Tibetan Buddhist Altar

The Need to Tame the Mind: from His Holiness Penor Rinpoche

August 13, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is an excerpt from a teaching by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche on “Meditation”

The mind – does it need to be something which we can see? If we think that what has pain, suffering, problems and so forth, that this is what is called the mind, in this way we have to perceive the mind as something like a round ball. When we investigate into the mind itself there is not anyone who can really perceive a mind.

At the same time, this mind does not really die. From beginningless lifetimes until now, the mind of Samsara has just been getting rebirth over and over. The mind which has been conceptualized by having that thought of subject and object is that which binds oneself here. It is that which projects the external world and then one’s body and so forth. But no matter how much we investigate, there is no way anyone can perceive this mind.

All the past Buddhas have explained that there is no way one can perceive the mind in the past, present and future. If it is self-existing, then we could see it, like a round pill or something! So why do we think that it has to be perceived as some “thing?” All these “things” are created by the mind. All the experiences of happiness and suffering of Samsara and nirvana – everything is just created by the mind itself.

So we will find if we think over the absolute nature of the mind, it is definitely emptiness. Some people might say, “Oh, my mind is very active and multicolored! Maybe it is possible somebody might have it!” Or maybe somebody might say, “My mind is something like a white light!” But it does not really exist in that way.

When we don’t control the mind and just let it be free, then it starts to create all these negative actions and thoughts. That is why in these practices which we call meditation, although there are many levels of meditations, whatever the Dharma teachings that have been taught by all the Enlightened Buddhas, it is mainly to subdue this mind and to tame this mind. It is to recognize the fault of the mind is conceptual thought, which is a very dualistic thing where there is always subject and object, and this binds us into Samsara or cyclic existence. At the same time we try to realize its absolute nature, to realize or recognize this, and that is the most important part of our practice.

When lama gives all these teachings, the practitioner receives them and tries to put them into practice and then they say, “Oh! I recognize the nature of the mind!” But by just recognizing the conceptual mind, it is very difficult that one could attain Enlightenment. That which creates all these emotions and conceptual thoughts – that is called the mind. But the actual practice is of something which is beyond that kind of conceptual mind, which is known as wisdom. It is that which we need to realize. So we cannot achieve the ultimate happiness just by recognizing the conceptual mind.

There are many kinds of practices which aim to pacify all these kinds of negative thoughts and to control the afflicted mind, to purify and abandon them. When we do these practices and achieve some tranquility through which we can concentrate our mind and make it very stable, then we can perhaps concentrate our minds on the emptiness through which we may achieve some realization. So when we practice meditation and manage to get kind of settled and stable, even having just a little bit of experience of emptiness is really beneficial and can accumulate lots of merit.

Astrology

August 13, 2011 by Norma

Full moon day! You can see both sides of every equation, and you are able to make decisions from that perspective. You and those close to you have wildly different agendas. Agree to disagree, and for heaven’s sake don’t think you have to change your mind. An enormously loving energy is in the environment, and if you aren’t extremely happy, you are hiding from that energy. Go outside, it’s a sunny time. Be accepting of eccentrics, they are all around you today! If you look outwards, you will see an artistic, unusual world. Past issues are still being handled, and this is not the time to begin a brand new project, especially one that just popped up. Shinto says “Regard Heaven as your father, Earth as your mother, and all things as your brothers and sisters.”

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!

#TroyParrot Update – BREAKING STORY

August 13, 2011August 12, 2011 by anisonam

The following post was contributed by Ani Sangye “@sangyeH” on twitter:

After speaking with two individuals in Ohio who have direct knowledge of the Troy Parrot situation, we have learned that the 50 parrots remaining on the property are still in harm’s way. They have been moved to a building on the property that is completely inadequate and unsafe for the birds, despite what the Humane Officer (Sharon Karns) in charge of the case says. It’s a metal building without windows, running water or air conditioning and has one fan to cool 50 birds. The parrots are not in good condition after having been starved for an indefinite amount of time and having eaten drywall, furniture and been exposed to toxins,etc…. They are not receiving proper veterinary care and no consideration is given to their intense psychological trauma. Basically, the parrots are being treated like chickens.

The officials at a neighboring county Humane Society are furious at how this case has been handled. They said they would have immediately seized the birds and arrested the owner (Doug Ratcliff) and certainly wouldn’t have given him two weeks to clean up a house that is or should be condemned. According to these individuals, Doug Ratcliff has been in similar trouble before, with a record of parrot abuse and neglect that extends back 8 years—yet another reason to have arrested him and seized the birds immediately.

