Teachings

Liberating Mind

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An excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo from the Vow of Love series

What form will your compassion take? Making compassion your root commitment to sentient beings must take some form. How can you begin to do that? First, I recommend again that you be courageous enough to study the nature of suffering: how it has evolved, what it means, where it exists. See for yourself. Go through a logical thought process. What will bring about the end of suffering? If I did this and this and this and this, will suffering really end? What can the possible results be? Allow yourself to really go through an examination of suffering. Come to your own understanding of suffering so that you can decide what your next action must be. Allow yourself to think, “Well, if I did this good thing for somebody, or if I fed the world and got everybody out of poverty, what would the result be?” Follow this line of reasoning to its logical end, and see if there’s any specific action that you could take that would truly end suffering completely.

Then, think of the Buddha’s logic and try to understand what that might mean. What if what the Buddha says is true? What if hatred, greed and ignorance are the root causes for suffering? What if you could completely remove the seeds of suffering from the fabric of reality? What if it were possible, through the extensive practices given by the Buddha, to accomplish that for yourself first, and then reincarnate in a form by which you could benefit others by offering that same method again and again? Might that be a solution? It’s a slow one, but it’s a big universe. Is it possible that might work? According to the Buddha’s teaching, when you take a vow as a Bodhisattva, you vow to liberate your own mind from hatred, greed and ignorance. You vow to liberate your mind from the very idea of self-nature as being truly valid. You agree to liberate yourself from any form of desire, and you do that specifically so that you can return again and again, in whatever form necessary, in order to be of benefit to sentient beings. You agree to propagate the Dharma. It doesn’t mean that you become a born-again evangelist. It means that you reincarnate and allow yourself to return in whatever form necessary in order to bring teachings to beings that will finally help them out of the sea of delusion that comes from the belief in self.

You should contemplate this and think, “Is this solution really useful?” You have a couple of different options at that point. If you decide that the Buddha’s teaching is valid and useful, you can begin to develop aspirational compassion. Right now, if I were to say to you, “Do you want to help people? Do you want to help the world?” You’d say, “Yeah, I’m on! Look at what I’ve done. I’ve done a lot!” But I tell you, until we reach supreme enlightenment – and I’m talking about bona fide, rainbow-body, walk-on-the-water, supreme enlightenment – we must continue courageously to develop the mind of compassion in every moment. Until we can liberate the minds of others just through a breath, just through a glance, just through a moment of being with them, just through a prayer, we have not truly attained the liberating mind of compassion.

We must continue with this effort throughout all of our lives. Even though we may have the idea of compassion, we must develop aspirational compassion. We must aspire to be anything that would bring true and lasting benefit to beings. We must offer ourselves and our minds again and again and again. I think of one prayer of a Western Bodhisattva that touched me very much as a child, “Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.” That’s the kind of thought that we as Westerners must have within our minds. As we begin to become more comfortable with Eastern terminology, then we can think, “Let me be born in whatever form necessary, under any conditions in order that beings should not suffer. If there is the need for food, let me return as food. If there is the need for drink, let me return as drink. If there is a need for a teacher, let me return as the teacher. If there is a need for shade, let me return as the tree. If there is the need for love, let me return as arms.” You must continue to develop this idea in such a selfless way that it doesn’t matter to you in what form you can give this love.

Your job would be to liberate your mind to such an extent that you achieve realization through strenuous activity. Yes, the Dharma is difficult. Any path that promises to lead to enlightenment has to be difficult because it’s a long way from here. Let’s face it, any path that leads to bona fide, no-kidding, walk-on-the-water, rainbow-body enlightenment – I’m not talking about a psychological “a ha!,” I’m talking about the real juice – must be very involved, very profound.

