Tibetan Buddhist Altar

The Seven Line Prayer as Practice

September 15, 2013 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is an excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo called “The Guru Is Your Diamond”

Likewise, when the student accepts the teacher, they must honor that vow and they must make a similar vow in their own way. That vow is contained in The Seven Line Prayer. “Following you, I will practice.” Even though the prayer is directly to Guru Rinpoche, the prayer has an inner, outer and secret level of meaning. So we recite it thinking of Guru Rinpoche on a lotus and having the intention, hopefully, to understand that even though this appears as Guru Rinpoche on the lotus, it is inseparable from our own root gurus—same nature, same taste, same essence, same uncontrived primordial essence. And so, every time we recite the prayer to Guru Rinpoche, The Seven Line Prayer, we reconfirm that entire process: recognizing that Guru Rinpoche was the one who came from Orgyen; that he was born on a lotus in an extraordinary way. This is like our saying, ‘I understand that this is not ordinary. I understand that this did not happen as ordinary births, as ordinary conditions happen. And so having understood, I also promise to follow and to practice.’ And then we ask for the Guru’s blessing, Guru Pedma Siddhi Hung. Guru Pedma, grant me your blessings.

There is so much condensed into the power of that little prayer that I make you say again and again and again. There’s so much. One can go so deeply with just that one prayer. One can move through the stages of recognition to a depth that we didn’t think we could ever reach. One can create that connection by reciting again and again and again, “Following you I will practice. Following you I will practice.” And so those meaningful words, even though they are simple, we can understand them more deeply and more deeply and more deeply. “Following you I will practice.” What does it even mean? Does it mean I dress like Guru Rinpoche, or act like Guru Rinpoche, or do I wear some of his funny earrings, or what do I do? (I’ve got some funny earrings on, by the way.)

That’s not it. “Following you I will practice.” First, we practice the way Guru Rinpoche practiced, for the sake of sentient beings. That’s how Guru Rinpoche practiced. He came and was born into the world for no reason other than to benefit beings. He didn’t have to come and learn; he didn’t have to come and hang out. Like Lord Buddha himself, he didn’t have to come and learn or hang out. And yet he came for the benefit of sentient beings. And so that’s the way in which we promise to practice. Not only throughout this prayer, throughout this hour that I am practicing, but throughout this day, throughout this week, throughout this month, throughout this year, throughout all my lifetimes, may I follow the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and liberate beings. We’re talking here about liberating beings from suffering. This is what Guru Rinpoche did. Yes, he taught. Yes, he hid termas. Yes, he gave us the means, the method. But the intention was about liberating sentient beings. Following you therefore I will practice.

And so that’s our commitment. We take on this tremendous commitment, this tremendous opportunity to liberate beings from the clutches and the ravages of samsara. And that means we’ll live the week like that, the month like that, the year like that, the decade like that, our lives like that. And at the time of our death, we will make prayers to be reborn following Guru Rinpoche. And in our next life, we are reborn again to continue and to benefit beings. This is the method. This is the way. This is the powerhouse. We rely on this promise, this blessing.

Link to The Seven Line Prayer with audio files for practice accumulations.

Astrology

September 15, 2013 by Norma

Something favored by a group can’t happen because it’s too expensive, and a friendship may be strained by a difficult situation. Avoid the tendency to minimize problems that exist. Instead, plan to discuss matters fully and honestly so they can be resolved. Be certain that everyone is included in discussions, and everything will work. Secret matters are exciting and bittersweet. Today is a mixed day, full of wins and losses. A Zen aphorism says, “The obstacle is the path.” Relax and be happy. You’re on the path.

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

Astrology

September 14, 2013 by Norma

Attend public functions if possible today. Go out and meet people and let them meet you! A fortunate meeting with the right person can advance your goals in many ways. Resist the temptation to hide behind an email or phone call; it’s important to show up in person. Let others do the talking, as words can fail you now. Arnold Glasow said, “Silence is the safety zone of conversation.” Later in the day, artistic pursuits are excellent. This is a great time to attend the opera, ballet or movies. At least watch TV! Escapist activities bring satisfaction and inspiration.

Astrology

September 13, 2013 by Norma

Diplomacy is important today, yet the best progress lies in behind-the-scenes discoveries, conversations and agreements. Chat away pleasantly with others in the full awareness that something else is happening that is vastly more important than the words. A scattered energy makes it necessary to attend to many things at once – express yourself, spend time at home, woo your loved one, work hard, meet the public, engage in secret deals, hold the line in public, and escape! If you can do all this, you should be president! Don’t berate yourself if you can’t get it all done. Give your best energy to financial and health matters. Do the rest if you have time! Josh Wooden said, “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”

Astrology

September 12, 2013 by Norma

It’s hard to settle down and work today because of the interruptions or wild thoughts flashing through your mind. Wait out the restlessness, you’ll calm down as the day progresses. The problem is that things are working out and this is exciting! Do a little dance, high-five those around you, but do get back to your task eventually. Why? Because your work is making a difference and you don’t want to stop now. Don’t quit running before you cross the finish line! Elsewhere, love is in the picture. The person of your dreams is slowly coming into your life, or so it would appear, and it’s best to wait this one out too. Happiness is coming into a situation that seemed devoid of hope. Cato said, “He approaches nearest to the gods who knows how to be silent, even though he is in the right.” You are right, now be silent.

