Tibetan Buddhist Altar

Right Speech

June 14, 2016 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

An excerpt from a teaching called The Eightfold Path by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

Right speech is the first principal of ethical conduct on the Eightfold Path. And on the Eightfold Path is really based on ethical conduct. It’s one of the things that I like best about Buddhism. It isn’t based on a pie-in-the-sky idea. You have to work it. People who are recovering alcoholics will recognize that saying about the 12-step program, “It works if you work it.” Right? And the Eightfold Path is exactly like that. If you don’t work it, you’re going to go back to the narcotic of samsara. But if you do work it, you have strength and bones that you never had before. There is a similarity. I’ve often drawn that connection between the Buddha dharma and the way that self-honesty is required, and the 12-step program, especially in that we are all addicts. We are addicted to our emotions. We are addicted to our delusions. We are addicted to our visions. We are addicted to our dreams. We are all addicts. And we are just so drunk with the narcotic of samsara that it is hard to pay attention, and see what is the root of all this. We are trying to become awake so that we can see all of that, and right speech is one of the guidelines to the moral discipline of ethics.

We don’t realize that you have to do right to be right. That is certainly true on the path of Buddha dharma. The importance of speech in the Buddha dharma is central and obvious. For one thing you can cause harm with speech, and you should never do that. Right speech would be speaking well, speaking nobly, speaking higher, and not speaking against anyone or speaking harshly or cruelly, or gossiping.

Gossiping is a terrible ethical non-virtue or perversion of Buddhist ethics. And I must say it’s rampant in most religious communities and in ours too. It’s rampant. It’s not what the Buddha taught and it should not be that way. We should uphold one another with speech, rather than to tear one another down. Words can break or save lives. Think about that. Words can make enemies or friends. Start war or create peace. All by words. And you can review history to see that that’s true.

To keep away from false speech, one especially should never tell deliberate lies or speak deceitfully. Some people are storytellers, and tend to be expansive in their speech. I’ve been known to do that myself. When you tell a story, you expand it a little bit. You polish it up. Make it a little more interesting. Throw in a few hand gestures. That’s not deceitful necessarily unless you are making yourself higher. Then that would be deceitful. If you said, “I had this experience in meditation. It was so big. You’ve never had anything like it.” (And therefore, I’m big) That would be wrong speech. That would be unethical. What we really want to do is avoid telling different lies, especially those that bring us power, acknowledgement, or approval, because then we know that we are lying to someone, which is unethical, in order to bring ourselves up above them which is not right either. It ruins our right intention.

That would be called false speech and it is to be avoided. We must also abstain from slanderous speech, and should not use words maliciously against others. That’s gossip. We do it all the time. We should be very very careful with that, because one thing I’ve noticed about gossip and slander is that it comes right back to you, even in this very life. But if we develop the habit of slanderous speech, lifetime after lifetime, what happiness can come from that? We will be born into lifetimes where no matter what we do people will not think well of us. We will be causing more suffering to others and ourselves. To use words maliciously against others undermines the whole basis of the path, which is this right intention and this right view, and this consideration of the truth of the Four Noble Truths.

When we consider all of this together, we understand that malicious speech is not just a no no. It’s a killer. We should abstain from harsh words that offend or hurt others. We can see what the ethics of that would be. Like if I were to say to you, “Gee, you look kind of ugly today.” What is the point of that? Why would I need to do that? Even if it were true, why would I do that? Well, first of all I have shown that I have not accomplished right view. Right there I have shown you my buttocks. So, obviously this is not the right way to go.

We want to cultivate right intention, so we want to keep away from unethical speech that hurts or offends others. We want to abstain from idle chatter that lacks purpose or depth. Positively phrased, it means tell the truth, speak friendly, warmly and gently, and talk when you’ve got something to say. Brilliant! Only a Buddha could have thought of this. Actually it was “talk only when necessary.” I had to have a little fun there.

