Incense Offering

January 9, 2012May 25, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

From: “Great Perfection Buddha In the Palm of the Hand: The Lama’s Oral Instructions Upon the Recitation and Visualization of the Preliminary Practices Ngondro” as revealed by Vidydhara Terton Migyur Dorje

TSHÜL THRIM DRI DEN PÖ CHOG DAM PA DI

This pure, supreme incense, which bears the scent of pure discipline,

TING DZIN NGAG DANG CHAG GYA’I CHIN LAB KYI

By the blessing of mantra, mudra and samadhi,

SANGYE ZHING DU PÖ DRI NGED DANG WA

Is offered to the Realm of the Buddhas. May this aromatic incense

GYAL WA GYATSHO’I TSHOG NAM NYE GYUR CHIG

Completely please and satisfy the ocean-like assembly of Buddhas!

NAMA SARWA TATHAGATHA BENZAR DHUPE PRATITSA PUDZA MEGHA SAMUDRA SAPHA RA NA SAMAYE AH HUNG

Discerning the Qualities of Awakening

January 9, 2012May 25, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

To describe the precious state of Lord Buddha, and the other Buddhas in that miraculous state… When Buddha was asked “are you a God? Are you a man? A great Rishi? A saint?” “Who or what are you?” Lord Buddha simply said, “I am awake” so simple and pure. No bragging. Awake!

Of all the things Buddha ever said I think this is the purest and must succinct. Awake. He did not go on about “marvelous experiences.” He said that his mind, merit and meditation had ripened his mind completely. He proved his Enlightenment through the miraculous fruits of his life. That is how one knows about the qualities of Buddhahood. By conduct and evidence. One cannot simply decide. Unless the manifestations are there which concur, no way. We should never accept baseless claims, especially about spiritual accomplishment. It can ruin your life.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama says the Chinese are his Gurus because they taught him impermanence, by destroying Tibet and her people and faith. As a young monk he could not think such cruelty possible just for a land grab and power. He was so innocent! A true Buddha in every way.

I have never called myself a Buddha or “Enlightened Being.” I’ve taught of the need to follow a pure teacher with bodhicitta. What other people call me is of no concern. It makes me happy when my Gurus said these things, and I love the old stories which I sometimes recall. But what ordinary people say doesn’t matter much. I have students that support and love.

And there are those who hate, and I don’t know why or who they are. Yet they venerate themselves to the degree that people bow and scrape or they are banished and put down. That is not Dharma and it never will be until the darkest time. Then the glorious Buddha of the next age will be born. May it be soon! I would sing his Praise and honor his name, this Buddha of the future. But many people call themselves “His name” and praise themselves as the incarnation. I won’t contribute to that. It is delusion and self cherishing. That circus show is not helpful. We have a planet to save.

The Nature of the Guru

May 25, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

According to the Buddha, the state that is the pure undefiled primordial wisdom state—this precious awakened state that is luminosity and emptiness inseparable from one another—is our true nature. But since time-out-of-mind, we have been involved in the incorrect assumption of self-nature as being inherently real. So due to our fixation on specific awareness and therefore our constantly defining and reestablishing the distinction between self and other, and the resultant attraction and repulsion that we are constantly involved in, we have never tasted this nature. We don’t know it.

It isn’t that it’s far away. It isn’t that we don’t have it yet. It isn’t that we have to grow it. It isn’t like that. That nature is right now! It’s right here. It isn’t anywhere else; it isn’t far away. And yet it is beyond here and now, beyond here and there. Due to our fixation on self-nature as being inherently real, due to the delusion of division within our mindstreams, we cannot taste that nature. We are involved in the process of fixation, and that nature which is all pervasive is not understood.

Guru Rinpoche is that nature. In his Dharmakaya form, he is displayed as Lord Buddha Amitabha—the Absolute Nature, free of any contrivance, free of any distinction, that nature which is emptiness. In his Sambhogakaya form, he is considered to be Chenrezig, that Nature which is pure luminosity, free of any contrivance. seen in a miraculous blissful display—a dance, if you will.—that shows itself in an emanation form displaying Wisdom and Miraculous Accomplishment, Emptiness and Method, or Luminosity and Compassion. It is so hard for us to understand what that really means.