Astrology

September 11, 2013 by Norma

A cheerful person who sees life as a lark appears and provides a burst of energy to the environment! Someone has a great idea, one that’s so upbeat and optimistic it’s tempting to laugh. Don’t. All great inventors were greeted with incredulity when they first spoke of their idea. Keep an open mind. Inspiration is here. Gather up the willingness to work hard and the ability to see beneath the surface and put the new idea to work. Appearance is important to your goal, so spruce up yourself and your environment. You never know who will pop in for a visit. Surprise is the theme of the day. Foreigners, spiritual people and travellers are favored. Plan a trip! “Stephen Sondheim said, “White; a blank page or canvas; so many possibilities.” Be open to new things today.

Astrology

September 10, 2013 by Norma

Need medical attention? Today is a good day to get fixed up. A health practitioner has the ability to look beneath the surface and discover the true cause of what’s ailing you. Therapists are excellent, and detectives find the culprit! Sleuthing is favored today. You’ll listen to others speak and know exactly what is behind the words. This ability helps you understand what needs to be done. Pay close attention to the messages that come. Look for clues everywhere, they’re there! A healing energy enters the environment in many ways. Confidence replaces indecision, and you are able to move ahead in a way you couldn’t before. Old issues and problems are dropped. If you’ve been hung up on a financial matter, a divorce or a death -if you have suffered a loss -you let go! Blaise Pascal said “The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing.” You will be aware of the weight you have been carrying once you drop it. You’re free.

Vajrayana: For This Time

September 9, 2013 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is an excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo called “The Guru Is Your Diamond”

On the path of Vajrayana, we are given something like a rocket ship, rather than a slow boat, to cross the ocean of samsara. When Lord Buddha first came to the planet and taught, when he was there as Shakyamuni, he gave teachings that were absolutely necessary for that time. During that time, we were not in Kaliyuga, which is a more degenerate age. During that time, it was easier to practice. It was easier even to speak Dharma. Peoples’ minds were more spacious and more expanded so that if one were to accomplish Dharma, it would be more easy to accomplish Dharma during that time. And yet, there was a difficulty. And the difficulty was that during that time, because there was more space in the mind, there was also more relaxation, maybe more joyfulness, less reason to feel compelled to exit samsara. So there are good and bad things in both times.

True that this is Kaliyuga. True that this is the time of degeneration. There are many false teachers and many false paths. And sometimes delusion rises up like a tsunami flood, and it is a difficult time. We look to the people that even guide this country, and you wonder where is the clarity, where is the morality. So it’s difficult. Even this country that was once the prince of countries, and can still be the peacemaker, the one who guards the little guy, instead now we’ve changed. So these are all indicative of this time of delusion.

Yet at the same time, we are so pressed because of our delusion, our neuroses, which means an inappropriate response to something that is not understood well anyway. Our neuroses also thicken and deepen, and with that comes an increase in pain, fundamental pain. Maybe not even a particular pain about something, but rather an all-pervasive sense of suffering.We are more unhappy, really, now when things are happening faster and materialism is in some ways more attainable, in many ways more attainable. Still we have become more and more unhappy and continually create the causes for unhappiness. So this pushes us to find a solution. And for some people, we look to psychology or psychiatry; and for other people, we look towards creating the causes for happiness through walking the path of spirituality. But many of us are seeking, and that’s important. That is something that is useful and to be treasured during this time.

For many of us, we’ll think that what drives us to seek is this pain, this angst, this modern angst that we all seem to carry around. That pain, on the one hand, seems sometimes unbearable, and then other times, just there. And we are uncomfortable and we can’t say exactly why. We feel wobbly, unguided, unknowing and we really can’t understand why that is. That suffering, of course, even though painful, can ultimately become part of the blessing that brings us to the Path. Maybe we didn’t even come here thinking, ‘What I need is a good Path.’ Maybe we came here for some other reason: Because we heard about this place; or we’ve heard a little bit; or we’ve read some books about Dharma; or maybe His Holiness the Dalai Lama has given us some wonderful teaching through his books; and something has just hooked us a little bit. Maybe we heard about the crystals. That brings people! Whatever it is, it’s that sense of things not being wholesome or right. It’s that sense of fundamental unhappiness that drives us forward.

And so, in the beginning, that’s how it feels. It can be a very poignant kind of search and we feel deeply moved by it. So when we begin to examine the Path of Vajrayana, we find that rather than being the gentle ship that crosses a relatively gentle ocean as was in the time of Lord Buddha’s physical life, now we have a different situation. We are propelled by the depth of our feeling, by our discomfort; and we’re looking for something. And we seem to, in this time, connect with something that is more potent, maybe a little fiercer in a certain way, more condensed definitely, than the original teachings of Lord Buddha.

Astrology

September 10, 2013September 9, 2013 by Norma

A serious decision comes involving finances or health. Someone’s pride is hurt, but it’s important to be realisitic now. Accept the view that is least cheerful and you will head in the right direction. If you move slowly in accordance with rules and regulations, you’ll do fine. Denis Waitley said, “If you believe you can, you probably can. If you believe you won’t, you most assuredly won’t.” The trick is to believe you can do what you want to do by following the rules now. Work is fun, and family matters are wonderful. A partnership is in the last stages of being formed, so give this the attention it needs. Things are going your way, as long as you don’t expect miracles. The miracle is that you will do it!

Astrology

September 8, 2013 by Norma

See friends early in the day, it’s a nice social time! The energy changes and in the afternoon you’ll become more serious and creative. If you are a historian or memoirist, this afternoon is your time to write! A depth of understanding of issues is present that you didn’t have before. People have the ability to look beneath the surface and solve underlying problems. “Slow and steady” is the motto for today. Avoid the tendency to try to rush things. Newfound wisdom changes everything. Hsun Tzu said, “If there is no dull and determined effort, there will be no brilliant achievement.” Food and family are wonderful, still.