Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

How to Meditate

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From teachings given by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

What is meditation?

Meditation is the natural state of mind when it is relaxed, stable, and open.  When our mind is calm and settled, there is a spaciousness that allows time between action and reaction.  The trouble is that the mind more frequently runs wild like a monkey. That is what happens when the mind is too agitated, wound up, or out of control. The mind controls you rather than the other way around.

The point of meditation is to create space in your mind.  The mind is like a muscle.  In the same way that you do physical fitness training to keep your body strong, the mind needs to be trained to be calm and relaxed, yet also alert and wakeful. For Buddhists, meditation is the means by which to experience wisdom directly.

Meditation Techniques

Meditation can be practiced by anyone, regardless of religious tradition.

The following are some simple meditation techniques as explained by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:

Posture

While there are more elaborate explanations for how to hold the body, in general it is beneficial to sit comfortably with one’s back straight. A firm cushion is useful to lift the body some. In our tradition, we meditate with our eyes slightly open.

Watching the Breath

A very simple, yet powerful, technique is to watch the breath.  You can take very uniform relaxing breaths.  Four beats in, hold one, four beats out.  Let your mind rest on the rhythm and feel of your own breath. For a person whose mind is too active and angry, it is very restful, very peaceful to do this.

Single-pointed concentration

Single-pointed concentration is a beautiful practice.  Take an image of the Buddha, or flower, or candle, and concentrate on that.  Let everything else go completely.  Sit and watch the image.  You are filled with the image and you take note of the image, looking at the finest parts of it.  If you use a candle, focus on the nature of that flame.  Simply see what it is.  See only that.  Let the mind rest on the image or candle or flower.  When the “I left the iron on” thoughts come into your mind, you dismiss them and go back to the concentration.  If you have trouble dismissing thoughts, you can use a visualization of cutting them with scissors, and throwing them away.  You always return to your single-pointed concentration.  Come back to rest.  If you have thoughts, no matter what they are, just laugh at yourself, drop them and come back to the concentration.  It is extremely relaxing and healing to let the mind rest.  The resting will get longer and longer as you practice.  Once you learn to apply meditation or concentration, the mind has more control, more “muscle.”

Jetsunma gives the background on her experience with meditation in Stablizing the Mind, a collection of teachings and practical instruction.

The Seven Line Prayer

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First, before a teaching or practice, we always establish motivation. In Mahayana or Vajrayana – the Liberation of all beings from suffering.

Today we discuss the immutable Seven Line Prayer. In Nyingma, this is the King of Prayers. In fact, it is a complete Puja in itself.  


Within are contained Refuge, Bodhicitta, making offerings, request for blessing and samaya. The prayer has three levels of meaning.

The three levels are Outer, Inner, and Secret. The Secret level should not be taught until an aspirant has accumulated 300,000 repetitions!

The first, outer level of meaning is as it seems. This is a Prayer to Guru Padmasambava, second emanation of Buddha, who brought Dharma to Tibet.  His Birth and Death were not ordinary. He was born on the pollen heart of a Lotus, appearing as an eight year old, a golden Sublime Child. His body had ALL the major and minor marks of Buddhahood. He was born stainless, fully awake, and realized. This is described in the Prayer.

In describing this way, Devotion is generated purely. He is surrounded by a retinue of Dakinis. Dakinis are female aspects of Buddha. Dakinis are varied. Some are Primordial Wisdom. There are Vajra Dakinis and Offering Dakinis. Dakinis are “Sky-Dancers” and are the activity aspect of the Buddhas.  So the meaning is Guru Padmasambava has accomplished all activities, qualities, and wisdom of all the Buddhas.  This is acknowledged in the prayer.

Next is the Samaya-commitment to follow and to practice. Then the request for the Guru to bless us. In Vajrayana that Blessing means everything, as it ripens and deepens one’s consciousness, without which we remain ordinary, unfulfilled.  


The inner meaning is that we are connecting with and awakening to our OWN Enlightened Nature. Through devotion your mind mixes with the Guru’s like milk with water, and they become inseparable; same taste and essence.

We are taught that to recite this prayer brings Enlightenment within seven lifetimes. To accomplish this prayer can bring enlightenment within one life. Accomplishing is 300,000 times or more. E MA HO!   One not only awakens, but also accomplishes Buddha’s activities, qualities, and blessings. (Remember? Dakinis).

