Kathok Rigzin Chenpo Rinpoche
Many Vajrayana samayas are kept through meditation. Without meditative skill, you cannot keep some of these commitments even if you wish to.
There are basic requirements for each of the three levels of vows of the three vehicles. One has to train in abiding by the basic requirements (vows) first. One may not be able to keep the branch vows right away, but you can aspire to keep them purely in future.
When one receives the empowerment today, it does not mean that one is automatically able to keep all the samayas purely right away. One should have the wish to keep the samayas but the reality of the situation is that one is usually unable to keep all the vows perfectly right from the start.
Similarly, can an ordained monastic keep all their vows perfectly from the first day of being ordained? That is not possible. The usual procedure is to train while learning the precepts, accompanied by constant repenting and purifying of any transgression or mistake.
If one is able to keep the Pratimoksha vows perfectly, one can reach the state of Arhathood very quickly but this is very difficult. Through pure vows or discipline, one also quickly achieves meditative concentration or skill in samadhi, but this is also hard to achieve.
The essence of the Pratimoksha vows is renunciation. One should often think about the sufferings of samsara and long for liberation. The main point of the Bodhisattva vows is Bodhichitta. One not only wishes for Buddhahood for oneself but also aspires to help other beings gain Buddhahood upon reaching the ability to do so.
One should keep reminding oneself to generate this altruistic resolve to benefit others. When you have this altruistic attitude, it encompasses the entire collection of Bodhisattva vows. Without this altruistic attitude, even if you appear to keep the Bodhisattva vows on the surface, you do not achieve the intent of the Bodhisattva vows.
The main essence of the Vajrayana samayas is pure view. One has to believe that all sentient beings have Buddha-nature. Buddha-nature is pure. When one has confidence in this understanding, you will naturally respect all sentient beings.
We are now unable to develop respect for all beings because we do not understand this point deeply enough or lack sufficient certainty in it. We may know this point intellectually but we do not possess sufficient faith and confidence in it.
One should develop one’s mind along these three points — Renunciation, Bodhichitta and Pure View. The body, speech and mind becomes pure or the three vajras. Upon such a foundation, we will receive wisdom, blessings and the full effectiveness of an empowerment.
