Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

Have Fun and Help Support the Garuda Aviary

by

Garuda Aviary

Aviary for Neglected Birds Hosts Day of Fun and Learning

Enjoy a day of fun, food and entertainment to learn about and support the Garuda Aviary, a non-profit lifelong shelter for abused, neglected and abandoned companion birds. The event will take place on the grounds of Tibetan Buddhist Temple, Kunzang Palyul Choling (KPC) on Saturday, June 22, 2013 from 12 noon to 4:00pm.

A number of the colorful aviary birds will be on view in their outdoor flight cage for all to see, weather permitting. Talks focused on the plight of captured exotic birds will be presented.

Live entertainment will be presented by musical group “Crosswinds”, playing an eclectic mix of hits from the 60’s through today. This family friendly event will also feature children’s activities, and a variety of foods, including kid favorites such as hot dogs and a sampling of vegetarian and non-vegetarian entrees. There will also be a bake sale.

All proceeds will benefit the parrots and birds of the aviary. It takes an average of $19 per bird, per month to feed the birds their diet of fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts, in addition to medical and facility expenses.

The aviary was created by Spiritual Director of KPC Buddhist Temple , Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo, starting with one neglected Moluccan Cockatoo.  Now, the aviary houses more than 55 birds, including several types of Macaws and Cockatoos, African Gray parrots, Amazon parrots and Conures.

Parrots have the social and intellectual development of a 2 to 5 year old child, and a potential lifespan of about 80 years or more.  Because many people who purchase birds are ill-prepared for such a long, intensive commitment, parrots are often the subjects of mistreatment and neglect. To ensure that the cycle of suffering for the birds is broken, Garuda Aviary does not adopt out its parrots and instead provides a sanctuary until the end of their natural lives.

All are welcome to be a part of this fun and educational event. Admission is free. The location is 18400 River Road, Poolesville, MD 20837. For more information, contact [email protected], call 301-710-6259 or visit  www.garudaaviary.org.

 

A Way to Help KPC DoMore24

by

Dear Friends,

Today is DoMore24 Day–a one-day fundraising campaign for nonprofits based in the Washington DC area. Local DC organizations in our area (almost 1,000!) are competing for funds awarded by DoMore24 Day, $75,000 $99,000 worth!
What a win-win situation this is for everyone. For those nonprofits who do not win the additional awards, they are still raising needed funds for their organization. Either situation results in a tax-deductible donation for the donor.

We are excited to participate in DoMore24 as part of our ongoing fundraising efforts at KPC.  You can learn more about our efforts atwww.tara.org

Be part of this fun event! You can support our efforts here. With your help, we have a chance at winning our share of the rewards. Not located in DC? No problem! The only requirement is for the non-profit to be in the DC area.
*** UPDATE *** ***UPDATE*** ***UPDATE***
Today during the DoMore24 Day campaign, the servers were unable to keep up with the outpouring of generosity! The result? See below:
“The United Way of the National Capital Area Gives 24 more! You will have 24 more hours to raise funds. Now, the campaign will end tomorrow, June 7 at 11:59 pm. And, we are giving you the opportunity to earn $24,000 in more awards.
We are awarding today’s ½ day award winner. Congratulations to Homeward Trails Animal Rescue Inc. who mobilized 306 donors by 12:00 pm on 6/6.
We are extending the following overall awards to be named at midnight on 6/7 (tomorrow). And, we have increased the above awards by $24,000.
Most donors $15,000
Most donors by sector (8 sectors) $4,000 each (INCREASED $1,500 each)
Most dollars $5,000
Most dollars by sector (8 sectors) $2,000 each (INCREASED $1,000 each)
ADDED – $4,000 for most donors at noon on 6/7 (tomorrow)”
We hope you enjoy being part of this fun-raiser!
Thank you for being part of our compassionate activities in the world.

The Process of Enchantment: Jamgön Kongtrul

by

samantabhadra

The following is respectfully quoted from “Treasury of Knowledge: Journey and Goal“

  • Once one has attained the experience of primordial unity that still requires training, one engages in conduct to attain the experience of primordial unity that requires no more training.

These three occasions are dependent on a certain level having been gained, for it is indeed the case that conduct becomes the primary emphasis once the meditative warmth of the stage of completion has been attained.

Thus there are five special occasions. It is not necessary for one to engage in conduct in order for an enlightened embodiment that is simply the unity of one’s subtle energy and mind to be achieved. The first two occasions, which are associated with more ordinary attainments, do not definitely require that one engage in conduct. It is the later two occasions that involve the necessity of one’s engaging in conduct.

Purpose [iii]

The purpose is that of ensuring complete accomplishment of the two kinds of spiritual attainment and of causing those attainments to flourish and swiftly be brought to consummation. Due to the specific variables concerning consorts (such as essence and number), one’s realization of the unity of supreme bliss and emptiness occurs in specific ways. [4.1.44.3]

Heart Advice on Saga Dawa Duchen 2013

by

The following is a full length video teaching offered by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo on Saga Dawa Duchen 2013. Kunzang Palyul Choling temple is currently closed for public assembly due to required renovations to meet Montgomery County, Maryland Use and Occupancy Codes. Read more about the situation here. 

Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Norbu Lhamo All rights reserved

Astrology

by

A closed door and an open door appear early today.  Take the open door and don’t look back longingly in the other direction. After that it’s “all systems go”!  Friends appear and machines of all sorts are helpful.  Cars, trains, electricity and computers move you in the right direction. All writing and communication is favorable.  Call or contact people, write books, articles, letters and memoranda.  If you aren’t communicating or listening you’re wasting the good energy. Take classes, attend lectures. Learn. Aristotle said “Learning is an ornament in prosperity, a refuge in adversity, and a provision in old age.” Attend friendly functions, spend time with siblings and neighbors.  Buy or lease a car.  Talk to the mailman. Look for people to encourage with friendly comments.

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!

Kün-zang La-may Zhal-Lung: Introduction by Sonam T. Kazi

by

Dza_Patrul_Rinpoche_500W

The following is respectfully quoted from an introduction to Kün-zang La-may Zhal-lung by translator Sonam T. Kazi:

It is a universal truth that it is extremely enjoyable to live in this phenomenal world. Nobody wants to part with worldly pleasure. It is also a universal truth that everything that conditionally exists, sooner or later, must face ultimate destruction. This is not a pessimistic view. It is a fact. As the pleasant dream we have about health, wealth, beauty, fame, love, affection, and so on suddenly begins to fail, our sorrow knows no bounds. It is then that some of us get puzzled and begin to question the true meaning of existence. When death comes nearer, terrified by the unknown changes we will have to face, we try, as a last resort, to seek the help of the gods, goddesses, and the like. But do we have any idea who they are? For, the potentially most useful times in our life are spent fishing, watching television, smoking, drinking, gossiping and so forth. Even the small amount of spiritual practice that we pretentiously do is adulterated with worldly interest.

However, those of us who are aware of this ultimate catastrophe, in time, search for a solution to transcend death. We visit all the available religious camps in the world. Some of us come across the Buddhist teaching called Dzog-ch’en, or Atiyoga, whose superlative virtues excite us so much that we totally forget the proper approach to it. It is logical that, just as a towering building must have an equally sound foundation, success in the ultimate realization through Dzog-ch’en teaching depends entirely on a thorough understanding of the law of karma at the relative level. Kün-zang La-may Zhal-lung explains how to attain the proper balance between the relative and absolute aspects of the practice in very simple language.

The Fifth Root Downfall of the Bodhisattva Vow

by

Offering

The following is respectfully quoted from a commentary on the Bodhisattva Vows by Geshi Tashi: http://www.bodhicitta.net/BODHISATTVAVOWS.htm

5.    Taking Offerings Intended for the Three Jewels

Taking offerings intended for the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha is considered a root downfall. Here the Buddha means any buddha image as well as the actual Buddha himself. At Jamyang we make many offerings to the big Buddha statue in the main gompa. Why is it so bad if you steal something from a statue? It is just a statue. Peter Griffin built it out of plaster. We all know that. But still, it is more than that. Within the statue are many, many mantras and there have been so many strong prayers made to the statue. So this is no longer just an object made by Peter. After he completed it many great masters such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Denma Locho Rinpoche have blessed it and many people, with sincere conviction, have made prayers in front of it. It is not just an image, it is an inspiration, and, for a Buddhist practitioner, it really represents the Buddha. 

So things offered to the Buddha’s image are offered to the Buddha. It is the same with any holy object – a statue, a stupa, a thanka. It is not as if the objects ‘own’ the offerings. But although there is no one who says, ‘This belongs to me’, taking those offerings is the same as stealing from a buddha. The offerings have been sincerely offered, so it is very important to learn how to handle those objects with great sensitivity. 

In the monastery, handling the monastery’s things is a very sensitive issue – not for only those monks who have the responsibility of looking after those things but also for people coming from outside. Traditionally, Tibetan people are very, very careful. Even when having a cup of tea in a monastery, they pay a lot of attention because the object they are using is really dedicated towards the Three Jewels, the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. This is true of any property that belongs to a community, but much more so a spiritual community such as a monastery or a Dharma centre.

It is a very sensitive point. When Nagarjuna was asked to become the monk in charge of the monastery property, he completely declined. There is a prayer which he wrote requesting not to be born in charge in a monastery because he saw how heavy a downfall it was if that property was mishandled.

People contribute things to Dharma centres with a sincere heart, really wishing to help the development of the community. Because places like this are such powerful objects, if we misuse their possessions we are creating a much heavier negativity than if we misuse a normal person’s possessions.

And of course, taking without permission is much, much heavier than if someone in charge gives you something and you misuse that.

It is the same with taking from the Sangha. ‘Sangha’ very strictly speaking refers to a person who has a direct realisation of emptiness, or more generally to fully ordained monks or nuns but very loosely speaking, Sangha can refer to people who are practising the spiritual path. It is very important to know how to use things which belong to that kind of community. 

WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com