Astrology for 6/14/2016

June 14, 2016 by Norma

6/14/2016 Tuesday by Norma

Don’t bother asking permission for something early today; it’ll be denied or else the boss is unresponsive, which throws the question back on you. Initiative is rewarded, provided you strike out in a brand new direction. Run your ideas past someone who likes your thinking, but make your own decision. Judy Garland said, “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” Many planets in air signs signify plenty of communication. It’s a great day to meet with your Mensa friends, your bridge club or your current events group. Talk and learn today, or drive somewhere for a different perspective. It’s an egalitarian time- everybody gets a say! Elsewhere, people who committed crimes long ago are brought to justice, at last.

The astrology post affects everyone differently, depending on individual horoscopes. Look to see how this message is reflected in your life today!

The Burning Room

June 13, 2016 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is an excerpt from a teaching called “Essence of Devotion”

When embarking on the path, we look for the most excellent method. We look for that method that gives excellent results every time. That method would be Dharma. Dharma has brought about enlightenment in generation after generation of students and teachers alike. Students have become teachers who have returned to benefit beings, just as I hope you are hoping to do.

Now, we not only need that, but we need an excellent captain, and that captain should be considered none other than the Buddha and his emanations in the world. The Buddha is the one who has successfully crossed the ocean of suffering and has, without a doubt, achieved enlightenment. If you read the life of the Buddha there is no doubt that he has achieved enlightenment. The results of his life—having brought enlightenment to so many others for 2,500 years—can only have arisen from the mind of enlightenment. So we want the proper ship. We want the proper captain. We also need the proper navigator because it’s considered that, while the Buddha is the supreme captain of our ship, it is his spirit, his mind, his nature which is present in the navigator who does the driving and keeps us afloat. And that is our teacher.

So that is the situation that we want to hook up to. That’s how to leave the party, another analogy that we can use. I love to teach in analogies because it’s much easier and simpler for us. We can understand parties. We can understand foolishness. We can understand suffering. We can understand ships and water and the urge not to drown, but sometimes it’s hard to understand Dharma. So I like to learn and I like to express in analogies. One good analogy for understanding our present situation as we embark on the great task of practicing refuge and Bodhicitta is that when we look around and we read the paper and we see our own eventual age and death and all the sufferings that come with it, as well as the sufferings of others, we consider that the two of them are unbearable and they are inseparable. I am suffering, you are suffering. It’s all one package. You come to realize that it’s like you’re in a burning room. You know, the room just burning, burning, burning, burning, on fire, and at that point you look around and you realize that there is one door, one opening, not even a window. One door as an exit from that room, and that door is wide open. How much love and regard will you have for that door, while being in that burning room? Well, we’re so funny, we’re so kind of asleep at the wheel, at least in the first part of our spiritual path. Maybe we don’t even have much realization but, when in our own experience the room really begins to get hot and we begin to see the singeing of our own hairs and really relate to the burning of our own flesh. we begin to see, really see, what the situation is due to our own experience. And we will someday. We will. If not now, then someday. Then at that time we look at that door with such love and regard. In fact, we don’t even think about how much we love and regard the door. We are so into the door that we are out of the door as soon as possible. We love the door. The door is our hope.

It’s like that when we approach the path. As we begin to practice turning the mind towards Dharma, we begin to practice seeing what is in this ocean of suffering, what we are surrounded with. Then at that point, we begin to take in our own real experience and how kind of silly it is when we try to keep on top of our suffering when, in fact, we are suffering and it is foolish to be in denial about that. At that point our minds soften. They gentle and they turn. And suddenly we get smart in a way we were never smart before. Suddenly we’re on Red Alert. Something is different and we begin to regard that door, not as just a shape in a room, but as something that is more meaningful to us than anything else. The path is that door. Our teachers who give us the path are that door. The method is that door. That is our opportunity to exit samsara.

Astrology for 6/13/2016

June 13, 2016 by Norma

6/13/2016 Monday by Norma

Men continue to be cheerful, magnetic and chock full of good ideas. Listen carefully to those who offer information, no matter how casually, it’s good! This is an excellent time to break out of old patterns, consider new options and acquire a partner while you’re at it. Try something new. Genuine progress is made at work, and specific, detailed activity is favored. Hunter S. Thompson said, “Who is the happier person, the one who has braved the storm of life and lived or the one who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?” If you’re re-doing a project, be happy. Many avenues are blocked today, but one is open- the one you intuitively know is best. Listen to yourself.

