on the effects of cultivation and level of attainment. This body in samsara is only a scratch in the true essence of the unconditioned.
By ‘asking’ the Buddha will come to you to teach you what is needed. Teachings can come when you enter different mind states. When there is an uncluttered openness to receive the teachings. Understanding is based upon the level of cultivation of the 3 karmas. Awareness of the teachings is variable, but that does not mean that the information was not transmitted. It means that I am not at a level yet to be consciously aware of it. The deepest teachings come from the Buddha and can be accessed by a mind consciousness that is not in the ordinary realm.
Especially in this dharma ending age, where it is difficult to receive the dharma or to find a holy one to give you (transmit) the dharma. The ability to ‘hear and see’ and receive holy Buddha-dharma is a method and a way to receive the holy teachings. This is how the tantric method of transferring Buddha-dharma to living beings works. How isolation in a cave or retreat or forest home enables one to have an environment for entering into the mental state to receive the precious transmissions of prajna that go beyond any book knowledge.
May all living beings share in this merit to ease their suffering and experience true and complete liberation from the samsaric cycle.
Many methods and many levels, that is why the Buddha is able to see and apply the Buddha-dharma in ways that will generate the effects to positively impact living beings who are struggling to escape birth and death.
Inquiry
Inquiry is of the utmost importance for advancing on the path.
Inquiry is needed for growth in cultivation. Be curious. Ask the buddhas, bodhisattvas and dharma protectors for help in overcoming whatever is causing you problems. Learn to let go of what you are hanging onto that is a misconception, an illusion. Instead, see it as empty with no permanent substance whatsoever.
“When you make a mistake, just admit it. It is no big deal. That kind of person is a good disciple.”
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III in Learning from Buddha (p. 9)
Self-Correction
What is hidden from view is a hindrance from advancement on the path. That which is and has been covered up for eons, since beginningless time needs to be rooted out, dug up, with all roots pulled from the soil. Day by day. Day and night. Exchange other’s sufferings with bodhi light.
“You should only examine your shortcomings. Do not think about what good deeds you have done.” H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III in Learning from Buddha (p. 9)
Be a Traveler
What I learned is that ‘living’ is a process that I am going through. This ‘living’ reflects my current understanding and lack of understanding. I wish to learn from my limitations so that I can correct my misunderstandings. I am of the notion that this ‘living’ is a test that is revealing my current level of awareness. A test for me to learn about my hidden fears and attachments. Misunderstandings already feels lessened because I have now partially seen what has been previously hidden from my awareness.
Take the ‘view of a traveler’ when going to a new place. Be curious. Take in new sights, new experiences, being open to what presents itself. Changes in understanding should not be feared.
Do not be attached in any way to the ‘different from before’ way of experiencing phenomena. The senses expand as the ability to take in a broader understanding is revealed. It is like looking at a rock formation or a building that you have not seen before. Do not judge it. Just look. When something else passes before your vision, the senses take it in. When traveling you become aware of new expanded experiences. ‘Ordinary life’ can have the ‘traveler sense’ as well. It is all emptiness. The same is true with supernormal abilities. These abilities are extra from ordinary abilities. Yet, seeing extra, hearing extra, knowing what someone is thinking, knowing past or future lives, traveling on fast feet, is all reduced to emptiness. No need to fear it. No need to love it, or push it away, or grab and cling to it.
All emotions are empty in nature and very ordinary. Learn without attachment to emotions.
“Simply put, the effectiveness of Dharma is established upon the foundation of your cultivation. That is why I say it will not work just to learn Dharma without cultivating yourself.”
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III in Learning from Buddha (p. 9)
Cultivation is Preparation
Shift the mind practice. Emptiness practice.
When on retreat, karmic conditions and spiritual capacity are taken into account for your training. The buddhas and bodhisattvas see what dharma is most beneficial for your level of learning and cultivation. What is needed on the spot for your advancement. Dharma protectors are careful and do not allow for any spoilage of the precious dharmas. Through your past actions, you have ‘chosen’ the dharma that is most suitable for your current level of understanding.
Deepen your practice, deepen your virtue, give unrelenting pursuit and reliance on the Buddha-dharma to end all suffering within the 6 realms of living beings. Realize the illusive nature of all conditioned phenomena. Once you have experiential understanding of this, it will all be effortless and be a natural state of being.
It Has Been Set into Motion
Going where there is no motion. Do not be fearful. Be at ease.
Become an Observer
Be at ease and quiet amidst the swirling tumultuous movement of samsara.
Observe this movement and be not moved by it. Enter into a state of mind that is unmoving. Even being in a cave has movement in it. Do not be deluded. There is no place you can go to escape the mind. This is something that you must do. Train yourself to do this, train yourself to be successful in attaining freedom.
Practice your powers of concentration and refine them. Turn your weaknesses into a strength. The preliminary practices are a method for your training. Do this training to experience the results. Persevere if you want to experience the fruits in this lifetime. Be diligent every day. There is no other way. You must do this!
Perception and No perception
Both perception and no perception at the same time. This is what I learned.
There are measurable levels of realization. Like a thermometer. Each degree represents spiritual capacity. The degrees fluctuate up and down. When measuring hotness of the sun, it requires a whole new thermometer system for measurement. One can’t use effort alone to force a spiritual realization.
Daily Preliminaries
Do preliminary practices daily. Most important, essential, to complete to attain realization in this lifetime. Due to my karmic conditions, this is what I must do.
Do cultivation daily as you go about your daily matters. There is no separation. Effortless when you reach a bodhisattva level.
“This most fundamental and important issue is that, if in your daily lives and with your own conduct you can truly put into practice the state of a Bodhisattva, introspecting and examining yourself in all respects, then you are planting the causes to become a holy being and attain liberation.”
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III in Learning from Buddha (p. 7)
Treasure Your Gems of Wisdom
Prajna is rare to attain, yet it is all around you. There is no separation. Prajna is you and you are prajna. This is the realization that you are cultivating.
Blessings to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III who came to this world to teach us in a way that we can understand and realize the preciousness of the true Buddha-dharma.
Blessings to the buddhas in the 10 directions, bodhisattvas and dharma protectors.
May all living beings attain perfect liberation and have good fortune and wisdom.
I offer all the merit from my cultivation to all living beings.
To the Buddha I return and rely,
vowing that all living beings profoundly understand the great way and bring forth the Bodhi Mind.
To the Dharma I return and rely,
vowing that all living beings deeply enter the sutra and have wisdom like the sea.
To the sangha I return and rely,
vowing that all living beings apply love and compassion to all.
Many thanks and deep appreciation to our master Zhaxi Zhuoma Shang Da De for her patience, love and continuing work to bring the true Buddha-dharma to her western students.
CLICK for “Second 30-Day Solitary Retreat at Holy Vajrasana Temple-Part II.”
CLICK for “Second 30-Day Solitary Retreat at Holy Vajrasana Temple-Part I.”
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