October, 2011 | Tibetan Buddhist Altar

21 Homages to Tara: Commentary on Verse 1 by Khenpo Tenzin Norgay

October 21, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

There are many different Indian and Tibetan traditions explaining this “tantra^{^[i]} [1]of praise”. Motivated by devotion, I will explain this tantra in accordance with “The Treasure Vase of Essential Great Bliss of Inner Practice”, which is the profound mind-treasure^{^[ii]} teaching of the omniscient Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa. Each of the twenty-one verses is praise to twenty-one manifestations.

Homage to mother Tara, swift and fearless,

Your eyes are like flashing lightning.

Born from the blossoming stamens

Of the lotus face of the Lord of Three Worlds.

The first praise is to Nyurma Palmo,^Tib the “Fearless Swift Lady”. Here we pay homage to the lady of activity who liberates beings from the temporal and perennial sufferings of samsara^{^[iii]}. She is called “Swift Lady” because her impartial compassion^{^[iv]} benefits beings without even an instant’s delay. She is the “Fearless Lady”, because she has the unhindered power to subdue demons, as well as the afflictions of beings. She protects beings from all fears. Her wisdom eyes move like the flash of lightning as she fully cognizes all phenomena. The lady endowed with omniscience, compassion, power, and activity was born from “the teardrops of the stamen-like eyes of the fully blossomed lotus-like face of Avalokiteshvara^{^[v]}, the Savior of Three Worlds”. The three worlds are the sub-terrestrial, terrestrial and celestial realms, (the worlds of nagas^{^[vi]}, humans, and gods, respectively).

Tara is seductive, and has the youthfulness of the rising sun, and a semi-wrathful smile. Her right hand is in the boon-giving mudra^{^[vii]}, and her left hand holds a blue lotus upon which is a right-turning conch. This symbolizes her mastery of the two truths^{^[viii]} and bodhicitta^{^[ix]} in this world, and in the god realm^{^[x]}. The outer meaning of the praise literally praises the nirmanakaya aspect of the Noble Lady. In the inner aspect of the praise, if not taken literally, her sambhogakaya and dharmakaya aspects are praised. The “Savior of the Three Worlds” is the dharmakaya, and its manifestation is the rupakaya, or “form body,” (which is composed of the sambhogakaya and nirmanakaya).

[i] tantra ^skt ~ Buddhist texts that outline the practices of the Vajra vehicle

[ii] mind treasure ~ An inspired teaching (terma) revealed directly from the Buddha-mind, by a treasure revealer, (terton) .

[iii] samsara ^skt ~ Cyclic existence, the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth characterized by suffering and dominated by the three poisons: ignorance, desire and hatred.

[iv] compassion ~ Sensitivity to the sufferings experienced by sentient beings, coupled with a desire to help them overcome suffering and its causes.

[v] Avalokiteshvara^skt (Chenrezig) ~The Buddha of compassion.

[vi] naga ~ A snake-like being living in the depths of water or underground. Although they have miraculous powers, they are classified as belonging to the lower realm.

[vii] mudra^skt ~ A gesture that has specific meaning used in Tantric practice as a support.

[viii] two truths ~ The absolute truth and relative truth.

[ix] bodhicitta^skt ~ The mind of enlightenment. The altruistic intention to become enlightened in order to benefit others

[x] god realm ~ One of the six realms of cyclic existence, characterized by seemingly unending pleasure and leisure.

Astrology

October 21, 2011 by Norma

You are inspired and happy, and it’s important not to reveal a secret matter. But you want to! You’re proud of a relationship or a project and you wish the world knew all about it. Hold off, now isn’t the time to “go public” with anything. Something that is really good in private needs to stay private for a while longer. What to do? Develop partnerships, socialize, and be with higher ups. Inspiration or an exciting event can happen in public today. You are electrified and happy. Be really careful about telling jokes, they may come out wrong and give offense. Engage in sports, and pursue your loved one. W.A. Ward said “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” Smile at everybody you meet today.

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

October 20, 2011 by Norma

A brilliant idea or hunch is here in the morning, act on it pronto! Be careful to take your inspiration as it comes and don’t spend time talking it over too much. There’s a danger of “talking away” your new idea. So get the idea and act on it. Don’t wait. As the day progresses a situation arises where you expect others to be impressed by what you have to say, or others have that expectation of you. Pride clings to speech through most of the day, so it’s best to stay silent yourself and to agree with others promptly. It’s the pride, not the idea that needs to be tended to. On a different front, an idea or project that has been cooking on the back burner for a while is slowly and steadily coming into being. Let it happen! Lewis Cass said “Men may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.”

Astrology

October 19, 2011 by Norma

An emotional appeal will get you nowhere for most of this day. Don’t expect others to respect your feelings if they aren’t based on reason. The idea that you really, really want something doesn’t fly. Instead, have your reasons ready and be prepared to defend your views. Reason and intellect are what you need today. Something may bother you and it’s best to deal with this matter at home. Pay attention to what others are saying as opposed to how they seem to feel. On the positive side fun and romance are zipping right along in a great way, so head toward the people you have fun with. Be professional at work, no goofing off. Taro Gold said “Your behavior while people are watching is important. However your behavior when no one is watching is more important, for it reveals your true character.”

Gratitude to His Holiness Ngawang Tenzin

October 18, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is from a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:

Since the visit of Kyabje His Holiness Ngawang Tenzin I am feeling much better! How can I thank him? Gratitude!
His Holiness Ngawang Tenzin “knew” I wasn’t doing well, and came to practice until I did. Night and day. I feel His Holiness saved my life.

