A sacred space for everyone
Video teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
As a sentient being, it’s pretty hard to understand what Buddhahood is. Jetsunma addresses the questions of what Buddhahood is and what qualities the Dharma path has that allow you to reach that state of awareness.
The Third Throneholder
The First Drubwang Pedma Norbu Rinpoche
(1679 – 1757)
The birth of the first Drubwang Pedma Norbu Rinpoche as an emanation of the great Pandit Vimalamitra and the Vidyadhara Terton Jatson Nyingpo was prophesied in Terton Jatson Nyingpo’s Ma-ning revelation. He was born in Chagril near the town of Ahchog in the eleventh rabjung year of the Earth Sheep (1679).
From his root guru Pema Lhundrub Gyatso, he received all the transmissions and practices belonging to the Palyul lineage. Due to his success in attaining accomplishment in all the teaching he received, he was given the title “Drubwang” which means the Powerful Lord of Accomplishment. When Drubwang Pedma Norbu performed the Lama Cham of Vajrakilaya from the Sakya tradition at the palace of Tenpa Tsering, the Dharma King of Dege, the audience was astonished to notice his feet did not appear to touch the ground. At the age of seventy-nine, the first Drubwang Pedma Norbu Rinpoche dissolved his mind into the pure sphere of truth. His body was reverently preserved inside a wooden stupa, which was assembled within the private chamber of his residence, and there he remained.
Courtesy of Pathgate Institute of Buddhist Studies
From a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:
I’ve been asked by a young follower what to do about anger and hate. First, forgive yourself, as you are a young lady, and growing up is in truth a time of wild emotions, a time of exploring them. Hormones fly around, and we are not so able to control either one. However, start now to learn about emotions.
Even if someone is mean to you think about this: all sentient beings wish to be happy. Even if they act out, they are trying to make themselves happy by being negative. They don’t understand how to be happy so they try abusive behavior to feel powerful.
Now think about this: All beings want to be happy but they are mostly suffering with a few bright spots here and there. When people suffer they often strike out at others. But really, they are unhappy and insecure. Perhaps their parents didn’t teach them courtesy and ethics. Maybe something awful has happened to them and they take it out on others. But always they are insecure, and maybe jealous of you. Even adults can act out violently when they are insecure and jealous. So the first step is to understand they are suffering, want to be happy, and don’t know how.
It never helps to be nasty back. It is bad for you and them, and makes things worse. Instead, apply an antidote. If they say cruel things, pray for them to be happy (and leave you alone!) Don’t take their hate personally. They are very unhappy and need help. You must be as kind as possible even when they are horrible.
Remember they are basically the same as you. You also want to be happy and bravely asked how! You are moving forward and they are stuck in hate still. So think, “I am so blessed to know what to do.” Then think, “the haters do not know what to do.”
When you understand that, you can have some compassion for them. You can see you have grown up quite a bit by praying for your enemies. They have not come as far as you on the path, so you have compassion. You are developing the virtue of human kindness by tolerating with understanding why they do as they do. So it is important not to react to hate. Let it be as it is. You aren’t doing the hating anymore.
Whatever happens is their problem not yours. When they hurt you, let it run off you like water off a duck’s back. Be the good, mature, kind young lady like you know you can be! In the end it doesn’t matter what they do, it matters what you do! Your job now is to build compassion and character as you grow. If you do, you will naturally draw to yourself good friends, and people of quality!
You are seeing the face of suffering, and their opinions are worthless. Suffering drives them. Let loving kindness drive you to happiness!
Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo. All rights reserved
From a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:
Two years before the parinirvana, Kyabje His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, my Guru told me he was no longer useful to sentient beings, that he would go. Shocked to my core I begged “please Holiness, we need you. We are not ready. Palyul is not ready; and you are our Father.” The heart sons came, and I know they must have begged also. To a living Buddha like His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, there is no reason to live if not liberating beings.
Actually I feel the same way. When I know my work is done, my usefulness is over, I too will want to go, and return swiftly to benefit sentient beings again. So it is with the way of the Bodhisattva. There is no attachment to the world per se. The world is beautiful, but also temporary, filled with cruelty and selfishness. Unkind. So it is like a costume party gone very wrong. There is no point in staying. The music stops, the balloons deflate, the food turns, there is nothing left, nothing but the dancing dead, dreaming. Renunciation is seeing this clearly and losing affection for the narcotic quality of samsara. Just that – seeing through the hallucination.
