Month: October 2011

21 Homages to Tara: Verse 9 Commentary Khenpo Tenzin Norgay

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Thupten Shedrub Gyatso, who was a Tulku  in one of the Palyul Monasteries, wrote this commentary.  His present incarnation, Rago Chogtrul currently lives in Tibet.

Translation by Khenpo Tenzin Norgey ~ Spring, 2004,
Palyul Retreat Center, Mc Donough, NY USA ~Wood Monkey Year 2131

Homage to you, who holds your fingers marvelously
In the mudra symbolizing the Triple Gem at your heart.
Swirling masses of light adorn you,
Permeating every direction in beautiful circles.

The ninth praise is homage to Sengdeng Nagi Drolma,Tib the “Tara of the Rosewood Forest” who protects from all kinds of fears.  Her color is dark green, with the dazzling radiance of emeralds.  Her right hand is in the boon-giving mudra, and the thumb and ring finger of her left hand holds a blue lotus engraved with a wheel.  Her remaining fingers are held gracefully upright at her heart in the mudra symbolizing the Triple Gem [i].  The swirling wheel of light, (a metaphor for protection) adorns her like the finest of garments, and it protects like a shield against all torments.  Likewise, all beings of the world in ten directions are protected from all kinds of fears by the all-pervasive light that beams from her body, clearing their fears in a display of extraordinary radiance.

The eight kinds of fears are:

1. The fear of elephants represents the power of ignorance.  When ignorance grows strong, one ignores the law of cause and effect, indulges in alcohol, (here the use of alcohol is a symbolic of wrong view) and becomes crazy.

2. The fear of iron chains symbolizes habituation to lust and desire that bind together the senses and their objects.

3. The fear of pishaca demons signifies the doubt that steals the life force of nirvana, as it moves in the sky of ignorance, and the doubt that harms the understanding of ultimate meanings.

4. The fear of rivers (floods) is a symbol of desire, acting savagely.  By the possession of spirits, the current of desire carries beings towards samsara in its tumultuous waves of birth, sick, aging and death caused by karmic wind.

5.  The fear of fire represents the power of anger that burns the forest of virtue.  Anger is the cause of anxiety, which in turn causes quarrels, disputes, and partialities.

6.  The fear of robbery corresponds to the wrong views that steal the treasure of the supreme goal.  This causes one to wander aimlessly in the barren ground of wrong view, (and to) believe in extremes and low ascetic practices.

7.  The fear of reptiles represents jealousy, the poison of intolerance of another person’s prosperity.  Jealousy results in everything becoming a cause for agitation.

8.  The fear of lions.  Signifies pride, the conceit of holding high ones own views and conduct.  Pride causes one to (metaphorically) develop claws as sharp as a lion’s to belittle others.

These and their casual factors are the eight fears.

Another set of eight fears, which are the fruition of secondary afflictions are:

1. The fear of punishment by kings caused by self-infatuation and harming others.

2. The fear of foes is caused by hypocrisy, gloom, sloth and excitement.

3. The fear of evil spirits is caused by dishonesty and deceit.

4. The fear of leprosy is caused by lack of shame and dread of blame.

5. The fear of being lonely is caused by disbelief.

6. The fear of poverty is caused by stinginess.

7. The fear of thunder is caused by anger and enmity.

8. The fear of failure is caused by indolence and carelessness.

 

Homage is paid to the lady who protects us from these two sets of fears.  The inner meaning is that her wheel of the three primordial wisdom-minds, (the wisdom-minds of emptiness, clarity and compassion, illustrated by the mudra symbolizing the Triple Gem) eliminates the nine bonds and other afflictions, which is a cause for accomplishing the fearless vajra of self-cognized luminosity.

 

[i] Triple Gem  ~ Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.  Buddha as the teacher of refuge, the doctrine as actual refuge, and the spiritual community as support for practice.

Astrology

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Issues relating to work and status take your time.  An old matter, or a senior citizen, needs attention.  Step up and assume responsibility and all goes well.  A responsible “I can handle things” vibe is in the air.  Stability is the name of the game.  At the same time, finance goes extremely well and a happy conversational tone is present.  Compliment people who deserve it, and fill the air with happy talk.  Partnership must still be attended to, and it’s important to handle each situation with diplomacy and honesty.  Confucius said “When you know a thing, to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it, is knowledge.”

The daily astrology post affects everyone. Because individual charts vary, the circumstances outlined in the post will affect people differently. Some will feel this energy in the personal arena, some in finances, some with children or family, some in work and so forth. There are many departments of life. Look to see where the dynamic affects you!

21 Homages to Tara: Verse 8 Commentary Khenpo Tenzin Norgay

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Thupten Shedrub Gyatso, who was a Tulku  in one of the Palyul Monasteries, wrote this commentary.  His present incarnation, Rago Chogtrul currently lives in Tibet.

