Tibetan Buddhist Altar

Astrology

May 9, 2010 by Norma

5/9/2010 Sunday

Happy day, then sad, then surprising. Stick with the happy. Your enthusiasm can have a major influence for the good on someone who is discouraged, tired or disappointed. Your enthusiasm helps others. Definitely engage in spiritual activity. Be especially careful of what you eat today, there is the potential of coming across spoiled food. Be discriminating if you eat out in a restaurant, and if you prepare your own food don’t let it sit out. You become more energetic as the day progresses and don’t want to go to bed early. Try to be moderate and you’ll be glad tomorrow morning when it’s time to wake up.

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!

Refuge and Bodhicitta

May 8, 2010 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

From the ” Path of the Bodhisattva
A Collection of Thirty-Seven Practices”

Until the heart of enlightenment is realized,
I take refuge in all the Buddhas.

Likewise, I take refuge in the dharma
and the bodhisattvas and their assemblies.

Just as the sugatas of the past
aroused the awakened mind of bodhicitta

and trained in the way of the bodhisattvas
to gradually accomplish the stages of development,

similarly, for the benefit and purpose of beings,
by awakening bodhicitta and

training in the conduct of the bodhisattvas,
I shall gradually develop on the levels of training.

(repeat three times)

Today I have picked the fruit of this lifetime.
The meaning of this human existence is now realized.

Today I am born into the family of the Buddhas
and have become an heir of the enlightened ones!

Now, no matter what occurs hereafter,
my activities will be in conscientious accord with the family,

and I shall never engage in conduct that could
possibly sully this faultless family!

Like a blind man in a heap of refuse,
suddenly, by chance, finding a precious jewel,

similarly, this occasion is such that
today I have given rise to the awakened mind!

Today, before all of my objects of refuge,
the sugatas, as well as all beings,

I call to bear witness where the guests of this occasion —
the devas, the titans, and others — all join together to rejoice!

The precious bodhicitta,
if unborn, may it arise;

when generated, may it never diminish,
and may it always remain ever-increasing!

Never apart from bodhicitta,
engaged in the conduct of the awakened ones,

being held fast by all of the Buddhas,
may all demonic activities be fully abandoned!

May all the bodhisaattvas
accomplish the welfare of others, according to their wisdom mind’s intentions.

Whatever wisdom intention these protectors may have,
may it come to pass for all sentient beings.

May all sentient beings be endowed with bliss,
may all the lower realms be permanently emptied!

May all the bodhisattvas, on whatever bhumi they remain,
fully accomplish all of their aspirations!

An Excerpt from: PATH OF THE BODHISATVA A collection of the 37 practices by Shantideva

May 8, 2010 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

From the Master Shantideva: For when with irreversible intent the mind embraces Bodhicitta with a willingness to set free the endless multitudes of beings, at that instant and from that moment onward, a great and unremitting stream, a strength of wholesome merit, even during sleep and inattention, rises equal to the vastness of the sky. For like the supreme substance of the alchemists, it takes the the impure form of human flesh and makes of it the priceless body of a Buddha. Such is Bodhicitta; we must firmly embrace it!

Acting only in their own self-interest, the shravakas and pratyekabuddhas exert themselves as though extinguishing fires in their own own heads. How much more then should the Bodhisattva undertake to practice diligence, the source of all qualities that serve to benefit others. This is the way of bodhisattva practice.

Astrology

May 8, 2010 by Norma

5/8/2010 Saturday

A joke teller hurts someone’s feelings today. If that’s you apologize to your tenderhearted friend. A romantic wants to believe the best of everyone and is practically asking to be teased, but hold back. The mystic is happier than the cynic in this situation and probably more right on about things too. Albert Camus said, “I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn’t, than to live my life as if there isn’t and die to find out there is.” Trust, believe, you’re probably right, and if you aren’t at least you’re happy!

Astrology

May 7, 2010 by Norma

5/7/2010 Friday

Dreamy day! Inspiration and possibilities seem everywhere. You have meaningful conversations and your emotions are diffuse enough to penetrate mysteries. An inspired thought or conversation goes deeply into the situation at hand. You may become enchanted by a charming person. Someone amuses and intrigues you. Enjoy yourself, have fun (you deserve it), but don’t try to tie anyone down. Remember William Blake’s caution, “He who binds himself to a joy Does the winged life destroy; But he who kisses the joy as it flies Lives in eternity’s sunrise.” Good advice.