When the view is understood we recognize the empty nature of all phenomena, and of all beings. Each being, while lost in this dream, has within them the seed of Buddhahood. We have the seed, but have not awakened. So it is still a seed. When anyone tells you we are inherently awakened, they are deluded or fooling themselves. We have the seed but it is dormant. We have to grow it, ripen and mature it. When you see a worm on the ground, can you point at it and say “awaken! Now! Do it! It’s simple! No effort, all magic!” No, and you will look like a lunatic as well. The worm is, however equal in nature to every Buddha. The difference? The worm is still asleep, ignorant. No recognition. No ripening. No method no path. Someday, the worm in a different form will meet someone who has a connection to Dharma and will lead the way. Then Wormie will find the Guru and the path; method. And hopefully at that time will be in a form with a full array of faculties and the inclination to practice. There is no instant “Aha!” in recognition. In Dharma it is step by step, practice and accomplishment. For now, we must pray for them – the wormies. We must have the kindness to help them on their way…
We spend so much time in pride and arrogance pretending to be Guru or convincing others we are so accomplished. How does that help? It doesn’t. We need to awaken, feed the hungry, benefit beings. Then we have the power and heart to lay down the ego trip, stop explaining how enlightened and great we are, and show the great concern of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for all beings of all shapes, colors, species – all. It is this great compassion, this awakened Bodhicitta that is the difference between wormies and Buddhas. Secretly there is no difference. It is the outer relative reality that is different. But wormie is still a worm; and we the elders of his great “cosmic” family. They are our children, brothers, sisters. Just as we walk the path we must do so by bringing every being with us.
Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo. All rights reserved
Lyrics by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
If you could stay my friend
Until samsara ends
There would be time to spend
Loving all beings
Loving all sentient beings
If you could live this life
With all its war and strife
Living a sacred life
Stand by me
Chorus:
But I’m just a simple fool
I’m not that good at social rules
What would I know ‘bout what to do
I’ve got crazy appetites
For love and truth and all that’s right
Sometimes I just wanna see
Some light in your eyes
If you could start right now
You’d gather strength somehow
We could turn hate around
If you stand by me
If you could take advice
Let your heart voice thrive
It could be paradise
When you stand by me
Chorus:
And if the truth be told
This story’s very old
Your karma still unfolds
As you stand by me
Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo. All rights reserved
A teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, March 6, 2005.
In this video teaching Jetsunma explains that the relationship with the Guru is the “rocketship of Vajrayana.” These teachers appear for only one reason – us. So, we can rely utterly on their blessing.
From a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:
Today I received a gift- a metal detector. I wanted one because I’m interested particularly in meteorites. And old things. I know- geek!
I am feeling better, but not quite enough to go hunting for treasure yet. I think of the treasure we all embody, the seed of Buddhahood. Some of us don’t know to search. Some know, but don’t try. Some see a bit of view and fake that they know more. Some find the treasure.
The point being that in this “precious human rebirth” we can find the treasure. The human rebirth, as Lord Buddha taught, has the correct measure of the awareness in this realm.
Animals have such fear; their minds consumed with it, and they are less developed in the brain. Their flesh used for food, skin for leather, etc, they are victims.
The hungry ghost realm contains those filled with grasping, desire. They cannot be satisfied, therefore they cannot awaken.
Hell beings are locked in their own misery and drama. Every suffering is intense, so there is no space in the mind to awaken, or to be free of obsession.
Other realms: the god and goddess realms for jealous beings. Constant warring and competition prevent calm abiding. No space to awaken.
There are also Long Life gods and goddesses who are beautiful, replete with bliss and satisfaction. They have no reason to attain Buddhahood until their karma is exhausted. By then it is too late. There is no merit left, having carelessly spent it all, they fall to the lower realms. How sad!
Lord Buddha taught this human rebirth is the precious one. Because we have our array of faculties remarkably complete; and space in our lives and minds, humans alone can abandon samsara as we alone are capable and, hopefully, inclined to utilize the exquisite path, the method the Buddha set for us. Extraordinary! When I see the wasting of this life with gossip, endless intellectualization of what is fundamentally simple (with faith and kindness,) endless bragging and ego centered living I want to cry. To see this wasted. And the arrogance to think awakening can be accomplished by affirmation and wishes.
