Tibetan Buddhist Altar

Stand By Me

January 23, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

Lyrics by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

If you could stay my friend
Until samsara ends
There would be time to spend
Loving all beings
Loving all sentient beings

If you could live this life
With all its war and strife
Living a sacred life
Stand by me

Chorus:
But I’m just a simple fool
I’m not that good at social rules
What would I know ‘bout what to do
I’ve got crazy appetites
For love and truth and all that’s right
Sometimes I just wanna see
Some light in your eyes

If you could start right now
You’d gather strength somehow
We could turn hate around
If you stand by me

If you could take advice
Let your heart voice thrive
It could be paradise
When you stand by me

Chorus:
And if the truth be told
This story’s very old
Your karma still unfolds
As you stand by me

Astrology

January 23, 2011 by Norma

1/23/2011 Sunday

It’s a brand new day. Rocket forward and go do your thing! Get out and get active! Energetic action can advance your ideals. Men and authority figures like your style, but conservative interests may think you are too optimistic. You have a new idea, and you have the confidence, energy and willingness to see it through. Today is a good day to initiate activity. A time of sensitive waiting and feeling has ended, and now it is time to act. Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “Man’s mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions.” It’s “new idea time.” Your life just changed from passive to active mode.

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!

Relying on the Lineage & the Guru

January 22, 2011 by Holly

A teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, March 6, 2005.

In this video teaching Jetsunma explains that the relationship with the Guru is the “rocketship of Vajrayana.” These teachers appear for only one reason – us. So, we can rely utterly on their blessing.

Astrology

January 22, 2011 by Norma

1/22/2011 Saturday

A significant conversation takes place today, and you are busy attending to details and wrapping up work projects. A bit of confusion can arise, where one side is giving the big picture and the other side is looking at the fine print in the agreement. If you feel unhappy about a conversation, go back and clear things up. There may have been a misunderstanding. At the same time, groups and friends are energetic and on the go. Action is the name of the game. Something hidden is in the process of coming to the surface. A long time of preparation is about to bear fruit. Galileo said, “The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do.” Forces beyond your control are in your favor.

Can You Find the Treasure?

January 21, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

From a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:

Today I received a gift- a metal detector. I wanted one because I’m interested particularly in meteorites. And old things. I know- geek!

I am feeling better, but not quite enough to go hunting for treasure yet. I think of the treasure we all embody, the seed of Buddhahood. Some of us don’t know to search. Some know, but don’t try. Some see a bit of view and fake that they know more. Some find the treasure.

The point being that in this “precious human rebirth” we can find the treasure. The human rebirth, as Lord Buddha taught, has the correct measure of the awareness in this realm.

Animals have such fear; their minds consumed with it, and they are less developed in the brain. Their flesh used for food, skin for leather, etc, they are victims.

The hungry ghost realm contains those filled with grasping, desire. They cannot be satisfied, therefore they cannot awaken.

Hell beings are locked in their own misery and drama. Every suffering is intense, so there is no space in the mind to awaken, or to be free of obsession.

Other realms: the god and goddess realms for jealous beings. Constant warring and competition prevent calm abiding. No space to awaken.

There are also Long Life gods and goddesses who are beautiful, replete with bliss and satisfaction. They have no reason to attain Buddhahood until their karma is exhausted. By then it is too late. There is no merit left, having carelessly spent it all, they fall to the lower realms. How sad!

Lord Buddha taught this human rebirth is the precious one. Because we have our array of faculties remarkably complete; and space in our lives and minds, humans alone can abandon samsara as we alone are capable and, hopefully, inclined to utilize the exquisite path, the method the Buddha set for us. Extraordinary! When I see the wasting of this life with gossip, endless intellectualization of what is fundamentally simple (with faith and kindness,) endless bragging and ego centered living I want to cry. To see this wasted. And the arrogance to think awakening can be accomplished by affirmation and wishes.

I know that is not the way. And I pray we can awaken from this sick narcotic dream. We can, you know. But it takes an enormous commitment; great selfless commitment. I am afraid to tell you and ashamed, too, as I am Buddhist. But those out there now, other than Vajra Masters, Throneholders, are selling you pie. Pie is good. Sweet and tasty. You get that sugar (ego) high. But I tell you as I would my own children, born from my womb and heart; this ego quenching nonsense is to be avoided like steaming, stinking, stupid shit. It is not what you think. In a cakebox, still I tell you it is not pie. It is not food. And it is not your friend.

Mahasiddha Karma Chagmed Rinpoche

January 21, 2011 by Holly

Mahasiddha Karma Chagmed Rinpoche

(1613 – 1678)

Mahasiddha Karma Chagmed Rinpoche was one of the main teachers of Terton Migyur Dorje, and served as his scribe, writing down all the terma revelations as they were spontaneously revealed to the young treasure revealer.

