It is essential to keep at one’s practice daily. But also keep progressing, accomplishing each stage before moving to the next.
Starting with contemplation of the Four Thoughts, Ngundro, Three Roots, Tsa-Lung, Togyal and Trekchod. This method assures progress and good rebirth. All these, the Treasures of the path, are best learned within one’s Lineage, under the guidance of a truly accomplished Master.
All these teachings and more are conferred at the Palyul Retreat Center in New York. Soup to nuts! And we are guided now by His Holiness Karma Kuchen and the Heart Sons.
It is difficult to have these profound teachings all in one place. The month long retreat in New York every Summer is not to be missed. Concise!
And there we have fully accomplished Masters to teach and ripen our minds. How extraordinary, pure Lineage transmission here in the US for all!
For more information about Palyul Summer Retreat, visit Palyul.org
An excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo from the Dakini Workshop
Enlightened activity is considered consistent with the nature of the dakini in that it arises from pure spaciousness and does not remain fixed or absorbed in the mind of duality. What arises, arises effortlessly and spontaneously and is spontaneously complete because the basis of that emanation is the Buddha nature, free of distinction, free of contrivance, free of duality, free of ego clinging.
What arises in an uncontrived way from the sphere of truth without clinging, without fixation is pure enlightened activity. Pure enlightened activity always results in perfect result, perfect meaning or enlightened result. From the point of view of practitioners, from the point of view of those who have not established themselves firmly in the view, activity appears in a myriad of ways and we attach meaning to that activity. What we see then, when we see that activity, is only our meaning. We do not see the activity. Therefore, when one holds to and one views the enlightened activity that is consistent with the dakini nature and when one sees that compassionate activity from the point of view of duality and distinction, one will always see ones own mind. Therefore that activity will be seductive in the way that our minds seduce us, that activity will be meaningful in the way that our minds deduce meaning, that activity will be objectionable in the way that our minds object and that activity will be confusing in the way that our minds are confused. That is what we see.
Yet, in striving to attain a deeper understanding of this enlightened activity we have no other recourse other than to achieve realization ourselves. We have to. That is the only way to reach any kind of understanding. And we are beaten over the head with our own minds because our own minds are flashed back at us. We see our mind constantly. We are relentlessly seduced with our own stupidity. We are browbeaten with our own inconsistencies until at some point, eventually, because this is an effortless process, because it is natural, because it arises from the uncontrived state, because it is our nature, this intensified process of putrefaction will putrefy itself into pureness effortlessly.
Well, it will not seem effortless on your part, exactly. But that is because the mind is still clinging to perceptual experience. The mind is in that continuum. The consciousness is there. That is what the perception is. But try to remember that all that is being viewed is our own confusion. That is all that is being seen. It is very much like the symbolic image of the peacock – the bird with big feathers –who eats poisoned things and ends up with this beautiful plumage. To some degree, that is what our practice looks like. We just eat ourselves and eat ourselves and keep on consuming this thing that we see that arises only from our mind until finally at some point we can achieve a glimpse of the pure basis of that. At that point, the pure basis of that is understood to be effortless. It is understood to arise from the sphere of truth and complete itself instantly. It is understood in its nature, but while we revolve in confusion we cannot feel that way.
The lucky one is (s)he who has spiritual discrimination. A clear sign that one has made progress on the path. There’s so much empty jargon. Many people pass around their learned and personal wisdom, which indeed, is precious and to be respected. It’s progress! Spiritual discrimination is seeing the difference between that communal sharing and an accomplished and qualified Guru to follow. The entire spiritual community is strong, and growing, yearning, expressing, sharing, and loving! Hurray! Yet we must find a true Master.
I see the Lamas of Palyul, for instance. Taught and trained, profound and accomplished Lineage Masters, only here to enlighten us. These great Lamas live and die to liberate sentient beings from the sufferings of Samsara, return life after life for that alone. That is something different from the great ocean of seekers, thinkers, poets, philosophers that we meet online and in life.
In Vajrayana we hear: “Why cross the ocean of suffering in a ship captained by one who has not yet themselves made the journey?” Or “Why invest in a belief that has not produced even one fully Enlightened Buddha?” Or “why travel a path not yet even one century old, and one cannot see the result?” If a man creates his own path, should YOU follow? If we do not know the value of their path, not having seen the result, why go there? Why cross in a ship untested? Maybe it is flawed! So we are advised to practice method and follow Lineage tested and proven over centuries and traceable lifetimes.
I read a claim by a man that he had changed Yoga to make a way to get enlightened immediately. The man looked middle age. Big ego. It is so much better to share one’s insights freely, love each other, learn from each other, but discriminate on path and guru. Or else we just have a bunch of well meaning sweeties walking around in spiritual circles, blind leading blind. It is kinda silly, especially when there are Buddhas and Bodhisattvas taking rebirth consciously, solely for the sake of all beings. That’s cosmic Love!
Not just talking heads, yada yada. A Guru must provide method to attain, or what good are they? You can’t talk your way to Liberation! Sweet, loving, syrupy, flattering words are wonderful to see and taste. But are not the food of the Sublime Awakening!
If a “teacher” butters you up with flattery, pretty words, crazy promises, or says their blessing ALONE will Liberate-RUN! They are politicians! They flatter and cajole for their own egocentric reasons. You will yourself receive no benefit at all. Except for a swollen puffed up ego.
The path of results, of Liberation requires daily effort, practice, mindfulness, and compassion, constantly developing! A living path! A true path, like Vajrayana requires that you CHANGE. Utterly, completely- as we are awakening to Buddhahood. Old ways are abandoned. That old ego’s gotta go to make real progress! It ain’t for sissies. If one has been spiritual for 20 years and remains the same, there is no benefit.
Are you willing to change? Learn something new? Take a giant step that may -WILL rock your world? That is the student I value most. We cannot remain the same, in our comfort zone, no new intake, same old spiritual mumblings and hope to attain Buddhahood.
If you were my own sweet babe in my arms, I would not teach you different. There is a lot to buy and sell, but nourishment is RARE! Your true nature is the fundamental ground, Primordial Luminosity. You are Buddha! Do not throw yourself away! Awaken! AWAKEN to your Nature! Lord Buddha said as He left this world: “I have given you METHOD! Now work out your own Liberation!” And that is exactly how it is.
Gyaltrul Rinpoche, Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo and His Holiness Penor Rinpoche
