Fasting and Purification

A layperson told me today that he is undertaking the Nyungne practice of fasting and purification. I immediately rejoiced and related to him the merit of doing the Nyungne practice:

In Zhuchu Sutra it says: “Even if the water in the River Ganges and Five Oceans could be measured, the merit of doing the Nyungne practice cannot be. The heap of merit one begets from offering precious jewels to the Arahats compared with the heap of merit of those who practice Nyungne does not approach a hundredth part, nor even a billionth part.”

The Prophecy of Maitreya Sutra says: “One who performs the Nyungne practice on the 8th and 15th days of each month, as well as during the month of Losar, is practicing my teachings, as it is a superb practice.”

Khedrub Je (Khedrup Gelek Pelzang), the main disciple of Je Tsongkhapa, teaches in Expounding the Treatise on the Three Vows, “Upholding purely the Nyungne practice, one will receive the Dharma teachings from Buddha Maitreya personally during his reign, and attain the level of the sages.”

And in the scripture: “Indra says, ‘One who observes Nyungne on the 8th day of each month and in the month of Losar is no different from me.’ The Buddha says: ‘Do not contradict these words; the person who practices Nyungne on the 8th of each month and in the month of Losar is indeed the same as me.’”

Moreover, the merit of performing fasting and purification practices is elaborated extensively in King of Concentration Sutra, Sutra of Jewel Chest, Medicine Buddha Sutra, Paranirvana Sutra, and Pure Vigilance Sutra, etc. Anyone interested in it should refer to these scriptures.

It is by sheer luck that we have obtained this human existence, and using this human body to do the Nyungne practice incurs immense merit. Knowing this, why wouldn’t any lay practitioner aspire to do it?

Just a reminder: In Nyungne, there are eight precepts to observe. A person striving to uphold these eight vows may still succumb to greed and hatred frequently, thus failing bodhichitta. Other misdeeds like glaring maliciously at others or making hurtful retorts will easily negate the merit accumulated through the Nyungne practice. Those with intelligence, therefore, should watch out for these pitfalls.

15th of September, Year of RenWu
October 21, 2002