Kyabje His Holiness Ngawang Tenzin of Bhutan is a living Buddha, so kind and powerful, so pure! I was too sick to see him.

Kyabje His Holiness Ngawang Tenzin is also a root Guru for me. His Holiness never gave up until he knew I’d be fine. The day His Holiness left he rose early, still doing Puja for me.

I Pray I will someday travel to Butan to see His Holiness. I love and feel devotion for His Holiness Ngawang Tenzin. For all getting ready to jump down my throat, His Holiness Ngawang Tenzin is Kagupa, yet I am and will always be a Lineageholder in Palyul. Even I am allowed to have friends and feel devotion for a living Buddha Kyabje His Holiness Ngawang Tenzin of Bhutan. This is a miracle!

Drukpa Mila Center

The Melodious Sound of the Auspicious Dharma Conch with the Clockwise Swirl

A Long Life Prayer for H.E. Ngawang Tenzing Rinpoche, the Great Piercing Arrow of Accomplishment.

OM SWASTI NGEY SANG DAM PAI DÜ TSI MA LÜ PA THUK SU TAM PAY NGA DOI DÜ THAR YANG

May all be auspicious! The immortal nectar of the ultimate secret teachings without remainder filling our hearts even in the degenerated times.

NYING POI RING LUK PEL WAI CHHÖ KYI JE NGA WANG TEN ZING KAL GYAR ZHAB TEN SÖL

King of Dharma, propagating the essence of the doctrine, Ngawang Tenzing, I pray your life remain firm for hundred eons.

MI GYUR ZHI YI NAY LUK JI ZHIN ZIK KYE DZOG LAM GYI DRÖ PA TSE MOR SÖN

Seeing all things in their basic unchanging reality, you have reached the summit of the path of generation and completion.

ZUNG JUK DRE BUI SA LA WANG GYUR WA JE TSUN LA MA KAL GYAR TSHO ZHEY SÖL

You have dominion over the state of the union, the bhumi of fruition. Noble Lama, I request you to live for hundred eons.

DE TAR SÖL TAB LU MED DEN PAI THÜ GANG GI SANG SUM TSHEN MOI GÖN PO TAR

By praying thus, with the infallible power of truth, your three secrets like the Moon, the protector of the night,

PHEN DEI YOD TONG THRO WAI PAL YON GYIY DAK SOK DED PAI KU MÜD ZHED GYUR CHIK

With its glorious quality emanating a thousand moonbeams of benefit and happiness, may our water lilies of devotion blossom.

Gelong Tshering wrote this upon the request from practitioners when the retreat center at Kyungseng Dargye Gonpa was inaugurated.

Astrology

October 18, 2011 by Norma

Something calls you home. An emotional appeal or situation pulls you away from your worldly concerns, and the trick is balancing both. Do not bring your emotions to work with you. At the same time, your thinking is spot on in terms of helping others who need you and also in financial matters. The trick today is not to spread yourself too thin. You feel blocked in your drive for personal freedom, stymied in your relationship with your superior and emotional at home. The open door is other people, someone “out there” who understands your situation. Look for that person; it’s someone outside your usual environment. Tell your secrets to a sympathetic listener and you’ll soon be laughing and happy as can be. Louis Nizer said, “Words of comfort, skilfully administered, are the oldest therapy known to man.”

Astrology

October 17, 2011 by Norma

Wonderful day! Your spirits are high and what you’ve just gone through makes sense to you. Understanding is the key to today. “Ahhh, so that’s what it all meant” is what you’re thinking. Your mind is in high gear, and you’re smarter than usual it seems. So are others. You can plan for the future and be realistic at the same time. Artists are favored, and great ideas can be put across. Think big. Marianne Moore said, “When you realize your children’s children will be here after you, you suddenly realize you have a very real responsibility to future generations.” Go beyond your own personal concerns today, and think of what you can do for those who are tocome. Then do it.

Occupy Wall Street!

October 16, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is from a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:

I don’t understand the suppression of Occupy Wall Street news. The more it is bottled up the bigger the explosion will be. Do we want to defeat the protesters? As in a war? Aren’t they our people? Occupy Wall Street is in every continent. These people are us. Why not listen? These OWS protesters watch corporations like Enron drain us dry. We are not the proud people of USA, who grew and made progress in life. Our jobs are gone overseas, our services gone, if we follow our corrupt leaders we will run off a cliff. We love our nations. But we are being drained, our planet is dying- and no one but the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations are telling the truth. Why can’t we sit together and talk?

Occupy Wall Street is the biggest story on earth, along with Fukushima. Why the cover up? We are afraid, do not trust our government/corporations and demand change to benefit “we the people,” not the giants that beat and jail the OWS people. The government should answer to people. Occupy Wall Street!

When I was young I marched to change the world. And here we are again. You should listen this time. Occupy Wall Street!

His Holiness Ngawang Tenzin Offers Gratitude to Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

October 16, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following was filmed live at Kunzang Palyul Choling on October 15th, 2011 during a visit by His Holiness Ngawang Tenzin:

Astrology

October 16, 2011 by Norma

This is the day to deliver your message. Call, write or tell the person what you have been waiting to say. Wash your car; spend time with neighbors, brothers or sisters. An emotional appeal or conversation makes all the difference for someone who has been feeling alone. If you’ve needed to clear up a matter with someone, this is the day to do it. Deliveries are good, and talks are excellent. Go for a drive, listen to an inspiring speaker. A gift or inheritance can come your way. It has come from someone who genuinely cares for you. Don’t take that person for granted. A financial or business idea that you’ve thought of previously comes back. You have another chance to engage in a successful business project. Unknown said, “Don’t give up when you still have something to give.”