Translation by Khenpo Tenzin Norgey ~ Spring, 2004,
Palyul Retreat Center, Mc Donough, NY USA ~Wood Monkey Year 2131

Homage to TURE, the great terrifying lady,
Who defeats the champions of demons.
Your frowning lotus face
Slays all foes without exception.

The eighth homage is to the dark red frowning lady, Zhen Megyalvai Palmo,Tib the “Invincible Fearless Lady”.  We praise the lady who averts criticism and other harms, which are the source of humiliation caused by our afflictive emotion of pride.  Her hand implement is a vajra[i].  By reciting the mantra TURE, which means “Swift Lady”, another of her names declaiming her swift compassionate action, she arises in wrathful form from the tranquil dharmadhatu, and subjugates the demons difficult to tame: the afflictions, the aggregates, the lord of death, and the maras[ii].

She transforms her blossoming lotus-like peaceful face into a wrathful, scowling face, and destroys the evil mind of outer enemies.  She eliminates those who hate and abuse the dharma and its upholders, those who cause obstacles for practitioners, and those who harm sentient beings.  In reality, she executes all foes without a trace: the afflictive obscurations that are the foes of liberation, and the knowable obscurations that are the foes of omniscience.  The definitive meaning is that the base of the wrathful male and female deities, (the serving faculties) are the pure abiding nature of the four attributes of body, and the four classes of illusory conceptions.  They eliminate the foes of omniscience: the knowable obscurations, and the foes of liberation: the obscuration of afflictive emotions.


[i] vajra skt (dorje) ~ A Tantric symbol that represents the indestructible union of method and wisdom that is the goal of the Tantric practitioner.

[ii] mara skt  ~ A demon embodying terrifying or malevolent energies.

Astrology

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Get together with your favorite group of friends and have fun.  Happiness is present and it will show up in many guises… love, laughter, joy, peace.  Overdoing is the biggest potential issue early in the day.  As time passes, the mood changes and you must take things seriously again.  Take care of business if something arises, and then get back to having fun.  Especially focus on those close to you.  Something lost will turn up again, and something presumed gone for good will come back.  Others are generous, and a man makes an especially good offer.  Accept it.  For today, everywhere you look people are smiling at you.  Have some fun.  Mark Twain said “The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.”  You can’t be upset when you’re laughing.

The daily astrology post affects everyone.  Because individual charts vary, the circumstances outlined in the post will affect people differently.  Some will feel this energy in the personal arena, some in finances, some with children or family, some in work and so forth.  There are many departments of life.  Look to see where the dynamic affects you!

21 Homages to Tara: Verse Seven Commentary Khenpo Tenzin Norgay

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Thupten Shedrub Gyatso, who was a Tulku  in one of the Palyul Monasteries, wrote this commentary.  His present incarnation, Rago Chogtrul currently lives in Tibet.

Translation by Khenpo Tenzin Norgey ~ Spring, 2004,
Palyul Retreat Center, Mc Donough, NY USA ~Wood Monkey Year 2131

Homage to you, who destroys malefic magical wheels,
With the sounds of TRAT and PHAT
And tramples with right leg outstretched and left leg drawn in
Dazzling amidst whirling flames.

The seventh homage is to Tumo Zhenge Methubma,Tib the “Unchallenged Furious Lady”, who averts wars, lightning and hailstorms by intoning TRAT and PHAT, which in Sanskrit means to tear and cut.  These syllables thwart the magical wheels of the intentional evil deeds of the eight classes of spirits.  They avert lightning strikes and hailstorms, and destroy cannons and other weapons of war.  To depict that she has gone beyond of the extremes of samsara and nirvana by her compassion and realization of emptiness, her right leg is outstretched and her left leg is drawn in, and tramples on malignant beings.  She conquers all fears of nirvana and samsara with her  power  of  realization of emptiness and compassion.  She is black, and sits amidst flames.  Her wrathful wrinkles whirl like  ocean waves.  Homage is paid to the lady who wields a mystically blazing sword held atop a blue lotus that burns all foes to ashes.  The inner meaning of her outstretched and drawn in legs is the sensory cognitions; when the sensory cognitions perceive and harmonize the sensory objects, the samsaric wars arise.  By saying tear and cut, she severs attachment to sensory objects and purifies them.  This is the base of the male and female Bodhisattvas.

Astrology

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Freedom; today is your day!  Hit the road.  Go for a drive, a trip, anywhere.  Being out and about is wonderful for your spirits. Spiritual things are excellent, and news from afar is welcome.  This is a good day to look at “big picture” items.  Things are going well, and a new stability is present.  If you have something to sell, present it.  Sports and athletics are favored.  If you enjoy making a bet, you can win today.  However, with three planets traveling through the sign of secrets you must assume that things are going on behind the scenes.  A powerful person can make a deal that ends a difficult standoff or detente.  John Keats said “I compare human life to a large mansion of many apartments, two of which I can only describe, the doors of the rest being as yet shut upon me.”  Be aware that more will be revealed, perhaps to your surprise.

