Tibetan Buddhist Altar

Love That Sustains

July 10, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

Excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo from the Vow of Love series

How can you develop the kind of love that sustains itself? How can you cultivate compassion like a fire that never runs out of wood to burn? That never goes out. The fire of compassion is based on being courageous enough to come to an understanding of suffering. You have to come to a deep understanding that all sentient beings are suffering endlessly and helplessly, and bring yourself to the point where you can’t bear it. Cultivate the understanding that even though you know you can’t see all sentient beings, you can’t feel them, you can’t touch them, still, you want nothing more than to rid hatred, greed and ignorance from their minds, because you understand this is the cause of their suffering. You understand the whole dynamics of suffering: why it exists, how it exists, where it exists, how it grows, and at that point you become deeply committed.

You can begin by renouncing the causes of suffering yourself. If you have not renounced the causes of suffering, you can’t do a thing for anyone else, and so it takes a tremendous amount of courage. According to the Buddha, hatred, greed and ignorance in the mind are the causes of suffering. Hatred, greed and ignorance are preceded by desire. If there is no desire in the mind, there is no root from which these poisons can grow; there is no cause for hatred, greed and ignorance.

Astrology

July 10, 2011 by Norma

Harmony today. Everyone gets along, and it’s a great day to build or do home improvements. Your thinking is expansive, and communication with young people or athletes is excellent. Teachers are especially impressive. If you care for someone, now is the time to speak your piece. Remembrance of things past plays a role in this day. If you wish to memorialize someone who has meant a great deal to you, this is the day to do so. It’s a bit of a scattered day, with energy going in all directions. You’re personally inventive, financially robust, verbally aggressive, domestically stable, romantically ardent, attentive to your partnership, willing to support others, respectful of authority, and alert to the sufferings of others. Whew! Dell says “The real secret of patience is to find something else to do in the meantime.” You have succeeded…there’s plenty to do.

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!

Motivation That Nourishes the Path

July 9, 2011 by Holly

Excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo from the Vow of Love series

It’s almost impossible to attain the goal of selfless compassion, where you commit every fiber of your being to benefiting all sentient beings, seen and unseen, without a moment’s hesitation. It’s almost impossible to develop the kind of compassion where you understand that all sentient beings are revolving helplessly in such suffering that they can’t bear it, and you can’t bear to think it’s going on, without cultivating a deep understanding of suffering. You want to avoid the trap of making the very same prayers that the selfishly motivated person might do, but instead have the idea that you want to be a great Bodhisattva.

One goal will produce lasting results and the other will not. The person with the motivation of selflessness has the key. Through extraordinary, selfless compassion, that person has the strength to persevere through everything until he or she is awake. That person will persevere until he or she has completely purged from his or her mind even the smallest, gossamer thin seeds of hatred, greed and ignorance. The person whose motivation is to be the ‘good person’ will not be able to do the same for any length of time. The foundation isn’t strong enough. That person may need some kind of feedback, or warm fuzzies as reward for being good. Even tried and true Buddhists will find this impure motivation in your minds. Even our ordained Sangha will find that they, themselves, will have dry periods. You’ll go spiritually dry, bone dry, and you’ll think, “What am I doing here? I can’t go on; it’s just too hard.” Then the next day, you’ll wake up and you’ll think, “Another day…good.” You’ll have all these different feelings that are just so common. Everybody, everybody has them. You don’t have to be a Buddhist to have these feelings.

Why does it flip flop back and forth? Because you have not built the firm foundation of very pure, selfless compassion. You need to cultivate it every single moment. You need to get yourself past the point where you need warm fuzzies to keep you going. If you are only looking at the symptom of suffering and trying to manipulate your environment to turn suffering around, you will always need feedback. That feedback may or may not come. Your compassion, your love should not depend on that.

