Practicing Kindness and the Dharma Warrior: YouTube video teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
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Guru Devotion – From a Consultation with Jetsunma
The following transcript was found while cleaning under an altar in Jetsunma’s house. Jetsunma has agreed to allow the teaching to be shared so others may benefit:
Teaching – September 8th in the early 2000’s
Question: Is the reason that the Vajrayana works so well… in following the Guru’s instruction without opinion (In regards to breaking down conceptualization allowing the Wisdom mind to BE – i.e., responding to Jetsunma’s previous instructions (teaching on the microcosm and the macrocosm being the same, inner and outer being the same, no distinction)
Jetsunma (from taped teaching): …that helps you let the Wisdom mind de-obscure or open up and be and assert itself in a way if you don’t make those discriminations. Then the Wisdom Mind begins to assert itself and you practice that by letting the Wisdom Mind, in the form of your teacher, assert itself in your life. It’s just the perfect practice, really because it’s so nuts and bolts you won’t long get away with faking it. It will come up one way or the other so to practice closely with your Guru like that is very, very important, even if you only get to do it a couple of times a month when your Guru tells you, look, I see what your mind is doing. Here’s what it is. Take advantage of this information. Practice like that. Do exactly what I say. You won’t get that any place else. That’s the value of being close to your teacher. See what I’m saying?
Student: I clearly hear what you are saying. Every time I hear you say something like that I feel so bad about how I haven’t.
Jetsunma: Well, you can go to guilt but now listen. You can go to guilt but I have found that just ends up with useless emotion that just shakes you up and gets you totally off point. Guilt is a pretty useless and time consuming emotion. You know. It’s just very rarely useful. Once in a while when you have to really take a look at yourself. But these times are for something different, instead of going to guilt you just have to follow it like a river. Just like, oh my teacher just put me in the water, pushing me. Now I’m going to swim in just that direction exactly. See what I’m saying? That’s exactly what you should do. It’s so much more fruitful. Don’t you see the logic of that?
Student: Absolutely.
Jetsunma: If you want to be guilty, do it another time.
Student: Even if the instruction was given a while back, you can start now?
Jetsunma: Exactly, exactly. The thing is not to make a big deal of that. It’s like if the teacher pushes you off, in that moment, in that space, and you are there, swim exactly the direction he/she pushes you. Just go exactly that way. You won’t get there anywhere else—it’s priceless in samsara—other than from your own Root Guru. Trust me.
Student: Who else could we trust?
Jetsunma: Right, of course. So if you want to practice being open-hearted and free of contrivance and letting that Wisdom flow and the Bodhicitta flow in your life, that is the moment to practice it. Right then. Do it like that with the Guru Yoga.
Astrology for 12/9/2015
12/9/2015 Wednesday by Norma
Pull inward today, to the extent that you can, and spend time in quiet thought and study. Learn something, ponder something and avoid the prevailing temptation to run around scattering your energy for no meaningful purpose. A well-considered understanding is crucial for what comes next, and you won’t gain it without contemplation. Edith Sitwell said, “My personal hobbies are reading, listening and silence.” Study all the clues like a detective, and you’ll come to an understanding of what you must do: then you can charge into action! Romance, artistic expression and work are also highlighted, if you have time. (Consider making time!)
The daily astrology post affects each person differently, depending on individual horoscopes. Look to see which area of life this message affects for you!
Astrology for 9/14/2015
9/14/2015 Monday by Norma
The ability to see both sides of an issue is a huge asset today, and success is dependent on how well everyones’ needs are met. A balanced attitude is important and a conversation generates happiness all around. Michel de Montaigne said, “The clearest sign of wisdom is continued cheerfulness.” A leader inspires others but detailed work is critical to success. Be very aware of hidden, potentially troublesome factors lurking in the shadows, watching and looking for an opportunity. Vigilance guarantees safety today. What’s good? Partnership, love, work and a new beginning!
