A sacred space for everyone
A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life
#5
Just as a flash of lightning on a dark cloudy night
For an instant brightly illuminates all,
Likewise in this world, through the might of Buddha,
A wholesome thought rarely and briefly appears.
#25
This intention to benefit all beings,
Which does not arise in others even for their own sake,
Is an extraordinary jewel of the mind,
And its birth is an unprecedented wonder.
3/26/2016 Saturday by Norma
Follow your hunches in terms of what must be done today. Two factors make this an excellent time: first, strength and enthusiasm; second, intuitive awareness that is critical to your success. Use them both but avoid taking on so many work projects that you have no time to think. Generalized busyness should be avoided. (Organizing the files, as you balance your checkbook, as you talk on the phone, as you make your shopping list, as you text your friend.) Doing one thing at a time effectively channels your energy. Omar Bradley said, “We need to learn to set our course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing ship.” What’s good today? Energy, excitement, love, new options, and a magnetic person whose actions point the way.
The astrology post affects everyone differently, depending on individual horoscopes. Look to see how this message affects your life today!
An excerpt from a teaching by H.E. Gochen Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche at Kunzang Palyul Choling in Sedona, Arizona on May 14, 2003. Tulku Sang-ngag is a renowned Stupa Builder and Vajrayana master. In addition to the many stupas he has helped to build and consecrate in the US, Kunzang Palyul Choling was very fortunate to have Tulku Sang Nang guide the construction of the Amitabha Stupa, to consecrate it, and to teach on the meaning of a stupa to the Sangha.
The enlightened mind of the Buddha
Before offering this Dharma teaching on the meaning of the stupa, I would like first to offer homage to the Three Jewels – the Supreme and Unsurpassed Guide, the Buddha; the teachings that the Buddha taught, the Holy Dharma; and the followers of the teaching, the Sangha. I offer homage to those three. And then to the Unsurpassed Guide, my personal teacher, who is the embodiment of all of those three in one single form. I am offering this teaching on the meaning of a stupa in accord with Jetsunma’s wishes.
That which is known as a stupa is called a “chorten” in Tibetan. A chorten means a receptacle of offerings. A stupa actually represents an outward expression of the Buddha’s enlightened body, speech and mind. First of all, we have the Buddha’s mind. The Buddha’s mind is such that it is non-composite phenomena. It has neither shape nor color, but it is all knowing. It is cognizant and lucid and yet you cannot identify it as being anything whatsoever. The Buddha’s mind is unelaborated cognizance.
In order to address the predicament that all sentient beings find themselves in, to tame those beings and bring them on the path to enlightenment, the Buddha has manifested in two specific forms in an effortless manner. In a non-artificial and natural manner, he manifests in two types of bodies. That state of the pure potentiality of enlightenment, that is the state of being a Buddha, is something, which is beyond any kind of representation. It is beyond having color or a shape or a size or any kind of form. That authentic state of enlightenment, which is yet to manifest, is the genuine stupa. It is the genuine stupa of basic space, “cho kyi ying,” which means the sphere of Dharma, the sphere of pure potential. That is what is known as the authentic stupa before the onset of manifestation. It is the potentiality. It is the actual state of enlightenment that we are talking about before it is actually manifest.
The state of basic space, the Dharmadhatu, manifests a display of appearances, which are spontaneously present, complete, and perfect. Because that basic space is an unhindered display of dynamic energy, a variety of stupas manifest in the four directions in order to benefit beings.
The state of the Buddha’s mind is such that it has the 32 qualities of enlightenment. They are the ten powers and the ten states of fearlessness and so on. Those 32 qualities of the enlightened mind of the Buddha manifest outwardly as the 32 characteristics of a physical stupa. They are actually a physical representation of those internal qualities of the Buddha’s mind.
3/25/2016 Friday by Norma
Feeling indecisive? Not sure which way to go: stay home or go out, fish or cut bait? Relax. A turnaround is happening and it’s important to wait until the outcome is clear. Do nothing until you know exactly what your choices are. Talk things over, read, go for a walk or drive. An answer can be found in more information. The exuberant energy of the times is a slight problem, urging you to “GO” with no definite destination. Robb Sagendorph said, “Climb up on a hill sometime at sunrise. Everybody needs perspective once in a while, and you’ll find it there.” When the energy changes you’ll know exactly what to do. What’s good today? Energy, fast thinking and talking, inspiration that brings happiness.
The astrology post affects everyone differently, depending on individual horoscopes. Look to see how this message affects your life!
The following is an excerpt from Great Perfection Buddha in the Palm of the Hand a commentary by Gyaltrul Rinpoche:
The reason for taking refuge is based on the awareness of the precious human rebirth, on the awareness that, having attained the precious human rebirth, to waste it will be just like returning empty-handed from a land of precious jewels. Keeping that in mind, you must recognize that you need some kind of guide, some kind of help, someone or something that will teach you, show you, how to make use of your precious opportunity. This someone or something is the three jewels of refuge.
As I have mentioned, one should not take refuge in or rely upon the external form, the body of the lama or the actual presence of the Buddha. If that were important, then we would all be in trouble because the Buddha is long gone now and the lama will also pass. Even though the Buddha and all the great teachers of the past are no longer in this world, there are still buddhists. Buddhism lives on because refuge isn’t taken in the body, the form, of a teacher; it’s taken in the qualities that are actualized in that particular embodiment.
