HOW TO SETUP A TANTRIC SHRINE (3)

If a Tantric practitioner can prepare a clean room and set up a tantric shrine with Buddha statues, Mahayana sutras, fine offerings, and implements of worship in a dignified arrangement, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas from above will be pleased and will descend to bestow good fortune; the practitioner, gladdened, will spontaneously fold hands and pay reverence. Other Dharma friends, upon seeing the shrine, will be induced to take refuge at the True Buddha School. A good tantric shrine can produce wonderful merit.

However, among the disciples of the True Buddha School, are many who have no clean, private room available. Even their sleeping quarters are cramped, so where is there room for a shrine? Also, many disciples experience familial conflict, such as when a husband opposes his wife’s Buddhist belief, or parents oppose their son’s belief, or vice versa. In such instances it is impractical to set up a tantric shrine.

For such disciples, Master Lu has great sympathy and encourages them to practice at any time or place by visualizing the tantric shrine in the air. One begins by reciting seven times the "Dharma Realm Purification Mantra, "which is "Om ,namo, so-ha." This purifies the surrounding environment, transforming the four quarters to Emptiness and Luminosity, and turning the bed into a lotus flower. Then, visualizing the personal deity or guru appearing in the space, one may proceed with the cultivation using visualization.

In general, when people travel (by whatever means), they set up their tantric shrines completely in the Void. All mudra and mantra are visualized; offerings are visualized; even all prostrations are visualized.

The boundless, limitless secret lies completely in visualization. That is:

Cultivation by visualization

fills all Dharma realms with vows;

All Buddhas area aware of it,

and Sages also know of it;

Space which is boundless and limitless

is used to reach attainment;

An auspicious rite that is for everyone;

may all together achieve Enlightenment.

The Tantra of the Holy-Red-Crown-Vajra-Master is for everyone. Those who are rich or poor can practice, as can the healthy or infirm, the highborn or people of common birth. This is truly the first principle of Dharani -- offering grace to both the wise and ignorant, with impartial respect towards all.

A gloriously adorned tantric shrine can generate immense joy.

A non-physical tantric shrine transformed from the Space can also generate immense joy.

Let us all go forward vigorously and achieve together the highest attainment