QUESTION
Robina,
Hope this finds you well!
One of my resolutions this year is to do the Vajrasattva purification practice every day. I attended a Vajrasattva retreat recently, which helps me get the 100-syllable mantra under my belt. (Though I had attempted memorization previously, I never succeeded. And I realize, as Lama Zopa Rinpoche says, I am insane not to be doing this routinely!)
I doubt that I will be repeating the mantra 21 times during my practice at the beginning, but will start small (3 minimum) and shoot for a daily dose to be expanded as my resolve and ease strengthen. (Like exercise, the best practice is the one you do!)
There is one insight I had during the recent retreat I wanted to share with you. As you and other teachers talk about purifying current and past karma the emphasis has always been to ensure that you will have a favorable rebirth, right, i.e. to shape our future.
However, in as much as I don’t remember my past lives, I am quite likely in my future life/lives not to have a clue as to what went before. And, indeed although the mindstream will go somewhere, the idea that it is “me” is a bit inaccurate. My understanding is there will not be a “mini me” in whatever realm the rebirth occurs. So, I am doing this practice for some future being that is not really the me I fantasize I am right now – as far as I can see?
So, my conclusion is that I/we are doing the Vajrasattva practice for the benefit of a yet to be born future sentient being – not “me” in the future. And, that is a good, compassionate motivation – for the future of one sentient being who will impact all those around it – so it is really for the future of many sentient beings.
Maybe this seems a bit heady, but it was important to me to make this connection. Otherwise, it might be easy just to say, well, it won’t really be me, and I won’t remember anything anyways, so why bother.
Love your stamp of approval, a correction, or just a shout out from your world wherever you are in the universe.
With love and respect and gratitude,
B
ANSWER
B, dear one:
Happy to hear your thoughts, and delighted to hear your resolution to do the purification practice every day.
As for who gets reborn: yes, it is called I, me, self, person: these words are synonymous.
Very simply: when we establish something as existing, there has to be a valid base for that label. The valid base for the label “cup” is the flat-bottomed clay container. The valid base for the label “I” is a body and a mind.
So, right now the body and mind of the I/person called B is the valid base for that person.
As you go through the death process (this is according to the Vajrayana model of the world), the gross body and gross mind (the senses) cease; then the subtler levels of our body and mind — the mental consciousness and the subtle nervous system, which are inextricably linked — gradually cease; then all that’s left is the very subtle consciousness and the very subtle wind energy. This one entity, this very subtle body and mind, leaves the gross body and finds its way to a new rebirth, carrying with it all the karmic seeds planted by B and the countless past rebirths.
In other words, whether it’s the gross body and mind, the subtle body and mind, or the very subtle body and mind — they’re all a valid base for the label I.
So “you” will indeed be the very person who will experience the results of this life’s actions – but with another personal name, that’s all.
And eventually, of course, you will achieve clairvoyance and will remember it all!
What do you think?
Much love,
Robina
QUESTION
Grateful for your response, Ven. Robina. I’m chewing on it and may write more later.