Tibetan Buddhist Altar

Dharmakaya

December 19, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

665121387_fk49q-S — Guru Rinpoche Rainbow Body

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

It is not enough to visualize the form of a teacher or lama, thinking that you see only a man or a woman. Such a shallow perception does not put you in touch with what is truly happening. In fact, it causes virtually all the value and function of the lama to be lost to you. Guru Rinpoche comes to us as a direct emanation of the Dharmakaya Buddha, Amitabha. The nature of Amitabha is non-dual. The Dharmakaya is clear, crystalline, uncontrived. It is mind as it is—without limitation or conceptualization of any kind.

This is difficult to understand because we have never had a direct experience of our essential nature. Even our moments of deepest meditation—of what we might call Samadhi—are merely intermediate stages, not to be misconstrued as the ultimate, true realization that occurs when one reaches liberation from all conceptualization. The nature of mind is much like a crystal: clear and uncontrived. It has no sense of self and other. Its nature is such that it can reflect all forms of emanation, and there is nothing that is separate from that all-pervading mind. From that nature, Guru Rinpoche is born. Guru Rinpoche can be understood as a form of the Dharmakaya that is visible to our eyes. He can also be understood, more correctly, as the result of the all-pervading compassion of that mind. If it were possible for the Dharmakaya to reveal itself in some form, that form would be, and is, Guru Rinpoche.

The nature of Dharmakaya is compassion, but not as we usually think of it. Humans generally understand compassion to be directed toward a certain object, for example: “I feel compassion for you.” In our language, that means, “I am sorry for you.” True compassion, in the nature of mind—in Dharmakaya—is quite different. It is objectless. It is not directed toward any specific other, and thus it is all pervading. Why is it not directed toward any specific other? Because in the nature of true mind there is no other. If this all-pervading nature, in its non-dual reality, considers that there is no other, then it must fully embrace and never keep itself away from any object. That is true compassion because it is unconditional.

Such compassion cannot be earned or bought; nor can it be destroyed. It is the nature of the primordial mind. There is nothing you can do to distance yourself from this mind, which is your true nature. You can cover it up by developing thoughts of duality, contrivance, and judgment. You can create so much non-virtue that you fail to perceive that nature, but you cannot distance yourself from it. It is still your nature, unaltered and indestructible. That which is seemingly far away is therefore quite close; in fact, it is non-dual with all that you are.

Astrology

December 19, 2011 by Norma

Your greatest wish is to make peace, and you will with a man and an authority figure. Yet something eludes you, and you fear punishment or loss of approval. This will not happen. You are busily dealing with your own habitual tendencies. Think carefully and you’ll recognize that you’ve seen this pattern before; trying hard to do the right thing and then making a mistake. But cheer up, what you thought would bring loss does in fact bring gain. George Harrison said “When you’ve seen beyond yourself, then you may find peace of mind is waiting there.” Somebody out there sees the situation more clearly than you, and all is well.

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!

You Can Make a Better Future: Full Length Video Teaching

December 18, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

Every minute counts. Every mantra counts. Every time you engage in self-honesty, it will bring benefit beyond measure. Every time you are compassionate toward others, you insure a better future.

Astrology

December 18, 2011 by Norma

A diplomatic gesture falls flat, is rebuffed. Someone is in a bad mood and doesn’t want to be bothered. Go back and restate your case, appealing to ethics and good will, and you will succeed. On a different front, an attempt at glamour or sophistication misses the mark. Try not to have a party today. Either people won’t come, or else they won’t enjoy each other. A partnership is in trouble, and it’s due to lack of consideration for each other’s sensitivities. There is a fortunate escape hatch today, however. If your partner isn’t happy, go out and do something in public. You’ll both be so pleased with how it goes; you’ll give it another chance. Happiness comes in small surprises today. Benjamin Franklin said “Human felicity is produced not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen, as by little advantages that occur everyday.”

A Place of Refuge

December 17, 2011December 17, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is from a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:

Tashi Delek! I have been invited to take refuge in retreat land in New York by Palyul,where I can do retreat. William L Cassidy will be free. My family and I, land and accomplishment are now unsafe. Palyulis my faith, life and conviction His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, His Holiness Karma Kuchen, His Holiness Ngawang Tenzin, and Muksang Rinpoche have been kind to me. I will go underground for safety while Cassidy is loose.

