Tibetan Buddhist Altar

Desire Causes Suffering: Full Length Video Teaching

December 22, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

We are suffering because of the desire in our minds. Meditation, and the other practices of the Buddha pacify the mind and bring happiness. The only one who can do this for us is ourselves. To look outside ourselves for solutions, only leads to more unhappiness. Take advantage of what you have in your hands, and use the teachings of Buddha to make your life better.

Like Vibes With Like

December 22, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

From The Spiritual Path: A Compilation of Teachings by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

Let’s say that your immediate family consists of four people, so you have a particular karma with three others. Those three all have both negative and positive karmic seeds coming to the surface, just as you do. When you four came together, you did so because certain karma was ripening. You could not marry; a child could not be born to you, unless that particular karma was ripening in your mindstream, and in someone else’s. When this karma comes together, it has a kind of interactive characteristic. Like tends to attract or “vibe with” like.

Perhaps you have some horrible negative karma associated with cruelty to animals. You may have a child, or there may be someone else in your family, who has a similar negative karma. Though you won’t understand why, it is likely that something will happen to reinforce the catalyzing effect of your relationship. For instance, you might get a dog that both of you abuse. Or you might develop a terrible animosity toward animals that you would not have experienced so overwhelmingly, if you had not been with that particular person. In your past, you also have karma of being kind to animals. And had you come together with a person with strong kind-to-animals karma, that relationship might have catalyzed something completely different. Let’s say that you have a period of intense anger: the karma of anger is coming to the surface. If you let yourself fall into that anger, really wallow in it, then you will tend to ripen still more anger from the deeper past, and those bubbles will continue to come forward. On a superficial level, the anger will seem to feed on itself. You will feel compelled to be angry.

But suppose you do everything you can to overcome your anger. Though angry at someone, you tell yourself: “This person is suffering just as all sentient beings are, and doesn’t really mean to act that way.” If you truly try to circumvent the anger by reasoning it out, what will happen? Instead of having more anger ripen and come forward, you will ripen a different kind of karma. Perhaps the karma of clear thought. Basically, you can prevent future ripenings of negative karma by taking hold of yourself at any given point. You have a precious human rebirth; you have the Dharma; and you can think logically. You are able to choose how to cope with any anger that arises.

When some people have an unpleasant feeling, such as anger, hatred, or grief, they habitually cover it over. If they become angry, for example, they say, “I feel only love.” Or: “There is only love.” This is like slapping a Band-Aid on an ulcer, which only continues to ripen and grow deeper. By plastering one thought on top of another, you actually link them together. And what happens? Either your anger and hatred will remain inflamed on an underlying level (a frequent result), or you may ripen the karma of delusion. Your mind will be very unclear. Those who use such methods over a long period of time become deeply set in delusion. It seems as if they have gone somewhere else, and one is tempted to ask, “Are you still in there? Anybody home?” There are just too many layers of Band-Aids. What you need is to examine the contents of your mindstream. And begin to view your own mind as something you can work with, something you can take responsibility for.

Astrology

December 22, 2011 by Norma

More shake ups happen today. Old institutions and long term holders of power topple. Age is no protector if wrongdoing has been present. If you side with a wrongdoer, you will be part of the downfall. At the same time, authority figures who have behaved well and generously will see themselves honored. It’s a great day to both lose and win. It’s also a great day for speeches, give one! Emotional happiness characterizes the day, and an energy of buoyancy, optimism and expansion is pervasive. Be out and about; mingle with friends and groups. Taro Gold said “Develop a broad compassion that reaches beyond your surroundings and extends to unknown places.”

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

Canto 82: The Abolition of the Bon Rites by the King of Tibet

December 21, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is an excerpt from “The Life and Liberation of Padmasambhava“:

…in the temple of Ãryapãla these were ordered to translate the Bon manuals of magic.

During the period, for royal sacrifice the Bon were required to provide a stag with antlers; they captured a stag alive and burst into song. Then they were told: “The gods’s share is needed.” They killed a sheep and a yak.

This impropriety and a number of others attracted the attention of the pandits and lotsawas to the behavior of the Bonpo.

Unanimously, but without prior arrangement, the pandits, and in order of rank, the lotsawas, turned to the king: “These Tibetan customs conflict with religious law. Since evil deviations demanding reprobation continue to be tolerated, we will return to our own countries.
Two masters are too many for one teaching,
two rights are too many for one liturgy,
two kings too many for one throne.
The friends of evil are not friends of truth.”

To this the king replied:

“When each denies the purity of the other, two religions are like two murders in confrontation.
But Buddhism is not widespread, and the Bon sect is powerful–several learned lotsawas already have had to be banished. If the two religions are allowed to spread, they will fuse into one.”

The pandits made no answer, but when they were asked to expound the Dharma, they did not do so.

While this was going on, Gyalway Lodro’s mother and minister of Tãranãga the Eminent died, and during the carrying out of the lustral ceremonies by the Bon and the Buddhist, the king came to believe more strongly in the Dharma and to doubt the Bon superstitions.

On the plain of Donkhar and oratorical joust was arranged, and the king to believe in the Dharma and to doubt the Bon superstitions.

Guru Padma and Tangnag the Bonpo faced one another, each in turn supporting and refuting every object of debate, and the king came to believe in the Dharma and to doubt the Bon superstitions.

