Short Refuge Meditation

Dear Friends,
Although all beings in the conditioned world wish for lasting happiness and a meaningful life, they mainly seek it from impermanent sources. Nothing but the space and clarity of mind however, timeless and limitless as it is, can be a true refuge in our lives. Whoever wants to recognize this mind needs teachers who already know it, teachings that make it visible and friends in whom one can trust. Therefore we take refuge in Buddha, the fully developed state of mind, in his teachings or Dharma; and in the Sangha, our friends and helpers on the way. Whoever wants to use the unique methods of the Diamond Way to quickly attain enlightenment also needs to take refuge in the Lama. In Diamond Way Buddhism he is not seen as a person but as the activity of the lineage. He brings the confidence, methods and the protection necessary for quick development. Whoever has reached liberation or full enlightenment since beginningless time has always first opened up to that which is absolute.

The refuge here appears in a simpler form than during the Foundational Practices of Diamond Way Buddhism called Ngöndro. It is useful to complete the 111,111 repetitions of the following four lines early, since they bring blessing and deepen one's understanding of the refuge. Our reaction to the many repetitions also helps evaluate our endurance before starting out on the deeply transformative and really time-consuming practices.

Good luck to you all and don't be too soft on yourselves!

Refuge Meditation

The Four Thoughts

We sit upright with the right calf on or in front of the left and our chin slightly drawn in. Our hands rest on our knees or in our lap, the right hand in the palm of the left and the thumbs touching lightly. First, we calm our minds, feeling the formless stream of air come and go at our nostrils. We let thoughts and sounds simply pass without evaluating them.

Then we focus on the four basic thoughts, which turn mind towards liberation and enlightenment:

• We recognize our precious opportunity in this life, that we can benefit countless beings through the methods of a Buddha. Few people ever meet Diamond Way teachings and even fewer are able to use them.
• We remember the impermanence of everything composite. Only the unlimited clear space of mind is lasting and it is uncertain how long conditions will remain for recognizing it.
• We understand causality. That it is up to us what will happen. Former thoughts, words and actions became our present state and right now we are sowing the seeds for our future.
• Finally, we see the reasons for working with mind. Enlightenment is timeless highest bliss, and we cannot benefit others while confused or disturbed ourselves.

Therefore we now open up to those who can teach us.

Richness and joy beyond imagination now condense in front of us. In our minds we offer it to all the Buddhas and our teachers who appear in space. This is our thanks for the refuge they give.

Building-up Phase

We now sit in a beautiful open meadow. To the right is our father and to the left our mother, as we know or remember them. Around us in countless numbers are all living beings, as many as we can imagine, facing in the same direction as we are.

In front and above us in space the essence of our Lama now appears. Expressing the transmission of the lineage, he manifests as the radiant transparent form of the 16th Karmapa wearing the Black Crown, or as the blue Buddha, Diamond Holder (Tib. Dorje Chang, Skt. Vajradhara). He unites blessing, methods and protection and is needed for our fast development. His arms are crossed at his heart, holding bell and dorje. They signify his liberating wisdom and skillful means, his space and joy. His face radiates love and his clear eyes know us completely. We understand that we can trust him and that he enables us to become like him. With his transmission, we can recognize mind's full potential here and now. Whether we experience his form clearly or not, our Lama's essence is space, present always and everywhere. While we open up to his blessing, his rainbow light radiates to all beings and ourselves. With this experience of oneness, we say:

We take refuge in the Lama
Or
LAMA LA CHAB SYN CHIO

Then our mind goes to the Buddha, golden and athletic, to the left of our Lama in space. He was the first to reach enlightenment in our time. Buddha is the unchanging state. He sits in the meditation posture and his right hand touches the earth. Golden light radiates from him towards all beings and ourselves. With great thankfulness we say:

We take refuge in the Buddha
Or
SANGYE LA CHAB SYN CHIO

Now we focus on the liberating teachings behind Karmapa in the sky. They free beings from ignorance, the source of all difficulty. They manifest as books or in the golden female form, Highest Wisdom (Skt. Prajnaparamita). All beings receive their wisdom as clear light. We say:

We take refuge in his teachings
Or
CHÖ LA CHAB SYN CHIO

Finally our mind turns to the form of Loving Eyes (Tib. Chenrezig or Skt. Avalokitesvara) to the right of our Lama. His transparent body is the color of moonstone. He represents whatever kindness helps us to reach liberation and enlightenment. His four arms express the perfect love, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity of all Buddhas. While his white light shines on all beings and ourselves we say:

We take refuge in the Sangha
Or
GENDYN LA CHAB SYN CHIO

At this point our awareness again turns to Karmapa or Diamond Holder, the essence of our Lama, in front and above us in space. His transparent body radiates rainbow light on all beings. Then it moves to the Buddha to the left, to his teachings behind, to the white Bodhisattva to the right, and then back to our Lama, always in a circle like this.

With each repetition of the four lines, rainbow colored, golden, clear and white light falls on all beings and ourselves in the meadow.

We take refuge in the Lama
We take refuge in the Buddha
We take refuge in his teachings
We take refuge in the Sangha

OR
LAMA LA CHAB SYN CHIO
SANGYE LA CHAB SYN CHIO
CHÖ LA CHAB SYN CHIO
GENDYN LA CHAB SYN CHIO

Completion phase

When we stop repeating the four lines, the golden Buddha, the books and Loving Eyes all dissolve into the Lama. He himself becomes rainbow light and streams into our hearts. The way water runs into water, we become one.

Pause

Now the mind of all Buddhas is our mind and everything is a pure land. Every atom vibrates with joy and is held together by love. Everything is fresh and full of potential. All beings are female or male Buddhas whether they know it or not. Sounds are mantras and thoughts are wisdom for the very reason that they can happen. Our own body is without weakness or pain, a conscious tool for benefiting others.

We decide to keep this understanding in all life's situations and wish that the good impressions that just appeared become limitless. May they bring all beings the only lasting joy, that of knowing mind.