Tibetan Buddhist Altar

Astrology for 9/17/2014

September 17, 2014 by Norma

9/17/2014 Wednesday by Norma

A day with more potential for emotional upset cannot be fathomed, nor a day with more opportunity! Tread carefully because emotions drive action; get a grip on yours. How you handle things makes all the difference. A shock is best solved by working on the problem rather than venting. A tactless comment is best solved by saying, “That’s not what he/she meant.” A negative response to a request is best solved by asking, “How can I make this work?” Humility opens doors. Think, and things work out well, emote and problems multiply! Confucius said, “Ask yourself constantly, ‘What is the right thing to do?'” What’s good today? Generosity of spirit, happiness that transcends emotion, excellent cures and simple pleasures. Garden, take a walk, balance your checkbook, brush your teeth and feel virtuous!

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 family or children, some in work, and so forth. There are many departments of life. Look to see where the dynamic affects you!

Flower of Gods: From “Sutra of the Wise and Foolish”

September 16, 2014 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is respectfully quoted from “Sutra of the Wise and Foolish” by Stanley Frye

Flower of the Gods

Thus have I heard at one time: the Enlightened One was residing in the sity of Śrāvastī at Jetavana monastery in Añathapindika’s park together with an assembly of one-thousand two-hundred and fifty monks. At that time, in that country, when a handsome and comely son was born to the wife of a householder of the highest caste, a shower of flowers of the gods fell from the sky and filled the house, and the boy was named Flower of the Gods. When he had come of age, he went to the Buddha, and seeing the Lord’s body endowed with the incomparable signs, rejoiced greatly and thought: “I have been born into this world where I have met the Supreme Among the Noble Ones, I shall invite the Lord and his assembly”, and said: “Lord, tomorrow I shall prepare alms-food in my home. In order to lay the foundation for Enligthenment, I beseech the Lord and his Sangha to deign to come”. The Buddha, seeing the boy’s pure and firm intention, said: “We accept your invitation”.

Thereupon the boy called Flower of the Gods returned to his home and in his mansion caused a great throne of jewels to magically appear along with many other seats, and adorned the dwelling with various kinds of decorations.

Upon the morrow the Enlightened One and his Sangha came, and when each had taken his seat according to seniority, the boy though: “Now I shall offer various kinds of food,” and, because of his virtue many different kinds of food appeared by themselves and these he offered to the Lord and Sangha.

When the Buddha had taught the boy the Dharma, the house became filled with flowers of the gods and the boy requested permission of his parents to become a monk. When his parents consented, he went to the Buddha, bowed his head at his feet, and said: “Lord, I request ordination”, and when the Buddha said: “Welcome, monk”, his hair and beard fell away by themselves and he was dressed in the red robes. Exerting himself in the word of the Buddha, he became an arhat.

When Ānanda saw what had taken place, he knelt and said: “Lord, this monk Flower of the Gods–by reason of performing what former good deeds did a shower of flowers descend and jeweled thrones and various kinds of good appear? I beg the Lord to explain the reason for this.”

The Buddha said: “Ānanda, if you wish to hear this, listen carefully. In aeons long past, when the Buddha Kāśyapa was in the world and was visiting the cities for the weal of beings, a householder of the highest caste honored and made offerings to the Sangha. When a poverty-stricken beggar saw the Noble Sangha, great faith was born in him and he thought: ‘I have nothing with which to make an offering to the Sangha’. He gathered various kinds of grasses and flowers and with a mind of faith showered them on the monks, bowed, and venerated the Sangha. Ānanda, this monk Flower of the Gods was that beggar who at the time made offerings of flowers. Because he sought Enlightenment with a mind of firm faith and gathered flowers and showered the Sangha with them, for sixty aeons, wherever he was born he was always handsome and comely and endowed with whatever he wished to eat and drink. As a result of that merit he has attained bliss. Therefore, Ānanda, one must not think that there is no merit when one gives, even if it is very little. As was the case with the boy Flower of the Gods, the fruits will come by themselves.”

