Tibetan Buddhist Altar

The Power of Speech

January 28, 2016 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

From a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:

What is “Right Speech” in Buddha Dharma? Mostly as with the Eight Fold Path, we must do no harm. To understand right speech one must first understand what non virtuous speech is. That is where one speaks in a way as to be hurtful, offensive to another. Like name- calling and bullying others. Hate speech, in other words. Any speech that elevates oneself at the expense of others. Mean speech, speech without foundation, especially, which is gossip. Divisive speech. Speech that is not factual – lying. Telling tales to hurt a person’s livelihood. Lying speech causing one to prosper while others cannot as a result. Some think brutal honesty is right speech. Not so. Take the brutality out. Some think they are always right so brutality is necessary. Never the case!

We can always use right speech if we try. And to try we must be warm hearted and caring. Willing to take a back seat and applaud another’s efforts. At that point we can develop right speech, that is helpful. We can nurture, build confidence, benefit others with right speech. It is teaching, helpful and loving. When right speech is accomplished, in a future life one’s voice will be gifted and empowered. One will bring happiness and good result from teaching. One will be born with a beautiful voice, that is well loved and can transmit many blessings. That is the power of right speech, and one can see if they have spoken kindly in a previous life. The voice will be a beautiful thing, like a golden magical flute. All will benefit and Dharma will be spoken.

Astrology for 1/28/2016

January 28, 2016 by Norma

1/28/2016 Thursday by Norma

A well-spoken diplomat is solving problems you didn’t know you had. Pay attention to the person who is not speaking, this one holds the power and is actively engaged behind-the-scenes. A leader is unconnected and out of the loop. Be sure to let people know what you are doing, if they have the right to know. A friend appears mid-day who brings happiness and the possibility of partnership. Allow yourself to be drawn away from work, you will come back happier and with a new perspective. Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “Man’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.” If you can’t stop thinking obsessively, start meditating or you’ll suddenly run around behaving like a maniac from mental pressure. Apart from this, it’s a nice day.

The astrology post affects each person differently, depending on individual horoscopes. Look to see where this message affects your life!

Astrology for 1/27/2016

January 27, 2016 by Norma

1/27/2016 Wednesday by Norma

The best comment, bit of news or idea comes early in the day, right after a demoralizing moment. Watch for it and act on it. Someone can tell you the secret of the universe, how to solve your most pressing problem, and the correct Powerball number. All you have to do is listen and be willing to let go of your preconceived notions. Facts challenge belief systems today, as the idea of Earth revolving around the Sun challenged previous belief systems. Keep an open mind and watch your world expand. Bernard Baruch said, “Every man has a right to be wrong in his opinions, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts.” Work and health matters go well, business matters go well, and love goes public.

The astrology post affects everyone differently, depending on individual horoscopes. Look to see where this message affects your life!

The Logic of the Buddha’s Teaching: Examine It For Yourself

January 26, 2016 by anisonam

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

The Buddha has taught us some main points. These main points necessarily pervade all other levels of Buddhist doctrine or Buddhist philosophy or Buddhist teaching. They are the foundational thoughts that you have to use to think through the logic of the Buddhadharma. Without these fundamental thoughts, nothing that we accomplish in Dharma will make any sense or have any real weight. We are encouraged as Dharma students not to have some kind of blind faith based on no recognition of cause and effect relationships, but instead to have a faith that is based, yes, on heart, but also on logic, on reasonableness.

Lord Buddha himself taught that you should examine the teachings. If, having learned these foundational thoughts, they do not seem reasonable to you, if it doesn’t seem thoughtful and reasonable and intelligent to continue on in the way the Buddha has prescribed, then you shouldn’t do it.

The Buddha has taught that the Dharma should be logical and reasonable. And the way that the Buddha laid it out, it is. It is. For myself (some of you know my story), I was not born in the Tibetan monastery. I was found here, in America. I was born in Brooklyn of half-Jewish, half-Italian heritage, a little Catholic, a little lox and bagels. When my teacher found me, I was 38 years old, so I was already established in whatever habits I had, probably most of them bad. We have a lot of bad habits by the time we are 38, don’t we? By the time I found my teacher, I was quite established in a certain way, but I have found that in that meeting with my teacher a certain communication about the Buddha’s teaching has come to me that is logical and reasonable. There is a certain way to follow through the teaching that even appeals to a hard-headed, Brooklyn-born, half-Jewish, half-Italian gal like me. Now, I am a very practical person, a very practical person. So when I view the Buddha’s teachings, I want to know that they make sense to me. I want to know that they are reasonable. I, myself, would have difficulty following something that did not seem reasonable to me in some way.

Taking into account that sentient beings cannot actually gather all the necessary data by which to evaluate this logical Buddhist teaching, we have to rely to some degree – to a large degree actually – on the Buddha’s perception. For instance, all sentient beings do not have the capacity to actually evaluate samsara or the wheel of death and rebirth, conditioned life, realistically. In the same way, if we had no TV cameras and no satellite communication, none of our modern tools, we wouldn’t know for sure, let’s say, that there are people in China. We could hear about it. We could even hear Chinese people in America tell us that it exists, but for ourselves, unless we had gone there, we would never know. Not really, not for sure. But today we have TV and news reporters and newspaper pictures and satellites that broadcast information, and we can see China with our own eyes, even though it is on the other side of the world. So in a way, the Buddha acts like that for us.