The astrology post affects each person differently depending on individual horoscopes.
Look to see where this message impacts your life!
The Nature of the Teacher
An excerpt from the Mindfulness workshop given by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo in 1999
The most important thing you can do to develop spiritual discrimination is to elevate the Root Guru. The Root Guru is the source of how you have come to the path, is the root teacher who gives you the preliminary teachings, is the one who hooks you onto the path. For these reasons you elevate your teacher in such a way that you begin to awaken. You are not awakening to the appearance of the teacher, but to the nature of the teacher. Again, eventually, you will be able to see, not your own appearance, but your nature, and that’s the goal here. That is the point of practicing Guru Yoga. Otherwise no one else would care, because certainly the Buddhas and the bodhisattvas don’t need it. They’re happy the way they are. The Lamas offer themselves to be used in that way. We have this extraordinary opportunity. So it behooves you to accept that offer and use the Lama. It behooves you to take the opportunity to see that this is the appearance of Dharma in your mind, of Dharma in your life, and to lift it up within you in your mind. Lift it up and see it differently from the other ordinary things that are in your life and be able to distinguish that. You want to be able to get past the point where you say, “Well now, I like this about the Lama; I don’t like that about the Lama; I do like this about the Lama, I don’t like this about the Lama, blah, blah, blah.” That’s what you’re doing about everything. That’s what we do about each other and, most of all, about ourselves. This mind training is meant to wean us away from that kind of conceptual proliferation. It is meant to allow us to begin to taste the nourishment of pure View.
Those who have known me for any length of time know that my practice is all about Guru Rinpoche. There are many reasons for that. One is that I have a strong connection with Guru Rinpoche. That’s my great fortune and my great blessing. In my mind and in my heart, there’s nothing else. I don’t see anything else. I’m not saying that I’m a great practitioner, but I’m giving an indication as to how this could work and what kind of formula we can develop in our own practice and in our own quest for mindfulness. When I think about my practice with Guru Rinpoche, I look for him everywhere. I look for the speech, for the method, for the intention of the Guru everywhere. My experience has been that when I ask Guru Rinpoche for help, for receiving strength, receiving health, receiving whatever it is that I need in order to be strong enough to be of benefit to others, it is always there. Even though I haven’t had the training from childhood that many other Lamas have had, when I ask Guru Rinpoche for help, it is always there. There have literally been times when I have not known what my class was going to be about until I got there to teach, and sometimes those are the best classes, because I know that I am nothing but a vessel that Guru Rinpoche’s blessing simply pours through.
We are not talking about being falsely humble. Remember that when you do prostrations, you always get up. We don’t lie on the floor for hours! We get up, and the reason why we get up is because that’s what’s supposed to happen. Through prostrating the body, through practicing this with body, speech and mind, it is our nature that rises up. The ego gets laid down. We lay that down, and the nature is what rises up. Symbolically that’s what’s happening with prostrations. It’s all about learning to have View in a different way.
© Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo
Astrology for 2/16/2015
2/16/2015 Monday by Norma
Take a trip of some sort, go for a swim, hang around with people you love. A combination of strength and sensitivity prevail today. If you are strong, take good care of those who need help; and if you’re on the receiving end, be grateful. This is an excellent day for multi-generational interactions. Older folks and those with a wise approach to life are of tremendous assistance to people who are troubled or need a friend. Take advice from those who have gone before, they know what they’re talking about! Order and rules matter today. In any situation, follow the rules: stand in line, take your turn, read instructions. Lewis Cass said, “Men may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.” This is a surprisingly satisfying day that ends with a high five and a “Well done!” What’s good today? Love, fun, following the rules and healing what ails you.
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!
