Nedo Rinpoche
Take the Vajrasattva practice, for instance. Sometimes people think it is
insignificant, just a (preliminary) practice you do to reach a “real practice”
such as a yidam.
Some people think that, “Oh, I will only really get the blessing with the
yidam, so now I just have to go through the preparatory stages.” We should not
underestimate the Vajrasattva practice.
It purifies all our obscurations and our negativity. Once you have completed
the practice, then if you do other practices or make wishes—if you have fully
purified your obscurations—then your wishes are immediately fulfilled. Whatever
practice you do, you immediately get results if you have purified yourself
beforehand.
The point is to have a pure vessel. A good example is if you want to cook food
and you have rice and butter and all the ingredients, but you don’t have the
pot yet—what will you do, cook it in your hands? It is very important to have a
good clean pot to cook in.
It is the same with dharma practice. That is called having a pure vessel; the
clean pot stands for this. Being a pure vessel means having the devotion and
pure trust in the Buddha and the teachings and compassion for all beings.
Without these, you can practice whatever you want, but you will obtain no
results. That is why it is important to purify yourself with Vajrasattva, with
the one-hundred-syllable mantra, and with the nectar which you visualize
flowing into your body through the top of your head. If you have obstacles, you
may also practice Tara and you should do the Mahakala invocation every day.
(Nedo Rinpoche is the Vajra Master for Karmapa)