Astrology

May 6, 2010 by Norma

5/6/2010 Thursday

Spend time with good friends or groups today. You have been pulled away from your chums and today you reconnect. Go to a movie, relax, have a meal out. A dreamy vibration is present. Pay attention to your imagination and your dreams. In this instance information comes to you from many directions, rational and mysterious. You can invent something or have an “aha” moment. Learn how to use a new machine or gizmo that you thought was not for you. A new door opens.

Astrology

May 5, 2010 by Norma

5/5/2010 Wednesday

A bit of a bumpy stretch appears today. A disagreement is best negotiated in private. Be generous toward the person who is spending time on business or financial matters, that person needs a break. Things seem aggravating and frustrating, but a bit of rest and fun changes everything. Something looked at too long can become confusing, and the obvious becomes incomprehensible. Pull back and you will see the solution. The great Albert Einstein said, “The only really valuable thing is intuition.” Relax, use your intuition, and the answer comes. Someone can tell a joke that holds the answer.

Astrology

May 4, 2010 by Norma

5/4/2010 Tuesday

Inspiration, excitement and real progress characterize the events of this day. You are serious minded yet inclined to see the good side of things. Head toward the wide open spaces, look outward and upward and you will feel relaxed. This is a working day. You are busy moving forward and mediating the activities of the day. Progress is made, good job! And, of all things, love is in the wings. Just when you least expected it! Accept the friendship and love that comes your way, it is sincere.

The Nyingma Lineage

November 1, 2011May 3, 2010 by Holly

The following is a brief synopsis of the Nyingma lineage and some key terms:

“Nyingma” means “Ancient Ones” and is sometimes referred to as the Ancient Translation School. It is the oldest of the four remaining Buddhist lineages in Tibet, the others being Kagyu, Sakya and Gelugpa. There are different lineages because of different historical transmissions of the Dharma from India to Tibet. The Nyingma transmissions of the 8^th and 9^th c. came primarily through Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), Vimalamitra, and Shantarakshita (Khenpo Bodhisattva). Two characteristics distinguish the Nyingma from the other lineages: dividing the path into nine vehicles (the highest vehicle, Dzogchen, or the Great Perfection, is also unique to Nyingma), and the revelatory teachings of terma.

Terms to Know

Hinayana: The “lesser vehicle” compromising the overt teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha on ethics, concentration and meditation which produce the result of an Arhat or “enemy destroyer” (one who has overcome the enemies of hatred, greed, and ignorance)

Mahayana: The “greater vehicle,” or path of the bodhisattvas. This path comprises teachings both given by Shakyamuni Buddha both overtly and in more secret ways, which were later revealed by Nagarjuna and Asaga. Motivated by the compassionate intention to lead all sentient beings out of samsara, the bodhisattva follows a more profound set of ethics, concentration, and meditation according to the teachings on the six perfections: generosity, ethics, patience, perseverance, concentration, and meditation. This path leads ultimately to liberation as a fully enlightened Buddha.

Vajrayana: The “indestructible vehicle.” Sometimes called the path of secret mantra or the tantrayana. This is a path of meditation and yogic techniques designed to radically accelerate the time it takes to purify the mind of obscurations and karmic defilements. Those who accomplish this path are called siddhas – it also leads swiftly to the state of Buddhahood.

Tantra: Essentially the same as Vajrayana, but listed separately to remove some confusion. In the Western spiritual marketplace, tantra is sold as a method for achieving spiritual bliss through sexual union. Though such teachings exist in the anuyoga canon of the Nyingma, they are very rarely practiced, and require a yogi and yogini who have completely transcended ordinary desire, received the permission and proper transmissions from a qualified lama, and are for the purpose of subtle purification, not ordinary blissful feelings. Anything else is a corruption, and spiritually pointless.

The word tantra means “continuity” and refers to the continuous uninterrupted perfection inherent in all phenomena. It therefore refers to those teachings that take such a view as the basis for practice. Tantra is also used as a word for the actual text in which such teachings are written.

