Tibetan Buddhist Altar

Live From the Heart

January 9, 2012April 23, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is extracted from a twitter conversation between Jetsunma and a young student:

Student: Precious Teacher, what do you think of micronationalism? http://tinyurl.com/3jhywnb

Jetsunma: To be completely honest, sounds like a bunch of white guys pushing things and their boundaries around again. And breaking stuff like reefs and shoals, wrong. We need more caretakers, not buyers of Earth.

Student: It’s a hobby of mine and one that I try to operate by using the dharma, and a political stand for the poor and environment.

Jetsunma: How so?

Student: I try to be compassionate to all there, and help all the people I know from it, especially those who have problems in their lives.

Jetsunma: You could do that anyway…do you have lots of resources? Do people already live there? If so and you would only “help” them if you are President or King it is an ego trip and you have no right to put others in your personal domain. That would be a baby dictator on a huge ego trip. Do your subjects pay taxes? Do you? This seems silly. Maybe build a virtual world you can control. Had to be honest.

Student: No, it’s nearly just me and another once in a while. No taxes, no money is spent and virtual worlds cost money to own – money I don’t have or can use.

Jetsunma: As long as you don’t inflate your ego or hurt anyone (you can’t buy a video game?) Then let your time be better spent. Plant a tree.

Student: I can’t buy the ones used to build virtual worlds, I’m 16. And, that sounds like a good project for us to do, yes. Thank you, Jetsunma, Precious Teacher.

Jetsunma: Didn’t realize you were a teen. OK I get it. You are feeling around for your world. OK. Better to cleanse and re-plant the world. Feed birds. Just help! You sound smart, look around and see what needs doing. Plant, pick up trash, pray for the earth. Help homeless animals, find no kill centers. Collect blankets and tarps for homeless. Cans of food for hungry. You have a good heart, you can do so much good if you don’t do “la-la land.” Get out of your head, live from the heart! Be a community angel. You know, a few nails and a hammer just might fix your neighbor’s fence. USA government does not take proper care of her people. You can help!

Student: Thank you, I will do exactly that! All that which you have said, I will work to do.

Jetsunma: Hugs and big smiles!

Astrology

April 23, 2011 by Norma

A disappointment must be absorbed, or else you “woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” Blah! An edgy, tired energy is floating about. Go slow until it passes. Someone may push you, and this is a mistake. If you feel like applying pressure, don’t do it! You’ll just annoy someone. You are still trying to get a message to someone who isn’t answering. Accept the lack of response as related to the times and let go of your quest for the time being. If you back off, the party you’re trying to reach may come to you. Now is a time for self-development, for making more of your self. If you’ve always meant to do something and never gotten around to it, this is the time to do it. Get going. Benjamin Franklin said “The U.S, Constitution doesn’t guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself.” These days, the ball is always in your court.

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!

Astrology

April 22, 2011 by Norma

More serious matters must be addressed today. Issues involving your standing in the world must be resolved. Heads of state or leaders are feeling disrespected and it’s important to let those you follow know that they have your support. Stand up and be counted if you are on the team. If not, don’t pretend you are. A question can be rebuffed, ignored, or answered negatively. Back up, re-phrase the question and ask again. If the answer is still “no”, you may be asking the wrong person or someone who is indecisive. Don’t be discouraged, and don’t waste time on people who won’t come through for you. If you’ve supported someone who hasn’t reciprocated, this may be the time to change your strategy. Margaret Cho said “Maybe I wanted to hear it so badly that my ears betrayed my mind in order to secure my heart.” Give up a lost cause and put your energy into something that gives you a chance of success.

Astrology

April 21, 2011 by Norma

Speed is of the essence today. Zip about, handling matters. The faster you go, the happier you’ll be. The planet of love has entered the sign of action, so go for it! Confucius said “They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.” The situation, like the planets, is constantly changing and you must change with it or you will be left behind. Be flexible. On a different front, financial matters look good today. A long held dream is close to becoming a reality. You can take something you’ve hoped for and make it happen. You intuitively know how to do this. Pay special attention to your imagination or your flashes of awareness. Thought processes are speedy and you must stay alert to notice everything. Again, you must tend to matters of the past. Don’t give up.

Astrology

April 20, 2011 by Norma

If you’ve had a secret yearning for someone or something, it will be magnified today. Act now if you must, because tomorrow a different energy will prevail. You can move forward in a broad fashion today. The big picture is easy to see. It’s been a while since your vision was so clear. Long distance people and things are favorable for you. The broader the scope, the better today. A sudden hunch, an important conversation, a swift action, all of these are favorable. Keep going back over the past. More things need to be re-solved or re-visited. Confucius said “Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.”

The Red Road: Living in Harmony With the Earth

January 9, 2012April 19, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

From a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:

Hello to all! Have any of you noticed I talk about the movie Avatar sometimes? I’ve watched it in director’s cut (wow!) Prolly 15 times. This movie, about the planet and people of a fictional (?) Planet named Pandora. The people are “indigenous humanoids” called the “Na’vi” and are truly breathtaking in their appearance and their ways. Their planet is lush and green. Their water is pristine. Their culture is noble.

Their goddess is Eywa, “Great Mother.” They make ceremony to become non-dual with her at maturity. They depend on Her for all and since the planet is virginal and healthy She delivers. Our Earth must have been that healthy before we began living out of harmony with her. Hurting torturing and raping Her. Our Earth is quite ill. We hurt our Mother and her children mindlessly. How do we expect the Earth to provide?

