Tibetan Buddhist Altar

Astrology

January 30, 2011 by Norma

1/30/2011 Sunday

A worldly energy is at work today. Don’t spend your time in the house; being in the world is where the action is! You are able to inspire yourself in private, but use that energy to advance your cause, whatever it may be. You are pleased with yourself. Be careful that you don’t become so excited about your plans that your head is in the clouds and you’re tripping over the sidewalk. Artistic and creative pursuits are especially favored over the next three days, as is music, so create your project and keep working on it. At a certain point today, your cheery enthusiasm comes down to earth. Reality strikes in the form of some serious news, or perhaps you hear of someone with health or business problems. Pay attention. Be happy about happy issues and serious about serious issues. Friends and groups continue to be absolute powerhouses. Don’t stand in their way or you’ll get run over, but do support them. Theodore Roosevelt said, “Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to be an oyster!” Well said.

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!

What IS Buddhahood?

December 16, 2011January 29, 2011 by Holly

Video teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

As a sentient being, it’s pretty hard to understand what Buddhahood is. Jetsunma addresses the questions of what Buddhahood is and what qualities the Dharma path has that allow you to reach that state of awareness.

Astrology

January 29, 2011 by Norma

1/29/2011 Saturday

Happy day! Someone loves you and they are in your corner. You are assured of a good reception wherever you go. Happiness, joy, and enthusiasm are here. People associated with universities and colleges, as well as spiritual folks, are in a really good mood. Spiritual leaders and public speakers are especially persuasive. Today you have particularly good taste, so go shopping. You’ll be glad you did later. Assertiveness is in the mix, but it works. A new leader or an inspiring voice is heard. It is the voice that encourages you to take action, so do it! Listen. A time of uncertainty or confusion has ended, and clarity is in the picture. Sivananda Saraswati said, “Put your heart, mind, intellect, and soul even to your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.” Good advice.

The First Drubwang Pedma Norbu Rinpoche

January 28, 2011 by Holly

The Third Throneholder

The First Drubwang Pedma Norbu Rinpoche

(1679 – 1757)

The birth of the first Drubwang Pedma Norbu Rinpoche as an emanation of the great Pandit Vimalamitra and the Vidyadhara Terton Jatson Nyingpo was prophesied in Terton Jatson Nyingpo’s Ma-ning revelation. He was born in Chagril near the town of Ahchog in the eleventh rabjung year of the Earth Sheep (1679).

From his root guru Pema Lhundrub Gyatso, he received all the transmissions and practices belonging to the Palyul lineage. Due to his success in attaining accomplishment in all the teaching he received, he was given the title “Drubwang” which means the Powerful Lord of Accomplishment. When Drubwang Pedma Norbu performed the Lama Cham of Vajrakilaya from the Sakya tradition at the palace of Tenpa Tsering, the Dharma King of Dege, the audience was astonished to notice his feet did not appear to touch the ground. At the age of seventy-nine, the first Drubwang Pedma Norbu Rinpoche dissolved his mind into the pure sphere of truth. His body was reverently preserved inside a wooden stupa, which was assembled within the private chamber of his residence, and there he remained.

Courtesy of Pathgate Institute of Buddhist Studies

Astrology

January 28, 2011 by Norma

1/28/2011 Friday

A squeeze play has eased up, and optimism is rewarded. Teaching, learning, and all forms of higher education and religion are favored. Legal issues are well resolved, and group activity is moving forward. Try to stay at the center of the group or at least with friends. You are ready to “go it alone,” but take others along for the ride. There is enough energy and force in groups to power a rocket to the moon, so don’t be left out! Spend time conferring with others, meet with as many people as possible, and your wishes will be attained. Exercise helps, and someone can call from afar with good news. Science and technology are favorable and machines of all sorts are especially helpful.

The Second Throneholder

January 27, 2011 by Holly

The Second Throne Holder
Pedma Lhundrub Gyatso
(1660 – 1727)

Pedma Lhundrub Gyatso was born in the province of Do Kham in a place known as Seng-gang in the eleven rabjung year of the Iron Rat (1660). His birth was prophesied in Terton Duddul Lingpa’s Vajrakilaya Terma as the reincarnation of Sogpo Lhapal, one of the twenty-five disciples of Guru Rinpoche.

From the age of eight, Lhundrub Gyatso started receiving all the Nam Chö empowerments, transmissions and secret instructions from Vidyahara Migyur Dorje [who lived at Mugsang Monastery]. At age sixteen, he went to the Palyul Monastery to receive more profound instructions on personal attainment from his uncle, the Vidyadhara Kunzang Sherab. By the time he was twenty-five, he came into direct experience with the true nature of mind. Under the continued guidance of his uncle, Kunzang Sherab, who transmitted to him the Secret Oral Transmission lineage, Lhundrub Gyatso advanced his accomplishment with great enthusiastic perseverance. He took on the responsibility of transmitting the sutra and tantra at the Palyul Monastery after Kunzang Sherab dissolved his body into the pure realm of ultimate truth at the age of sixty-four. When Lhundrub Gyatso was fifty-four years old, he became the second Throne Holder of the Palyul Lineage. Under his charge, propagation of Buddha’s Doctrine flourished in all directions.

