November, 2014 | Tibetan Buddhist Altar

Astrology for 11/11/2014

November 11, 2014 by Norma

11/11/2014 Tuesday by Norma

Domestic matters go well, and family fun is excellent! Men and women are in harmony, and a man offers love and tangible support! Tears of gratitude flow as long term good behavior is rewarded. If you have toiled conscientiously, doing a good job because it’s the right thing to do, this is your time! If you’ve skimped on the job, expected handouts for grudging work, reconsider your attitude! Indira Ghandi said, “There are two kinds of people; those who do the work and those who take the credit. I try to be in the first group; there’s less competition there.” Avoid a move designed to show yourself off, you’ll get in trouble! Elsewhere, generosity of spirit characterizes the day. Long term friends and loved ones are here for you, and happiness is tied to wisdom: the wisdom to be happy about what you have!

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 family or children, some in work, and so forth. There are many departments of life. Look to see where the dynamic affects you!

The Path to a Joyful Mind

November 10, 2014 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is an excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo called “Take Control of Your Life”

On the Vajrayana Path, the teacher will say, “I will beat you to death if you don’t straighten up. I will just take a stick to you.” You know, His Holiness [Penor Rinpoche] is famous for doing that. He once had a Tulku who was dying and this Tulku was someone that His Holiness had a lot of hopes in. Obviously there was some obstacle to his life. What was it? We don’t know. But His Holiness realized the Tulku was dying. So he went in to see the Tulku, and the Tulku must have said something that brought up His Holiness’ awareness of this obstacle. His Holiness took off his mala and starting beating him with his mala, just beating him and beating him. And the next day, the Tulku was completely well.

Sometimes the lamas are wrathful in order to remove obstacles. Sometimes the lamas are so wrathful that they are more wrathful than any parent we’ve ever had and we see that. Or we love the lama so much that the wrathfulness of the lama seems like a big stick and we can hardly bear it. Or the disappointment of our lama seems like a big stick and we can hardly bear that. Then sometimes the lama says, “You are such a special being. You are so intrinsically special, even your karma is special. You are special to me. I love you so much. Come here. Come on.” And the lama says, “I love you.” And the lama says, “I know you.” And the lama says, “I see your heart. Feel that?” And the lama says, “I have great gifts to give you. Dharma is beautiful. It’s a joy to practice. It’s everything the Buddha has offered. I’ll set this immense banquet in front of you and you can eat the food of Dharma. How beautiful.”

Of course the lama neglects to mention that Dharma is difficult, that the path is hard, that the things that we have to face about ourselves are horrible and ugly and the things that we have to change about ourselves are very hard work. It’s very hard to change that ego-cherishing into pure generosity and bodhichitta. It’s so hard. The lama may invite you to have some tea. But if you have real potential, the lama’s going to smack you upside the head and say, “Straighten out, buddy. That’s not the way to practice Dharma.” And that’s the part that we should be grateful for. Not only should we not get mad because that would be a big mistake; but instead we should say, this is the very nectar of the Buddha’s teachings. The Buddha has instructed us how to ‘wake-up’ and now we must do the work of waking up. When we practice Dharma, Dharma is something that we practice 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There’s no Sunday in Dharma. We’re just practicing the habits of our culture [having teachings on Sunday] and we know that you work. Otherwise, there’s no Sunday in Dharma. Dharma is every day. We shouldn’t come here to see an altar; there should be an altar in our homes. To come here and practice is wonderful. We welcome you with open hearts and open arms; but this should not be the only place you practice. You should maintain your practice every day.

This is the way to be happy. Because if you create the habit of practicing and doing some Dharma, making prayers and offerings, practicing say, Ngöndro every day, or even just reciting Seven Line Prayer every day, the mind begins to change. It’s less inflamed, less needy, less concerned with what you want, less concerned with bad habits. The mind begins to change in such a way that it’s less inflamed, more relaxed. And a more relaxed and spacious mind is the prescription for a more joyful mind.