The Na’vi people have a beautiful prayer at the time of hunting, and a human death. I can’t say it perfectly but it is like this, for hunt – I cry every time I hear it. “I see you, my brother and I thank you for your life. Now your body will feed and become part of the Na’vi. Your spirit will return to and be one with Eywa. Ah HO. During the feast the animal is cherished, and known. How achingly beautiful, please try to see this movie and take it to heart. It shows us what we do as disconnected humans and where we went off.

Hopi teach there are two paths, basically. One is the “White Path,” where we left and do not know our Mother. We build machines to chew her up. We rip her flesh. Then there is the “Red Path” which never leaves the “way of connection.” The people live in harmony with Mother Earth’s way. We do not dominate her, we listen to her wisdom and live in harmony. It may be too late, as She has been poisoned. We would have to grow up and evolve out of the “I’m number one” idea into “we are life and this is our only planet” idea. We’d have to “see” each other truly. When the Na’vi meet each other they say with a gesture of touching head and heart and saying “I see you.” And it means really see – who and what you are.

I’d give my life if only we could be natural again. Respect and love again. Heal our Mother. I’d give it in a “New York” minute. I am currently trying to restore steep land, clear cut. It is already registered as sanctuary, and I want to give the wild beings their space back. Restore the natural land to food and shelter. This is my deep prayer:

Mother Goddess Earth, holy mother Tara, grant the blessing that I may have help and strength to provide for your babies, and grant blessings that I may give this little broken place back to you, whole and healed. KYE HO!

Hear this cry and accept these tears from a Dakini who is your daughter, your servant and your lover. May you recover, and may those who see “The Way” join hands as one people. Let us pay it forward. Eh Ma Ho!

OM MANI PEDME HUNG! OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA!

PS. Once I was led to Hopi land and found prophesy rock. Behind it climbing down, I saw a place of offerings. I made an offering, then found a perfect green valley, so lush in the desert. I saw light beings there. Working the Earth. Water. I never found it again, though I looked.

When I met with Hopi Elders, Grandfather David was still alive. I told the Grandfathers and Mothers what I’d found. Grandfather David said only people of pure intention could ever find these places. He then said “you are welcome to go to any place in Hopi land you wish.” Then a beautiful Grandmother jumped up and rattled as she spoke to me. “You must never abandon the Red Road!” With deep eyes and blazing heart. I see you, my Mother!

May I never disappoint you, and all beings!

Astrology

April 19, 2011 by Norma

It’s almost impossible to stop yourself from very forceful speech, but do your best to wait. Go for a run, do something to work off excess energy. Mental strain is apparent.today. Bite your tongue if you feel like snapping! A leadership issue is drawing to an end. If you feel the need to say “one last thing,” don’t. Watch your driving. You may need to pay attention to brothers, sisters or students. If the same question keeps popping up, consider that your response hasn’t been the right one or hasn’t been understood. Speak slowly. There is potential for romance this evening, and someone is telegraphing their interest in a subtle way. Sniff the air, pay attention to unspoken messages. The times have been urgent and exciting, but don’t forget the subtle enjoyments of life. Someone loves you. Frankin P. Jones said “Love doesn’t make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.”

Astrology

April 18, 2011 by Norma

You are talking to those you need to talk with. If you meet with silence, back up, re-state your case differently, and try again. One side is forceful and articulate, and the other side is hesitant yet willing to negotiate. Listen carefully and you will hear something you need to know. A behind the scenes force is pulling for success. You may be able to privately speak with the right person, and your cause gains success. Backtracking is still necessary to clean up messes you made in the past. You may look at things and say “Who did this?” The answer is in the mirror. See re-doing things as a process of refining, perfecting and making right something that needs fixing. An investment goes well, and you become aware that you are held in high esteem by others. A positive, subtle energy is pervasive, and this is a stabilizing force.

Astrology

April 17, 2011 by Norma

Negotiations have moved past the upsetting part, and they are now in the “charm” part. If you are STILL trying to persuade someone of your rightness, now you’re using your wiles. Forget it, if you aren’t listening to what the other side is saying and changing based on what you hear. Alas, you need to build another side’s point of view into your game plan or you won’t get far. It’s David and Goliath time, and strong as Goliath may be, David is the winning team. Anatole France said “What is traveling? Changing your place? By no means! Traveling is changing your opinions and your prejudices.” By the way, an excellent decision was made last night that put you in tune with the times.

Lions and Tigers and…

April 16, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

From a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:

This weather is like a freight train today! Going on and on, gale wind gusts, thunder, lightening, and it is raining brass monkeys, from the sound. I think my dogs have gotten scared, we are so quiet. This is so the lightening can’t find us. And the pack needs me to walk the deck and check stuff. Then they know I’m in charge. And they will not go out to pee. That’s so they don’t get wet. Check. Get mops out, since we could get some bladder bursts. Closed dog door to deck, wind blows it open meaning all kinds of jungle animals will come in and kill us all!

Now we have Tesla “pitty,” Barrymore “Dufus Coon Hound,” and Ricco the big “Pansey Hound.” Thing is, the big guys are hiding. So it’s all up to me. Now if I call Tesla she’ll come, tail tucked, head low with shame- “Need me Mom? I’m here but I don’t want to fight Lions ‘n Tigers, K? So I’m going back to my hidey hole now, K?” BOOM! Big thunder! ZIP! Tesla the pit bull at her best. My Pekes are better gladiators! Oh, and the cockatoo, she has turned into garden statuary. She is so straight and still! Cockatoos don’t do still well. Or quiet either.

I sure hope it stops soon. I want a shower and the dogs won’t all fit in the tub. Sigh. Stay dry, folks!