The astrology post affects everyone differently, depending on individual horoscopes. Look to see how this message is reflected in your life today!

A Teaching to Give You Confidence

June 12, 2016 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is an excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo called “Essence of Devotion”

Before I even met His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, who told me I was a Buddhist—I didn’t know this—I had been teaching; and I had been teaching about compassion and the empty nature of phenomena and the empty nature of mind. And you see, I thought that I thought this whole thing up. I thought I had come up with this myself. So smart! Oh well. I thought that what was really missing here was a way for ordinary beings who have been involved in ordinary lives to switch tracks, to come to a place of profound renunciation and acceptance and compassion, and to take a vow that would somehow reach into every future life. I thought the only way to do that was to give them some extraordinary teachings, and make them understand the nature of suffering and the absolute necessity of compassion, and to have them turn their minds in such a way that compassion arose in their minds. In the same way that consciousness appears in the mind, compassion then also appears. And that was my idea—that I had to find a way to do this. So what I did was I began to give a bunch of teachings and eventually called a retreat. And those students that I thought were prepared to go deeper I took on retreat.

We spent a great long time looking at the world and praying for the world and taking responsibility for the world. These students I taught and cajoled and loved and goaded and tricked and manipulated until they would agree to take responsibility for the world and to take responsibility for all sentient beings. They just finally gave up and let me have my way. From that came the writing of a Bodhisattva Vow and I knew that that was the most important turning point and experience in their whole spiritual evolution, and I explained it to them as such. Well, this became a custom. We customarily gave the Bodhisattva Vow. I also began to develop the idea of refuge, of taking refuge in that which brings forth enlightenment, the Buddha nature.

Eventually I met Penor Rinpoche, and he told us that we were Buddhists and that we were practicing Buddhism. I didn’t know anything about Buddhists. I didn’t know anything about anything . Penor Rinpoche came to me and announced to me that I was a Bodhisattva. I was practicing Dharma and I was teaching Dharma and I should keep on teaching Dharma, and I said, “O.K.” Then he gave us the Refuge and Bodhisattva Vows. You see, I had already written this Refuge and Bodhisattva Vow and it didn’t sound anything like what he did because he gave us something in Tibetan! We tried our best to repeat it, but I don’t think it was the same thing. It was a lot more words! So I was kind of a little tense about this and finally when I went to India, I had one of the lamas there translate the Refuge and Bodhisattva Vows and another set of vows that had also been written called the Renunciate Vows for Lay Practitioners, a deeper level of vows. I had them translated into Tibetan and I confessed to my guru, Penor Rinpoche, that I had written these vows and that I had been giving them. I said I didn’t have any other vows and I knew that this was necessary and so, even though these aren’t the traditional vows, I would like your advice on what to do about this. Well, he read the vows and he started laughing and slapping his knee. He thought this was a real gut wrenching hee haw, just laughing and rubbing his knee. Then he said, “About the Refuge and Bodhisattva Vows, if you don’t mind, I think I will continue to give them in the way that I am accustomed to, simply because it’s difficult for a person to learn new tricks. However,” he said, and then he drew himself up to his orthodox lama posture (he is a very orthodox lama), and he said, “I authorize you fully to give these vows.” And he said, “I authorize these vows fully as proper Refuge and Bodhisattva Vows in our lineage.”

That has never happened before. There is a traditional way to give the vows and there is another way, and this is the other way. And at least in the Palyul tradition, he firmly encouraged me to give these vows as often as possible, with teaching. He encouraged me to give them in the way that I have been giving them, because he felt that this is a manifestation of the same vow but done in such a way as to touch the minds and hearts of westerners so that they can remain fully absorbed at that pure moment of ordination which this is. This is an ordination, an ordination of kindness. So he fully acknowledged these as proper vows. That’s why, although they are a little bit different, they are considered to be appropriate, they are considered to be lasting and they are fully authorized in our tradition. A very unusual occurrence, but very important for us as westerners.

