November, 2012 | Tibetan Buddhist Altar

Measuring Dharma Through Logic: The 11th Root Downfall

November 26, 2012 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is respectfully quoted from “Perfect Conduct” with commentary by Dudjom Rinpoche:

4.b.3(b.11) Measuring the Dharma through logic:

The eleventh is intellectualizing the understanding of substantiality, lack of substantiality, and mental labels as truth.

This downfall occurs if one attempts to measure or realize uncontrived, fundamental nature of emptiness, with or without substance, only through conceptualizing intellect. Believing intellectual understanding to be absolute understanding, when it is only the measure of one’s own conceptualizations and mental limitations, constitutes the eleventh downfall.

Astrology

November 25, 2012 by Norma

Ok, you’re just running around in circles during the early part of the day, feisty and agitated. Wait it out. Things change as the day progresses and you settle down. Whew! Watch movies, donate to your favorite cause or go shopping. A financial person shows up who can tally your expenditures, do your taxes and explain how much you owe on your loan. Pick this person’s brains for good ideas. You’re so wrapped up in private matters that someone with the ability to sort things out clearly is profoundly relaxing. A normal person is an absolute joy today; spend time with this person! Don’t rebuff people who try to help you by telling them why their ideas won’t work. Actually, their ideas will work. Be aware that you may have become discouraged and negative as a result of your work. Relax and let some new ideas in. Sydney Harris said, “The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.”

Failing to Liberate if the 10 Prerequisites are met: the 10th Root Downfall

November 24, 2012 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is respectfully quoted from “Perfect Conduct” with commentary by Dudjom Rinpoche:

4.b.3(b.10) Failing to liberate if the ten prerequisites are met:

The tenth is failing to liberate or express love when there is potential and when the ten prerequisites are complete.

The word of honor concerns that which brings harm to the doctrine, namely the physical enemies of the Three Jewels and more specifically the physical enemies of own’s own lama, those who have failed to restore deteriorated words of honor, those who have embraced the view and conduct of mantra and who have then developed incorrect view or have rejected the view and conduct, those who have hatred or anger toward the lama or the vajra family, those who have entered the secrete teachings without authorization, those who have brought harm to sentient beings or who are harming pure upholders of samaya, and those who continue to accumulate extremely negative karma. Such individuals qualify as objects of liberation through profound compassion. Any one of these nine causes for suffering must be present, along with the fact that these individuals wills surely fall to the three lower realms and experience unendurable suffering as a result of their conduct. Including the point that the results of their negative karma will surely be fatal constitutes the ten prerequisites. If any of these ten are complete, and especially if the potential to liberate exists, failure to accomplish this constitutes the tenth downfall.

Sweet Intention

November 24, 2012 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

Sensitive people should protect themselves, not become hard and mean. We are all sensitive at the core.

We grieve for the feel of love, and yet we all avoid love with responsibility, just live fast? Doesn’t work.

At this time, in my Sangha, people are dying, and people are popping awake. How? Who are you?

How hideous the dying part. How real the life, and joyful.

Waxing poetic here, still, this is Dharma thought. We bare joy and pain, and we can only control them with love. Dear sweet intention, Bodhicitta will save us all.

Astrology

November 24, 2012 by Norma

An agitated energy is present, and if you’re filled with zip go for a walk or a run. Wrap up work or clean up messes. Use the energy and you won’t get into trouble. A magnetic person has captured people’s attention. This person has good ideas and the ability to see a new solution to an old problem. Energy joined with a solid plan moves things forward. Older people or things are re-vitalized and re-inspired. An opportunity is at hand today that may come from someone you’d ignored. Don’t discount the wisdom of those who’ve gone before. Two influences are at work today. First, the new, exciting big picture force. Next, the force that has been working behind the scenes and has come up with a plan. You don’t have to choose between the two, use them both! They solve different problems. John Steinbeck said, “Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.”