Karma Chagmed Rinpoche was born in the province of Nyomtod, Zalmo Gang region, in the tenth Tibetan rabjung year (1613). He was given the name Wangdrag Sung (Powerful Speech) at birth. Throughout his childhood, he displayed many wondrous signs of being a special child. From the age of eleven, he received from the great secret yogi, Prawashara, his root guru of many past lifetimes, many extensive empowerments and transmissions. He diligently put the instruction he received into practice and attained great accomplishment in both the generation and the dissolution stages for each of the deities he practiced.

When he took his full ordination (gelong) at the age of nineteen, he was given the name Karma Chagmed and became a member of the sangha at the Thupten Nyinling Monastery in the same year. Known for his discipline and noble character, Karma Chagmed applied himself diligently and fulfilled all the accumulation of mantras he set out to accomplish in his practice. At the age of thirty-seven, he entered into a period of intensive retreat of Avalokiteshvara, Gyalwa Gyatso and the Mahamudra for thirteen years. After he left the retreat at the age of fifty, he performed many great accomplishment ceremonies during which many fortunate signs such as sweet fragrance in the air and rainbow colors in the sky manifested around him. He was regarded as the incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, Guru Padmasambhava, Songtsen Gampo, Gyalsei Sednaleg, Luyi Gyaltsen and Milarepa.

Karma Chagmed Rinpoche propagated the Buddha Doctrine far and wide to many students by giving empowerment and transmission on Namcho, Sangye Lagchang, Tsa-Lung and many other profound revelations. His foremost disciples included Kunzang Sherab, his sister Ahkön Lhamo, Pema Rigzin, Ratna Bidza and many others. In the eleventh rabjung year of the Earth Horse (1678 AD), when Karma Chagmed Rinpoche was sixty-six, he informed his students that it was time for him to go to Dewachen (the realm of great bliss). On the first day of the sixth month of the same year, Karma Chagmed Rinpoche condensed his mind into the heart of Buddha Amitabha and entered the realm of great bliss.

During the cremation ceremony, the sky was filled with rainbow colors which appeared like pitched tents amongst white clouds which manifested in the form of the eight auspicious symbols. In spite of the fierce heat of the cremation fire, the brain, heart and tongue of Karma Chagmed Rinpoche remained undamaged and clear images of the Wrathful Deities of Chemchod, Gurdrag, Drolod and the syllable AH appeared in the organs. The bone relics recovered from the cremation ashes were found to bear the embossed images of Avalokiteshvara, Dechog, Phagmo and the eight auspicious symbols.

Reference: Pathgate Institute of Buddhist Studies

Astrology

January 21, 2011 by Norma

1/21/2011 Friday

An inventive energy is present. You are energized and open to the new. Be aware that something brand new is in the wings, heading toward you, although you can’t see it just yet. You are about to be exhilarated by a new turn of events. For now, you’re involved in wrapping up matters from the past, much like the process of moving to a new home. You must sort through and decide which things will go and which will not. Pack up the memories; dreams, hopes, wishes and even suffering that are involved in the old. You won’t need them anymore. Soon it will be a whole new time. Trust in this. Pearl S. Buck said, “Growth itself contains the germ of happiness.”

Princess Mandarava Emanation of Primoridal Wisdom

January 20, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

From a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:

Everyone on twitter seems so excited about the Shorty awards. LOL! Does it make us better Buddhists? Typists? Or do we, as the name implies, just get SHORTER? Haha. I am 5’7″ and very happy being kinda tall. I don’t even know what the categories are. Except I’ve been nominated for Buddhism. It would be nice if there were awards for kindness, eithics, making a better world, you know – all that “sissy” stuff. That is the bottom line for me. That sappy stuff that really helps. Buddhism is, after all, a non-theistic system of ethics on many levels. To see Buddhism in USA these days, you would never know it. There should be a kinder, more ethical feel. I’m not perfect, but I’m trying my best to love without conditions like the sun does, in all directions, no prejudice, no concepts, just shine and pour!

Tonight I will quote from Guru Padmasambava, Rinpoche. This is from “The Lives and Liberation of Mandarava”

“Dissolving in the expanse of space like a rainbow, without remains,

She departed to the Akanishta Paradise of Pamavynha.

She transformed into the embodiment of the Supreme Consort, the secret Primordial Wisdom Dakini.

To the feet of Mandarava I supplicate!

Together with nine hundred pure awareness disciples,

after dissolving into a rainbow body, she manifested herself again for the benefit of others.

