Teachings | Tibetan Buddhist Altar

The following is a full length video teaching offered by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo on Saga Dawa Duchen 2013. Kunzang Palyul Choling temple is currently closed for public assembly due to required renovations to meet Montgomery County, Maryland Use and Occupancy Codes. Read more about the situation here.

Make a Difference in the World: Video Teaching

May 25, 2013 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is a full length video teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo offered at Kunzang Palyul Choling:

Video streaming by Ustream

Kün-zang La-may Zhal-Lung: Introduction by Sonam T. Kazi

May 23, 2013 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is respectfully quoted from an introduction to Kün-zang La-may Zhal-lung by translator Sonam T. Kazi:

It is a universal truth that it is extremely enjoyable to live in this phenomenal world. Nobody wants to part with worldly pleasure. It is also a universal truth that everything that conditionally exists, sooner or later, must face ultimate destruction. This is not a pessimistic view. It is a fact. As the pleasant dream we have about health, wealth, beauty, fame, love, affection, and so on suddenly begins to fail, our sorrow knows no bounds. It is then that some of us get puzzled and begin to question the true meaning of existence. When death comes nearer, terrified by the unknown changes we will have to face, we try, as a last resort, to seek the help of the gods, goddesses, and the like. But do we have any idea who they are? For, the potentially most useful times in our life are spent fishing, watching television, smoking, drinking, gossiping and so forth. Even the small amount of spiritual practice that we pretentiously do is adulterated with worldly interest.

However, those of us who are aware of this ultimate catastrophe, in time, search for a solution to transcend death. We visit all the available religious camps in the world. Some of us come across the Buddhist teaching called Dzog-ch’en, or Atiyoga, whose superlative virtues excite us so much that we totally forget the proper approach to it. It is logical that, just as a towering building must have an equally sound foundation, success in the ultimate realization through Dzog-ch’en teaching depends entirely on a thorough understanding of the law of karma at the relative level. Kün-zang La-may Zhal-lung explains how to attain the proper balance between the relative and absolute aspects of the practice in very simple language.

The Guru

April 28, 2013 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is respectfully quoted from “Reborn in the West” by Vicki Mackenzie. This section begins with Jetsunma discussing the role of the guru:

She went on to talk a little about the place of the guru in Buddhism. ‘The guru is an emanation of enlightened compassion, and that compassion is like a hook or a piece of Velcro,’ she explained, slipping into her hallmark mode of putting Eastern concepts into Western terminology. ‘Now Velcro has to have a corresponding piece, otherwise it won’t connect–which means that at some time in the past you have already had a relationship with the guru. It is not as though the teacher will know your name, or something like that. But the power, the intention of compassion and loving kindness sets up a vibration, almost like a sound, and students begin responding to that vibration. And the student will be called.

‘That sound is so subtle, yet so powerful, that it changes the student’s life–like that,’ she said, clicking her fingers. At this point I realized she was talking about herself as ‘guru’ too. ‘And it can sustain that change. It can change the world. That sound is the greatest, most gossamer force there is–bodhicitta, the force of compassion. That’s the sound that is being vibrationally cloaked to suit the student’s mind,’ she explained.

At Washington Airport, however, Jetsunma had no idea that the small, rotund man who was making her weep was her guru; that was to come. Instead she was contemplating how to get him back home and what to give him for lunch. He eventually scrambled into her old car and was driven back to Poolesville, where the group fed him hot dogs and potato crisps on the back porch. For an auspicious meeting it was, like Jetsunma herself, highly irregular.

‘We didn’t know what to do with him,’ she confided. ‘We had a barbecue going and were sitting down next to him, being friendly and chatty. I had no idea one doesn’t do this. Be he seemed really happy to be with us and said he wanted to meet all my students and ask them questions. I was amazed. He added that we could ask him questions too. Now that I could understand,’ continued Jetsunma.

All week long Penor Rinpoche interviewed all of Jetsunma’s students in great depth, probing to find out exactly what she had been teaching them. When eventually Jetsunma herself managed to get some time with Penor Rinpoche, she acknowledged him as the teacher and confessed her ‘sin’ of teaching without any real qualifications.

‘Forgive me, but I did not feel I could sit and do nothing,’ she said. ‘But the authority under which I’ve been teaching is twofold. First of all, I look around me and see there is suffering, and I have to do something. The other is that I’ve tried my own practices and I know that they work. But I don’t really know why these teachings come to my mind. Can you please tell me where it comes from?

Penor Rinpoche looked her straight in the eye and broke the news–at least, part of it. ‘In the past you were a great bodhisattva, a person who works throughout all time to liberate sentient beings. You have attained your practice to the degree that in every future lifetime you will not forget it. You will always know it, it will always come back to you. It is in your mind and will not be forgotten.’ He gave her no name, no clue as to what kind of bodhisattva she had been. He just advised her to keep on doing precisely what she was doing, in the way she was doing it, and confirmed that her teachings were exactly what her students needed. That was all. It seemed that no great demands were to be made of her–until he dropped the bombshell.

‘He told me I had to buy a centre, a real temple, that I shouldn’t be afraid. He said I was going to see several different places but I had to buy the one with the white pillars in the front. “You’re going to think you can’t afford it,” he said–and oh, we can’t!–“but you will find a way. Have faith, it will be all right. Eventually,” he added, “you will have places all over the world.” The last part of the prophecy is still to come about.

The Seven Line Prayer

April 24, 2013 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

First, before a teaching or practice, we always establish motivation. In Mahayana or Vajrayana – the Liberation of all beings from suffering.