Astrology

July 9, 2011 by Norma

This is a good day to mediate between opposing forces. A friendly person, or an investor, will step up and find a path through seemingly irreconcilable differences. Follow your hunches. They are excellent. Opportunity abounds today, and every opportunity involves taking the easy or soft way as opposed to pushing through an obstacle. Someone loves you. Go out on a date! Someone understands your position and admires you. Secrets characterize today. If someone honors you by “filling you in” on covert matters, do not betray that person by telling everyone! Cooking and eating are a big part of the day. This is no time to go hungry. Food plays a major role these days. Mother Theresa said, “If you can’t feed everyone, at least feed one person.”

Astrology

July 8, 2011 by Norma

Do your best to assure older folks and authority figures of your goodwill and affection (if you feel it!). Someone is carrying a heavy burden. Don’t make the mistake of thinking successful or powerful people don’t care about affection. A gesture can make all the difference in someone’s life. A sudden whim or passing inspiration can blow into a full fledged plan if you fan the flames! Take yourself seriously. Your ideas are worth listening to and following. Domestic matters draw you and sentimentality is paramount. Write poems, listen to music, reminisce about the past. Home is where the heart is! If you’re thinking of moving or buying land or real estate, this is a good time, though it doesn’t seem to be. Jean de la Fontaine said “A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.”

Astrology

July 7, 2011 by Norma

A surprise, a disappointment, and a desire to retreat to the past are all prevalent today. It seems that the four corners of the earth have each devised a way to obstruct you! But this is because you have limited your aspirations and you’re only looking in a certain direction for success. The trick today is to focus on finances and business possibilities. It’s not such a good time for emotional success. Keep the big picture in mind, and keep on working. There’s a slight danger of being immobilized by the obstacles facing you. William Arthur Ward said “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” Be a realist today. Buy something for someone you love. A special gift can make all the difference to someone.

Astrology

July 6, 2011 by Norma

Success is heading your way. You’ll make money or achieve something you’ve hoped for. A long term effort is paying off. Enjoy this success, and don’t be tempted to lament the other things that haven’t turned out as you wished. Two modes are in the picture: success and emotional disappointment. Focus on the success. Be happy, and see the rest as a learning experience. An excellent partnership can be formed. Continue to pour energy into things that are emotionally significant to you. Cook, feed others. Love comes through food and nurturing. A.C. Carlton said, “Millions of people go to bed hungry for a kind word, a pat on the back, or a smile. That’s where you can make a difference.”

Astrology

July 5, 2011 by Norma

A great idea comes today, and a fabulous purchase is possible. Go shopping! Planets lined up harmoniously in earth signs bring material success, but only if you take action. Put something together, make something happen. Get started. Work! Financial matters are very favorable. This is a particularly good time to conduct business. Also, plan large meals. Material comforts make a big difference today. Cook food and offer it to friends, neighbors and people who might be appreciative. Today is a good day to do things for others, and as you do so you’ll notice you feel great! Leonard Nimoy said “The miracle is this- the more we share, the more we have.”

Astrology

July 4, 2011 by Norma

Happy news from afar! Look to the big picture to lead you in the right direction. Romantic love is delicious, and someone’s sentimentality can result in an excellent production or work of art. Inspiration! Music and song buoy your spirits. Tap your toes, be silly. Cures of all sorts are effective. Love heals all wounds. Are you sick? You’ll get better. The “powers that be” are favorable to your plans and everyone is helping. People feel proud, cheerful and happy! An extraordinarily generous person or institution is lining up on your side. Judges are wise and good, and judgments are in your favor. You feel as though you’re slowly moving away from a disaster. Jonas Salk said “I have had dreams and I have had nightmares, but I have always conquered my nightmares because of my dreams.”

Astrology

July 3, 2011 by Norma

Optimism and enthusiasm characterize this day. What has changed is that confidence has entered the picture. You’ve got it, use it! You may overdo, dress too flashily or speak too expansively, but life is good again now that confidence is here. Dress well. Today you’ll feel as good as you look. Your appearance can persuade others to join you, so look your best. Inspiring speakers make all the difference today. Spend time with loved ones, and especially spend time with children and family members. Have a party. You are taking effective action. A long term plan is slowly coming into being. A big push makes something happen. You’re still moody, but you have other alternatives today. Paul Harvey said “In times like these, it helps to recall that there have always been times like these.”