I know that is not the way. And I pray we can awaken from this sick narcotic dream. We can, you know. But it takes an enormous commitment; great selfless commitment. I am afraid to tell you and ashamed, too, as I am Buddhist. But those out there now, other than Vajra Masters, Throneholders, are selling you pie. Pie is good. Sweet and tasty. You get that sugar (ego) high. But I tell you as I would my own children, born from my womb and heart; this ego quenching nonsense is to be avoided like steaming, stinking, stupid shit. It is not what you think. In a cakebox, still I tell you it is not pie. It is not food. And it is not your friend.
Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo. All rights reserved
Mahasiddha Karma Chagmed Rinpoche was one of the main teachers of Terton Migyur Dorje, and served as his scribe, writing down all the terma revelations as they were spontaneously revealed to the young treasure revealer.
Karma Chagmed Rinpoche was born in the province of Nyomtod, Zalmo Gang region, in the tenth Tibetan rabjung year (1613). He was given the name Wangdrag Sung (Powerful Speech) at birth. Throughout his childhood, he displayed many wondrous signs of being a special child. From the age of eleven, he received from the great secret yogi, Prawashara, his root guru of many past lifetimes, many extensive empowerments and transmissions. He diligently put the instruction he received into practice and attained great accomplishment in both the generation and the dissolution stages for each of the deities he practiced.
When he took his full ordination (gelong) at the age of nineteen, he was given the name Karma Chagmed and became a member of the sangha at the Thupten Nyinling Monastery in the same year. Known for his discipline and noble character, Karma Chagmed applied himself diligently and fulfilled all the accumulation of mantras he set out to accomplish in his practice. At the age of thirty-seven, he entered into a period of intensive retreat of Avalokiteshvara, Gyalwa Gyatso and the Mahamudra for thirteen years. After he left the retreat at the age of fifty, he performed many great accomplishment ceremonies during which many fortunate signs such as sweet fragrance in the air and rainbow colors in the sky manifested around him. He was regarded as the incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, Guru Padmasambhava, Songtsen Gampo, Gyalsei Sednaleg, Luyi Gyaltsen and Milarepa.
Karma Chagmed Rinpoche propagated the Buddha Doctrine far and wide to many students by giving empowerment and transmission on Namcho, Sangye Lagchang, Tsa-Lung and many other profound revelations. His foremost disciples included Kunzang Sherab, his sister Ahkön Lhamo, Pema Rigzin, Ratna Bidza and many others. In the eleventh rabjung year of the Earth Horse (1678 AD), when Karma Chagmed Rinpoche was sixty-six, he informed his students that it was time for him to go to Dewachen (the realm of great bliss). On the first day of the sixth month of the same year, Karma Chagmed Rinpoche condensed his mind into the heart of Buddha Amitabha and entered the realm of great bliss.
During the cremation ceremony, the sky was filled with rainbow colors which appeared like pitched tents amongst white clouds which manifested in the form of the eight auspicious symbols. In spite of the fierce heat of the cremation fire, the brain, heart and tongue of Karma Chagmed Rinpoche remained undamaged and clear images of the Wrathful Deities of Chemchod, Gurdrag, Drolod and the syllable AH appeared in the organs. The bone relics recovered from the cremation ashes were found to bear the embossed images of Avalokiteshvara, Dechog, Phagmo and the eight auspicious symbols.
Reference: Pathgate Institute of Buddhist Studies
From a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:
Everyone on twitter seems so excited about the Shorty awards. LOL! Does it make us better Buddhists? Typists? Or do we, as the name implies, just get SHORTER? Haha. I am 5’7″ and very happy being kinda tall. I don’t even know what the categories are. Except I’ve been nominated for Buddhism. It would be nice if there were awards for kindness, eithics, making a better world, you know – all that “sissy” stuff. That is the bottom line for me. That sappy stuff that really helps. Buddhism is, after all, a non-theistic system of ethics on many levels. To see Buddhism in USA these days, you would never know it. There should be a kinder, more ethical feel. I’m not perfect, but I’m trying my best to love without conditions like the sun does, in all directions, no prejudice, no concepts, just shine and pour!