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Astrology for 1/26/2016

January 26, 2016 by Norma

1/26/2016 Tuesday by Norma

It’s “all systems go” today in your activities. If you aren’t thinking hard and pressing forward, you’re wasting the best energy of the day. Secrets matters come to light, and every type of excavation is successful. Drilling for oil in your backyard? A gusher could ensue! Sudden discoveries are possible and generally favorable. Happy exchanges with women and children are likely, and a hard working person is solving problems at the speed of light. Believe any criticism you receive. A Spanish proverb says, “If one person calls you a jackass, ignore it. If two people call you a jackass, ignore it. If three people call you a jackass, buy a bridle.” Sharp comments aside, it’s a happy and productive day.

The astrology post affects everyone differently, depending on individual horoscopes. Look to see where this message affects your life!

Khenpo Tenzin Norgay on Dharma in Degenerating Times – YouTube Video

January 25, 2016 by anisonam

The following video was filmed live at Kunzang Palyul Choling in Maryland. Khenpo Tenzin Norgay offers advice on the challenges of practicing Dharma during the degenerating times:

Astrology for 1/25/2016

January 25, 2016 by Norma

1/25/2016 Monday by Norma

People and things from other places are working on your behalf, and good results are in the wings. Patience is an issue, yours and other people’s. If someone is upset, consider that patience has run
out and offer a snack or cup of coffee. A change of scenery is the best remedy today: take a drive, a walk or anything to move your mind away from preoccupation. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. said, “If you mean to keep as well as possible, the less you think about your worries the better.” Spend time with friends, work on your diet, try a new style that updates your look. At some point during the day a turnaround occurs, and after this happens you’re heading forward again. At last!

The astrology post affects everyone differently, based on individual horoscopes. Look to see how this message applies to your life!

What Makes Buddhism Different?

January 24, 2016 by anisonam

An excerpt from a teaching called “The Importance of Shakyamuni”

Without the teachings of Lord Buddha, there would be no perfect path by which to achieve supreme enlightenment. There have been and still are paths on this planet by which one can move forward spiritually. There are many ways in which one can accumulate merit. There are many ways in which it is possible to make some kind of spiritual progress. But the kind of spiritual progress that produces supreme enlightenment is quite different.

Lord Buddha said that all beings are suffering, and he didn’t say that to be negative. He said that because he looked around and saw that even those beings that were most happy, most beautiful, and most productive would still get old, sicken, and ultimately die. Each being of the six realms of cyclic existence ultimately gets old, gets sick, and dies.

That is why Lord Buddha said that there is no comfort and no happiness in cyclic existence. He wasn’t denying the possibility of achieving some sort of momentary happiness or fleeting joy. Everyone knows we feel really good when we can eat a piece of chocolate cake or watch our favorite TV program or go swimming or have some friendly conversation or something like that. But the kind of joy that Buddha wished for all sentient beings was long lasting, one that ultimately did not betray us. The kind of joy that is available in cyclic existence has a beginning and therefore an end.

When Lord Buddha saw that, he wished in his great kindness and great compassion to present a way by which we could overcome cyclic existence, not merely make progress. That really is the difference between the teachings of Lord Buddha and other spiritual teachings. The teachings of Lord Buddha have one goal and one goal only: supreme realization – ultimate liberation from samsaric existence and the final overcoming of the mind of duality that produces the conditions of samsara. This is the path that Lord Buddha created.

Astrology for 1/24/2016

January 24, 2016 by Norma

1/24/2016 Sunday by Norma

An irritating moment is followed by two good events today, so be patient. Sunny, confident and courteous behavior is appropriate and draws the thing you’ve wished for. A leader sends a message or shows up in person, and women are especially helpful. Lama Surya Das said, “When we say Yes to life, meeting whatever befalls us with authentic presence, we grow happier, deeper, wiser, more loving and caring.” Do your best to avoid obsessive thinking today. Mercury is travelling with Pluto, the planet of obsession, bringing nightmares and fearful thinking. Darkness is the problem. Turn on the light and it’s gone! What’s good today? Harnessing the spirit to fight fear, knowing that you have the strength to overcome your worries, and a benevolent ally who is willing and able to lend a hand!

The astrology post affects everyone differently, depending on individual horoscopes. Look to see where this message appears in your life.

Astrology for 1/23/2016

January 23, 2016 by Norma

1/23/2016 Saturday by Norma

A wonderful boss or authority figure is in the picture, and an old love is satisfying. Thank those who stood by you through thick and thin, the quiet ones who expect no notice or reward. You are still involved in handling past issues, and this is one of them. D.H.Lawrence said, “One doesn’t know, till one is a bit at odds with the world, how much one’s friends who believe in one, mean to one.” Domestic matters are highlighted until this evening, when you must dress your best as you may find yourself in the public eye. If you are called on to support someone, do a great job. It’s time to pay back favors.

The astrology post affects each person differently, depending on individual horoscopes. Look to see where this message impacts your life.