Thereupon Ānanda and the assembly believed what the Lord had taught and rejoiced.

Astrology for 9/16/2014

September 16, 2014 by Norma

9/16/2014 Tuesday by Norma

A hunch or emotion gives a hint about what you should do today, follow it! Intuition is strong, and so is the comfort received from food. What you eat makes a difference today, and who you dine with also matters. Health issues are directly affected by emotions right now. A partner offers a suggestion that pulls you in the right direction. An old love still draws you, and a siren call is affecting your work. Pay attention! Distraction is an issue, and it is possible to misunderstand and rush off to solve the wrong problem! A sudden benevolent gesture corrects something. The Bible says, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men.” You could be the one to offer the benevolent gesture.

Why Enlightenment Matters

September 15, 2014 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

After practicing Aspirational Bodhicitta, you will move into Practical Bodhicitta. Practical Bodhicitta is where one actually attempts and begins actually to develop the technology or method by which the cessation of suffering can be brought about.

Again, back to the foundational teachings of the Buddha: The Buddha teaches us that the sufferings that we see and think we understand the causes for are only symptomatic of a deeper suffering; and that deeper suffering is actually the faults of cyclic existence. These are the real sufferings: Impermanence; the fact that cyclic existence has nothing inherent within it that leads to the end of suffering. These things are the faults of cyclic existence.

Having understood the faults of cyclic existence, we must then think what the Buddha has told us: Only enlightenment brings about the cessation of suffering. And to carry that further, only an enlightened being, and ultimately a supremely realized being, can truly bring about the end of suffering. So you have to consider Practical Bodhicitta in more than one way. You must actually consider that you wish to accomplish whatever means will bring about the cessation of suffering for all sentient beings: whatever practices will bring about the end of suffering; whatever methods. You have to employ these methods; but you must also think that your own enlightenment then becomes significant. Even if you are thinking only of sentient beings—and that is the proper motivation—even if you are thinking only of motherly sentient beings and their suffering and not thinking of your own suffering so much, if you have come to that profound level of Aspiration Bodhicitta because of entering into the phase of Practical Bodhicitta and the need for you to accomplish enlightenment in order to lead other beings to enlightenment, then one’s own enlightenment becomes significant. And that is the real reason why one’s own enlightenment becomes significant. Yes, it’s true that each of us wishes to be free of suffering. But from the point of view of Bodhicitta, the proper motivation for practice then is the cessation of suffering for all sentient beings.

An excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo called “Bodhicitta”

Astrology for 9/15/2014

September 15, 2014 by Norma

9/15/2014 Monday by Norma

A message or conversation tells you what you need to know. A partner’s input is valuable. Take prompt action and you’ll be happy, wait around and you will be buried in criticism or distracted by other work. Men and women see things differently today, so stick with those who agree with you. Clive James said, “You can never get a woman to sit down and listen to a drum solo.” What are you trying to get someone to do? Tread carefully; they don’t want to do it. An inspiring project runs into lack of funding, or you need the money for something else. What goes well today? A partner’s suggestion is right on! Work is satisfying, health matters go well, small projects are successful, and people are happy.

Astrology for 9/14/2014

September 14, 2014 by Norma

9/14/2014 Sunday by Norma

Silent affection works miracles today. Love something, and the world burst into streamers and star showers! Attempt to put your feelings into words, and you will miss the mark and possibly offend the object of your affection. Words cause confusion today: it’s “foot in mouth” time! Express yourself in other ways. Keep a vigilant eye on a zealot, this person may or may not be supportive. People you do not understand, people from different backgrounds, feel very strongly about their issues. Be respectful, and stick to the here and now. Mundane matters require your attention. John Rich said, “If everybody contemplates the infinite instead of fixing the drains, many of us will die of cholera.” Stay on task today. What’s good? Happiness, love, the support of hidden forces, and work.