OM TARE TUTARE TURE PUNYE PUSHTIM AH YOU PUSHTIM KURU YE SOHA

Bringing Virtue Into Your Life: Full Length Video Teaching

December 17, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

The narcotic of samsara encourages us to believe that we will stay the same forever. Self-honesty tells us differently. Jetsunma helps us see the reality of impermanence and karma in our lives. Living a life of virtue will bring us ultimate happiness.

True Compassion

December 17, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

Dharmakaya is objectless compassion. It is everywhere. It upholds all manifested reality. All that we see, all appearances, are merely the arising of that mind in its emanation phase. Unfortunately, we have contrived a dualistic perception of self and other. We have acted against other. We have judged other. We have spent countless lives trying to earn the approval and love of other. While our true nature is untouched and perfectly pure, we have developed a dusty coating upon it. That coating is quite thick in the minds of sentient beings. Though their nature remains pure, their perception of that nature is not a true one. What we need is a way to see that true face. We need to discover firsthand the nature of non-dual mind, of that all-pervading compassion.

If this pure nature is the inner reality, then the appearance of Guru Rinpoche to the world is the outer reality. He is born from the heart of Amitabha Buddha, the face and name of the Dharmakaya itself. He entered into the world, a world that did not know Him, and a world that could not give Him birth. And yet He came. We are told that He was born upon a lotus. One way to understand this is to realize that such a pure and undefiled reality could not be born from the level of human delusion. Another way is to relate the lotus to your own mind. The lotus has its roots in mud and muck, yet appears on the surface as a pure, fresh, beautiful flower. Is that not like your own nature? Despite the mud and muck of eons of cyclic existence and the resulting delusion, that nature remains pure. It can still be born directly from the muck.

Upon that pure lotus appears Guru Rinpoche, just as within your own purified mind you realize the nature of the compassionate Guru. But in a mind polluted by judgment, stiffened by conceptualization, unstable through non-virtue, the Guru cannot be realized. He is born upon a pure lotus. Therefore, we make wishing prayers and do practices that we might finally see the Guru. If, without the purified mind, we cannot truly perceive the nature of the Guru, why did He come to a world unprepared for Him? Only a true understanding of all-pervading compassion can solve this mystery. Due to the Dharmakaya’s all-pervading, compassionate nature, it was possible for Guru Rinpoche to appear as a human and walk upon the earth while still purely displaying the uncontrived, fully realized nature of mind.

How was He received? How was He perceived by those around Him? Differently by each one. In the mind of delusion, it is possible to see the most precious gem as just another rhinestone. However, a few were able to perceive that this was beyond the ken of man and woman, that He was the precious Nature incarnate.

Astrology

December 17, 2011 by Norma

Stay as busy as possible today. Health issues may pop up, but you can outrun them by remaining active. A man or authority figure will assert something that you disagree with. Explain this, and you’ll get into trouble. Avoid a critical posture. Mistakes abound. You need to look at both the big picture and also the details today and this will get on your nerves. Noah Webster said in 1785, “These people have little money and great pride, contempt of us, and a great fondness of a dissipated life. They do not understand grammar.” See? This sort of commentary about others is as old as humanity, and it causes trouble. Instead of criticizing that which annoys you, visit old folks and old friends and you’ll calm right down. Continue working on your long term project, your dream, it will bear fruit eventually.

How to Develop Pure View: Full Length Video Teaching

December 16, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

“Pure View” is a central concept in Vajrayana. It’s often misunderstood and Jetsunma brings clarity to this, giving you ways to enjoy and progress n the Buddha’s path.

Astrology

December 16, 2011 by Norma

If you already told somebody off, go back and apologize. Testy speech is here. Criticism just wants to say its piece. Step back and examine your motivation before you speak to others. You may have a serious point, and something really may need to change. It’s important to be careful in your presentation. Buddha said before admonishing another, one should reflect thus: “In due season will I speak, not out of season. In truth will I speak, not in falsehood. For his benefit I will speak, not his loss. Gently I will speak, not harshly. In kindness I will speak, not in anger.” Take this advice and you won’t go wrong.