Tonight I will quote from Guru Padmasambava, Rinpoche. This is from “The Lives and Liberation of Mandarava”
“Dissolving in the expanse of space like a rainbow, without remains,
She departed to the Akanishta Paradise of Pamavynha.
She transformed into the embodiment of the Supreme Consort, the secret Primordial Wisdom Dakini.
To the feet of Mandarava I supplicate!
Together with nine hundred pure awareness disciples,
after dissolving into a rainbow body, she manifested herself again for the benefit of others.
Mandarava emanated unceasingly, manifesting herself as a dakini to tame the minds of beings in every essential way.
To the feet of Mandarava, I supplicate!” Guru Padmasambava Rinpoche
This wonderful writing by Guru Padma was offered to me at the 20th anniversary of Ordination at the Rinchen Terzod. Also a dedication was offered; ” By our own impartial service to others may all beings attain Buddhahood together.” This is beautiful! This was how His Holiness Kyabje Penor Rinpoche taught, this is how I teach, this what my community has learned. And it is beautiful! EH MA HO!
Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo. All rights reserved
The Great Terton (Treasure Revealer), Migyur Dorje was born in Nhom Tod Rola in the province of Kham in Eastern Tibet on the seventh day of the ninth month of the Wood Bird Year (1645). Just as Lord Buddha Shakyamuni, he was born without harming his mother or causing her even the slightest bit of pain. His right hand was marked by an extraordinary blue mole, symbolizing the single-essential nature of the Dharmakaya (The Body of the Ultimate Truth).
As a small child, he enjoyed using his hands to perform mudras (Dharma hand gestures) and carried out secret yogic exercises by himself. As soon as he could speak, he told others that he was a lama of the Kathog tradition and was able to give detailed description of his previous life at the Kathog Monastery.
During his childhood, he had many visions of Great Masters. One day he had a vision of Guru Loden Chogsed, one of the eight manifestations of Padmasambhava, and through gesture transmission, he understood how to read and write. When he was seven years old, in a state of pure vision, many Primordial Wisdom Dakinis told him of the importance of relying upon a guru. Instantly, without any obscuration he had a vision of the great scholar and siddha, Raga Ah Syei (Chagmed Rinpoche), who was in solitary retreat, and an intense desire arose to be in his presence.
When he was ten years old, he met Karma Chagmed Rinpoche in person and received the purification blessing of Nam Jom and Dor Sem, and the transmission of Thug Drub Yang Nying Dupa (Innermost Essence of the Mind Accomplishment). The following year, Migyur Dorje entered into retreat with the Great Mahasiddha, Karma Chagmed Rinpoche. At the retreat, Migyur Dorje received continual visions of Buddha Amitayus, Guru Padmasambhava, Buddha Amitabha, Avalokiteshvara and many other Yidams (Meditational Deities). From each of the Yidams, Migyur Dorje received many specific empowerments and transmissions. These he compiled into thirteen volumes called Nam Chö (Space Treasures) and practiced with single-pointed focus until he attained the full accomplishment of each of these treasures.
Although Terton Migyur Dorje was destined to reveal earth termas, the merit of sentient beings was deficient and it was due to this that his presence in this world was cut short. In 1667, the year of the Fire Sheep, he was in his twenty-third year and while staying in a sacred place in Mugsang, he began to show signs of illness. As the third month approached, his illness grew worse and he was forced to stop giving all dharma transmissions. On the eleventh day, he prayed to the meditational deities and offered many dedication prayers. On the fourteenth day, he had a vision of all eight Herukas and their accomplishment mandalas. On the morning of the fifteenth day, he beheld the three root-peaceful and wrathful assemblies of deities and assuming the vajra posture he entered into meditative equipoise. On the evening of the sixteenth day, while counting mantras on his prayers beads, he passed into the empty sphere of truth and remained sitting upright in meditative equipoise for three days.
At the cremation, rainbows in the shape of pitched tents appeared in the sky. The heart and tongue of Migyur Dorje were undamaged by the fire. These, together with the bone relics embossed with vowels and consonants of the Tibetan language were placed inside golden Stupas, which served as objects of refuge revered by devotees to this day.
Reference: Pathgate Institute of Buddhist Studies
Palyul Nyingma Institute, Singapore
