pride | Tibetan Buddhist Altar

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

Some of them are prideful, full of themselves in a way that precludes actual opening. Like cigar smoke in a furnished room makes a man.

Some are like Nero, madly playing in the bubble of delusion while samsara burns. Burns.

Some are ignorance. Like eyes watching a world of smoke and mirrors, totally orchestrated by madness.

Some are mechanical, reactive, tight. With a prototype protective covering, no one will notice they are not quite human.

For some it means nothing. Awake, asleep – shallow and deep. Up and high or on the fly – maybe you can’t help it. Or maybe I can’t.

Some go evil. Manipulation is evil. Like raising my kids. No one can discipline unless they have birthed and loved, wanted the best for them, I believe. And stick with that.

And the killers? Just keep them from harming more. I don’t care if they watch cable , swim, and have massage all day.

I wish we could all sit down and pray,

make offerings in some peaceful way,

for our selfishness we could offer light

no reason to fight.

Listen, we can do this,

we can blow right through this,

if we never take our minds off what’s right- Ja!

I could go on all night! Hallelujah and Amen!

The following is an excerpt from “Dakini Teachings: A Collection of Padmasambhava’s Advice to the Dakini Yeshe Tsogyal”

“Self Conceit:

Master Padma said: These so-called Dharma practitioners have great
ambition in their arrogance and self conceit.

The lady asked: What does that mean?

The master said: Some have self conceit regarding themselves as possessing knowledge in learning and teaching.
Some have self conceit regarding themselves as pious and practicing the Dharma.
Some have self conceit regarding themselves as meditators who live in the solitude of mountain dwellings.
Some have self conceit regarding themselves as powerful and as having great abilities.
Some yearn like a carnivorous animal smelling blood seeing wealth or a desirable object.
When seeing something that is undesirable or harmful, they run away like a wild yak set free.
They are fascinated by their own virtues as when they behold the eye of a peacock feather.
They envy the virtues of others like a watchdog guarding property.
In any case, these conceited Dharma practitioners are their own archenemy. I feel pity for such ignorant people who are in the grasp
of Mara.”