Kill your negative Karma.. Do it the Great Vehicle Way

Earlier post on karmic purification is for those who have affinity with the Vajrayana Tradition, The way of the Diamond Vehicle. Today's post is using the Method of Mahayana - The Great Vehicle.

There are a few Dharma methods one can use to remove and purify your unwholesome karmic actions. The most important thing one must do is to take refuge in the Triple Gem. Who and What is the Triple Gem? They are the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha

Buddha - 1st of the Triple Gem

'Buddham Saranam Gacchami'
'Dhammam Saranam Gacchami'
'Sangham Saranam Gacchami'

- The 1st verse uttered in the Theravadin Paritta Pali text. It means I seek Refuge in the Buddha. Again in the Mahayana Tradition, the verse for refuge taking is similar :

I return and rely on the Buddha, Vowing that may all sentient beings,
sincerely seek the noble path and develop the Bodhicitta.

I return and rely on the Dharma, Vowing that may all sentient beings, enter the Dharma Treasury trove, obtaining wisdom as wide as the ocean.

I return and rely on the Sangha, Vowing that mall all sentient beings, cultivate in unison with one mind and heart, returning to the other shore.

The Vajrayana Tradition verse for taking refuge in the Triple Gem is as follows :

Until I am enlightened,
I go for refuge to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
Through the virtue I create by practising giving and the other perfections,
may I become a Buddha to benefit all sentient beings.

When one has decided to be a Buddhist, one has also realized about Karma and the potential harm it can do to one's life. The next step is to listen to the Dharma from the Venerable Dharma Masters and apply it with vigor.

In Mahayana, (which is devotional Buddhism), there a few Dharma methods to help eradicate and purify one's own unwholesome karmic action.

Dharma method of Amitabha Buddha (Buddha name recitation) NIEN FO （念佛）.
It is said that in every Chinese household, there's a GUAN YIN and every temple there is AMITABHA. Amitabha Buddha is the Buddha of the Pure Land of the West. His name is Infinite Light (无梁光. His other name is Infinite Life（无量寿）. His place is known as SUKHAVATI. There are a few Sutras in which Buddha Sakyamuni expounded the qualities of this Buddha. The Pure land Buddhists diligently recites his name. His name is like an e-mail tha you send to Amitabha to secure a place in his Pureland, so when your present life ends, you will gain the right for rebirth in Sukhavati so you can meet Amitabha Buddha along with Guan Shi Yin (Avalokiteshvara) and Da Shi Zhi (Mahastamahprapta) Bodhisattvas, together with the Bodhisattva Mahasattva assembly of the Lotus Pool. They will welcome you and together you will get to hear the Dharma and cultivate/ practice under the tutelage of Buddha Amitabha.

The Pureland and Bodhisattva Assembly of Buddha Amitabha

His famous Sutra is the 'Buddha Speaks of the Amitabha Sutra' (佛说阿弥陀经) and the Sutra of Contemplation of the Buddha of Infinite Life and Light. One can eradicate one's karmic offenses by sincerely repeating the Holy name of Buddha Amitabha, and or recite the Dharani Mantra for removing Deeply rooted karmic offenses and to obtain rebirth in the Pure Land.

Buddha Amitabha

Here is the Sanskrit version:

Namo Amitābhāya tathāgatāya.
Tadyathā: amrtod bhave, amrta siddham bhave, amrta vikrānte.
Amrta vikrānta gāmine, gagana kīrti kare, svāhā!

The Chinese Version of the Dharani:

南無阿彌多婆夜。哆他伽多夜。哆地夜他。阿彌利都婆毗。阿彌利哆。
悉耽婆毗。阿彌唎哆。毗迦蘭帝。阿彌唎哆。毗迦蘭多。
伽彌膩。伽伽那。 枳多迦利。莎婆訶。

The Vajrayana Tradition has Amitabha's mantra as

"OM AMI-DEWA- HRIH!"

May Buddha Amitabha's light of compassion shine upon you! May Amitabha blesses you with long life and may you be reborn into his Pureland when this life ends! Namo A Mi Tuo Fo!