December, 2011 | Tibetan Buddhist Altar

Astrology

December 3, 2011 by Norma

Go to the beach, a movie or a concert today. Visit a sick friend or relative. Tender feelings drive you; you are easily swayed by suffering and you want to help. Remake a decision, recommit to a cause, and you will be happy. An edgy irritability is in the air, so don’t challenge others. Apologize promptly if someone complains and you’ll head off trouble. Of course, you don’t want to. You, and others, are in the mood to lecture and debate. You want to tell people how they should feel and what they should believe. Don’t bother. Instead, enjoy your good reputation and good friends. Epictetus said “Seek not good from without; seek it within yourselves or you will never find it.”

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!

Nourishing With Love #OccupyLove

December 2, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo preparing a feast for Occupy DC:

I’m now starting to make giant pans of roasted root vegetables to be brought to #OccupyDC, to be delivered for their supper. Also trays of meat loaf, yummy stuff!

We will take it for tomorrow’s supper. And we still need tarps, sleeping bags, blankets, gloves.

OK, the root vegetables are roasting now! However, we bought way too manyvegetables. Huge pots all used up! What to do with the rest? Have carrots, potatoes with eyes already removed, onions, and celery. So, does anyone want to make a dish For #OccupyDC?

Now we are finishing the veggie pile and I’m making the base for Italian style soup. Three women cooking together. I love it!

Now the gigantic pot of soup is done. It smells awesome. I need to set up armed guards…

What a lovely evening, it is beautiful to cook for others who don’t often eat well. The eyes, the smiles, the little sighs. Gifts. It has been a great pleasure. Tomorrow night, a feast at #OccupyDC! Come on if you are hungry or cold. We will fill tummys and hearts! #OWS

Keep Your Practice Alive: Full Length Video Teaching

December 2, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

For us in the west the most important part of Dharma practice is within your heart. Practicing the foundational thoughts that turn the mind will help you keep that alive.

Letting Go of Hate

December 2, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

You have heard that hatred is a primary cause for suffering, so you may say: “First, I want to be free of hatred.” Don’t you often say that? But hatred remains. Why? Because you will willingly let go only of the things that obviously cause suffering. For instance, you will not be involved in wars. Yet this is no great credit to you. Oh, it is some indication that you are progressing on your path, but butterflies don’t wish to go to war either—and they don’t even have the potential to know the Nature of Mind.

Where is this hatred that you wish to be rid of? It resides deep within some subconscious levels of your mind. It also hides. Though you decide to rid yourself of hatred, you compulsively want to hold something back for your own. Hatred you want to be rid of, but you also want to hold on to a particular prejudice against someone or something. You want to maintain an active set of opinions about the qualities and personalities of others. You want to be the one who is right. You want to be the favorite—but this, of course, can only happen if others are not. On the conscious level you pledge your life to be without hatred, but still you have not overcome your dependency on the data given to you by the five senses. You give with one hand and hold back with the other.

The five perceptions are born of desire; this results in all karmic suffering. Your job is to renounce your participation in this process to the very depth of your capacity and then take refuge in the five celestial perceptions, the components of the Buddha in the world, the five pathways to liberation. If you run from the facts of your existence, you will miss your opportunity. You must decide from the depth of your being that you truly wish to be free of hatred in all its forms. Make every conscious effort, realizing that that will not be enough. For instance, it is not enough to think positively: that only makes your hatred more subliminal. Instead, take absolute refuge in the Buddha’s teaching. Make fervent wishing prayers to be free of hatred. Make many different offerings that this might be accomplished, wishing sincerely to be free of pride and the demons of the five senses. Then practice and live the Buddha’s teaching.

There is no suffering you cannot be free of. You hold in your hands a precious wish-fulfilling jewel, a magic carpet, celestial food. You need not be imprisoned within the demonic confines of your five senses when at last you have dedicated yourself to realizing the nature of the five goddesses. The degree to which you have devotion will determine the speed of your victory.

Astrology

December 2, 2011 by Norma

Tender feelings are present today. It’s best to keep them hidden and only express them in private. Relationships are tricky. Some folks will joke and tactlessly hurt feelings, and others will criticize everything and hurt feelings. Be aware of the role you are playing in this. This is the worst possible day to tell someone how you “really feel.” If the dilemma already happened, carefully explain what you meant if you’ve done the wounding. FaithBaldwinsaid “Time is a dressmaker specializing in alterations.” Make alterations today. Once this is over get back to work, which is still the best game in town these days.

Attain Your Potential

December 1, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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

Haha! Someone made my day today. I’ve been described as a rigid, Lineage-loving, “tow the line” Buddhist, and I couldn’t be more delighted! These same folks used to say I wasn’t real Palyul, or a real Buddhist, that my throne and crown were faked, and I was never really enthroned. Even with the video, papers, real throne and real crown and real cape. It is a riot!

I guess it shows if someone wants to hate, they will find a way and a reason. This is why lies and slander are so hurtful. It is mostly not true, and there is an agenda of hate or envy. Both are strong non-virtues, and mean spirited. The lesson here is hypocrisy and cowardice. It is so easy to judge and prey on another behind a computer, a wall of safety, maybe far away. Haters deliver lies, have few ethics and no compassion.

But they probably wouldn’t do it without the computer. If we look into each other’s eyes and hearts we see human suffering. Look deeper, we see ourselves. Some people have a lot of feelings around failure, having not contributed much. That is changeable. We can still do good works. There is no reason to play the failure tape over repeatedly in our thinking until it rots into hate. Just don’t compare yourself with anyone – period, end of story. And it looks pathetic if you do that and then flip into announcing your “realization” or that there is no true Enlightenment other than your own “take” on it, or your squirrely thinking will make the grade, somehow.

Just get out there and benefit sentient beings. They are real, and are crying. Feed the poor, love, heal, animal rescue, care for homeless, it is all here for you to do. So get out there. After you wash the feet and warm the tummies and offer comfort, you aren’t dead yet. The disenfranchised need you…us.

I will offer a grand Christmas this year: dinner, care, and a tiny gift for all. Then I’m broke. And happy! Come out with us! #OccupyLOVE #OWS

Be real. Be real. Then no one can call you anything but necessary. Because you (we) have seen their eyes, and there is the truth. They are us. We are them. And no Bodhisattva can be free or happy until we care for, and love them. Our brothers, our sisters, all. This is the way, and the secret. Love. Yes, love. Until you are empty. Then you have attained your potential.

#OccupyDC #OWS #PEACE÷Occupation #PALYUL

Keeping Heart Samaya: Full Length Video Teaching

December 1, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is a full length video teaching called “Keeping Heart Samaya” offered by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo at Kunzang Palyul Choling:

Ending the Guru Yoga retreat, Jetsunma talks of the responsibilities on the part of the student and the teacher to continue the connection between them.

Astrology

December 1, 2011 by Norma

Dreamland! You wish you could stay asleep all day today, but alas you can’t. Give yourself a slow start. It’ll take a while to get going. Try to remember dreams or intuitions that come to you early in the day, they can give you an important hint about your life. Do all you can to sidestep a disagreement with someone who is worried. Listen carefully and patiently, and be sure you understand the facts. This person may just need to talk and air concerns. Speaking of worries can let them dissipate naturally. If you offer pointed advice, expect to have to eat your words later. An obsession or attraction is growing stronger. Joan Crawford said “Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your heart or burn down your house, you can never tell.” Be careful, and be respectful of the relationships you already have.