There is a fair amount of suspicious activity surrounding this case. No one understands why Sharon Karns didn’t seize the birds or why she gave Doug Ratcliff two weeks to clean up the premises. No one understands why she insists that the metal building is suitable housing for the birds when every parrot specialist says it is not. No one understands why she won’t authorize Dr. Bauer (the veterinarian who has the 10 sickest birds) to treat and foster the remaining 50 birds. She is married to the President of the Miami County Humane Society, which may explain why no one at her office is intervening on behalf of the birds. Last night there was a public meeting scheduled by the Humane Society for discussion of the Troy parrots. When our sources and numerous other bird lovers arrived, they found a sign saying the meeting had been moved, but there was no new location. This is apparently an illegal action, as the 501c3 is required to have public meetings. Finally, one of our sources said there had been tampering of evidence at the property.

We hope that the ASPCA and PETA will intervene on behalf of the parrots who are still very much in harm’s way.

Chickens and Worms

August 13, 2011August 12, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is from a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:

Of course, all sentient beings are equal in nature. I pick my battles by what I can do! Those that argue this usually do nothing at all!

I wish I could save every sentient being instantly. I do my part, do for pets and parrots, give to National Wildlife Society regularly, and work hard to re-build my clear-cut land to wholesome habitat. What can you do? Yes, chickens, parrots, and gossips full of hate are the same, and I love and pray for all. Worms too.

Do what you can! Benefit through compassion, stop cruelty, give to charity and get a job so you can.

www.garudaaviary.org

Astrology

August 12, 2011 by Norma

Love, creativity and doing happy things are extremely important. You may be contacted by important people from your past, or you may contact them. A friend or group could attempt to pull you in a different direction, and you don’t want to go there. Today you must satisfy two wildly divergent sides that can’t mix with each other. Keep them separate! Someone might make a financial request. This is a mistake, don’t agree because it will expand and you won’t be happy. You are slightly overdoing at home but it can’t be helped, and you’re still dealing with issues from the past. Mark Waldrip said “Just whenyou think you’ve graduated from the school of experience, someone thinks up a new course.”

Impermanence and Death: a Teaching by Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso

August 21, 2011August 11, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is an excerpt from a teaching given by Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso at Kunzang Palyul Choling on Ngondro:

Precious human birth does not mean everyone who is born as a human being. It doesn’t mean that. There is precious human birth and ordinary human birth. Those who don’t do any kind of practice, those who don’t even try to go to church on weekends, those involved in New Age groups or modern ways of belief, or those who enter into some kind of entertainment and waste their lives in that manner—that is just an ordinary human birth. You really must have accumulated some merit in your previous lifetime. You must have done some kind of purification in your previous lifetime. You must have made some kind of connection with the Dharma and your lamas. That is why you are here. Otherwise there is no possibility. That would never, ever happen. So since you have a precious human rebirth, you must immediately think, “I should not waste it. I have to get some advantage from this opportunity.”

Then how can one do it? You must then think that all phenomena which are composed of cause and condition are impermanent. Impermanence does not just mean that everything comes to an end. Impermanence means that each and every moment is impermanent. Each and every moment of our lives we are becoming older and older; we are getting nearer and nearer to death. If you waste even one hour, you are one hour closer to death. If you spend your weekend enjoying yourself, still you are getting nearer to death. Whenever you sit idle, still you are getting nearer to death. Even if you do practice, still you are getting nearer to death. Even if you don’t do anything, still you are getting nearer to death. You are always getting nearer and nearer and nearer. Every sentient being who is born is subject to death.

At the same time, death is uncertain. You can see many examples. Someone will say, “Just yesterday he was talking with me, and then last night he had an accident.” Or somebody shot him or killed him or whatever. There are so many conditions that may bring death. If I cannot do actual practice and if I do not have something I can carry with me, then tonight if something happens, what can I do? What are you really going to carry with you? You cannot pack up like when you get divorced or when you get mad at your friends and you say you’re going to leave and you take your suitcase and pack all your clothes and everything and whatever money and credit cards you have and you leave and go some other place. When death comes, you cannot do that. There is no way that one could do that. Up until now in this world, even the great popes, even Milarepa, even Shakyamuni Buddha, even His Holiness Karmapa and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, they left all their belongings behind. Even His Holiness Karmapa left his black hat behind, even his body. Never mind about an ordinary sentient being who cannot carry all those things. Even the great Christian popes who passed away, could not carry anything. All the great ones and not so great ones—when death came, nobody could pack anything, nobody could carry anything along. You could not even make a phone call. “I’m coming very soon, so could you please reserve a place for me?” There is no way that one can do that. You say, “Oh please, you save a better place for me since I am coming very soon.” Or you want to make a phone call to heaven. “Oh God, please save a place for me.” So you have to realize that life is like that.