The enlightened body has specific attributes, indicated by specific physical characteristics. You must learn what those attributes are. There are many different teachings on the subject of the enlightened body. For example, the fact that a buddha or a deity has one face symbolizes the dharmakaya, the great bindhu that is the one nature of reality, or truth. Two arms symbolize method and wisdom in non-dual union. When you take refuge in the sangha you take refuge in the qualities the sangha represents, not the bodies of the sangha members. When you take refuge in the dharma you aren’t taking refuge in the paper and ink, in the pages that the dharma is written on; you’re taking refuge in what the words express, in the quality and essence of the teaching. Whatever your dharma practice may be, on whatever level, it is in the meaning of the dharma that you take refuge.
If you intend to study with a spiritual teacher, that teacher should be an embodiment of the qualities of the three jewels of refuge, and you should know what those qualities are. If you take refuge in an ordinary person who lacks a higher level of realization, who, in his ignorance, mixes traditions to create something new — maybe mixing hinduism and buddhism, throwing in a little christianity or taoism, making a little garbage container — then you will find yourself in trouble. It won’t be beneficial to you; it will harm you and everyone else involved. And you shouldn’t become such a teacher, because you won’t be a suitable object of refuge. If you are not a lama, a qualified spiritual teacher, then you are sangha. Since the sangha is one of the three jewels, it is important that you also be clean and pure.
3/24/2016 Thursday by Norma
Energetic accomplishments are likely today, both mentally and physically. If you’ve been tired, bogged down or distracted, a renewal of strength sets you back on track! Don’t continue to treat an illness from you have recovered or care for someone who’s healthy. Larry McMurtry said, “If you wait, all that happens is that you get older.” Thinking is fast, inspiring and accurate, so take advantage of new information and new contacts. Indecision can derail you if you start wondering how someone else is doing. Keep your eyes on your own game and all is well. Be tolerant of an undiplomatic speaker; listen to the message, not to the manner of delivery. What’s good? Action, enthusiasm, good news and love that is magical.
The astrology post affects everyone differently, depending on individual horoscopes. Look to see which area of your life is affected by this message!
The following is an excerpt from a teaching by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche called “Meditation”
The samsaric sufferings we experience are the result of non-virtuous actions of the body, speech and mind. For example, if somebody performed a negative action, such as killing, for instance, then the result based on that action, the reaction or its ripening Karma, is for the person’s life to shorten. And in the next lifetime he may be born in the hell realms where he has to suffer the result of the Karma he created. Similarly, if someone thinks that in this lifetime they could obtain material possessions by stealing or robbing, like a rat who steals all kinds of grains, such stealing ultimately ripens its fruit so that in the next lifetime, or maybe in this lifetime, this person may actually not have enough wealth and become very poor. Even the physical body’s negative actions, such as sexual misconduct, have negative results. This can be that within one’s lifetime, or in the next lifetime, one’s family will not be in harmony and will suffer quarrels and fighting. Similarly there are four negativities of speech, which are known as lies, interferences, harsh words and gossip. From these are certain negative results that one experiences, such that whatever one tries to tell, people will not believe. Even when one tries to say something beneficial it will seem like one is trying to harm somebody. Likewise with the three negative mental actions: Greediness, thoughts of harming others and wrong views. Based on these, one will not have success whatever one tries to do in this lifetime or in future lifetimes, one will experience a lot of harm from other beings, one will be unable to remain together with one’s masters, teachers or good friends and so on. These are examples of the ripening of negative actions.
So understanding all these causes and conditions are based on the actions of our body, speech and mind, we should then try to abandon all the ten negative actions and try to train ourselves so that our mindstream flows with the spiritual path. Then one can practice and accumulate all the virtuous activities. The teachings say that if one follows the worldly aspect of the Dharma practice, with good or positive behaviors, that naturally turns into a spiritual path through which one can have peace and happiness. In this way, with our bodies, speech and mind, in whatever conditions of life, it is very important to try to benefit others and have loving kindness toward everybody.
3/23/2016 Wednesday by Norma
A kindhearted person makes suggestions that are out of touch with the tone of the times: encouraging a game of patty cake when everyone wants to run a marathon, for example. Retract the suggestion with a smile. It’s a time for speed, not for sitting. Wayne Lucas said, “The speed of the leader determines the rate of the pack.” A message from afar is encouraging and assertive behavior is rewarded. It’s a favorable time to initiate a project, to put yourself on a diet and exercise program, to firmly state what you will and will not do. It’s also a great time for artists, dreamers and visionaries.
The astrology post affects everyone differently, depending on individual horoscopes. Look to see how this message affects your life today!
The following is from a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:
May all sentient beings be fully satisfied in both relative and ultimate ways. May all who hunger and thirst for pure and deep Dharma be fully satisfied. May all who pray for more have twice as much. May all who crave what belongs to others have twice that, and all causes accompanied by all qualities and activities. May all who suffer in any way be mine to bear. OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA! In the three times, to the three jewels, I dedicate all merit. To Palyul I dedicate. To haters, to the sick, to the poor, to the planet in peril, to animal rescue. Gratitude.
And of course, the Root of all accomplishment…Tsewei Lama Kyabje Third Drubwang His Holiness Pedma Norbu Rinpoche, Padmasambhava Himself as he found me again!
Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo. All rights reserved
3/22/2016 Tuesday by Norma
If you don’t hear from the person you contacted, something’s stalled at their end so wait. Move forward with things directly in front of you. Avoid the tendency to set your heart on a single outcome, something else may be more attainable right now. Everyone is thinking and talking fast, and repartee is highlighted. Spend time debating, discussing and analyzing. Something hidden has come into the open bringing enthusiasm with it. A time of sadness or fear has drawn to a close. Disney said, “The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.” It’s a time of tremendous happiness and inspiration, the sort that creates an artist, a poet and a lifesaver. Be inspired and keep working.
The astrology post affects everyone differently, depending on individual horoscopes. Look to see how this message affects your life today!