Precious Human Birth
“I have searched temple, mosque, shrine and church and no where is there a mystery equal to this very body!” ~Saraha
There are Four Mind Turnings or teachings which turn the mind towards dharma, meaning that in order to set out on the path to enlightenment you need to contemplate these four teachings to establish a foundational understanding for the path. This is what’s known as the Ordinary Ngondro. “Ngondro” means “before going” or setting out on the spiritual journy, and these are said to be “ordinary” because anyone can relate to these basic teachings of the Buddha. Once these are well contemplated and established within one’s continuum, then the possibility of the Extraordinary Ngondro and the higher vehicles of Vajrayana and Dzogchen opens up. The Extraordinary Ngondro is a series of Four practices which are the Internal Alchemy which can lead directly to complete Buddhahood in a single life. The main point of the Four Mind Turnings is that these teachings represent the collective wisdom of the lineage and if one can assemble these causes and conditions for realization and then maintain them “at all times and in all circumstances” then realization of completely perfected Buddhahood is easily within reach in a single life and the view of higher yanas will open up and unfold. The Tibetans have a word that translates as “Fortunate”~ meaning that one is fortunate in the sense of having met with the path of Dharma and having found the incredibly rare opportunity described as a “Precious Human Birth” which leads directly to Buddhahood. In order for a human birth to become precious, there are 18 freedoms and advantages which one must acquire listed below. Longchenpa gives us an additional 18 conditions for a total of 36. In order to assemble all of these freedoms and advantages necessary to practice dharma effectively, its important to begin with the positive motivation and wish to attain buddhahood in order to benefit all beings and lead them to enlightenment. This is Aspirational Bodhicitta or Awakening Mind, giving rise to the mind of enlightenment. Then one can make further Aspiration Prayers to acquire any conditions that are missing. (See my post on aspiration prayers.) These 36 Advantages and Freedoms must be preserved and maintained at all times and in all circumstances.“
“I am so grateful and fortunate and blest to have recieved this perfect human life and precious human birth with the 18 advantages and freedoms, and the opportunity of realizing the blissful mind of the Buddha. Therefore no matter what samsaric experiences I shall have during this day, I shall control my mind and maintain my vows and Samayas.
THE TEN ADVANTAGES:
Being born as a human
In a central place where the Buddha has taught
With all one’s faculties
Without a conflicting lifestyle
Faith in the Dharma
Buddha has appeared
Buddha has taught
Teaching still exist
We have the good fortune to take up the dharma
Teacher extraordinary compassion
THE EIGHT FREEDOMS:
Not born in Hells
Not born as a Hungry ghost
Not born as an Animal
Not born as a Titan
Not born as a God
Having the correct view and not holding wrong views
Not born in a place where no Buddha has appreared
Born with fully endowed faculties, not deaf or mute
EIGHT INTRUSIVE CIRCUMSTANCES;
Turmoil form the five poisons
Stupidity
Dominated by evil influences
Laziness
Inundated by the effects of past evil
Enslavement to others
Seeking protection from dangers
Hypocritical practice
EIGHT INCOMPATIBLE PROPENSITIES;
Being bound by one’s ties
Flagrant depravity
Taking pleasure in bad actions
Lack of interest in dharma
Heedlessness of vows and Samaya
Lack of dissatisfaction with samasara
Complete absence of faith
Break Samaya commitments
ASPRIATIONAL PRAYER:
“Although I have won these freedoms and advantages, I am poor in dharma, I waste time of other things. Bless me and foolish beings like me that we may attain the very essence of the freedoms and advantages.”
~from Words of My Perfect Teacher by Patrul Rinpoche
These questions are meant to help you find the freedoms and advantages necessary to attain buddhahood in order to benefit all living beings filling space and lead them to awakening. Please see the previous post on Precious Human Birth to explore the difficulty of finding the Freedoms and Advantages and see a complete list.
Begin by mapping out some scenarios where you could loose them. For example, during the recent pandemic many of them were lost for many people. Did you loose any? How did you experience that?
Map out some scenarios where you could acquire the freedoms and advantages more fully at this stage in your development.
Which ones seem the most difficult or at risk for you currently? This will help to assess your needs and where to direct your energy and attention and know where ask for help and expand your learning.
Which ones seem easiest or given?
Could any of these be lost?
What steps can you take to prevent that?
Use the space of these considerations to deeply contemplate all of this and then take time to meditate and let everything dissolve into space.
After arising from meditation, invoke your field of refuge or higher power and write your own aspiration prayer to help you in whatever is needed.
By the perfect grace of all Buddhas of the three times, may all of your obscurations be removed and may the path arise for you.
Good Fortune, Good Fortune, Good Fortune!!! Victory to the brave! A la la ho!