Today we discuss the immutable Seven Line Prayer. In Nyingma, this is the King of Prayers. In fact, it is a complete Puja in itself.    Within are contained Refuge, Bodhicitta, making offerings, request for blessing and samaya. The prayer has three levels of meaning.

The three levels are Outer, Inner, and Secret. The Secret level should not be taught until an aspirant has accumulated 300,000 repetitions!

The first, outer level of meaning is as it seems. This is a Prayer to Guru Padmasambava, second emanation of Buddha, who brought Dharma to Tibet. His Birth and Death were not ordinary. He was born on the pollen heart of a Lotus, appearing as an eight year old, a golden Sublime Child. His body had ALL the major and minor marks of Buddhahood. He was born stainless, fully awake, and realized. This is described in the Prayer.

In describing this way, Devotion is generated purely. He is surrounded by a retinue of Dakinis. Dakinis are female aspects of Buddha. Dakinis are varied. Some are Primordial Wisdom. There are Vajra Dakinis and Offering Dakinis. Dakinis are “Sky-Dancers” and are the activity aspect of the Buddhas. So the meaning is Guru Padmasambava has accomplished all activities, qualities, and wisdom of all the Buddhas. This is acknowledged in the prayer.

Next is the Samaya-commitment to follow and to practice. Then the request for the Guru to bless us. In Vajrayana that Blessing means everything, as it ripens and deepens one’s consciousness, without which we remain ordinary, unfulfilled.    The inner meaning is that we are connecting with and awakening to our OWN Enlightened Nature. Through devotion your mind mixes with the Guru’s like milk with water, and they become inseparable; same taste and essence.

We are taught that to recite this prayer brings Enlightenment within seven lifetimes. To accomplish this prayer can bring enlightenment within one life. Accomplishing is 300,000 times or more. E MA HO! One not only awakens, but also accomplishes Buddha’s activities, qualities, and blessings. (Remember? Dakinis).

As I’ve said the secret level cannot be taught at this stage, not on twitter! A very broad explanation is that the sacred syllables purify psychic winds, channels, and fluids. All of which are invisible to the unawakened mind. This is the very means to Enlightenment! One should have wind (lung) transmission, which I cannot confer here, so you may commit to seek out Lung Transmission from a qualified Nyingma Lama. So here we go.

HUNG – ORGYEN YUL GYI NUB JANG TSAM
On the northwest border of the country of Urgyen

PEDMA GESAR DONG PO LA
In the pollen heart of a lotus

YA TSEN CHOG GI NGODRUP NYE
Marvelous in the perfection of your attainment

PEDMA JUNG NE ZHE SU DRAG
You are known as Lotus Born

KOR DU KHANDRO MANG PO KOR
And are surrounded by your circle of Dakinis

KYED KYI JE SU DAG DRUP KYI
Following you I will practice

JIN GYI LOB CHIR SHEG SU SOL
I pray you, come and confer your Blessings.

GURU PEDMA SIDDHI HUNG!
(Not translatable. Sacred words)

That is the prayer and translation. You can accumulate prayer like Mantra, Counting on a Mala (prayer beads) AND should repeat this prayer three times before any other practice, such as the Amitaba recitation from yesterday.

After reciting, the Guru melts into light and pours into the crown chakra, accomplishing the great blessing. May all beings benefit!

And as always, one considers Guru Padmasambava as inseparable in essence from one’s own Root Guru. This then is inseparable from your mind.

One more thing, the condensed essence of the Seven Line Prayer is the Vajra Guru Mantra. OM AH HUNG BENZAR GURU PEDME SIDDHI HUNG!

May my mistakes in transmission be fully purified by OM BENZAR SATO HUNG!

I have so far accumulated over a Million. My goal is 5 million, but I’m a slacker! LOL! I love to chant this prayer, my favorite.

Here is a recording of me chanting the prayer at three different speeds to facilitate progress. I ask new students to accumulate 10,000 repetitions. Easy!

Jetsunma chanting slowly-for beginners

Jetsunma chanting the prayer a little faster

Jetsunma chanting the prayer rapidly

Long Life Prayer for Yangthang Rinpoche

April 16, 2013 by Holly

Long Life Prayer for Yangthang Rinpoche

Kunzang Jigmed Dechen Ödsal Dorje

OM SWASTI

NGA GYUR KÜN ZANG THUG KYI TEN PA’I SÖL

Upholder of the early translation Heart-doctrine of Kuntuzangpo

JIG MED THUG KYED TOB KYI DZIN PA LA

By the strength of your fearless intention

DE WA CHEN PO PEME CHIN LAB PA

And the great bliss of Padmasambhava’s blessing,

ÖD SAL DORJE KAL GYAR TSO ZHE SÖL

May the Vajra of Clear Light Live for a hundred aeons.

By request, this was written by Gyurmed Thegchog Tenp’i Gyaltshen, His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

H.E. Venerable Yangthang Tulku Rinpoche is a highly revered Guru in the Nyingma School. He is known to be the embodiment of Vimalamitra, a Dzogchen Master regarded as the chief propagator of Buddhism in Sikkim. Rinpoche has successfully retrieved many Terma Buddhist scriptures which were secretly concealed by Guru Padmasambhava. H.E. Ven. Yangthang Rinpoche was born in the Yangthang family in Sikkim in 1923. Rinpoche was recognized as the reincarnation of Terton Dorje Dechen Lingpa.

In November 1990, Ven. Yangthang Tulku came to KPC and bestowed the complete Ratna LIngpa cycle of revelations, along with the Nyingtik Yabshi. He was accompanied by Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche.

It is not too late to register for his upcoming visit to KPC on April 23rd – don’t miss this rare and precious opportunity!