Astrology for 11/10/2014

November 10, 2014 by Norma

11/10/2014 Monday by Norma

Pay attention to a hunch or dream today, it’s pointing you in the right direction! Get up early and be on the job as soon as possible, the best work happens in the morning. As the day progresses, emotional issues collide with tradition, and feelings can get you into trouble. Avoid impulsive action. Food is an issue: your favorite food is hot pockets, but the traditional meal is roast beef! Either go with tradition or else let someone else do the job: you’ll get into trouble indulging your preferences.
Quote from man in the Cook County Jail being strapped into the electric chair, “This will certainly teach me a lesson.” Learn your lesson before something bad happens! There’s a tendency to overdo, to become so excited that you can’t do your job properly. What’s good today? Intuitive perception, hard work that’s solving problems, paying off debts, and love.

Putting the Teachings Into Practice

November 9, 2014 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

I wish my Sangha was more concerned with the welfare of others. And more concerned with our Temple (KPC) to the degree that they help.

Some in our community work for othersand do their practice with depth and concern. They truly have the proper intention and the Bodhicitta Many are simply lazy and unconcerned. They like the dog and pony show and the exotic belonging to a place like KPC. They sign up but do nothing, start but never finish, are like children who expect to have their toys cleaned and picked up for them. They don’t even recognize What needs doing. They just show up and enjoy the show. That is not Dharma and will not lead to the precious awakening .

This is a great weekend to do some outside cleaning and picking up. Get some fresh air and sunshine. The grounds are a mess. Plants that have gone down for the winter need cutting back and fallen branches, leaf trash, all need cleaning up. It is good to present ourselves in a neat, respectful way. We should have no junk laying around and get rid of abandoned, and now useless things like the RV. Which we really needed to transport animals and other things and people, especially to Dakini Valley, while we sat slack-jawed watching it rot.

Astrology for 11/9/2014

November 9, 2014 by Norma

11/9/2014 Sunday by Norma

Everyone is still talking up a storm: the chat is especially good for leaders, and for issues of power and esteem. Happy energy is prevalent, which helps in terms of solving problems. Two modes exist: a public display of confidence, and an inner concern about serious matters. A old debt is being repaid: one involving loans, inheritance and death. Love is in the picture as well. Give real assets, not fancy words. Don’t be like Marie Antoinette, who allegedly said “Let them eat cake!” when told the peasants had no bread. Did she say it? Possibly not, but the perception remains, and that is what matters now. Are you willing to help those in trouble? It’s a tricky time, and shrewdness is required as insincere people are also present. Don’t be fooled by scamsters: don’t just give, give to those in real need. What’s good today? Happy words, the support of long term friends, shrewd thinking and true love.

Astrology for 11/8/2014

November 8, 2014 by Norma

11/8/2014 Saturday by Norma

The news is fun, and a neighbor or friend is chatting up a storm. Everyone has something to say, and there are many forms to be filled out, many papers to be read, and many car trips to be taken. This is a fun, since the dominant tone of the times is powerfully work oriented. It’s a relief to be out and about, and you return perked up. A partner makes a last minute request, creating indecision. Wait this one out, you don’t have all the facts you need just yet. A pile-up of planets in the house of secrets is perplexing: you want to talk but too many items are “classified,” so you talk around issues rather than about them. Ira Progoff said, “The meaning of life cannot be told; it has to happen to a person.” What’s good today? Driving around, light conversations and the news on one hand: hard work, meaningful
progress and serious decisions on the other.

Astrology for 11/7/2014

November 7, 2014 by Norma

11/7/2014 Friday by Norma

An emotional disappointment, a woman or child in trouble, distracts you at some point today. Help this person, even though it pulls you away from a task. Shopping is important, but purchase only what you need, as opposed to buying impulse items. Keep your eye on your pocketbook. Do offer food to others, it creates a nurturing, bonding experience. Go out to dinner or have others in for a meal. There’s a tendency to overdo today, so try to rein yourself in. Liberace said, “Too much of a good thing is wonderful,” but ignore this counsel today. Be moderate. A proud display is cut down, but careful work is rewarded. What’s good? The company of long term friends and loved ones, the knowledge that you are doing what is right, and the repayment of an old debt of affection.