So your first thought must be, “Let me then liberate my mind to such an extent that I achieve some realization, and then I wish to return in whatever form is necessary. May I be able to emanate in many bodies. May these emanations fill the earth, and, if necessary, one-on-one, through those emanations, let suffering be ended. Or if it can be done in some other way, I don’t care. It has no meaning to me. Only that suffering should end. What is important is that all sentient beings should themselves achieve liberation and go on to benefit others as well, until there are no more, until all six realms of cyclic existence are free and empty.”

When you get up in the morning, think, “As I rise from this bed, may all sentient beings rise from the state of ignorance and may they be liberated until there is no more suffering.” When you brush your teeth, think, “As I brush my teeth, may the suffering of all sentient beings be washed away.” When you take your shower, think, “As I take this shower, may all sentient beings be showered with a pure and virtuous path by which they themselves can be liberated.” When you walk through your door, think, “May all sentient beings walk through the door of liberation.”

© Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo

Be the Hope of the World

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An excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo from the Vow of Love series

I have listened to some of the teachings on Buddhist cosmology, and heard the prophecy that there will be a time when there is no Buddha in this world – no teaching, no help, and no light. When things will be so dark there will be nothing, no hope. As a Buddhist I am supposed to believe this teaching, and I try. But I refuse to accept it, I won’t accept it, and if that makes me a bad Buddhist, then I am. But rather than think in a prideful way that I refuse to accept this teaching, I hope instead to cultivate an endless amount of energy to continue to practice for the benefit of others, no matter what the odds are. To consider that it is worthwhile if even one person can be benefited.

I wish we would all think in this way – that nothing will stop us. I find it necessary to believe that compassion is the strongest power anywhere, that love is stronger than prophecy. Believing this, we must continue as we are. Every day we must be stronger and continue in a more determined way.

When I see those of you who have taken ordination, I think you are the hope of the world. If you can remain emanating in the world always, even after attaining supreme realization, if your love is that strong that you change the prophecies, we have hope.

I also think of those who are newly starting, and those of you who are intermediate, and those of you who are choosing whatever particular path you choose. If you use the Buddha’s understanding, and come to a point of profound commitment and practice – if you consider love is your life, so that it will increase throughout every future incarnation – then you, too, are the hope of the world.

We must take this vocation very seriously. I don’t mean we have to walk around like somber people, with a terrible, woeful expression on our faces, or that we never get to have any fun anymore.  It’s not like that. But our sense of joy is the kind of joy that is born of the mind of compassion, the kind of joy that appears in the mind with the commitment to benefit beings at any cost, the kind of joy that knows there is an antidote to suffering. That kind of joy is stronger than human joy and human sadness, because those things come and go, day to day, up and down, in and out.

I suggest you choose to live a lasting life of love, rather than one that is impermanent and superficial. In doing so, come to know something that doesn’t vary. Know something that grows from a tiny seed into a profound sense of bliss, which, as it grows, produces the kind of realization that can let you at last be someone who can truly help sentient beings with the right medicine.

You are at a crossroads in time now. Tremendous opportunities are coming your way. They have come your way. You are at a point very rare in cyclic existence. It is now possible for you to make this choice. It was not possible before. You should take this time very seriously, and consider deeply whether you will cultivate the mind of compassion every moment from now on for the rest of your life, and in all future lives to come, knowing that this is the only end to suffering.

© Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo

Rebirth of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche

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I wonder where Kyabje Penor Rinpoche will be born. I cheer for US, but I know how horribly American Tulkus are maligned by westerners.

So I would not wish that ugliness on HIM. Oh, I pray HE is born where HE is safe and loved. I was recognized by three Great High Lamas.

Kyabje HHPenor Rinpoche, Kyabje HH Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche in his last incarnation, and H.E. Dzonang Rinpoche and still there is gossip!

I pray that High Lamas come from every corner of the earth to recognize Kyabje Penor’s precious incarnation so all arrogant gossips are Quiet.

Remembering His Holiness Kyabje Penor Rinpoche

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His Holiness Kyabje Penor Rinpoche
His Holiness Kyabje Penor Rinpoche 11th Throneholder of Palyul

From a series of tweets:

Today I’m making prayers to His Holiness Kyabje Penor Rinpoche, and to his publicly appointed Heir to the Throne of Palyul His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche.

