Essence of Buddhism: by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche

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The following is a teaching by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche

We are born in this Zambu-dweep world and have acquired the precious human rebirth due to the gathering of the compositional factors of the eight leisures and ten blessings. This is a most perfect and auspicious opportunity. That we are fortunate enough to receive the teaching of perfect Buddha dharma and also be able to meet so many qualified teachers is the result of the ripening of our positive merits from countless past lives.
But due to our attachment from time beginningless towards the repeated pattern of samsara, we have developed strong emotions towards this samsara. Therefore, it is common for sentient beings to find themselves emotionally drawn towards the attainment of worldly concern regardless of difficulty and hardships, which in turn generates all types of karmas in the process.
If we truly want to learn the teaching of Dharma, we must first find a qualified teacher. Buddhism has Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions, of which Vajrayana and especially the Great Perfection (Dzogpachenpo) is especially beneficent for the degenerated times like now. The actual practice to Dzogchen consists of preliminary and the main practices, that has visualizations, recital of mantras and the sadhanas.
In fact, we might all think we know about Dharma and might even want to practice these teachings, but because of our attachment to worldly distractions, we are not able to practice accordingly as instructed, as if we show no concern for the effect of karma, as though karma is not real and does not really exist, and thus as a result, succeed in continually creating more negative karma. Only at the end of our lives, when we come face to face with the imminent sufferings of death, do we start thinking that we should do something about it! But by that time, even if we come to realize that we have not studied the Dharma and neither have we applied ourselves properly according to the pith instructions of the teacher and hence the prospect of falling into the three lower realms is imminent; the time of seeking the Dharma and practicing has already passed, so now what do we do?

Astrology for 12/29/2018

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12/29/2018 Saturday by Wangmo & Jampal

Theme: Building momentum

With a lot of Capricorn energy today the focus is on creating structures that are purposeful, lasting and transforming. Disruptions continue as a consequence of one’s habitual patterns: emotionally you are tested. It will be a challenge not to get distracted as you seek to move forward. Emotionally you are seeking harmony and diplomatic solutions to difficulties. If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.~Frank A. Clark

Astrology for 12/28/2018

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12/28/2018 Friday by Jampal & Wangmo

Theme: Easily irritated 

As our inner warrior (Mars) continues to undergo a healing transformation, patience needs to be practiced with others. Today, be sure that there is really a need a for confrontation, before having it out. The inner warrior is finishing his time in Pisces, so a spiritual focus is best. Creative potential is high now, especially if negative thinking can be transformed. There is no transgression like hatred, and no fortitude like patience.~Shantideva

Astrology for 12/27/2018

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12/27/2018 Thursday by Jampal & Wangmo

Theme: Focus your thinking 

The Moon placed in the sign of adaptable, analytical Virgo is interacting with other planets in a way that creates scattered, restless thoughts. Can you focus on what is important today? If you can, breakthroughs will result. As Arnold Palmer says, concentration comes out of a combination of confidence and hunger. Interactions with close ones continue to bring up deep, important issues. And revolutionary energy stirs up how we see the past and the future. 

Astrology for 12/26/2018

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12/26/2018 Wednesday by Jampal & Wangmo

Theme: Excitement and Responsibilities

A confusing haze is slowly lifting. There is much positive about today: emotional energy flows with one’s sense of purpose and insights are becoming more grounded. Over the next week and a half there is more need to face responsibilities. If you can do this accomplishment and satisfaction will result. You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.~Abraham Lincoln 

Commentary on the Bodhisattva Vow: HH Penor Rinpoche – Our Kind Parents

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mother and child

The following is adapted from an oral commentary given by His Holiness in conjunction with a ceremony wherein he bestowed the bodhisattva vow upon a gathering of disciples at Namdroling in Bozeman, Montana, November 1999:

[The second way to adjust one’s intention in order to be in harmony with the special feature of this instruction is through] developing attraction to enlightenment. According to this tradition, what leads one to develop an attraction to enlightenment is the cultivation of love for all beings, which begins by contemplating the suffering of cyclic existence and then cultivating repulsion and weariness [toward that existence].

