More than 1 million recitations of the Kshitigarbha long mantra have been accumulated as part of an effort to accomplish the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche for preventing and pacifying earthquakes in California and the rest of the world. In addition, the rest of the practices advised by Rinpoche have been completed, reflecting the dedication and generosity of hundreds of students around the world.



“Lama Zopa Rinpoche said that due to all the prayers and practices that students have done, the danger of a devastating earthquake has lessened and [is] not so imminent. That is a great cause for rejoicing!” wrote Ven. Tsomo, spiritual program coordinator at Land of Medicine Buddha, who helped coordinate the effort. “Rinpoche also said that we need to keep on with the recitation of the long Kshitigarbha mantra until 1.8 million mantras are accumulated. But no pressure, [we] don’t need to do as intensely as before, but just to keep going, no matter how long it takes.”

Mantra recitations continue to be collected at the website created in support of the effort: http://www.pacifyearthquakes.org.

New people are welcome to join the effort and can find more information and links to the practice at the above link. “Quite a number of students have commented that the practice has been powerful and joyful!” Ven. Tsomo said.

Here is the update on all of the accumulated practices as of February 11, 2016:

1. The long Kshitigarbha mantra has been recited 1,115,374 times, which is well over half-way to the 1.8 million times advised by Rinpoche. Students and centers all over the world have contributed to this count, including ten centers contributing over 10,000 recitations and ten individuals contributing over 5,000.

2. The eight Mahayana precepts were taken more than 2,436 times, far exceeding the advice of accumulating 300. Participants of the November Kopan Course in Nepal and courses at Tushita Meditation Centre in India contributed greatly to this number.

3. Six extensive Medicine Buddha pujas were performed: four were done at Land of Medicine Buddha and two at Gyalwa Gyatso (Ocean of Compassion) Buddhist Center, both located in the Bay Area of California.

4. Four Tengyur readings were completed by monks of Sera Je Monastery. The first reading was done on Lama Tsongkhapa Day in December 2015. The last session finished on February 2. They made dedications to all the sponsors of the reading – more than 210 names – as well as for the prevention of earthquakes in California, Nepal, and all over the world and for all sentient beings to be free of suffering and its causes and to attain enlightenment. US$31,100 was raised and offered to the monks at Sera Je doing the readings.

Students contributed other practices to the effort too, including 382 recitations of the Kshitigarbha Sutra of Past Vows in Chinese and English; 110,800 short Kshitigarbha mantras; and 2,198 medium-length Kshitigarbha mantras.

“As many of you know, His Holiness the Dalai Lama received medical treatment in the States recently. Lama Zopa Rinpoche commented a few days ago that, as so many people are doing Kshitigarbha mantras to pacify earthquakes, please make sure to also dedicate this practice to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s health and long life. This is in order to purify our karma,” Ven. Tsomo wrote.

The practices may already be helping people around the world. “A few days ago, there were earthquakes in Nepal and Tainan, Taiwan,” Ven. Tsomo wrote. “Students in Taiwan recited over 161,000 long Kshitigarbha mantras collectively. We hope that their practice, plus our mantras, helped give protection to the many affected.”

Please rejoice in all these practices done by so many people all over the world!

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