May Kyabje Rinpoche’s orders and vision be accomplished without delay. May we remember how He built Namdroling with His own hands.

How Kyabje Penor Rinpoche started with nothing and gave us everything. How he worked HIS entire life creating Palyul Namdroling just as it is.

Due to Kyabje Penor Rinpoche’s unfathomable wisdom and hard work Palyul has grown to be strong as it is today, in the west, as well. HE did this.

We cannot assume our wisdom is greater than His Holiness Kyabje Penor Rinpoche. If we think that we have lost our way, and our View. He built this.

It is for us to follow HIS instruction without fail or deviation or all is lost. It is always the case-we follow His words and get good result

I know His Holiness Karma Kuchin Rinpoche has taken all Kyabje Penor Rinpoche’s advice to heart. It is up to us to do the same. Kyabje Penor Rinpoche’s intent is not gone.

And therefore we must follow perfectly and fervently, without our opinions having any meaning. He built Palyul up, and is the Buddha.

We must remember Kyabje Penor Rinpoche is Guru Rinpoche and not separate from HIM. Therefore we must remain as HE instructed without fail.

To the Wondrous Display of these Great Palyul Buddhas, these accomplishers, I pray send Dakinis and Protectors to preserve unity and perfect purity.

Please keep our great precious Palyul family from selfish desire and harm. For the sake of all beings may Palyul remain firm!

This effort is dedicated to the strength, purity, power, and continuation of Palyul for aeons yet to come. We remain as a light in the dark.

May it always be so for the sake of all motherly sentient beings. Palyul is for their sake – my children.

Homage to His Holiness Penor Rinpoche

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His Holiness Penor Rinpoche

A series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

I woke up today sobbing over the loss of Kyabje HH Penor Rinpoche. How devastating to Palyul, and to me.

Never having seen the loss of the head of a Lineage before I was completely unprepared for it. Seems every day His absence is felt more.

He was the wellspring, the builder, the guardian, font of wisdom and compassion. He was unfailingly kind to me. I could always turn to Him.

Now that things have changed I see His Purity, Power, Intention, Selflessness, Loving Concern and Imperturbable Heart. He is Peerless!

May I follow Him in this and every future lifetime. And always be reborn in His entourage! May my storehouse of Merit in the three times please!

And return Him to us, Palyul swiftly, and His activity be endless. Kye Ho! Beloved Guru return to us for the sake of Palyul and ALL beings.

Give Rise to the Bodhicitta

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Have you thought about the welfare of sentient beings today? Remembered those hungry, sick, old, grieving, warring, without hope?

After contemplating the suffering beings in cyclic existence, have you felt mercy, compassion, concern, sadness, grief, a wish to help?

Have you wondered at the meat on your plate? The suffering of the animal? We want the animal’s fur, skin, meat, have you considered this?

Have you seen human beings sleeping in the street? Homeless, addicted, dysfunctional, addled? Families that have lost everything?

Have you seen dogs and cats, family pets, dropped off at a shelter because they are inconvenient? And then killed for the same reason?

Have you seen slaughterhouses? The look on a pet’s face when it knows it is being sent to die? The terrible suffering of animals?

Have you seen the heinous nature of war? The suffering of people returning home shattered? The horror of nations torn apart by hate and war?

Has it bothered you that women in some countries are mutilated to be pleasing to the men? Women treated as property, worse than cattle?

If these things have bothered you, maybe caused a tear, if you see and are moved- MAYBE, just maybe you are ready to learn to pray.

If you ache for the confusion and suffering of beings, if you cannot bear to see such suffering, Maybe, just maybe- compassion lives in you.

Are you ready to dedicate yourself in this and every future life to heal suffering in all forms? Maybe, maybe you gave rise to the Bodhicitta.

What is Dewachen?