For us, what we see is the Nirmanakaya, the physical form. Through thinking about it, we can understand the great benefit that Guru Rinpoche has brought. We can understand the extraordinary good fortune that we have to be able to do the practices that he has taught. We can understand that this is compassionate activity. We can understand that by the virtue of what he has done, we have a shot (if you will) at achieving some realization. We have hope; we have a path; we have a method. Through reliance upon his blessing, we come to realize that his very nature is the door to liberation.

If we go deeper, we realize that he is not only the Nirmanakaya form, but also, he is the deeper and more subtle forms. In fact, he is the very display of enlightenment itself. We realize then that Guru Rinpoche is inseparable from our own nature. How do you cut that nature up? The Buddha Nature is the Buddha Nature. And so, when we look at Guru Rinpoche, and we practice devotion in order to achieve a certain natural transmission, aren’t we actually walking through the door of our own nature? Aren’t we actually looking at the true face which is our face as well? Aren’t we actually doing what we do best—seeing something as external which is actually inseparable from us? That’s what we do very well. That’s all that we know how to do.

And so we practice Guru Yoga. Ultimately, we understand that by receiving the empowerment of the Lama, and practicing deeply, to understand the nature of the Lama, is to understand our own nature. That to meditate accordingly is to see the true face which is that nature. Ultimately, we will practice in such a way as to dispel the delusion of separation. We will come to dispel such distinction. We will come to realize that nature as our own nature, an event that is not ordinary.

Astrology

May 25, 2011 by Norma

An imaginative appeal inspires you. Go for it! Art, mustic, and all medical interventions are helpful. An invention or a sudden inspiration or discovery opens a new door. Things associated with water are favorable, and someone who seems “out of it” has the correct answer! Follow your hunch today, especially in purchases and on the financial front. Call or email people who are important to you. Pay attention to your dreams. On a different front, you have a new idea that is a winner. Take that idea and run with it! You will see progress within a week. Conversations, discussions and negotiations are very important now. If someone wants to talk to you, be there for that person. The opportunity may not come again. Oscar Wilde said “No man is rich enough to buy back his past.” Seize the moment.

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!

What to Abandon and What to Accept

May 24, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

From a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:

When an ordinary person decides they are Enlightened but hate, gossip and bad qualities show they absolutely are not. Be careful and watch. If one believes in a person who self proclaims Enlightenment and follows them in lying, hate, gossip they too will fall to a lower rebirth. If a person proclaims themselves Enlightened and has nothing to show for it their lives bear no extraordinary fruit and they should be abandoned. To hide one’s flaws and preach to others is a waste of time. Most people aren’t blind. And flaws will never be pacified.

How excellent, how wonderful to abandon pride, hatred, gossip, etc and attend to a pure practice given by a pure master from a pure source!

How sad when one does not know what to abandon and what to accept. Anyone can talk. Dogs bark, cats meow. Compassion and courage to get out and benefit beings and our planet – this is what counts.

OM AH HUNG BENZAR GURU PEDMA SIDDHI HUNG!

Astrology

May 24, 2011 by Norma

Early in the day nothing much happens. As time passes, a dreamy, imaginative energy enters the picture. A questioner can be mis-led or given confusing information. If you are that person, go for hard facts as opposed to an answer that seems to offer your heart’s desire. It doesn’t. Let your head clear, and notice how powerful figures are falling from grace. During this time, hidden things come to light. If you have a damaging secret, it’s better to bring it up yourself. Personal confession of wrongdoing is honorable and very different from getting caught, which is likely to happen during these times. News is important, and the news keeps changing. Stay aware of what’s going on as you continue to manage your finances. Sam Walton said, “There is only one boss: the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company, from the chairiman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.” Remember the customer.

Astrology

May 23, 2011 by Norma

Personal magnetism is favorable today. And pleasing speech guarantees a successful conclusion to something you’re trying to accomplish. Spend time planning your financial goals. Make changes if you’ve neglected issues, and stay in the present in planning for your needs. If you set something in motion years ago and it no longer fits your needs, make a change! Be both careful and willing to change. Friends want to be with you, and this is lovely, but don ‘t let yourself be distracted from the matter at hand, which is financial planning. A relationship issue that began last October must be handled. Something has come back, and although it seems to be related to the past, it is here now. You get a chance to do-over or resolve things you didn’t quite handle before. If you don’t understand something, ask for help. A Chinese proverb says, “He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever.” Your choice.