Mandarava emanated unceasingly, manifesting herself as a dakini to tame the minds of beings in every essential way.

To the feet of Mandarava, I supplicate!” Guru Padmasambava Rinpoche

This wonderful writing by Guru Padma was offered to me at the 20th anniversary of Ordination at the Rinchen Terzod. Also a dedication was offered; ” By our own impartial service to others may all beings attain Buddhahood together.” This is beautiful! This was how His Holiness Kyabje Penor Rinpoche taught, this is how I teach, this what my community has learned. And it is beautiful! EH MA HO!

The Great Terton

January 20, 2011 by Holly

Vidhyadhara Migyur Dorje
(1645 – 1667)

The Great Terton (Treasure Revealer), Migyur Dorje was born in Nhom Tod Rola in the province of Kham in Eastern Tibet on the seventh day of the ninth month of the Wood Bird Year (1645). Just as Lord Buddha Shakyamuni, he was born without harming his mother or causing her even the slightest bit of pain. His right hand was marked by an extraordinary blue mole, symbolizing the single-essential nature of the Dharmakaya (The Body of the Ultimate Truth).

As a small child, he enjoyed using his hands to perform mudras (Dharma hand gestures) and carried out secret yogic exercises by himself. As soon as he could speak, he told others that he was a lama of the Kathog tradition and was able to give detailed description of his previous life at the Kathog Monastery.

During his childhood, he had many visions of Great Masters. One day he had a vision of Guru Loden Chogsed, one of the eight manifestations of Padmasambhava, and through gesture transmission, he understood how to read and write. When he was seven years old, in a state of pure vision, many Primordial Wisdom Dakinis told him of the importance of relying upon a guru. Instantly, without any obscuration he had a vision of the great scholar and siddha, Raga Ah Syei (Chagmed Rinpoche), who was in solitary retreat, and an intense desire arose to be in his presence.

When he was ten years old, he met Karma Chagmed Rinpoche in person and received the purification blessing of Nam Jom and Dor Sem, and the transmission of Thug Drub Yang Nying Dupa (Innermost Essence of the Mind Accomplishment). The following year, Migyur Dorje entered into retreat with the Great Mahasiddha, Karma Chagmed Rinpoche. At the retreat, Migyur Dorje received continual visions of Buddha Amitayus, Guru Padmasambhava, Buddha Amitabha, Avalokiteshvara and many other Yidams (Meditational Deities). From each of the Yidams, Migyur Dorje received many specific empowerments and transmissions. These he compiled into thirteen volumes called Nam Chö (Space Treasures) and practiced with single-pointed focus until he attained the full accomplishment of each of these treasures.

Although Terton Migyur Dorje was destined to reveal earth termas, the merit of sentient beings was deficient and it was due to this that his presence in this world was cut short. In 1667, the year of the Fire Sheep, he was in his twenty-third year and while staying in a sacred place in Mugsang, he began to show signs of illness. As the third month approached, his illness grew worse and he was forced to stop giving all dharma transmissions. On the eleventh day, he prayed to the meditational deities and offered many dedication prayers. On the fourteenth day, he had a vision of all eight Herukas and their accomplishment mandalas. On the morning of the fifteenth day, he beheld the three root-peaceful and wrathful assemblies of deities and assuming the vajra posture he entered into meditative equipoise. On the evening of the sixteenth day, while counting mantras on his prayers beads, he passed into the empty sphere of truth and remained sitting upright in meditative equipoise for three days.

At the cremation, rainbows in the shape of pitched tents appeared in the sky. The heart and tongue of Migyur Dorje were undamaged by the fire. These, together with the bone relics embossed with vowels and consonants of the Tibetan language were placed inside golden Stupas, which served as objects of refuge revered by devotees to this day.

Reference: Pathgate Institute of Buddhist Studies

Palyul Nyingma Institute, Singapore

Astrology

January 20, 2011 by Norma

1/20/2011 Thursday

Happy message today. Teachers are inspiring, students love to learn. A far-off love draws near; something you’d hoped for is possible. A fiery energy is present, and you have a joyous enthusiasm that livens your life and puts a spring in your step. How you dress and how respectful you are toward others is important today. You may meet with important people who can help you, be nice! Your children or loved ones may surprise you with a happy message, and friends and groups are especially powerful and energetic. Spread yourself out. Freud said, “Just as a cautious businessman avoids investing all his capital in one concern, so wisdom would probably admonish us also not to anticipate all our happiness from one quarter alone.”

Mahasiddha Karma Chagmed Rinpoche

(1613 – 1678)

Vidhyadhara Migyur Dorje (1645 – 1667)

Vidhyadhara Migyur Dorje
(1645 – 1667)