This is Lesson 47 from A Comprehensive Commentary on the Words of My Perfect Teacher, focusing on the suffering of pretas (hungry ghosts) within the chapter on "The defects of samsara." The teaching emphasizes the importance of meditating on the common preliminaries to establish a solid foundation for practice. The lesson discusses space-dwelling pretas—including spirits, demons, and various ghost types—explaining their existence from both conventional and ultimate perspectives. It stresses developing compassion rather than hostility toward these beings, who suffer tremendously and perpetuate their own misery through harmful actions. The text includes stories illustrating compassionate responses to supernatural beings and warns against using wrathful mantras without genuine compassion. Practitioners are encouraged to make regular food offerings to pretas through practices like fire pujas and recitation of specific mantras. The teaching concludes by urging students to recognize self-clinging as the true demon, maintain kindness toward all beings, and make gradual behavioral changes rather than seeking dramatic spiritual experiences. Throughout, the emphasis remains on cultivating compassion, understanding karma, and transforming adversity into opportunities for practice.
Key Quotes
"Many Dharma students have established a good foundation for their practice, and their right views and faith in the Dharma won't easily regress in this lifetime."
"A person's state of realization shouldn't be judged by whether they have seen the signs of practices. Instead, it is primarily judged by whether he has recognized and realized the fundamental truth in Buddhism through solid Dharma practice."
"The power of the secret mantras is encompassed by compassion. Any subjugation must be carried out with great compassion."
"What can really harm us is not external pretas but internal self-clinging."
"Benefiting living beings doesn't necessarily mean we must become President of a country... As long as we maintain a kind heart toward hell beings, pretas, animals and humans, and we genuinely care about them at any time, we are able to help innumerable beings."
"True practice is about gradually transforming one's behavior, not about boasting grandly or flying around in the air."
Related Resource
For a detailed written commentary on this topic, please refer to the book: A Comprehensive Commentary on the Words of My Perfect Teacher