Generosity
of Benefactors
in
Buddhism
Throughout
the history of buddhism, dharma-teachings have spread to new
countries. Many times locals, often rulers and kings, invited
dharma-teachers and masters to their lands to ask them to teach the
dharma to people to establish better existential understanding among
people and bring peace to the world. In return, kings, emperors and
locals offered funds and resources for the dharma masters who in turn
offered them to the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. In other
words, these masters, assisted and supported by the community, built
and established temples and training sites where monastics and
laypeople could practice the teachings. The history of buddhism gives
a strong account of this at every location it has spread.
One
particular benefactor and possibly the most important figure in
bringing buddhism to Tibet was King Trisong Detsen. He invited many
masters to Tibet, from India, China and Korea, incl. Guru Rinpoche
Padmasambhava who brought tantric teachings to Tibet from India.
Without Trisong Detsen's vision, fortitude and immeasurable
generosity, Guru Rinpoche and other masters could not have built the
foundations of what was to become a dharma kingdom where buddhism and
especially vajrayana buddhist teachings survived and flourished for
over thousand years. Consequentially, innumerable amount of
practitioners, both female and male, attained the state of buddhahood
and bodhisattvahood. The amount of merit and benefit to all sentient
beings, due to King Trisong Detsen's understanding of priorities, is
beyond measure. Trisong Detsen himself attained buddhahood as a
direct disciple of Guru Padmasambhava. He was one of the original 25
disciples.
Today
I wish to bow deeply and express my gratitude to all benefactors of
dharma throughout the history of buddhism. Your kindness has helped
countless beings in the past, in present and will continue to benefit
countless beings in the future. I bow to you deeply and venerate your
vision as an embodiment of activity of perfect enlightenment.
Namo
Guru Rinpoche
Kim
20.11.2019
 |
| King Trisong Detsen |
