བརྙན་འཕྲིན། ལོ་གསར་གྱི་འཚམས་འདྲི། (༢༠༡༩)

I greet you all on Losar! In this new year I wish all the students from Russia health and the spontaneous fulfillment of all their aspirations. In general, we all follow the Dharma and put it into practice. The practice of Dharma is one of the most important things in our life. For example, we always take food. This is important in order to stay alive.

We simply cannot do without food. In the same way, a practitioner always strives to connect their mind with the Dharma. In daily life this is very important. We cannot do without the Dharma. We must keep up the practice constantly, not forgetting it amid the routine of everyday affairs. Of course, at times we are quite busy and may feel a lack of time.

But nonetheless it is extremely important not to stray from our practice and to carry it out on a daily basis. I always speak about this. And now too I have been given this fortunate opportunity to tell you about it, at which I am immensely glad. I pray that in the future we may meet together again and again. Now we will speak about tsok. On the days of Guru Rinpoche, the 10th lunar day, we perform the tsok feast-offering ritual.

The ritual we are speaking of is an abridged version. This is convenient when we have little time. In general, there are many kinds of tsok ritual. It can also be done relying on the text of the guru yoga with the seven-line prayer, called "Rain of Blessings," which was composed by Mipham Rinpoche. The practice will be perfect if one performs the tsok feast-offering ritual relying on this guru yoga. It is a wonderful practice.

If we are short of time, we can lighten and shorten the ritual. First, we begin with the seven-line prayer of Guru Rinpoche. Then we move on to the brief tsok. This is a condensed and brief version. If we recite it several times, then the whole tsok feast-offering ritual will be very meaningful. Besides that, there is also the brief tsok of Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa, which begins with the words "Ram yam kham om ah hum," tsok dze dön yi sherab igen.

And so on. One may recite that brief tsok or this one. After reciting the preliminary lines, we begin with the blessing mantra "Om ah hum ha ho hri." Then we recite the brief tsok several times. If we practice in this way, then the whole tsok feast-offering will be very significant and meaningful. That is so.

There are many ways of accumulating spiritual merit. And this tsok feast-offering practice contains methods that are simple and convenient, yet nonetheless allow one to accumulate great merit. Thus, on the special days of Guru Rinpoche we do certain practices. We recite the seven-line prayer of Guru Rinpoche with a strong feeling of faith and reverence. With focused concentration, we read the words of supplication of this seven-line prayer, then recite several times the brief tsok familiar to us, the one we just spoke about. In this way we obtain blessings, and in general the tsok feast-offering practice becomes meaningful.

Such is the brief and convenient method. After the Guru Rinpoche practice, we read the dedication of merit, as usual. As for experienced practitioners, they may read not only these prayers dedicated to Guru Rinpoche, but also recite, for example, the prayer for rebirth on the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain by Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa. Offering prayers is very important. Why do we practice the Dharma at all? Because none of us aspires to be born again in samsara.

And what is the essence of our aspiration? Relying on this excellent human body, we should, throughout this whole life, carry out the practice of Dharma in a perfect way. And in our next incarnation, be reborn on the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain amid the retinue of Guru Rinpoche. Having taken birth in the retinue of Guru Rinpoche, amid heroes and heroines, the knowledge-holders, amid the root teachers and masters of the lineage, we will receive many instructions that lead to awakening. Attaining the state of Buddhahood is our main aspiration. It is for this that we offer prayers.

A successful practice, as well as the ability to experience our true nature, which gives meaning to this life and the next, is an extremely important factor. I am immensely glad that I was able to tell you briefly about all this. And in closing, allow me to pray and wish you well-being and health.