As I’ve said the secret level cannot be taught at this stage, not on twitter! A very broad explanation is that the sacred syllables purify psychic winds, channels, and fluids.  All of which are invisible to the unawakened mind. This is the very means to Enlightenment! One should have wind (lung) transmission, which I cannot confer here, so you may commit to seek out Lung Transmission from a qualified Nyingma Lama. So here we go.

HUNG – ORGYEN YUL GYI NUB JANG TSAM
On the northwest border of the country of Urgyen

PEDMA GESAR DONG PO LA
In the pollen heart of a lotus

YA TSEN CHOG GI NGODRUP NYE
Marvelous in the perfection of your attainment

PEDMA JUNG NE ZHE SU DRAG
You are known as Lotus Born

KOR DU KHANDRO MANG PO KOR
And are surrounded by your circle of Dakinis

KYED KYI JE SU DAG DRUP KYI
Following you I will practice

JIN GYI LOB CHIR SHEG SU SOL
I pray you, come and confer your Blessings.

GURU PEDMA SIDDHI HUNG!
(Not translatable. Sacred words)

That is the prayer and translation. You can accumulate prayer like Mantra, Counting on a Mala (prayer beads) AND should repeat this prayer three times before any other practice, such as the Amitaba recitation from yesterday.

After reciting, the Guru melts into light and pours into the crown chakra, accomplishing the great blessing. May all beings benefit!

And as always, one considers Guru Padmasambava as inseparable in essence from one’s own Root Guru. This then is inseparable from your mind.

One more thing, the condensed essence of the Seven Line Prayer is the Vajra Guru Mantra. OM AH HUNG BENZAR GURU PEDME SIDDHI HUNG!

May my mistakes in transmission be fully purified by OM BENZAR SATO HUNG!

I have so far accumulated over a Million. My goal is 5 million, but I’m a slacker! LOL! I love to chant this prayer, my favorite.

Here is a recording of me chanting the prayer at three different speeds to facilitate progress. I ask new students to accumulate 10,000 repetitions. Easy!

Jetsunma chanting slowly-for beginners

Jetsunma chanting the prayer a little faster

Jetsunma chanting the prayer rapidly

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Long Life Prayer for Yangthang Rinpoche

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Long Life Prayer for Yangthang Rinpoche

Kunzang Jigmed Dechen Ödsal Dorje

OM SWASTI

NGA GYUR KÜN ZANG THUG KYI TEN PA’I SÖL

Upholder of the early translation Heart-doctrine of Kuntuzangpo

JIG MED THUG KYED TOB KYI DZIN PA LA

By the strength of your fearless intention

DE WA CHEN PO PEME CHIN LAB PA

And the great bliss of Padmasambhava’s blessing,

ÖD SAL DORJE KAL GYAR TSO ZHE SÖL

May the Vajra of Clear Light Live for a hundred aeons.

By request, this was written by Gyurmed Thegchog Tenp’i Gyaltshen, His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

H.E. Venerable Yangthang Tulku Rinpoche is a highly revered Guru in the Nyingma School. He is known to be the embodiment of Vimalamitra, a Dzogchen Master regarded as the chief propagator of Buddhism in Sikkim. Rinpoche has successfully retrieved many Terma Buddhist scriptures which were secretly concealed by Guru Padmasambhava.  H.E. Ven. Yangthang Rinpoche was born in the Yangthang family in Sikkim in 1923. Rinpoche was recognized as the reincarnation of Terton Dorje Dechen Lingpa.

In November 1990, Ven. Yangthang Tulku came to KPC and bestowed the complete Ratna LIngpa cycle of revelations, along with the Nyingtik Yabshi. He was accompanied by Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche.

It is not too late to register for his upcoming visit to KPC on April 23rd – don’t miss this rare and precious opportunity!

H.E. Ven. Yangthang Tulku

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H.E. Ven. Yangthang Tulku is a highly revered Lama in the Nyingmapa Lineage of Tantrayana Buddhism.  He is known to be the embodiment of Vimalamitra, a Dzogchen Master regarded as the chief propagator of Buddhism in Sikkim. In his past life he was also the great terton Lhatsen Namkha Jigmed from Sikkim whose treasures are included in the Rinchen Terzod. But he is perhaps most well known as the reincarnation of Dorje Dechen Lingpa, the Tertön from Dhomang, who has successfully retrieved many Terma Buddhist scriptures which were secretly concealed by Padmasambhava. Only the truly accomplished Dharma practitioner prophesied by Padmasambhava, can reveal these sacred treasures.