Astrology for 6/12/2016

June 12, 2016 by Norma

6/12/2016 Sunday by Norma

A hardworking person uncovers a secret treasure and a last minute financial transaction is a success. Wait out a brief moment of nervous tension; take no action based on fear today. Charles Schulz said, “The world can’t end today, because it’s already tomorrow in Australia.” Late in the day the fun begins; you’ll communicate with a surprising number of people! Be ready to contact or hear from everyone, people from long ago, people you’d forgotten existed! Happiness lies in conversation, games, learning and information. Join in! You’ll be fine as long as you watch your surroundings when you go out and avoid dark places.

The astrology post affects everyone differently, depending on individual horoscopes. Look to see how this message is reflected in your life today!

The Challenge of Generosity in the West

June 11, 2016 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following was a spontaneous teaching offered by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:

Jetsunma on Generosity in America, May 6, 2012

Jetsunma was speaking about His Holiness’ first trip to the United States in 1985

In the beginning when His Holiness came to America, he was angry that people charged for empowerments and for dharma teachings. He was particularly angry when we did, because we were one of his centers, and he didn’t like that. Then we explained to him, “Then we will have to close the doors, because we not only have a monthly mortgage but we are taking care of nuns, and doing all the things that KPC does, which costs at least $9,000 a month [in 1985]. There is no other way to make it. We don’t have any large gendoks. We are not like you who can get these large gendoks. We have no gendoks.” And he started thinking about it, and he said, “Well, I guess this is kaliyuga. And if you have to, you have to.”

So that is when we were permitted. There was no other way to keep the doors open. It was his first visit to the United States, and he really didn’t understand what we were up against, and how proud and opinionated people are here.

People take these things for granted and think that you should do it out of the thin air without supporters. Are you somehow supposed to magically sell a finger every so often so that you can pay for this? Those people never started a center. Those people never started a Temple. Those people don’t feed the ordained. Those people don’t feed poor people. They sit in the ivory tower and they get their special teachings and they don’t pay for them. They don’t make an offering. It’s sick. They make it all about themselves. What about the lama that conferred it? Sure you fed him. But what is he supposed to get home on? What’s he supposed to start his next event on?

We have to be generous, and in this country that’s the only way that you can, because there are no major donors or at least not for us. In some cases a gendok will pay for everything, because they understand the merit, and they understand what’s going to be in their next life. They understand that they are going to have Phowa done for them. They understand a lot more than we do, especially about merit. And so a lot of the really great gendoks who have lots of money, pay for everything. Can you imagine that merit?

I wish I could do that. I wish I could not only run this place, but pay for it too. Wow. But then I want to feed the poor and save all the animals. Save the whales and the planet. Japan. And that’s why I don’t have a nickel to my name. They hardly make nickels anymore. They don’t mean anything. Used to be you could buy a candy bar with them.

Oh well, it is what it is, and we will do what we can do to sally forth.

Listen to the teaching here: Challenges of Generosity in the West

Astrology for 6/11/2016

June 11, 2016 by Norma

6/11/2016 Saturday by Norma

Today you’ll have a discouraging moment, after which you’ll be happy about work. Watch for the one-two of the day, so you’re not too dismayed by the first incident. Diligence is most important today-paying attention and doing your job prevents trouble. John Ray said, “In prosperity, caution; in adversity, patience.” An unexpected event or person is electrifying and brightens the environment. It’s quite important to say nice things to others, to give genuine compliments and to use words and gestures that bring happiness. People who work with their hands do excellent work: go to the surgeon, the dentist, the auto shop or the chiropractor and you’ll be satisfied.

The daily astrology post affects everyone differently, depending on individual horoscopes. Look to see how this message is reflected in your life today!

Astrology for 6/10/2016

June 10, 2016 by Norma

6/10/2016 Friday by Norma

Dress up this morning and be ready for early activity: your appearance counts! The energy changes during the day and then it’s all about the work you must do. Organize everything you see and you’ll be happy. Messy kitchen or office? Tidy as you go: no leaving a mess that you’ll have to deal with
later. “My husband vacuums the carpet behind us as we get into bed,” said Gloria Estefan, and you should too, today. Work is profoundly satisfying and pleasing to a person you didn’t know was watching. Remember the unseen forces that are present! What’s good today? Talking, driving around, learning, writing, working and unexpected events.