In one sense, life is very long. You can experience lots of things. In another sense, life is gone like that. When death comes, what one can carry is just whatever accumulation of merit or whatever negativity one has done. That is the only thing that comes with you. Even if you don’t want it, it is stuck there and will be coming with you. So you have to realize that life is uncertain and death is uncertain. At any moment it can come. When you really consider that, you really get scared, goose bumpy. Then you really get motivated to do practice. Then your sleepy way of thinking and laziness and everything is gone just like that. You cannot feel so tired if death is coming like that. Then you can make yourself so alert. You can generate so much courage in yourself. “Why can’t I do 100,000 prostrations in a month? Why can’t I do that?” Then you can have that kind of courage within yourself. Otherwise you say, “Other people are out enjoying the weekend and going here and there and I am stuck here doing prostrations. I get pain in my legs and my knees and pain there. When can all this be finished?” Then it feels really difficult. When you really see that death is coming, then you can bear it. If you think about that, then that will really help you to apply yourself into practice with full energy and with full courage.

Astrology

August 11, 2011 by Norma

Lots of activity on the home front! You’re divided between the demands of your job and the demands of your home. Don’t try to bring the two together (don’t bring your kids to work or your work home!). Separate the two, work and home, work and home. Someone genuinely loves you and is willing to commit to you. Romance is not only possible but likely. Have a mid-week party! You are able to wear two hats during this time…serious on the job and joyous in love and fun. Continue to dress as well as humanly possible. Your entire situation can depend on making a good impression on someone you don’t even know is watching you. Mark Nepo said “Just as the warmth of summer can make a cricket sing, the qualityof being held enlivens the heart.”

A Treasury of Wisdom and Blessing

August 11, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following are some teachings from other Lineages:

Terton Sogyal Rinpoche: On Ignorance

Surely one of the most heart-breaking aspects of our lives is that we cannot recognize the fundamental cause of our suffering. Isn’t it curious how we can not detect ignorance at work? But, you see, this lack of awareness is exactly what ignorance, ‘ma rigpa’ in Tibetan, is.

For full teaching go to: http://www.rigpa.org/en/teachings/extracts-of-articles-and-publications/more-articles-and-publications-/view-and-wrong-view.html

From Khenchen Palden Sherab: Cause and Effect

Now we shall explore the third attitude, the cause and effect system. This is also known as the understanding of the system of the cause and effect. Everything really depends upon the cause and effect system. The law of cause and effect is always working. If a cause and condition are present, there will definitely be a result. Results must come from their causes and conditions. Right causes and conditions produce right results or effects. This never alters. This always operates. If we don’t have the right causes and conditions, there will not be right results no matter how much we hope or expect them. If we have the right causes and conditions, definitely the right results will come. It is inevitable. Even if we say we don’t want them, the results will definitely show up. Inwardly everything is like this also. Positive inward causes and conditions bring positive inward results. Negative inward causes and conditions bring negative inward results. Mixed positive and negative inward causes and conditions bring mixed inward results or effects. Knowledge of the cause and effect system is very important in Buddhism. Karma is the name of this system. You are the one who gets the results of your own causes and conditions. You are the producer of your own causes and conditions; you are therefore the producer of your own effects. Whatever you do, the results will come to you. By understanding this system, we can learn the importance of having more positive attitudes. Reduce your negative activities, and learn more positive activities. This is the lesson of this line of the text.Cause and effect are inevitable.

For the full teaching go to: http://pbc-tn.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/NgondroCommentary.pdf

From Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche: Cause and Effect

The third ordinary foundation practice is the truth of karma, cause and effect. Unfortunately, many deluded people believe that although death may be a very harrowing experience, after it has occurred, one is then completely free. Some believe that once you’re dead, things are all taken care of for you, as if somebody picks you up and puts you in a very enjoyable place where there are all kinds of pleasant entertainments. Other people believe that after death there is nothing, all experience just abruptly ends. There’s no good or evil, it’s just ashes to ashes and that’s that. Of course, such attitudes are the epitome of ignorance, and reveal a total lack of wisdom. It is utter delusion to believe that there will be no suffering, only pure enjoyment awaiting you after death. It is grievous that people do not realize that we are experiencing this life and its various conditions because of our conduct in previous lives.