Navigating the Darkness

September 13, 2014 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is an excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo called “Keeping Heart Samaya”

As sentient beings revolving in samsara, trying to go through life in the ordinary ways that sentient beings go through life, we are unable to see some of the conditions of samsara. For instance, the Buddha teaches us that there are six realms of cyclic existence, six different realms, only one of which is human. There are the hellish realms, the hungry ghost realms, the animal realms, the human realms, the jealous god realms, the long life god realms.

The Buddha teaches us about those different realms. Well, I haven’t seen all of them, and most everybody I know hasn’t seen all of them, at least not that they can remember. I know for sure there are animals. I know for sure there are humans. But how can any of us know about these other realms? We have to rely, therefore, on the Buddha’s enlightened perception that is born from the profound realization that the Buddha accomplished and described when he said simply, “I am awake. I am awake.”

So we rely on that perception, and from that perception the Buddha has taught us many things. One of the things that Buddha has taught us is that all sentient beings are suffering. Suffering is all pervasive, and – sorry to ruin your perfect day – you need to learn the reality of cyclic existence. It is a little bit like needing to walk through a room full of furniture and obstacles and room dividers and shelves and sofas and rugs, and all kinds of things. Unfortunately because our vision is so obscured, it is as though that room were dark and the shades drawn and there were no lights on.

The Buddha teaches us that to learn about cyclic existence would be like turning the light on in that room. If you are unaware of the condition of cyclic existence, it is kind of like trying to get through a room full of obstacles with no help, with no vision, no way to decide how to get through that room. So you are going to stumble over things; you are going to fall over things. There will be many, many hurtful and painful obstacles. Instead, the Buddha recommends turn the lights on. Be aware of the condition of cyclic existence. Know what you are up against. Strategize your path through life intelligently rather than living carelessly and haphazardly, stumbling over everything, having every obstacle that could take you down, in fact, take you down.

Many of us have experienced painful life situations that could have been prevented by the generation of some merit or kind acts that produce virtue within the mind stream. So the Buddha teaches us to know carefully what samsara actually is.

Astrology for 9/13/2014

September 13, 2014 by Norma

9/13/2014 Saturday by Norma

Things move along nicely, and then opposition appears. Make a statement and it will be disputed. When you notice this happening, you have two choices: 1. Insist that you are right! 2. Say “That’s a thought.” Consider #2 today, and avoid trouble. Mars moves into Sagittarius, the sign of philosophy, and people are more than willing to defend their views. Robert Nozick said “Why are philosophers intent on forcing others to believe things? Is that a nice way to behave towards someone?” In a different direction, work is wonderful, pets are a joy, happiness prevails and health matters go well. Focus your energy in these areas, and have a great day. Your choice!

Astrology for 9/12/2014

September 12, 2014 by Norma

9/12/2014 Friday by Norma

A stable energy makes this a wonderful day for work. A woman or child joins in and as you work, love is in the picture. This attracts the favorable attention of someone you didn’t even know was watching. (Please don’t forget that you are under constant observation these days.) Love is in the air! The sort of love that takes your temperature, washes your car, changes the sheets, and does your accounting. Little things mean love right now. A comment or piece of news shocks you out of your current thinking. John Ruskin said, “The greatest thing a human being ever does is to see something and tell what he sees in a plain way.” It’s almost impossible not to overspend today, but you’ll love what you buy. Happiness is here.

Astrology for 9/11/2014

September 11, 2014 by Norma

9/11/2014 Thursday by Norma

Feeling feisty and full of zip? So is everybody! Express enthusiasm for your project and then listen to someone else’s enthusiasm. Avoid the temptation to say, “But my idea is better!” You know what you will hear in return. The gypsy curse, “May you have a lawsuit in which you know you are in the right,” is a danger. Everyone is in the right today! Apart from this, it’s an excellent day in several respects. Steady progress is made in an significant area. An important visitor or person likes what you are doing and is willing to work in partnership on behalf of your goal. Once the urge to express your ideas passes, the rest of the day is very nice.