The daily astrology post affects everyone.  Because individual charts vary, the circumstances outlined in the post will affect people differently.  Some will feel this energy in the personal arena, some in finances, some with children or family, some in work and so forth.  There are many departments of life.  Look to see where the dynamic affects you!

Astrology

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The urge to escape is almost overwhelming today.  Try to wait until the end of the day to “call it a day.” The pressure of the times is frustrating, and it seems someone is obstructing you.  They are, you’re right, but keep moving.  A dispute is possible.  Keep your head and state your case clearly if you are challenged.  Don’t back down.  Someone needs information, and if you express yourself clearly and forthrightly that person will adopt your viewpoint.  Hold your ground.  Thomas Jefferson said “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.”  Later spend time with loved ones and people who make you happy.  You’ve earned some fun, now enjoy it.

The daily astrology post affects everyone.  Because individual charts vary, the circumstances outlined in the post will affect people differently.  Some will feel this energy in the personal arena, some in finances, some with children or family, some in work and so forth.  There are many departments of life.  Look to see where the dynamic affects you!

BLEEDING

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The following poem is from a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement:

I cried so much earlier, then I stopped a while. Time to cry again, no tears now. Too late for tears.

I wish I had some tears left over. I wish the well wasn’t dry. I wish I could speak to those with ears. So few.

I wish we all had understanding and Wisdom. And Compassion. But we are so busy, no time, even to pray. And so we lose our way.

Busy in our minds, dead in our hearts, eyes blind. I speak to a tree. At least it listens. Goodbye beautiful one.

Please awaken in spring, give us hope, a place to be. A place to Love again. A shady spot to remember when we were innocent.

We were so innocent while being eaten alive. I will always remember. If I don’t, who will?

21 Homages to Tara: Verse 6 Commentary Khenpo Tenzin Norgay

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Thupten Shedrub Gyatso, who was a Tulku  in one of the Palyul Monasteries, wrote this commentary.  His present incarnation, Rago Chogtrul currently lives in Tibet.

Translation by Khenpo Tenzin Norgey ~ Spring, 2004,
Palyul Retreat Center, Mc Donough, NY USA ~Wood Monkey Year 2131

Homage to you, who is worshipped by Indra,
Agni, Brahma, Vayudeva, Visvakarman and Ishvara,
And praised in your presence,
By a host of spirits, zombies, gandharvas and yakshas.

The sixth homage is to Jigyed Chenmo,Tib  the dark red “Great Terrifying Lady”, who holds a phurba[i] sparkling with HUNG syllables that destroy all evils.  Indra, the king of gods; Agni, the sage; Brahma, the creator; Vayudeva, the wind god; the great Ishvara and all the great ones of the world, and the main guardians of the directions worship her.  In front of her kneel a host of evil spirits who harm beings by their misguidance.  There are spirits who cause insanity and memory loss, and spirits who turn corpses into zombies.  There are gandharvas[ii] of the bardo and the realm of Yama; yakshas like Semo, who deceive by seducing; king spirits who makes beings crazy and angry; and pishaca demons that eat flesh.  All these evildoers await her orders with humility and respect.  Homage is paid to Tara who crushes the heads of those difficult to tame, and makes them faint into the state of dharmadhatu.  The inner meaning of this is that Indra and the other gods are the personification of five elements[iii], and the spirits are the personification of the five aggregates[iv].  Their reverence symbolizes the purity of the elements and aggregates, which are the base of the male and female Buddhas[v].


[i] phurba skt (kilaya) ~ A ritual dagger, usually having three sides, used in wrathful diety practices.

[ii] gandharva skt ~ A smell eater, a category of beings who sustain themselves on smell like the odor of  the smoke of burnt eatables.

[iii] five elements ~ Earth, water, fire, air, and space.

[iv] five aggregates ~ The components of the psychophysical personality, on the basis of which beings commonly impute the false notion of self.  They five aggregates are form, feeling, perception, compositional factors and consciousness.

[v] Buddha skt ~ One who has perfected compassion and wisdom though following the bodhisattva path. Characterized by the development of omniscience, and actualization of the three bodies: complete enjoyment body, truth body and emanation bodies

 

Astology

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Be careful that you don’t insult someone accidentally or be so insistent on your own way that you disrespect others. Yes, someone had the first idea, and maybe that was you, but now the project is moving ahead steadily. Someone is making things happen, and the kudos belongs to that person, who is more interested in the bottom line than in praise. It’s important to hide certain things today.  You don’t need to tell everyone all your plans.  A group will try to talk you out of your dream, don’t allow it. Barnett Coks said “A committee is a cul-de-sac-down which ideas are lured and then quietly strangled.”  On a different front, love is going well, and someone is making you very happy.

The daily astrology post affects everyone.  Because individual charts vary, the circumstances outlined in the post will affect people differently.  Some will feel this energy in the personal arena, some in finances, some with children or family, some in work and so forth.  There are many departments of life.  Look to see where the dynamic affects you!

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