Kama: The orally transmitted teachings of sutra and tantra translated at the time of Padmasambhava and Vimalamitra.

Terma: Literally means “treasure.” It refers to the teachings and sacred objects hidden by Guru Rinpoche and his consort Yeshe Tsogyal to be discovered at the appropriate time for their beneficial use. They include both physical and non-physical treasures (“sa-ter,” or earth treasures, and “gong-ter,” or mind treasures).

Terton: Means “treasure revealer,” or one who discovers terma. All tertons are the prophesied incarnations of one of Guru Rinpoche’s 25 heart disciples. Tertons have been revealing terma from the 10^th c. to the present day.

Mahayoga: The “generation stage” of practice. This is the first level of inner tantra corresponding to the seventh of the nine Nyingma vehicles.

Anuyoga: The “completion stage” of practice. This is the second level of inner tantra, corresponding to the eighth of the nine Nyingma vehicles.

Atiyoga: The “great perfection stage” of practice, also known as Dzogchen (a contraction of dzogpa chenpo). This is the ninth of the nine Nyingma vehicles, which itself has three divisions. The third is called “mengagde,” or esoteric instructions. This is divided into two practice methods: trekchod and togyal.

Important Names

Padmasambhava: This means “the lotus-born.” He is also known as Guru Rinpoche. He was the emanation of Shakyamuni Buddha appearing for the purpose of propagating the Vajrayana teachings. Dwelling in India for 1,000 years, he went to Tibet at the invitation of King Trisong Deutsen, tamed all the negative non-physical forces, established the first monastery (Samye Ling), extensively taught a select few disciples, and left hidden spiritual teachings and objects (terma) for the benefit of future generations.

Trisong Deutsen: King of Tibet in the 8^th and 9^th c. who had unified the country. Wishing to establish the Dharma in Tibet, he invited many great masters from India, chief among them being Padmasambhava, Vimalamitra, and Shantarakshita. He sponsored the translation of the entire Buddhist canon from Sanskrit to Tibetan, thus ensuring its safety.

Vimalamitra: Invited by Trisong Deutsen specifically to bring the inner tantra teachings, in particular Dzogchen. This body of teachings is known as the Vima Nyingthig, or “heart essence of Vimalamitra.”

Shantarakshita: Abbot of Nalanda, the greatest Buddhist University in India, invited by King Trisong Deutsen to establish Tibet’s first monastery. When he could not accomplish this, he was the one who recommended inviting Padmashambhava. He established the hinayana and Mahayana teachings, giving profound guidance to the first Tibetan monks, as well as the general lay population.

Yeshe Tsogyal: Daughter of Trisong Deutsen, a wisdom Dakini who was given to Padmasambhava by the king. She became Padmasambhava’s chief consort and closest disciple. Having perfect recall, she recorded all his teachings and helped conceal them as terma for future generations.

For more information about Buddhism, visit tara.org.

Recommended Reading:

The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche
Lineage of Diamond Light, Crystal Mirror 5, Dharma Publishing
Masters of the Nyingma Lineage, Crystal Mirror 11, Dharma Publishing
The Lotus-Born, Yeshe Tsogyal
Guru Rinpoche: His Life and Times, Ngawang Zangpo
Masters of Meditation and Miracles, Tulku Thondup
Crazy Wisdom, Chogyam Trungpa
Sky Dancer, Keith Dowman
Buddhist Masters of Enchantment, Keith Dowman
Dakini Teachings, Yeshe Tsogyal
Advice from the Lotus Born, Padmasambhava
The Lives and Liberation of Princess Mandarava, Sangye Khandro

The Suffering of Yushu

November 1, 2011May 3, 2010 by anisonam

For some remarkable pictures of the earthquake damage in Yushu and recovery efforts, go to http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/yushu_earthquake_12_days_later.html.
Caution: some very graphic content. Also, be sure to read the comments.

To get some idea of the situation in Yushu County, Tibetans make up 97.25% of the population while Han Chinese only 2.56%. Other nationalities only make up less than 1%. This does not include some 50-60,000 nomads who do not live permanently in Yushu.

