Tibetan Buddhist Community in the Nyingma Tradition
Guru Rinpoche's Marvellous Deeds Celebrated on the Tenth of Each Tibetan Month
Padmasambhava
On the tenth day of the first Tibetan month: In the land of Zahor, Guru Rinpoche appeared before the master Prabhahasti to request teachings. It is the celebration of the act of practicing the yogic Dharma.
On the tenth day of the second Tibetan month: Going to subdue the land of Zahor, King Tsuglhaktsin or Arsadara tried to burn Guru Rinpoche alive. It is the celebration of the demonstration of the miracle of being unharmed by fire.
On the tenth day of the third Tibetan month: While intending to tame the land of Oddiyana, Guru Rinpoche together with his spiritual consort begged for food and the deluded ministers tried to kill them but the burning heap was unable to harm them as they were concealed in a lotus. It is the celebration of the teaching on the body of great bliss in union.
On the tenth day of the fourth Tibetan month: It is the celebration of the miracle of taming, in one instant, five hundred extremist Tirthika teachers in the South of India.
On the tenth day of the fifth Tibetan month: It is the celebration of the spontaneous birth of Guru Rinpoche from a self-arisen lotus on Danakosha island, in the land of Oddiyana.
On the tenth day of the sixth Tibetan month: The Tirthika king of the Land of Copper enclosed Guru Rinpoche in a copper box and cast it in the water, but he rose up into the sky and reversed the flow of the river, destroying the king's palace. It is the celebration of the king's request for forgiveness from Guru Rinpoche.
On the tenth day of the seventh Tibetan month: It is the celebration of the attempt of Tirthikas to destroy Guru Rinpoche's body through various poisonous substances, but unharmed, he displayed even greater radiance than before.
On the tenth day of the eighth Tibetan month: At Yangleshö, in Nepal, when practicing the Heart of Perfect Great Bliss, Nepalese and Tibetan gods and demons tried to make obstacles for him. It is the celebration of how, by means of the practice of Dorjephurba, Guru Rinpoche bound them under oath of allegiance and secured them as protectors of the Buddhist teachings.
On the tenth day of the ninth Tibetan month: Having gone to Tibet, evil Tibetan deities and demons fought with Guru Rinpoche intent on harming him. It is the celebration of Guru Rinpoche's subduing them through subjugating all that appears and exists.
On the tenth day of the tenth Tibetan month: Lama and disciples, having met to discuss at Chimphu near Samye, in Tibet, it is the celebration of Guru Rinpoche's concealment of one billion profound treasures for the benefit of future followers.
On the tenth day of the eleventh Tibetan month: It is the celebration of looking after affairs of state, Oddiyana's King Indrabodhi having made Guru Rinpoche his son.
On the tenth day of the twelfth Tibetan month: It is the celebration of Guru Rinpoche's, having abandoned wordly affairs, going to eight charnel grounds and displaying disciplined conduct.
It is said that if one respects these times of offering, one's life, merit and wealth will increase, the four activities will be spontaneously accomplished, the body, speech, and mind will be purified and one will attain the four grounds of the vidyadharas or knowledge holders. It is thus important to always strive to make offerings on the tenth of the month.
Guru Rinpoche himself said:
On the tenth of the great
powerful monkey month,
And at all times on the tenth of every
month,
I will send forth emanations to fill the world
And bestow both ordinary and supreme siddhis.
If one
accomplishes the guru in this life,
When the time of death
comes,
You will dissolve in my, Orgyen's,
heart.