Think about all living beings that at some time or another, throughout the course of innumerable past lifetimes, have been your own kind father or mother. Consider how a mother will anything for her child–even give her own life, without hesitation. Consider how all living beings have been that kind to you at some time in the past–not just once, but countless times, in countless different circumstances and situations over the course of countless lifetimes since beginningless time. Consider also that to not think carefully about repaying this kindness, and thereby to go through your life without the intention to truly benefit parent sentient beings, and so to actually ignore them, is truly shameless.

Many people in the West may think, “Wait a minute! My parents were not very kind to me. In fact, we are not even close, and I don’t even like them, so why should I feel that I need to repay their kindness now?” If that is what you think, then take a moment to think about how you acquired your body. Is it not due to the kindness of your parents that you have your precious human body? From the time your consciousness entered the union of your father’s seed and your mother’s egg, your mother carried you in her own body. Her body nurtured you as you grew within it. Then with pain and difficulty she gave birth to you. Her kindness did not just stop there: for many years she cared for you and lovingly fed, cleaned, clothed, and wiped you; she provided shelter and cared for you when you were sick, and thus she protected you and looked out for you constantly. If you think you don’t need to repay the kindness of your parents, just remind yourself of those events, which you were the recipient of time and time again.

If that still does not change your attitude, so that you still do not understand the kindness your parents showed you, then think about your body, the gift of your body, which is who you are; your parents gave you that. Because your parents showed you the great kindness of giving you your body, your precious life, here you are. Sure you had the causes for your precious human rebirth, but without parents you wouldn’t have your body. And if you didn’t have your body, you wouldn’t be able to receive these vows.

In our present state of ignorance, we have an inability to recognize that all beings have been our parents in the past, and we certainly don’t know what the particular situations and circumstances of those lifetimes were. Nonetheless, it is certain that we have had countless sentient beings as our parents over and over again in countless past lives. The truth is, at the present time we just do not recognize that.

Imagine you are on the bank of a river with your mother and suddenly she falls in and is being carried away by the rushing water. There you stand on the bank, watching that happen. What would you do? Would you do something to try to save her, such as throw out a rope? Or would your turn your back and walk away rather than risk your own life? Would you be concerned for her, or would your concern be only for yourself? The intention of hearers and solitary realizers can be likened to the later case, while the intention of Mahayana practitioners can be likened to the former. While it is important to develop attraction toward peace, you should never, for any reason, be attracted to the quiescence of the hearers and solitary realizers.

Astrology for 12/25/2018

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12/25/2018 Tuesday by Jampal & Wangmo

Theme: Intense Relationships

Through the next week friendships and partnerships become deeper and more transforming. Be willing to either nurture or receive nurturing at this time. Artistic activities are also enhanced. The tendencies for misunderstandings is less today, especially when speaking from the heart. When it comes to any big plans, make sure that they are realistic. Flying starts from the ground. The more grounded you are, the higher you fly.~J. R. Rim

His Holiness Penor Rinpoche Heart Teaching from Palyul Ling

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HH Penor Rinpoche Bumpa

His Holiness Penor Rinpoche offered this teaching prior to doing a Ganachakra Puja for Jetsunma’s long life at New York Palyul Retreat Center in 2005.

Today is the 15th day of the sixth month of the lunar calendar.  Jetsunma has some sickness or obstacle, so we are doing this Rigdzin Dupa Ganachakra Puja for her.  Some of Jetsunma’s students here requested this puja.

I met Jetsunma a long time ago.  I examined her for a while, and then recognized her as the incarnation of Rigdzin Kunzang Sherab’s sister known as Ahkön Lhamo.  Ahkön Lhamo, the sister of Rigdzin Kunzang Sherab lived near the Palyul monastery in a nunnery, which is in front of the monastery, and then in a place called Trong Mar, which means Red Valley.  It is called Red Valley because there were lots of nuns.  Ahkön Lhamo used to give teachings there to the nuns who wore red robes, filling the small valley, so that is why the place is called Trong Mar, the Red Valley.  Since then there has always been a nunnery there.  Even these days there are still about 200 nuns there.

