December, 2011 | Tibetan Buddhist Altar

Astrology

December 21, 2011 by Norma

Work hard to finish up a job and you’ll be satisfied with the final result. Something from a distance is wrapping up, and the urge to moralize against yourself or others is very strong. Wait it out early today because a sudden event changes everything and you are dealing with a whole new issue. A friend or group takes a surprising position and someone is knocked off a perch. Do not put up an argument if that someone is you as the situation will change again. From a different perspective, friends appear to express their affection and this is equally surprising. The general rule today is that it’s best to blend in with the crowd. Don’t be a target. Taro Gold said “Everything abides by the law of cause and effect.”

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!

Go Beyond Safety to Live: Full Length Video Teaching

December 20, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is a full length video teaching offered by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo at Kunzang Palyul Choling:

Using the example of Mandarava whose love for her Guru and the path was so strong that even a rock could not hold her from that – Jetsunma talks about the western belief that we should be in control at all times. This renders us unable to truly love. We will benefit from allowing that love and passion to be our guide.

Where is the Heart?

December 20, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

You need to determine for yourself, “Did I choose this to be what it is? And have I gone through the entire process? And do I know what I’m thinking? Or not.” It is not about being true to the guru. It’s not like you’re married and can’t go out with anybody else. It’s not like that. Being true to yourself: you have this opportunity. Let this be the one arena in which you do not do the little neurotic dance. Let this be the one area in which you accept the responsibility of watching the relationship with one’s teacher as though one were watching a display of one’s own mind on an external projection thing, like a TV. Able to learn about oneself, able to determine.

And so this experience, then, the relationship with one’s teacher, becomes extremely useful and extremely pure. There is no exerting of one will over the other. That’s not what’s happening here. It is the development of a pure understanding, free of the usual habitual tendency and contrivance that we engage in. We all do this. We all do this. I even find myself doing this. Sometimes I’ll think, “Oh, god, it’s been too long since I’ve called my teacher. I’ve gotta call him.” That’s so ridiculous, so ridiculous to think like that. And then also to think, “Oh, maybe he’ll be mad at me when I call him. Maybe it’s been too long.” It’s so ridiculous. Completely ridiculous. Because instead you should be asking yourself, “In my continuum, in my mindstream, where is my teacher? What is that? Where is the light of my heart? Is it there? Is it free to be exactly what it can be? Or have I superimposed all of my ideas about relationships on it? Is it time now, in a natural way, do I need to hear the voice of my teacher? Do I need to feel that connection again? Do I need to tell him that his efforts with me have not been wasteful, that I am carrying on his wishes, that I’m doing my best to please him by benefiting sentient beings?” Something like that. Where is the light of my life? That’s the true relationship in there. It doesn’t matter what you do on the outside.

As a teacher, the thing I hate worst in the world is the student that does a whole lot of this, and none of this. It’s not in there. It’s not happening. I mean, boys and girls, I hate to tell you, most of the teachers and myself included, were not born under a rock. They know the difference. So where is the heart? That’s what it’s really about, isn’t it? Where is the heart?

In that way, if you practice purely in that way–and I found this to be truth for me–I know that this is true personally on a deep level. If I practice like that, then my teacher teaches me constantly, whether he is here or not. My teacher teaches me through you, constantly. Don’t even go there! Thinking that now you’re going to be a teacher! Don’t even think it! I saw that little “Oh, yeah, I can do that!” No, it’s true, my teacher teaches me through you. I get to see, I learn so much, through you. I watch how your minds play with things. I watch how you respond to things. I watch how you let go, how you get caught up, and I learn about myself, of course. Of course. And I also learn about the power of the Three Precious Jewels. I have watched them transform lives–unbelievable. Unbelievable!

Astrology

December 20, 2011 by Norma

A private message or bit of news comes your way. It is valuable, but keep quiet about what you know. Your trustworthiness is being tested, don’t flunk. It’s as though you have x-ray vision into people and things. Use your newfound awareness to help others and a greater cause but do no harm. On a different front, creativity is highlighted, hunches are right on target and a partnership is stabilizing. An old loss comes to mind. Make peace with this situation now while you still have time, no stalling. A Korean proverb says “Put something off for one day, and 10 days will pass”; or a lifetime.

Dharma For Today – Outside the Box: Full Length Video Teaching

December 19, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is a full length video teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo offered at Kunzang Palyul Choling:

The times are getting darker, and in order to benefit beings we need to come up with creative ways of reaching them. One of those ways is the 24-hour prayer vigil – an American Drupchen. Another is mantra in music. His Holiness Penor Rinpoche has said “mantra is indestructible” – so those who hear it receive blessings no matter how unusual.