Compassion, Wisdom and the Importance of Lineage

January 9, 2012May 22, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

Palyul Nyingma Refuge Tree — Nam Cho Refuge Tree

The following is a series of tweets given by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo on the importance of lineage:

Wisdom and Compassion are the two eyes of Mahayana. Wisdom is pure awareness of empty nature. Not book learning. Compassion is Boddhicitta. Boddhicitta is primordial fundamental uncontrived nature’s pristine display. To attain wisdom meditate on emptiness – the sublime view. To give rise to Boddhicitta, accomplish View, leading to the understanding that all beings are same in nature, and struggle to be happy. Ordinary human kindness will suffice in this life but the Great Boddhicitta accomplishment benefits every future life.

Wisdom is not taught in school. That is knowledge. Wisdom cannot come from books, only knowledge. Wisdom comes with the mind ripening at Guru’s feet. Neither ordinary kindness nor book knowledge bring Supreme Buddhahood- Liberation. Only Wisdom View and Boddhicitta’s nectar can. Ordinary thoughts and concepts from ordinary people are just that. Primordial Wisdom is more rare and precious than any jewel. When you find yourself lost in blah blah blah let it go like vanishing dew. Come back to Wisdom and Boddhicitta- pray, meditate. This is the method and the way of uncountable Buddhas and Bodhisattvas before you from practices handed down through Lineage. All empowerment passed through lineage can be traced back to the blessing of Guru Padmasambava and Consort in an unbroken chain of mastery.

Empowerment without lineage is not traceable to original source. Never take empowerment without tracing through Lineage. If not traceable from Guru to student through out the centuries it is likely tainted by broken Samaya or is totally made up. Taking impure empowerment is like drinking poison and will destroy your path and progress. Every pure Lama gives lineage of empowerment.

Astrology

May 22, 2011 by Norma

This is a day to use your intelligence. Pull all your thinking together, aim it in one direction, and you can’t go wrong. Women friends are especially helplful, as are all friends. Two forces are favorable. First, the intellectual realm is powerful, and next the material or financial realm is strong. Give each its due and try not to mix the two together, because today they work against each other. Move forward cheerfully and at a careful pace. A steady growth is promised. Anya Bass said, “Yesterday’s history, tomorrow’s a mystery. I try to live in the present.” Excellent advice for today.

Dedication of Merit Prayer

May 21, 2011 by anisonam

DEDICATION PRAYER

CHOG DÜ GYAL WA SE CHE GONG

All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the ten directions be attentive.

TSHOG NYI DZOG LA JE YI RANG

I rejoice in the completion of the two types of merit.

DAG GI DÜ SUM GE SAG PA

All virtue I have accumulated in the Three Times

KÖN CHOG SUM LA CHÖD PA BÜL

I offer to the Three Jewels of Refuge.

GYAL WA’I TEN PA PHEL GYUR CHIG

May the Buddha’s Doctrine remain ever increasing!

GE WA SEM CHEN KÜN LA NGO

May virtue be dedicated to all sentient beings.

DRO KÜN SANGYE THOB GYUR CHIG

May all beings achieve Buddhahood!

GE TSA THAM CHED CHIG DÜ TE

Condensing the root of all virtue together,

DAG GI GYÜD LA MIN GYUR CHIG

May it ripen upon my mindstream!

DRIB NYI DAG NE TSHOG DZOG TE

By purifying the two obscurations and perfecting the accumulation of merit,

TSHE RING NED MED NYAM TOG PHEL

May my life be long, without illness, and may understanding and realization increase!

TSHE DIR SA CHU NÖN GYUR CHIG

May I attain the ten stages (bhumis) in this very lifetime.

NAM ZHIG TSHE PHÖ GYUR MA THAG

At the very moment that I must transfer from this life,

DEWACHEN DU KYE GYUR CHIG

May I be directly reborn in the Realm of Great Bliss.

KYE NE PEMA’I KHA JE TE

Being born from within an open lotus flower,

LÜ TEN DE LA SANGYE SHOG

May I achieve Buddhahood in that very Body.

CHANG CHUB THOB NE JI SID DU

After achieving enlightenment, may I continuously return to existence

TRÜL PE DRO WA DREN PAR SHOG

As a Nirmanakaya Buddha to guide all beings!

This is a Mind Terma revealed by Tulku Migyur Dorje.