At the age of sixty-eight, on the tenth day of Saga Dawa in the year of the Fire Sheep (1727), Pema Lhundrub Gyatso entered into a state of meditative equipoise. Then his body dissolved into the sphere of clear light while loud thunder reverberated and streaks of lightning lit up the sky. During his cremation, rainbows like treasure vases and wish-granting trees appeared in the sky and the images of deities could be seen clearly in the smoke. Many precious bone relics were found in the ashes.

Reference: Pathgate Institute of Buddhist Studies

Astrology

January 27, 2011 by Norma

1/27/2011 Thursday

A first rate idea has appeared, a solution to something that has gotten stuck. In your excitement, it could seem as though you charged right into a brick wall! But today, a way around that obstacle is beginning to appear. A bit of time, and a bit of strategizing, is in order to fix things. Women and children are very, very shrewd and can give you a solution to something. Don’t fall prey to unrealistic fantasizing, but do keep an eye out for the open door that suddenly appears. Surprise is a theme today, and the surprise is in your favor. As is romance, love, and all that jazz. Organizations are invigorated, and friends are enthusiastic to the point of aggressiveness. Definitely stick with your friends. William T. Sherman said, “Grant stood by me when I was crazy, and I stood by him when he was drunk, and now we stand by each other.” These two Generals won the Civil War. Friends don’t have to be perfect as long as they share goals.

Offering Mudra

December 16, 2011January 26, 2011 by Holly

ARGHAM PADYAM PUPE DHUPE ALOKE GENDE NEWIDYA SHAPDA PRATITSA YE SWAHA

Water for drinking and for bathing, flowers, incense, scented water, celestial food and sound are all offered.

Lama Pema Rangdol, head umdze at a Palyul Monastery for many years and now living in NYC, visited KPC Maryland to instruct students in the Rigzin Dupai Tsog Practice. This is an excerpt from that training.

Astrology

January 26, 2011 by Norma

1/26/2011 Wednesday

A change occurred during the night, and something that was slowly moving forward is now moving backward. Hmmm. This means you have more groundwork to cover. You can feel mentally discouraged, and negative thinking or speech can be in the air. It’s fine to talk about your concerns, ignoring things doesn’t help. Look deeply into the situation, feel your frustration, and make a new plan. Water is the most powerful element because it always finds a way. Water moves around obstacles and keeps on going. Be like water today. If there’s a block, flow around it and look for the open path. Old loves are in the picture, and enthusiastic energy is still present. Keep going.

How to Deal With Hate

January 25, 2011 by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

From a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:

I’ve been asked by a young follower what to do about anger and hate. First, forgive yourself, as you are a young lady, and growing up is in truth a time of wild emotions, a time of exploring them. Hormones fly around, and we are not so able to control either one. However, start now to learn about emotions.

Even if someone is mean to you think about this: all sentient beings wish to be happy. Even if they act out, they are trying to make themselves happy by being negative. They don’t understand how to be happy so they try abusive behavior to feel powerful.

Now think about this: All beings want to be happy but they are mostly suffering with a few bright spots here and there. When people suffer they often strike out at others. But really, they are unhappy and insecure. Perhaps their parents didn’t teach them courtesy and ethics. Maybe something awful has happened to them and they take it out on others. But always they are insecure, and maybe jealous of you. Even adults can act out violently when they are insecure and jealous. So the first step is to understand they are suffering, want to be happy, and don’t know how.

It never helps to be nasty back. It is bad for you and them, and makes things worse. Instead, apply an antidote. If they say cruel things, pray for them to be happy (and leave you alone!) Don’t take their hate personally. They are very unhappy and need help. You must be as kind as possible even when they are horrible.

Remember they are basically the same as you. You also want to be happy and bravely asked how! You are moving forward and they are stuck in hate still. So think, “I am so blessed to know what to do.” Then think, “the haters do not know what to do.”

When you understand that, you can have some compassion for them. You can see you have grown up quite a bit by praying for your enemies. They have not come as far as you on the path, so you have compassion. You are developing the virtue of human kindness by tolerating with understanding why they do as they do. So it is important not to react to hate. Let it be as it is. You aren’t doing the hating anymore.

Whatever happens is their problem not yours. When they hurt you, let it run off you like water off a duck’s back. Be the good, mature, kind young lady like you know you can be! In the end it doesn’t matter what they do, it matters what you do! Your job now is to build compassion and character as you grow. If you do, you will naturally draw to yourself good friends, and people of quality!

You are seeing the face of suffering, and their opinions are worthless. Suffering drives them. Let loving kindness drive you to happiness!