I recognized her and then at KPC a long time back we did an enthronement ceremony.  Before I met her, she was giving the teaching on generating bodhicitta. Just among her disciples, there are 2-3 at all hours of the day and night trying to meditate on bodhicitta.  And she carries on Dharma activity in accordance with the other activities.

Since I named her in that way, there are lots of people in America who are jealous and have all sorts of problems with it.  That kind of jealousy doesn’t harm her; it harms the person who is jealous.  Many people also try to complain and say things to me.  Although people ask me many questions about that, I don’t have to humiliate myself, because I am a Palyul Throneholder, and I have my own rights regarding what I need to recognize.  Of course I cannot tell lies, but what I need to do, I’ll do.

Most of the other Nyingma schools just believe whatever I say, and especially all the Palyul traditions or Palyul monasteries.   Of course they believe me 100%.  There isn’t just one Palyul Monastery.  There are hundreds and thousands, and in all those monasteries there are a hundred monks or a thousand monks, and all of them respect whatever I command.  There is nobody who says, “This is right or this is not.”  But in America because of jealousy, some people say certain things, but there is no meaning.  In general America is a strange country.  Sometimes it is said that, “In your tradition there are mostly male teachers, and there aren’t any female teachers.”  And then Jetsunma is appointed and then again they are jealous and say something else.

Since we are human beings of course it is possible to make mistakes.  There is no one who just sits there like an enlightened Buddha.  Just because one doesn’t understand or makes a little mistake or does something, then you start complaining.

Jetsunma is a good and perfect teacher.  I don’t think she is deceiving anybody.  And among Jetsunma’s students, there are a whole bunch of monks and nuns, and she disciplines them all.  There is nobody else among women in America who could do that.  She is good and special. It is good for everybody to know that she is also one of the Palyul tulkus.  These days she is getting older and she has all sorts of sickness.  So for her longevity of life, we are doing this Ganachakra Puja.

It’s not just Jetsunma.  In America there are many other females and males who are incarnated ones.  But the problem is that the nature of Americans is to have so much pride.  With the recognition, the pride and ego develop so much that in the end it is difficult to benefit. As a practitioner and as a bodhisattva family, then naturally one should be humble and peaceful and loyal to the practice.  Developing pride doesn’t really help anybody.  When it is said that you are good or something special, then their pride or ego develops.  If that happens, then it is more harmful than beneficial.  For those who are noble beings, receiving all these teachings and doing the Dharma practice can benefit other beings.  Otherwise thinking that, “Oh, I’m something very special,” is like having a horn on your head and walking around.  It doesn’t help anything.

Anyhow, today we are doing this Ganachakra Puja for the longevity of her life.  Thank you.

 

Astrology for 12/24/2018

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12/24/2018 Monday by Jampal & Wangmo

Theme: Misunderstandings

The potential for confusion in communications and in your own thoughts is at a peak today. So be extremely lucid and clear, and avoid “pie in the sky” thinking. The potential for spiritual insight is great, if you can stay grounded. The wounded healer, Chiron, and the warrior, Mars are united for the next two weeks.  Mixing courage with compassion should be the goal. There is a superhero in all of us, we just need the courage to put on the cape~Superman

Astrology for 12/23/2018

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12/23/2018 Sunday by Wangmo & Jampal

Theme: Spiritual harvest

Today, with the nurturing placement of the Moon in Cancer in good aspect there is the potential for transcendent encounters through meaningful relationships. Be prepared to dive deeply into your emotions today. With Saturn moving away from the Sun restrictions are lessening. However with Pluto in Capricorn until 2024 the larger environment in which you live is being radically transformed. Honesty and courage help steer your ship during this time. Here is my secret. It is very simple: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.~Antoine de Saint Exupery

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