January, 2012 | Tibetan Buddhist Altar

Astrology

January 17, 2012 by Norma

A canny intelligence pervades the day. Mysteries are unravelled and secrets understood. You look back and think “aha, THAT’s what it meant.” Make good use of this excellent awareness today. Ask for favors, invest carefully. You can move up the professional ladder or receive a promotion today. You know when to speak and when to remain silent. A sub rosa message helps. Private deals can be made. Understand who you are and what your long term goals are, and only act with this information in mind! Epictetus said “There is a time and place for diversion and amusements, but you should never allow them to override your true purposes.”

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!

Introduction to “Buddhahood Without Meditation” by Dudjom Lingpa

January 16, 2012 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is an excerpt from “Buddhahood Without Meditation: A Visionary Account Known as Refining One’s Perception” by Dudjom Lingpa:

With unswerving faith I pay homage to the sovereign lord, the primordial lord protector, the most sublime citadel of the magical display of pristine awareness.

These days, when the five kinds of degeneration are on the rise, sentient beings are without exception rough and wild, under the sway of very powerful negative karma. Clinging to the mere passing dream of this human life, they make long-range plans as though for an eternal stay and turn their backs on the pursuit of something meaningful for future lifetimes. For this reason, it seems to me that those who earnestly seek liberation and omniscience are no more numerous than stars in the daytime. Even though people may be aware of their mortality and enthusiastically practice the Buddhadharma, they devote their human existence simply to physical and verbal acts of virtue and thus pursue higher rebirths as gods or humans.

Some, without the slightest understanding of the view of emptiness, come to a decision that their own minds are empty. They are directly introduced to what is nothing more than a state of discursive thought or passive awareness and remain in this state with nothing whatever to do. This propels them towards rebirth among the gods of the desire and form realms, but does not bring them even a hair’s breadth closer to the path to omniscience.

Therefore, if a few spiritual individuals have throughout immeasurable aeons gathered the accumulations on a vast scale, tied these to noble aspirations and established some karmic connection to spiritual teachings concerning ultimate reality, I will teach them according to their good fortune and capacity to comprehend. Those who lack karmic connection to me or the good fortune to make use of the Great Perfection teachings, and instead exaggerate or deprecate these teachings, have banished their own minds to some lonely wilderness. You spiritual individuals who are not like this and whose good fortune is equal to my own, consider my advice. Through examination and analysis, through familiarization and acquaintance, recognize samsara and nirvana as supreme emptiness, and so realize the fundamental nature.

Three categories are found in the approach of the Great Perfection that is the inherent nature: the category of mind (sem-dhe), the category of the vast expanse of being (long-dhe) and the category of direct transmission instructions (man-ngag-dhe). This text pertains to what is termed the secret category of direct transmission instructions. There are three sections herein, concerning view (ta-wa), meditation (gom-pa) and conduct (kyod-pa).

In a Dream

January 16, 2012 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

In a dream I remember that I forgot what I remembered

I knew that I knew it was a dream.

I know I can stand still, in full presence and awaken

How odd that our uncontrived Primordial Nature dances with SO MANY mirrors, all sizes and shapes.

Splendid and devastating!

OM MANI PEDME HUNG

Astrology

January 16, 2012 by Norma

The day begins on a serious note that includes an inspiring new idea. Don’t be so overwhelmed by the downer that you fail to act on the upper! A partner is discouraged for unknown reasons, but the answer lies in medical attention or some sort of creativity. Baby those around you, fuss over them. A sea change occurs during the day and suddenly you’re happy and in love! A secret source of joy reveals itself. Happiness occurs in behind-the-scene places, in quiet meditation or private moments. Take it! Proverbs says “The joyfulness of a man prolongeth his days.”

Mindful Living Part 1 of 5: Full Length Video Teaching

January 15, 2012 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is a full length video teaching offered by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo at Kunzang Palyul Choling:

This 5 part workshop was given over a weekend and fcuses on the many ways we can invoke recognition of our nature using Mindfulness.

Astrology

January 15, 2012 by Norma

This is an odd “not much is happening” sort of day. You’re primed to work but it’s Sunday, the day of rest. You can’t make up your mind what to do so engage in the small daily tasks of living; attend spiritual services, do a bit of shopping, empty the trash. Just noodle around. It’s pretty much impossible to come up with a plan agreeable to your partner since indecision is still prevalent, but romantic love is fabulous. A tender energy is present, and you can find enjoyment in small things. The end of an old mode of living is coming. Make no effort to grasp onto that which is departing. The new hasn’t quite arrived, and you’re dealing with an in-between time. Use it well, for what you do now will determine your future. Plan for a good future. Plutarch said “He shall fare well who confronts circumstances aright.”

Qualities: excerpts from Palyul Clear Light

January 14, 2012 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

“When one has some little bit of quality or knowledge, one should not think pridefully ‘Oh, I am so great’. Then one’s quality and knowledge will degenerate, and in the future it will be even more difficult to give rise to these kinds of qualities and knowledge”

The previous #quote is from Kyabje HHPenor Rinpoche With thanks to Kenchen Tsewang Gyatso and PALYUL CLEAR LIGHT

THE STAINLESS ESSENCE TANTRA says: Merit accumulated from prayer. Offering, and making praises before the image of your Lama is infinate and countless. Merely seeing him cleanses bad karma; merely hearing his words generates positive qualities; merely rembering him merges your mind with his. That which is very hard to find in ten million eons is attained in an instant. All these qualities come from the Lama!