The astrology post affects everyone differently, depending on individual horoscopes. Look to see how this message is reflected in your life today!

Analysis Through the Application of Reason

June 9, 2016 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is respectfully quoted form “Treasury of Precious Qualities” a commentary on the root text of Jigme Lingpa by Lonchen Yeshe Dorje and Kangyur Rinpoche:

Analysis through the application of reason:

This method consists of four or five great arguments that establish the fact that phenomena are without inherent existence. The specific explanation of these arguments is preceded by a general exposition of how such assessments are made.

To begin with, the prasangika approach is unlike that of the Svatantrikas. Svatantrikas disprove true existence on the relative level but then assert an illusory existence. Likewise, they disprove conceptual construction on the absolute level, but then go on to assert (positively) that this absolute is beyond conceptual construction. The prasangika method is simply to demolish the defective propositions of their opponents by directly refuting every assertion to which the mind might cling. But they do not accompany this with any kind of independent pronouncement. In order to eliminate clinging to real existence, it is essential to eradicate the conceived object of such clinging. Therefore, as we have said before, it is necessary to analyze and achieve certainty about the true nature of the two selves which are the object of refutation. Otherwise it is like shooting arrows without seeing the target, and it is impossible to eliminate the assumption of the real existence of a self.

When one uses madhyamika arguments to search for the meaning of suchness, the idea that “the opponent is wrong” is enough to cause one to stray off the point. Therefore, from the outset, do not refute only the assertion of an opponent, but work to eradicate completely all the innate discursive thoughts in your own mind, which have been left unexamined from beginningless time and which deviate from the Truth of Suchness. Likewise, eradicate all clinging to positions or theories, which are imputations arising from philosophical inquiry and which are found in all tenet systems whether Buddhist or non-Buddhist. Subsequently, when you meditate, simply rest without clinging to anything, in the sense of having an object of meditation. This, however, is not to say that you should remain in a state of blankness, a “foolish meditation,” so to speak. On the contrary, through the certain knowledge deriving from the realization of the absence of inherent existence, your vipashyana will be rendered extraordinary and you will have no doubts. All this is the sign that your analysis has hit the mark.

Generally speaking, at the present time, all the great beings who uphold the Madhayamika declare that the way the phenomena of samsara or nirvana appear is as the mere imputation of thought; they are without dependent arising are indissociably united. Everyone is in agreement about this. In our tradition, however, we do not consider that the expression “imputed existence” implies the presence of a “something” that lacks true existence and to which true existence could be ascribed. We say that the object referred to is a kind of empty form, an originless display of the mind’s creative power.” Consequently, when emptiness is said to be inseparable from dependent arising, this is not meant to imply that there is a validly established appearance from which emptiness is inseparable. On the contrary, we understand that phenomena are themselves ungrounded and rootless. There is no way in which they could exist. And yet they arise freely, produced in interdependence.

Therefore, once the object of refutation, which is to be identified as the two really existing selves, has been eliminated, its place is not still occupied by some (residual) basis of refutation–a so–called person or phenomenon. There is simply nothing left at all. Persons and phenomena are empty of themselves. For one cannot say that they are empty of true existence while holding that phenomena themselves (the basis of emptiness) are not empty of themselves on the relative level. It is rather that form, for example, is empty of form and so forth. Therefore, because all phenomena are devoid of real existence, there is no “concrete” object of refutation. All that is refuted is the false imputation that ascribes existence to what does not exist. Nagarjuna says in his Vigrahavyavartant:

Since no object of negation can be found,
I myself have nothing to negate.
And so, by saying “I refute,”
You’re the ones who falsely testify.

It might be objected that there is a contradiction in saying, as we have just done, that the two selves are devoid of true existence, while at the same time affirming that persons and phenomena exist on the relative level. All we mean is that as long as there is the tendency to delusion, relative appearances arise constantly and unhindered. But this does not mean that they exist inherently.