From Collective Responsibility:

As news of the Yushu earthquake disappears from the world’s front pages, survivors’ needs increase. Those in Yushu still lack blankets and tents. Temperatures are dropping and there is insufficient fuel for cooking and heating. Yushu has no electricity and is still in darkness. People have only meager food supplies and are drinking water from unsafe sources.

* A jacket costs 2 USD.
* A blanket costs 2.40 USD.
* A toothbrush costs 0.15 USD.
* One ton of coal costs 51 USD.
* 20 * 500ml bottled water 2.20 USD.
* Flashlight: 2.90 USD.

If you can make even a small donation, please visit: www.yushuearthquakeresponse.org

Apart from the needs of those in Yushu, patients and their families in Xining are also suffering.

Below are the number of patients in Qinghai hospitals:

* Qinghai Province People’s Hospital: 186 patients
* Armed Police Number Four Hospital: 83 patients
* Qinghai Province Red Cross Hospital: 69 patients
* Qinghai University Hospital: 172 patients
* Qinghai Province People’s Second Hospital: 127 patients
* Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Hospital: 18 patients

This total of 655 people does not include accompanying family members.

Below are accounts written by Xining students describing the situation here and in Yushu.

Tashi:
I received information about the earthquake from my brother who is a teacher in Yushu. At about 5:00 a.m on the fourteenth of April a low magnitude quake woke people up, but many people then went back to sleep. Later that morning the big earthquake came. At that time many students were reciting lessons outside, by the walls of the school buildings. They were crushed when the walls fell on them. Some female students were going to the cafeteria to collect boiling water to make instant noodles, and the cafeteria collapsed and killed them. Despite all these terrible things, many people survived. They did not have any food for three days. After three days, instant noodles arrived and the people, almost starving, happily ate them. Now people are cold; they don’t have enough clothes, or blankets, or anywhere to stay.

Rinchen
I went to the hospital to help earthquake victims. Although I am Tibetan I couldn’t communicate very well with the patients because we speak different dialects. Nonetheless we could understand each other. People are just bringing them bread to eat and water to drink. They need some good food. The clerks at the hospital told me that many people are volunteering, but they still need qualified, professional, helpers.

Drolma
I went to the hospital to volunteer with my classmates – we spent one night there. There were many patients in the hospital. Some of the patients could not move, eat, drink, or go to the toilet by themselves. When people were awake they were nervous and when they were asleep they had nightmares. One man I helped had bruises all over his face and he couldn’t move his legs. The patients in the hospital still don’t have any clean clothes and what they are wearing has already become dirty and caked with blood.
Tsomo
Three of my female classmates are from Yushu. After the terrible earthquake they lost many relatives and friends, not to mention property. Luckily their parents are still alive. Now those three women are working busily in the hospital, day and night. They have been staying up all night to help the patients from their hometown and cannot attend classes as usual. When they come back to school from the hospital they just fall on the bed and sleep. Patients in the hospital have nothing now. I hope many warm-hearted people will stretch out their hands to help them.

Lumo
There is a girl from Yushu in the dorm room next to mine. She lost her mother in the earthquake. Since then she often calls out her mother’s name and cries. Sometimes she stays silent for a long time. We don’t know how to comfort her. Sometimes we want to talk about it with her, but maybe that will only make it worse. That girl is still going to classes, but she just sits there and we don’t know if she really knows what is going on her around her.

Tsering and Tsemdo
We talked to one earthquake survivor who helped us to distribute supplies we took to Yushu from Xining. He told us, “I woke up when the earthquake occurred at around 5 a.m. I knew that an earthquake was occurring and wanted to get up but I felt very sleepy and stayed in bed. My wife also felt very sleepy and stayed in bed. We were never so sleepy in our whole life – it was very strange. When an earthquake occurred again at 7:49 a.m., our house shook and I woke up. The house continued to shake and I grabbed hold of my grandson and wife, jumped up from bed, and ran outside. Our house collapsed just as I stepped out of the door. Something heavy hit my head and I passed out. When I woke up I could barely see because my vision was blurry. As my sight came back I could only see dust. I heard the sound of houses collapsing. After the earthquake, my daughter and son-in-law were trapped in the rubble and died but the rest of the family was OK. Many other people have died.”