The Stainless Essence Tantra thanks to Palyul Clear Light.

Astrology

January 14, 2012 by Norma

Rest up today, an important time has just ended. You’ll want to spend special time with your partner. Surprise guests arrive and unforeseen events occur, but the dominant influence is cessation of struggle. You’d like to escape and television may be your best friend right now. Indecision is a problem; solve it by resolving not to make any decisions today! You have been working so hard for so long that relaxing feels wrong, but do it anyway. Buy something for a loved one that expresses your feelings. Anton Chekhov said “Any idiot can face a crisis- it’s day to day living that wears us out”. Take it easy today.

Medicine Buddha Prayer and Technique

January 13, 2012 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is an excerpt from a translation by Sarah Harding:

Short homage to Buddha Men’a:

CHOM DEN DEY
I bow before

DE ZHIN SHEK PA
The Vanquisher, Tathagata

DRA CHOM PAR
Conqueror of enemies,

YANG DAG PAR
Completely pure and

DZOK PAY SANGYE
Perfect Buddha

MEN GYI LA
Menla,

BHE DUR YA
King of Lapis Lazuli

ÖD KYI GYAL PO LA
Radiance

CHAG TSAL LO

MI GYUR LHUN PO KU YI TRA SHI SHOG
YEN LAK DRUG CHU SUNG GI TRA SHI SHOG
THA DEY DRAL MED THUK KYI TRA SHI SHOG
GYAL WEI KU SUNG THUK KYI TRA SHI SHOG
NE DIR NYIN MO DE LEK TSEN DE LEK

NYIN TSHEN TAG TU DE LEK PA
KÖN CHOK SUM GYI TRA SHI SHOK
TON PA JIG TEN KHAM SU JÖN PA DANG
TEN DZIN BU LOB GEDÜN THÜN PA YI
TEN PA YÜN RING NEY PEY TRA SHI SHOG

Medicine Buddha Technique

1. Be relaxed and comfortable. Do the muscle relaxing technique.

2. Check for five emotions that will cause distractions:

Attachment
Anger
Resistance to change
Self importance
Envy

3. Decide what you want to accomplish, for yourself and for all sentient beings:

Physical problems
Psychological problems
Spiritual issues

4. Construct the type of Medicine Buddha you need, the Buddha you need, the Buddha holding a plant in the right hand and a bowl of nectar in the left. For physical problems, the plant symbolizes curative medicine, the bowl preventative medicine. For psychological or spiritual issues, they represent wisdom and compassion, respectively.

5. Visualize the Doctor, holding the symbols, four feet in front of you.

6. Visualize the problem: ask permission to activate the practice.

7. The Medicine Buddha receives healing power (white light) from all trained sentient beings. Rays of light beam from the Medicine Buddha’s heart to the crown of your head. Breathe in white light and breathe out the problem, three times.

8. When you are cleansed, gain confidence in your own healing ability; reduce your dependence on an external deity. You will feel a sense of accomplishment independent of an external deity; hold that feeling as long as possible. Recite the mantra:

TAYATHA OM BEKAZHAI
BEKAZHAI MAHA BEKAZHAI RADZA SAMUGHATAI SOHA

Love and Blessings

January 13, 2012 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

Hello to all from this secret place, where we are buried in snow. So much wind I can’t tell how deep it is. Wow. It is peaceful and lovely.

It seems, fairly, the US Attorneys announced they are seeking appeal in the case where I am the victim: US vs William Cassidy. Maybe I will be able to go home sooner than later. The case, and my situation, are still up for grabs.

But patience is the only remedy here. And I’m staying strong. I am not at all afraid so long as the stalker is being held and watched. The other haters I face all day don’t frighten me. They don’t actually threaten. So it is just emotional imbalance. And the things people do behind the safety of a screen.

Just need protection for my family, my pack, and myself, as well as my life’s work. Most haters don’t have a violent felony past, just feelings of inferiority and failure in life that they can’t own up to. So they want to “compete” in a world where for some types credentials are superfluous (not me!)

I have compassion for those who feel like they have nothing. Not important to anyone. For those who assault and threaten? Not so much.

There are times coming where we will all need to re-evaluate everything. How much less we can get by with, lotsa government, stricter control, toxic food, Earth etc. So it is time to grow up. Stop whining, throwing rocks at each other, and justifying bad conduct, because something scared you.

I’m in a safe house, but making the best use of my time here, not ruminating, crying, whining. My door wasn’t knocked down, it was my life.

All I care about is getting back to work and family in the short time I have left, so that I can be of benefit to others. I’ve never had any other aspiration, (well, music) and wish to contribute to the well being and safety of other threatened women at risk.

We women are half the world. We are not cattle. We matter. We should not have to run!
We are everywhere. Strong – and not going away any time soon.

Love and blessings to all women – there are so many! Stay strong. Stay safe, I’m with you!