The Bodhisattva, Śãntaraksita, and the leader of Shari faced one another, each in turn supporting and refuting every object of debate, and the king came to believe in the Dharma and to doubt the Bon superstitions.

Vimalamitra and Lishi of the Long Nape faced one another, each in turn supporting and refuting every object of debate, and the king came to believe in the Dharma and to doubt the Bon superstitions.

The nine Bon Vehicles and the nine of the Buddhadharma were confronted for their respective refutation by the lotsawas, and the king came to believe in the Dharma and to doubt the Bon superstition.

Create a Deep Storehouse of Merit: Full Length Video Teaching

December 21, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

Our merit is not as solid as we often believe it to be. Often we can find ourselves very far away from where we were just a few minutes ago. This affects our lives, our death, our rebirth and our enlightenment. It is the result of our karma – our decisions or non-decisions everyday. If we are fortunate, we have a Lama whose merit is deep enough that they can point out to us where our mind has gone and bring us back home.

Astrology

December 21, 2011 by Norma

Work hard to finish up a job and you’ll be satisfied with the final result. Something from a distance is wrapping up, and the urge to moralize against yourself or others is very strong. Wait it out early today because a sudden event changes everything and you are dealing with a whole new issue. A friend or group takes a surprising position and someone is knocked off a perch. Do not put up an argument if that someone is you as the situation will change again. From a different perspective, friends appear to express their affection and this is equally surprising. The general rule today is that it’s best to blend in with the crowd. Don’t be a target. Taro Gold said “Everything abides by the law of cause and effect.”

Go Beyond Safety to Live: Full Length Video Teaching

December 20, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

Using the example of Mandarava whose love for her Guru and the path was so strong that even a rock could not hold her from that – Jetsunma talks about the western belief that we should be in control at all times. This renders us unable to truly love. We will benefit from allowing that love and passion to be our guide.

Where is the Heart?

December 20, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is an excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo called “Neurotic Interaction to Guru Yoga”

You need to determine for yourself, “Did I choose this to be what it is? And have I gone through the entire process? And do I know what I’m thinking? Or not.” It is not about being true to the guru. It’s not like you’re married and can’t go out with anybody else. It’s not like that. Being true to yourself: you have this opportunity. Let this be the one arena in which you do not do the little neurotic dance. Let this be the one area in which you accept the responsibility of watching the relationship with one’s teacher as though one were watching a display of one’s own mind on an external projection thing, like a TV. Able to learn about oneself, able to determine.

And so this experience, then, the relationship with one’s teacher, becomes extremely useful and extremely pure. There is no exerting of one will over the other. That’s not what’s happening here. It is the development of a pure understanding, free of the usual habitual tendency and contrivance that we engage in. We all do this. We all do this. I even find myself doing this. Sometimes I’ll think, “Oh, god, it’s been too long since I’ve called my teacher. I’ve gotta call him.” That’s so ridiculous, so ridiculous to think like that. And then also to think, “Oh, maybe he’ll be mad at me when I call him. Maybe it’s been too long.” It’s so ridiculous. Completely ridiculous. Because instead you should be asking yourself, “In my continuum, in my mindstream, where is my teacher? What is that? Where is the light of my heart? Is it there? Is it free to be exactly what it can be? Or have I superimposed all of my ideas about relationships on it? Is it time now, in a natural way, do I need to hear the voice of my teacher? Do I need to feel that connection again? Do I need to tell him that his efforts with me have not been wasteful, that I am carrying on his wishes, that I’m doing my best to please him by benefiting sentient beings?” Something like that. Where is the light of my life? That’s the true relationship in there. It doesn’t matter what you do on the outside.

As a teacher, the thing I hate worst in the world is the student that does a whole lot of this, and none of this. It’s not in there. It’s not happening. I mean, boys and girls, I hate to tell you, most of the teachers and myself included, were not born under a rock. They know the difference. So where is the heart? That’s what it’s really about, isn’t it? Where is the heart?

In that way, if you practice purely in that way–and I found this to be truth for me–I know that this is true personally on a deep level. If I practice like that, then my teacher teaches me constantly, whether he is here or not. My teacher teaches me through you, constantly. Don’t even go there! Thinking that now you’re going to be a teacher! Don’t even think it! I saw that little “Oh, yeah, I can do that!” No, it’s true, my teacher teaches me through you. I get to see, I learn so much, through you. I watch how your minds play with things. I watch how you respond to things. I watch how you let go, how you get caught up, and I learn about myself, of course. Of course. And I also learn about the power of the Three Precious Jewels. I have watched them transform lives–unbelievable. Unbelievable!

Astrology

December 20, 2011 by Norma

A private message or bit of news comes your way. It is valuable, but keep quiet about what you know. Your trustworthiness is being tested, don’t flunk. It’s as though you have x-ray vision into people and things. Use your newfound awareness to help others and a greater cause but do no harm. On a different front, creativity is highlighted, hunches are right on target and a partnership is stabilizing. An old loss comes to mind. Make peace with this situation now while you still have time, no stalling. A Korean proverb says “Put something off for one day, and 10 days will pass”; or a lifetime.

Dharma For Today – Outside the Box: Full Length Video Teaching

December 19, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

The times are getting darker, and in order to benefit beings we need to come up with creative ways of reaching them. One of those ways is the 24-hour prayer vigil – an American Drupchen. Another is mantra in music. His Holiness Penor Rinpoche has said “mantra is indestructible” – so those who hear it receive blessings no matter how unusual.