Astrology for 2/15/2015
2/15/2015 Sunday by Norma
A startling event transpires today, one that alters your sense of how things are. The solution is to organize the situation, whatever it may be, to assign roles and move ahead. Strong feelings are expressed and the temptation to obsess is powerful. Don’t bother, the situation will pass. A friendly group energy is helpful, and this is a good day to discuss sensitive issues with others. People are easily moved by emotion and sympathy, particularly if compassion is shown toward their issues. Organization facilitates relaxation today. The more your schedule is planned, the more at peace you feel. Surprising confidences are shared and friendship blossoms.Richard Dehmel said, “A little kindness from person to person is better than a vast love for all mankind.” Spend time with friends, have fun, and give everyone the benefit of the doubt today.
The 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 and children, some in work, and so forth. Look to see where you are affected!
Eternal Fountain of Blessings
The following is an excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo called “Take Control of Your Life”
We have an amazing thing here. We have an opportunity to participate in something that you don’t have almost anywhere else—I don’t know of anywhere else—and that’s the 24-hour a day prayer vigil. I don’t know of another place, and there may be one, but I don’t know of another place where prayer for sentient beings goes on 24hours a day. This place is like a giant merit machine. To participate in that and the satisfaction of knowing that you have participated somehow in alleviating the suffering of the world is a thing that we should contemplate with joy. And we’re beginning to win over other people. Apparently, there are some non-Buddhist preachers locally that want to know how we did it. How did we motivate our people to practice 24-hour a day prayer for all beings?
Well, we taught what the Buddha taught: that all beings are equal in their nature, that they are all suffering horribly, that they all wish to be happy, that enlightenment is the [end] to suffering, and here is the method. So we have the means by which to understand how to change the worldnot only how to change our personal world, but the world at large. Can you imagine if we had even a dozen major cities around the world with this same effort?
Can you imagine? Stupas and 24-hour a day prayer. This is my dream, my hope. That the field of joyful practice, virtuous activity and enlightenment will swallow up the world and bring us all blissful contentment. That’s what I want to do. I want to make stupas everywhere. I want to make prayer vigils everywhere. I know you want to help. I know you want to join me. It’s the only game in town. There’s nothing else that you can do that will bring so much joy. Nothing you can eat, drink, have, do, that will bring you that much happiness.
Here’s where we start, right here, to change our lives into vehicles that bring happiness to other beings, to practice every day to attain a virtuous peaceful calm mind and to offer that as food and drink to those who are so locked in their own phenomena and confusion that they don’t know that they are. To offer our practice as an eternal fountain of benefit, as eternal as this world anyway, for all the beings of this earth and for all the three thousand myriads of universes, because we should be impartial like the sun. We should pray for all beings equally.
Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Norbu Lhamo All rights reserved
Astrology June 17, 2014
6/17/2014 Tuesday
An important conversation or message is satisfying and resolves a problem. The goddess of love and the king of generosity are working together, so make a gift of love today. Decide who or what matters most to you and put your money where your mouth is. Anonymous said “I loved her so much it took all my strength to keep from telling her.” Don’t be like that! As the day progresses, artistic pursuits and creative activities are favored, along with medical treatments. Water is your friend today: drink it, swim in it, think about it! Everybody’s talking to everybody, and everybody’s on the road re-doing what they did before- returning things they bought that didn’t fit, etc. The past is important, you’re working on things from the past. If something or someone leaves the environment don’t be sad: this needed to happen.
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!
Astrology for June 16, 2014
6/16/2014 Monday
A sudden inspiration or message galvanizes people into action. This is a two-way winner and leads down a path you want to take. A door opens and closes today. It’s important to act quickly and then stop as soon as things turn difficult: make no attempt to keep going once the energy passes. If you’re pushing, you’re losing. Shopping and financial matters don’t go particularly well today, so skip these things if you can. A debt may come due, and you must pay. Happiness comes from home, loved ones, food, emotional generosity and conversations with friends. W. H. Auden said “In those whom I like, I can find no common
denominator; in those whom I love I can: they all make me laugh.” Don’t forget that you’re continuing to fix things from the past.
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!