Sometimes we think that once we are dead we will experience a very magical realm, and that even if we face suffering we’ll have the ability to immediately transform it. But how could this possibly be done? We should use our intelligence and other abilities now, while we have time, to see through our delusions. For instance, if it’s winter and you want it to be summer, no matter how much you long for the seasons to change, you are powerless to do anything about it. And if you are sick and want to be healthy again, you can’t just miraculously cure yourself. All suffering and experiences of the phenomenal world are caused by our habitual patterns and our karmic accumulations, and these are the materials with which you must work.

Furthermore, when somebody says that nothing exists after death, that you are free of suffering because you’re dead and it’s all finished, that is a very ignorant attitude. It’s something like standing before a blazing fire and telling somebody that if they close their eyes and jump into it, it’ll be okay. This will of course just make the situation worse. It’s a simple refusal to acknowledge reality, a wishful desire to escape the order of things. But it doesn’t change anything. It will only make reality that much more difficult to face. It’s also akin to playing around on the edge of a cliff, believing you won’t fall off. But then, once you’ve fallen, and you’re in midair, it’s completely useless to say to yourself, “Oh no, I hope I land softly.” No matter how much wishful thinking you do at that point, it won’t help you at all.

For the full teaching go to: http://www.kagyu.org/kagyulineage/buddhism/dha/dha03.php

Contemplating this Precious Opportunity by Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso

August 21, 2011August 10, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is an excerpt from a teaching by Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso given at Kunzang Palyul Choling on Ngondro:

The Four Thoughts that turn the mind from samsara are very important. Our minds are distracted by this world. We practice a little bit, and then get distracted, thinking life is good — eating pizza in the restaurant, going to the beach on weekends, and enjoying ourselves. It is really nice. One could have a very happy life with one’s family, and eating, and experiencing all those happy experiences. At the end of life, if one could not have the continuation of that kind of happiness in the next lifetime and many future lifetimes, one may get a little upset and think, “I should have done something. I have just been going to the beach, the mountains, camping, bungee jumping, and all that. I’ve spent my time doing all that, but I really didn’t do anything.” Then all one’s karma ripens. Whether you believe in karma or not, understand it or not, it doesn’t matter. Whether you are a Christian or a Buddhist or a Hindu or a Jew or a Muslim, in cyclic existence, karma is the life process. It is the nature of cyclic existence itself. So that nature ripens to everybody. Everyone experiences that. After death, if one has to bear all different kinds of suffering, then one may experience some regret.

This is how one has a very happy life. You can have entertainment, but at the same time have a kind of entertainment which really makes sense, which you can carry with you. On weekends, you could come here and participate in a tsog offering or a puja or some kind of a practice. While you are doing the practice, you may experience some minor problems with your knees or sitting or doing prostrations, but still you are bearing some karma and having some purification. After all, you could have something you can really carry with you after death. It is as the Buddha, who is fully enlightened, has explained. Jetsunma has also explained all this a number of times. The important thing to realize here is that this precious human birth is one in which one could really become involved in practice, in which one could become involved with the Dharma teachings, in which one could really become involved in Dharma activities. If one could really have some time to apply to practice, then this becomes a precious human birth.

First Noble Truth

August 10, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

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by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

An excerpt from a Teaching called “How Buddhists Think”

The Buddha’s first teaching dealt with what is now called “The Four Noble Truths.” This is the basis for everything he taught later. If it is not understood, then Buddhism will not be understood.

The Buddha taught that cyclic existence, the entire cycle of death and rebirth with all its phenomena, is pervaded by suffering. If you disagree with that, just look at a newspaper. Most people’s lives are affected by war, by hunger, by old age; we will all experience sickness and death. Other forms of sentient life have similar suffering, and it also pervades their lives.

The Buddha does not deny that some happiness exists. Is there not joy in the drug-like process of falling in love, in loving relationships, in the birth of a child, in acquiring wealth, in seeing and having beautiful things, in enjoying nature and simply feeling good on a good day?

But there is a form of suffering that we all share: every joy has a point of termination. The Buddha taught that all things are impermanent. Short-term loves break our hearts when they fail to endure. Then we revert to our habitual loneliness, anger, and unhappiness. Even life-long loves and marriages end in separation.

The bottom-line cause of suffering, the Buddha taught, is desire. And what causes desire to arise? At a point so unimaginably long ago that it’s called “time out of mind,” there arose the idea of self-nature as inherently real and as separate from “other.” This fixation on the duality of subject and object is the persistent skeletal structure for all experience. Until you achieve realization, all the experiences you have derive from this misperception.