Dharmakaya

December 19, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

665121387_fk49q-S — Guru Rinpoche Rainbow Body

From The Spiritual Path: A Compilation of Teachings by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

It is not enough to visualize the form of a teacher or lama, thinking that you see only a man or a woman. Such a shallow perception does not put you in touch with what is truly happening. In fact, it causes virtually all the value and function of the lama to be lost to you. Guru Rinpoche comes to us as a direct emanation of the Dharmakaya Buddha, Amitabha. The nature of Amitabha is non-dual. The Dharmakaya is clear, crystalline, uncontrived. It is mind as it is—without limitation or conceptualization of any kind.

This is difficult to understand because we have never had a direct experience of our essential nature. Even our moments of deepest meditation—of what we might call Samadhi—are merely intermediate stages, not to be misconstrued as the ultimate, true realization that occurs when one reaches liberation from all conceptualization. The nature of mind is much like a crystal: clear and uncontrived. It has no sense of self and other. Its nature is such that it can reflect all forms of emanation, and there is nothing that is separate from that all-pervading mind. From that nature, Guru Rinpoche is born. Guru Rinpoche can be understood as a form of the Dharmakaya that is visible to our eyes. He can also be understood, more correctly, as the result of the all-pervading compassion of that mind. If it were possible for the Dharmakaya to reveal itself in some form, that form would be, and is, Guru Rinpoche.

The nature of Dharmakaya is compassion, but not as we usually think of it. Humans generally understand compassion to be directed toward a certain object, for example: “I feel compassion for you.” In our language, that means, “I am sorry for you.” True compassion, in the nature of mind—in Dharmakaya—is quite different. It is objectless. It is not directed toward any specific other, and thus it is all pervading. Why is it not directed toward any specific other? Because in the nature of true mind there is no other. If this all-pervading nature, in its non-dual reality, considers that there is no other, then it must fully embrace and never keep itself away from any object. That is true compassion because it is unconditional.

Such compassion cannot be earned or bought; nor can it be destroyed. It is the nature of the primordial mind. There is nothing you can do to distance yourself from this mind, which is your true nature. You can cover it up by developing thoughts of duality, contrivance, and judgment. You can create so much non-virtue that you fail to perceive that nature, but you cannot distance yourself from it. It is still your nature, unaltered and indestructible. That which is seemingly far away is therefore quite close; in fact, it is non-dual with all that you are.

Astrology

December 19, 2011 by Norma

Your greatest wish is to make peace, and you will with a man and an authority figure. Yet something eludes you, and you fear punishment or loss of approval. This will not happen. You are busily dealing with your own habitual tendencies. Think carefully and you’ll recognize that you’ve seen this pattern before; trying hard to do the right thing and then making a mistake. But cheer up, what you thought would bring loss does in fact bring gain. George Harrison said “When you’ve seen beyond yourself, then you may find peace of mind is waiting there.” Somebody out there sees the situation more clearly than you, and all is well.

You Can Make a Better Future: Full Length Video Teaching

December 18, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is a full length video teachings offered by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo at Kunzang Palyul Choling:

Every minute counts. Every mantra counts. Every time you engage in self-honesty, it will bring benefit beyond measure. Every time you are compassionate toward others, you insure a better future.

Astrology

December 18, 2011 by Norma

A diplomatic gesture falls flat, is rebuffed. Someone is in a bad mood and doesn’t want to be bothered. Go back and restate your case, appealing to ethics and good will, and you will succeed. On a different front, an attempt at glamour or sophistication misses the mark. Try not to have a party today. Either people won’t come, or else they won’t enjoy each other. A partnership is in trouble, and it’s due to lack of consideration for each other’s sensitivities. There is a fortunate escape hatch today, however. If your partner isn’t happy, go out and do something in public. You’ll both be so pleased with how it goes; you’ll give it another chance. Happiness comes in small surprises today. Benjamin Franklin said “Human felicity is produced not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen, as by little advantages that occur everyday.”

A Place of Refuge

December 17, 2011December 17, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

Tashi Delek! I have been invited to take refuge in retreat land in New York by Palyul,where I can do retreat. William L Cassidy will be free. My family and I, land and accomplishment are now unsafe. Palyulis my faith, life and conviction His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, His Holiness Karma Kuchen, His Holiness Ngawang Tenzin, and Muksang Rinpoche have been kind to me. I will go underground for safety while Cassidy is loose.

OM TARE TUTARE TURE PUNYE PUSHTIM AH YOU PUSHTIM KURU YE SOHA