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Buddha Amitaba - Dewachen

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

When you pray to be reborn in Dewachen, what do you really mean? In the ultimate view, Dewachen is the celestial mandala of the Lord Amitabha. Lord Amitabha is a Dharmakaya Buddha. Thus Dewachen is Dharmakaya awareness or the Dharmakaya view—the pure, uncontrived, primordial-wisdom view, free of all conceptualization. To be reborn in Dewachen really means to experience the natural Dharmakaya state—the state that has no limitation. Dharmakaya has no consideration of self and other, no separation between form and formless. To awaken in that state is not to become a transformed or translucent ego. Please understand that if you want to become a better person, you want, somehow, to become transformed. You want to be a Buddha. Then people will say, “Look, there’s a Buddha!” Can you see the difference between that attitude and the experience of pure nature, suchness, free of all idea of ego?

Do you still practice with an idea about what you will be? That very you consists of and maintains incorrect view. When you pray to be reborn in Dewachen—make no mistake about it—you are praying for the death of your ego. Eternal life implies the belief in self-nature as an eternal reality. Someone who believes in eternal life, consciously or unconsciously, is on a path without the understanding that if ego did survive forever, it would only insure the continuation of suffering. Such a path is not workable. If your secret prayer is somehow to become a transformed ego, if you are using Dharma words to disguise your wish to remain intact as a self, then you are asking to continue on the wheel of cyclic death and rebirth, the wheel of suffering, the wheel of samsara.

© Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo

You Are

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You are the Light of my life

The beat of my heart

The breath of my body

The song of my speech

The rapture of my mind I love you.

You are the core of my Samaya

The truth of my accomplishment

The nectar of my mind

The warrior of my method

The bearer of my LOVE

You are my blazing one

You are beloved Sun

You are a candle light

To warm me through the night

You are my feast, my Fire

You are my SHINING ONE

You make me come undone

You dance within my sight

You make me feel it right

You make me see your face

I see it when you move about

I’ll be your friend I’ll shout you out!

I’ll get you there

If you can go.

© Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo

Root Teacher

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

Perception, or revelation, varies according to the capability of one’s own mind. A mind dulled by obstacles and obscurations can go to a holy place, hear a holy teaching, even bow to a holy one—and walk away unaffected. The mind that is quickened and ready can come and drink, perhaps not understanding what it has drunk, but at least knowing that this is true nourishment. The mind that is truly realized can perceive that upon every atom there are Buddhas beyond counting; that one’s own Root Teacher is the Dharmakaya Buddha come at last; that Guru Rinpoche is the emanation of pure compassion who made all of this possible; and that He has entered, in many forms, into all levels of cyclic existence. Such a mind can understand that every sound is the voice of the Precious Guru, that every breath of air is the movement of His teachings.

Any revelation that purifies the mind of duality and delusion, bringing forth the nectar of compassion from deep within you is the Precious Guru appearing once again. Any path such as Vajrayana, which leads to enlightenment in a definable, reliable way—is itself the appearance of the Precious Guru. If you achieve realization in this lifetime, that is Guru Rinpoche. If you hear a teaching, which brings enlightenment closer, that is Guru Rinpoche. If compassion is born in your heart so that you will spend your life practicing and praying for others and discovering within yourself all-pervading compassion, that is Guru Rinpoche. He is the Guru of compassion, the Guru of boundless light, the Guru of great love, the Guru of supreme medicine. He is the voice, the body, the mind, the heart, and the very embodiment of the all-pervading, compassionate nature of Dharmakaya. He continues to appear in a form that is accessible and real in every culture. He simply is. He is present within you now. Even as you read this, you can feel His presence. You can see Him in every part of your life. Strive at every moment to birth Him in your mind and heart. Pray never to be separate from the Three Precious Jewels and always, in every breath of air, to encounter the Precious Guru.