Astrology for 11/6/2014

November 6, 2014 by Norma

11/06/2014 Thursday by Norma

A financial matter is successful, if you listen to advice. Do not put your money into mortgages or debts today, spend it in another direction where it’s needed. Refuse a request for financial assistance, this isn’t the time: you’ll need your money soon, so don’t tie it up now. The more people ask for something, the more you should say no. Have courage; you can always say yes later! Don’t let your pride put you in over your head. The hardest working planets in the zodiac are plugging away getting things done, do nothing to distract them. Avoid the tendency to party when you should be working. Harry Potter said, “We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.” What’s good today? Steady completion of a job, happiness with loved ones, and home comforts.

Pick Up the Shovel

November 5, 2014 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is an excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo called “Take Control of Your Life”

When we create a close relationship with our teacher on the path of Vajrayana—once we have examined the teacher’s qualities and have decided for ourselves that this is indeed the root guru—then we must follow. If the root guru can teach us Buddhism, they have to have something of that same capacity [as the Buddha]. Now maybe the root guru can see what it is that’s brought us here—the suffering that’s brought us here, and the accomplishment. The root guru looks at you and sees you are Buddha, and yet you suffer. So the root guru says, “I wish to teach you how to live, how to practice, so that your suffering ends and so that you can benefit others.” Nowhere else is one taught that way: understanding the true nature, one’s appearance and one’s nature that is empty. Therefore only the Buddha is the appropriate guide.

The Buddha teaches us that everything is about karma. It’s about choices; it’s about cause and effect; it’s about realizing one’s nature and remaining stable in the bliss of emptiness. If we remain stable in that, we are free to examine any part of our lives. And most of all, first and foremost, we should examine our minds.

The Buddha has taught us that first, and most importantly, we should establish our motivation,. And our motivation is based on the first teaching of Lord Buddha—that all beings are equal in their nature. All beings. That they are all suffering and yet what they all have in common is that they all equally wish to be happy. The smallest worm, anything with consciousness in its own way, in its own language, is striving to be happy. Then the Buddha teaches us the pristine message—the message of hope and the one that allows us to practice at last. The Buddha says, “All beings are suffering, but there is an end to suffering, and that end is called enlightenment.”

Beyond that, Lord Buddha says we must examine our minds, our intention. This is profound work; this is deep work. You can’t practice a little Dharma over here and commit a little adultery over here. You can’t practice a little Dharma over here and have someone in your life whom you know doesn’t have a bite to eat and not help them. You can’t practice a little Dharma over here and have no respect for the Sangha or the temple or the teacher. In other words, Dharma’s not like a pretty little high church package. Even though we have bunches of fancy things around here, it isn’t like you walk into a giant temple and go, “Oh, I’m moved emotionally, and it’s Sunday. I did it. I’m a good Buddhist.” No. That’s not Dharma. “I came on Sunday, I sang some songs and I’m impressed with the church. Now I’m going home.” No, that’s not Dharma.

Dharma is different. When we see these objects that are beautiful and magical and we see the brocade and we see the statues, yes, it thrills our hearts and we recognize on some level that something very precious and beautiful is here. But the Buddha didn’t tell us to sit around and think about how things are precious and beautiful in the temple. The Buddha taught us that Dharma isn’t like a beautiful package of golden brocade. Dharma is a knife, and it’s meant to cut. It has a sharp edge, and it’s not always painless. Dharma teaches us that the honest truth is that non-virtuous activity and habitual patterns will only lead us to more unhappiness. That means we have to go in there with a shovel and a pick axe and start changing our minds.

Astrology for 11/05/2014

November 5, 2014 by Norma

11/05/2014 Wednesday by Norma

The most striking aspect of the day involves an unexpected loss, which will be recouped with an adjustment. If something is taken away, don’t panic. Maintain your equanimity and wait, as a new scenario will appear in several days to rectify the situation. Whew! Planets in Aries reflect the urge to rush or push your program. The Bible says, “All good things come to he who waits,” and let that person be you. Elsewhere, a two sided discussion is interesting and offers a new perspective to a situation. You’ll meet someone with thinking so different from yours, you’ll wonder if you live on the same planet. Listen and learn. What’s good today? Loving relationships, work that is progressing steadily toward completion, and confidence!