Doubting the Dharma: The Ninth Root Downfall

November 24, 2012 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is respectfully quoted from “Perfect Conduct” with commentary by Dudjom Rinpoche:

4.b.3(b.9) Doubting the Dharma:

The ninth is explained as doubting the innate purity and liberating nature of the foundation, path and result.

The foundation, path, result, and all meanings are explained as the natural, perfectly pure nondual clear light bodhicitta, which is the originally pure fundamental essence of the sugatas. To believe that this path of Dharma is merely meant to lead one to a happier state but does not have the ultimate potential to bring about full awareness of one’s buddha nature, and to then doubt it so that faith and confidence are lost, constitutes the ninth root downfall.

Astrology

November 23, 2012 by Norma

Women and children are full of zip. A fall including a break can happen if you’re moving too fast and not paying attention. You may have a sudden encounter with another fast mover. Slow down today: no gunning the engine and rocketing ahead. But that’s exactly what you want to do! An obstacle that has been opposing you has moved away, and you’re free to move ahead. However another energy is watching carefully, and this force is unwilling to negotiate with you. Think of a solid object, like a brick wall or two tons of steel. For the sake of your own safety do not directly oppose anything today. What’s good? pretty much everything else. A sexy, intimate vibe is present in love, and romance is on the menu. Real progress is being made in business, secret deals and personal interactions. Everyone is talking, yet what is being said has virtually no relationship with reality. Matters from the past are still being cleaned up. William Ward said, “Opportunity is often difficult to recognize; we usually expect it to beckon us with beepers.

Disrespecting the Aggregates: The Eighth Root Downfall

November 22, 2012 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is respectfully quoted from “Perfect Conduct” with commentary by Dudjom Rinpoche:

4.b.3(b.8) Disrespecting the aggregates

The eighth is physically abusing oneself out of disrespect for the five aggregates, which are actually the five buddhas.

In inner Vajrayana practice, the five aggregates are viewed as the five buddhas. At the time of empowerment, the body itself becomes a support for the offering of all desirable objects and the increase of bliss. In dependence upon the body, primordial wisdom is actualized. Not knowing this and so maintaining the view that the body is a source of suffering, and further belittling the body verbally or physically–such as by actually severing one’s own limbs and so forth–constitutes the eighth downfall.

Astrology

November 22, 2012 by Norma

A forward push is good today, and emotional harmony prevails. People feel at home in their skin. Five planets in water signs advise paying attention to your hunches, emotions and intuition about matters. You won’t go wrong if you follow your gut, but you can go wrong if you listen to debate. Elsewhere, a brand new source of inspiration is present. Someone is electrifying and inspiring and you may be so wowed that you don’t know how to act. Mindless babbling and bumping into things is possible. Fortunately the person has a wise and tolerant disposition and won’t make fun of you. Teachers, lawyers and foreigners are great! An over the top energy is here, and you want to do everything at once! Enjoy it. Somerset Maugham said, “Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit”: something bigger than life has just stepped onto the scene. Plus you made up your mind about a relationship, finally.

Revealing Secrets: The Seventh Root Downfall

November 22, 2012 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is respectfully quoted from “Perfect Conduct” with commentary by Dudjom Rinpoche:

4.b.3(b.7) Revealing secrets:

The seventh is openly revealing secret teachings to unsuitable vessels, to those with incomplete and unperfected ritual, or to those with deterioration who fear the profound.

Teaching certain aspects of secret mantra to spiritually immature individuals is a root downfall. Spiritually immature individuals are those who have not completed prerequisite training; who have not been empowered; who have incomplete practice; who have not received the three higher initiations; who, although having received empowerment, have allowed words of honor to deteriorate; who are afraid of the profound party; and who, like the śravakas and pratyekas, are not mature enough to receive the secret teachings. To intentionally expose such individuals to the uncommon substances and materials of secret mantra and their secret meaning so they lose faith constitutes the seventh downfall.