If you sincerely wish to end suffering in this and all other worlds, sincerely wish to root out the causes of suffering in your own mind, the Guru is active within you. In that sincere wish, He is calling you. Because of that sincerity, you will see Him. You will see Him even physically, for you will surely find an excellent and perfect Teacher. As Guru Rinpoche said, “I will come as your Teacher.” If your heart is pure and sincere, the Guru will appear before you.

In Vajrayana, even if your teacher is not enlightened, you can attain realization through pure faith, provided you seek only that which will cleanse all non-virtue from your mind, which will reveal the true, uncontrived face of Dharmakaya as your own face, and if you deeply wish to end the suffering of all sentient beings. Then your Teacher, even unrealized, will act upon you as Nirmanakaya Buddha. If with pure intention you accomplish your part of the bargain, you will find that your teacher is in fact Nirmanakaya Buddha. Your job is only to keep your heart pure. If you do not practice, if you deceive yourself in your practice, if you do not practice sincerely, or if you practice for the wrong reasons, not only have you accomplished nothing but you are only fooling yourself, for you will never see that precious face.

What is available to you now is the realization of the Precious Guru. He is the medicine for all ills, the end of suffering. He appears on this earth by the virtue of primordial nature and uncontrived mind. His virtue and nature are such that they are constantly revealed. They are all-pervasive. That is the truth of the Precious Guru. He appears upon the earth time and time again, in whatever form the karma of beings requires. He is food and drink, available the moment you feel hunger and thirst. He brings you the path to supreme enlightenment. He abides in all aspects of that path: the Teacher, the Sangha, and the Dharma. You cannot cut Him out of your mind, but you can ignore Him. Yet even after that, the moment you turn around, He is there.

I hope that this is helpful to you. If it can inspire even a little devotion in your heart and mind, it is worthwhile. Great devotion is necessary on this path, but we are too stiff most of the time. Do you remember the story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples? That was an act of devotion, the perfect act of a Bodhisattva. We should all serve each other. We should care for others more than we care for ourselves. Devotion is the softener of hearts. It causes pride to be purified. It washes away the stiffness that accompanies egocentricity. Pure devotion itself can be a cause for realization. We should all engage in such holy activity, embodying the Precious Guru. Then, washing the feet of all sentient beings, we will finally understand our own true face.

© Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo

Walking the Talk

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cardinal in winter

A red Cardinal sits on a snowy Pine bough, all fluffed up, right outside my window, looking in. Bet he’s cold. When I see nature in it beauty and suffering, I think of the Bodhicitta. How pith. How essential. There is no Enlightenment without it.

Often we see Dharma students discuss, pontificate, and indulge in masturbatory mental games. What a foolish waste of time. To give rise to Bodhicitta even if there is no knowledge of Sutras, Tantras, to offer one prayer, one crust of bread, one mantra is so precious…To save the life of or bring comfort to one sentient being is so much better than to love to hear yourself talk about Dharma.

When I see this Dharma-babble amongst those who do only that and have no heart for Bodhicitta, I feel sick and sad. How pitiful! We are taught “Like going to a continent of Precious Jewels and coming away empty handed. How pitiful!” They miss the point.

What benefit is there in a good old boy’s Dharma club where you sit around and compliment each other’s meaningfulness? A joke- And an unfortunate display of the shallowness of one’s practice. Everyone sees the shame of it except for the “fool on the hill” shouting. What ego, what pride, what ignorance drives one to distort the Dharma and its true value that way? Self cherishing, at the expense of others.

Give me one honest follower with a good heart, respect, compassion, and willingness to learn new and grow. I will do anything for that one. Show me a dried up bitter heart without Bodhicitta, and a rigid mind claiming to know Dharma- ‘scuse me while I laugh. And those who do more proclaiming their own glory in as many religious costumes as they can collect? What is the use?

When I’m not teaching I wear American clothes. Jeans. If my students cannot see me as Primordial Nature, well- there’s work to do. Dharma is unelaborated, uncontrived, free of conceptualization just as it is. Quit talking and judging and heal the heart. Thrill me.

Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Norbu Lhamo.  All rights reserved

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