A sacred space for everyone
A poem by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
From the ordinary clay of samsara,
brilliant jewels of pure intention arise
Qualities are stable and virtuous,
as those things to be accepted or rejected are defined.
Slowly, with effort and renunciation,
the beautiful golden vase of wisdom and knowledge arises.
A new heart filled with comfort and joy is realized.
Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Norbu Lhamo. All rights reserved
Harmony exists between men and women, and children are virtual stars they’re so cheerful. If someone wants to perform for you, put everything down and pay attention! Stars and starlets are coming out of the woodwork, reciting poetry, singing, everything. Encourage a happy, creative spirit in others and in yourself. It’s a sunny day, let yourself shine! Confidence has entered the picture. Yes, you’re still working hard, and yes, the news from afar is capturing your attention, but today is a great day to have some fun. Jean Paul Richter said “Cheerfulness, like spring, opens all the blossoms of the inward man.”
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!
The following is a full length video teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo offered at Kunzang Palyul Choling:
In a beautiful, concise introduction to the Vajrayana path, Jetsunma describes how the 5 senses delude us, and how we mut begin taking refuge in something unseen that seems illugical Ngondro offers the method of purifying these senses, so that slowly, we awaken from ignorance into bliss.
Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Norbu Lhamo. All rights reserved
An emotional hurt comes early today. You’ll know it by the urge to over eat, yell or blame others. One side is emotional and the other side is rational. Try to see each other’s point of view, or else you’ll waste time explaining what you think and explaining how you feel. One side seems unfeeling and the other seems irrational. Do not call names or it’ll get worse. Wait it out. On a different front your imaginative project is building up steam, and a favorable consensus is growing within groups. This is a wonderful time to be an artist or a mystic. The planet of reality is friendly with the planet of mystery and artistry. Great things come, and magic is in the air. Look for it. St. Francis of Assisi said “Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
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!
From The Spiritual Path: A Compilation of Teachings by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
The quality of joy is not as we usually think of it. Our culture teaches—though we may not be consciously aware of this—that to be happy, we should act happy. By developing a positive attitude, we will look happy and become happy. We are also taught to keep up with the Joneses. We are taught to get ahead—or be left behind. We expect joy to come from getting what we want.
The joy of which the Buddha speaks is vastly different. Once we realize equanimity, loving kindness, and compassionate concern—then, when we hear that someone has a new car, we will be happy for that person: he has attained at least some temporary happiness. There is no need for judgments such as: “Many people are starving, yet he spends so much on a new car.” Or: “He already has three cars. Why does he need a fourth?” The Buddhist attitude is: the happier you are, the happier I am. If even for one moment you have achieved some level of happiness, I should be joyful and think: “I love you so much I wish you could have everything that makes you happy. May your happiness bring you to a point of great stability and regard for others. May it afford you the generosity to wish for their well-being to the extent that you will attain realization. May that car somehow promote your realization, and may you be free of suffering in all its forms.”
This joy in the happiness of others can only be attained when equanimity, loving kindness, and compassion are realized. It is a joy that occurs naturally. It occurs from sincerely wishing for the happiness and well-being of all sentient beings, for the end of their suffering. To the extent that any degree of relaxation, peace, or alleviation of suffering is of any benefit to them, I am happy because they are the same as I and not separate from me. In other words, I realize that the nature of “me” and “other” are that same Suchness and have the same taste. Without these four qualities, known as the Four Immeasurables, and the pure view implied by their attainment, there is no enlightenment. This attainment has not come easily to anyone. When you think about all the great Buddhas and Bodhisattvas who have the means to liberate minds, remember that they all began as sentient beings. They all used the same methods that are offered to you. Through determination, you too will develop the Four Immeasurables. There is no doubt that they are within you.
© Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo
Beware of the urge to push critically against someone or something; it won’t work and it creates a backlash. Instead, speak of your feelings and be kind and sympathetic. Others are moved and the situation is resolved. A work, health or personal issue is creating tension. If you notice yourself tightening up, step back and take a break. You are tired of endless details and if you hear one more you’ll lose it. So go for a walk, take a swim, listen to music; cook. Do something nurturing for you. Only you know what that is. Henry Thoreau said “Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.”
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!
The following is a full length video teaching offered by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo at Kunzang Palyul Choling:
Part 2 deals with the higher realms of cyclic existence.
Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Norbu Lhamo. All rights reserved
From The Spiritual Path: A Compilation of Teachings by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
Compassion is a deep commitment to bring about the end of suffering. The vow of a Bodhisattva is to return in whatever form necessary, under any conditions, in order to accomplish this. We are told that in one of the Buddha’s previous lives, he was a huge female sea turtle. This turtle saw a shipwreck, and she thought: “The sailors are about to drown. I must help them.” With that compassionate intention, she swam to the sailors and supported them until they reached land. The exhausted turtle then fell into a stupor on the beach. So deep was her sleep that she did not feel the thousands of insects who began to eat away her body. They consumed her to the point that she awoke with intense pain. She started to move away but realized that if she went into the water to wash off the insects, they would all die. Since there were eighty thousand of them and only one of her, she thought: “Their nature is the same as mine, and since there are so many more of them than there are of me, it’s much better to let them live.”
Thus she allowed the insects to consume her. Just before she died, she made a wish: “I pray that when I attain enlightenment, the first ones I teach will be the insects that were eating me and the sailors I helped. May they attain enlightenment quickly after I do.” Later on, the sailors became the Buddha’s first disciples in the Deer Park, while the eighty thousand insects were eighty thousand celestial beings who came to hear His teachings. This story exemplifies the dynamic of equanimity, loving kindness, and compassion.
This precious dynamic occurs when you become convinced that only the end of suffering and the realization of true nature are important. It gives rise to wisdom, stability, and intensity of determination. The turtle understood the fragile nature of the eighty thousand insects: not long after their ample meal, they would need more food. Or, if the turtle had entered the water, they would have lost their good meal and suffered greatly by drowning.
© Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo
Sleep in today. A moody energy pervades the environment. An upsetting situation hits close to home, either emotionally or literally. Reach out for help and you could be rebuffed. Something causes you and others to require reassurance. Try not to over-react. You can buy your way out of the situation: pay a workman to fix something or buy your troubled friend some candy. Stay home if possible, or spend time with close friends or family. Eat a big meal. It’s comfort time. Fyodor Dostoevsky said “Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for 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!
The following is a full length video teaching offered by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo at Kunzang Palyul Choling:
Require of yourself that you change utterly so that only compassion guides your life.
Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Norbu Lhamo. All rights reserved