May, 2012 | Tibetan Buddhist Altar

Astrology

May 24, 2012 by Norma

A confused or ill person must be tended to, and you may not understand a situation involving an authority figure. Don’t assume you have all the facts and don’t live on hope. You can get lost or misunderstand directions, but don’t get discouraged! A Yiddish proverb says, “He who can’t endure the bad will not live to see the good.” Today the bad comes in the form of confusion. What’s good? Love! A solid partnership; diplomacy and a happy frame of mind! Work that seems unrelated to everything else is steadily growing, so do not give up on the job. It’ll turn out well in the end.

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

May 23, 2012 by Norma

Home improvements beckon and news triggers emotional volatility. Something worries you and pulls you into a frame of mind that is inimical to your progress. Make no decisions if you are emotionally upset, wait until you’ve calmed down. Otherwise you’ll have to go back and undo something you’ve done, fix a mistake. It’s very important to run your ideas past an emotionally grounded person today, someone with common sense and experience. Virgil said, “Believe one who has tried it.” Mistakes are possible in areas of inexperience today, so watch it. Your support system is strong, and cheerful communication is wonderful.

Astrology

May 22, 2012 by Norma

Mental expansion is the keyword for today. Someone can casually tell you the secret of the universe and walk away. Listen up! Wisdom is in the air. Words and ideas are powerful, and it could seem as though the universe suddenly decided to share its deepest secrets with you. Write things down! You will look back later and be surprised and pleased. Communicate with others, go on short distance trips, and pay special attention to siblings, neighbors and the news. A duplicitous person is present, so don’t leave your common sense at the door. George Bernard Shaw said, “The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.” Trust your perceptions.

Astrology

May 21, 2012 by Norma

Happy talk is in the air. Conversations and things you hear are encouraging and interesting, and a mental broadening is happening. Consciousness is expanding, and you see things in a different way. So does everyone else and there’s a slight danger of disagreement early in the day; “You say potatoes and I say…” can lead to a critical mindset. Agree that you’re talking about the same thing, and get back to work! Love is rock solid. Those you count on are there for you and they are loyal. Commit to those who have made a difference in your life. Albert Schweitzer said, “Sometimes our light goes out and blown again into flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light.”

For the Benefit of Beings

May 20, 2012 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

During my Enthronement, I was in meditation the whole time. I was really annoyed at the flashes and the sounds from the news reporters. Any flashes like that, I felt wrath, “This is so sacred, there shouldn’t be any modern shit here.” And yet His Holiness was kind enough to let that happen so that modern people could see it.

The ceremony itself went off perfectly, but it hit like a bomb. When it was over, there were certain things I had to do, but all I wanted to do was just go be quiet. I didn’t want to go out to dinner, I just wanted to go be quiet. But His Holiness leaned over and said, “You don’t get to do that.” You never get to do what you want again! “You’re in jail” Gyaltrul Rinpoche said. That’s how it turned out.

Astrology

May 20, 2012 by Norma

The talkathon begins! Everyone has something to say today, and for the most part it’s nice. The hard part is remaining silent so the other person can have their say. An extremely important message appears today. Don’t be chattering away and miss it! Say your piece and listen. Gift giving is excellent. It’s a great day to go for a drive, hear a lecture or do some reading. Talk, talk, talk…it’s all anyone wants to do. If you aren’t communicating, get busy! Robert Syme said, “Words are vehicles that can transport us from the drab sands to the dazzling stars.” When you’re finished talking, read. Get inspired!

Truth and Healing

May 19, 2012 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

Please forgive me. This is my twitter space and yours too, as I offer it as a teaching vehicle. I’ve not been on and I am sorry. My body is breaking down. My mind too. So beat up. Now it seems I must divulge more of my story. I will as I must. And I can’t tell why. But it is the truth. They he/she must print tonight. Why? I don’t know bit I will cooperate. No choice. Tonight a post will come out on a multiple “user groups”(?) and will be seen by all.

The horror KPC has been through, and myself as well. So much must be disclosed. And must be told well. I can’t do it and I don’t know who will. I just know it will happen and I give permission. So I trust. And will do what I can.

Astrology

May 19, 2012 by Norma

Do that last minute bit of shopping as soon as you can. Arrange things, and prepare for a party or a bit of decorating. Have a great meal, and contact those you love and tell them how much they mean to you. It’s important to say what you specifically like about others today, since words provide enormous, tangible inspiration. “You’re smart” or “you have a great smile” can warm someone’s heart and point out a future for that person. Samuel Johnson said, “Praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its value only to its scarcity.”

Astrology

May 18, 2012 by Norma

Congratulations, your emotions are stable and you are able to wait out a slow-moving situation. This is a great time to engage in renovation and beautification projects. Spiff things up! Material objects are excellent, and encouragement comes from things you can see and touch. Good shopping! Medical issues are well resolved, and work is motoring along nicely. Pretty much the only way to get in trouble today is to demand your own way from a powerful person. You want to, but be humble and spare yourself some trouble. Jan McKeithen said, “Whether on the road or in an argument, when you see red it’s time to stop.”

The First Object of Refuge

May 17, 2012 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is an excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo called “Essence of Devotion”

Although the Buddha that we remember as Siddhartha, Gautama Buddha, Shakyamuni is not present in his physical body as we understand it right now, we look at the Lama as the embodiment of the qualities, intentions, compassion and activity of the Buddha in the world. Our Lamas, those reincarnate Lamas who are recognized as reincarnate Lamas, are considered to be the Nirmanakaya form of the Buddha. They are the Buddha in the world. So we look at the Lama as being the embodiment of the Buddha. We look at the Lama as being the embodiment of the Dharma because, if we were to try to study Dharma on our own, even though all the books in our bookstore are written with the commentary of a qualified Lama, when you read those books you must also have first of all the teachings from the guru that deepen and ripen the mind ..Empowerment, lung, commentary teaching, the taking of vows, those teachings that deepen and ripen the mind, can only be given by the Lama, only be given by the Lama, and you must have them. You must have your mind ripened. A mind that is not ripe may delude itself into feeling spiritual and may even be able to speak spiritually. However, if it is not ripe, it cannot fulfill itself. So we should consider like that.

The Lama is considered to be the path. The Dharma is given to us by the Lama. The Lama connects us with the Dharma. The Lama ripens us in the Dharma. The Lama is the Dharma in that sense. The Lama is also the Sangha because without the Lama there would be no Sangha. It is the Lama’s qualities and compassionate activities that sound the note that eventually calls the Sangha. When one of the Sangha has come to practice in some way, there is a personal and private circumstance that has called them, has pulled them in some secret inner way, particular and unique only to them, and their response is like a bell tolling somewhere deep in their minds—very unique, very individual, very present. That is the gathering of the Sangha and it is done through the influence and compassionate activity of the Lama. So the Lama is the first object of refuge, and the supreme object of refuge on the Vajrayana path. That is our view.