At the very moment that Dhomang Terchen’s incarnation was born (1923) in Sikkim, all directions in the sky in Sikkim resounded in thunder, “I am here!” He was discovered exactly as described, born into the Yangthang family. This is why Rinpoche is known now as Yangthang Rinpoche. A second emanation was born in Sikkim and was brought up together with his older counterpart. When Yangthang Rinpoche was invited back to his monastery in Tibet, the younger emanation also insisted upon joining him. The two young boys departed with their party, playing and performing many miracles along the journey.

Upon returning to Dhomang Monastery both tulkus were put in the hands of Sogtrul Rinpoche and many other lamas at Dhomang. They were given the finest and best education with Khenpo Pema from the Palyul Mother Monastery as their personal instructor. Thus, both tulkus were able to fully complete all their studies. In addition to mastering the extensive training in practices of his lineage, Yangthang Rinpoche was completely trained in the Kangyur and Tangyur, and in the works of Longchenpa.

In Tibet, before the Cultural Revolution, Yangthang Rinpoche gave the entire Kangyur transmission and many other great empowerments. He became the head of Dhomang Monastery and carried out all the administrative duties personally.

After remaining in retreat for more than 20 years under harsh conditions, Ven. Yangthang Rinpoche moved to Pelling, West Sikkim in 1958. That same year, the Communist Chinese captured and killed Sogtrul Rinpoche and the younger tulku. In 1959, Yangthang Rinpoche fled Dhomang. He was later captured by the Chinese, and imprisoned for 22 years. While imprisoned, he helped many fellow prisoners who could not bear the hardship to die peacefully by performing P’howa, transferring their consciousness to Pure Lands. Though he witnessed and experienced much torture, he bears no resentment to his captors, only compassion. In fact, he became a spiritual advisor to some of the guards. When people express sympathy about his imprisonment, Rinpoche says that because of Dharma, his mind was freer in prison than worldly people experience in the best of circumstances.

Following the death of Mao Tse Tung he was released. He returned to Dhomang to find his monastery completely dismantled. He then obtained permission to go to Sikkim. As a simple yogi he traveled back and forth to Nepal and Bhutan, receiving transmissions and empowerments from His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and His Holiness Dodrubchen Rinpoche.

In 1985, while circumambulating the Great Stupa in Bodhanath, Yangthang Rinpoche met with Gyaltrul Rinpoche, who at that time was leading a group of his American students on pilgrimage to the sacred shrines of the Dharma. These two lamas had not seen each other in 26 years. Fleeing from the invading Communist Chinese, they had initially left Dhomang together but parted company at a fork in the road. One fork led Gyaltrul Rinpoche to freedom in India, the other led Yangthang Rinpoche to imprisonment. At the request of Gyaltrul Rinpoche, Yangthang Rinpoche first came to the U.S. in 1990. He gave many profound teachings and transmissions, and was enthusiastically welcomed wherever he taught. Yangthang Rinpoche returned to the U.S. for a second tour of teaching and transmission in 1997, and for a third tour in 2002. In between his travels to the United States, Europe and Asia, Rinpoche has gone back to his root temple, Dhomang Temple in Sichuan, China to rebuild and refurbish the dismantled temple.

Among the Tertons, exceptional manifestations have been given the title ‘Lingpa’ in acknowledgment of their remarkable qualities. Like Ratna Lingpa, Karma Lingpa, Chogyur Lingpa and others, Dorje Dechen Lingpa revealed many volumes of treasures and was an undisputed realized master, a manifestation of the wisdom and compassion of all the Buddhas. Moreover, Yangthang Tulku is of course also an emanation of Vimalamitra, just as Kyabje Penor Rinpoche was. Vimalamitra’s wisdom is inseparable from Guru Rinpoche’s, the source of the blessings of all the revealed treasures. Yanthang Rinpoche is known as a compassionate, humble, no-nonsense Dzogchen master and one of the principle lineage holders of the Nyingmapa Lineage. He is widely recognized for the quality and depth of his realization, the power of his attainment, and the purity of his transmissions.

Kyabje Pema Norbu Rinpoche, the 11th throne holder of Palyul Lineage, has pronounced that “There is no difference between myself and Yangthang Rinpoche.” Gyaltrul Rinpoche has stated that “Yangthang Rinpoche is the great achiever of Dharma, an extremely precious gem in this modern age.” Venerable Yangthang Rinpoche currently resides in West Sikkim.

References:  PathtoBuddha.org

Mahasiddha.org

OrgyenDorjeDen.org

Wonderful News! KPC is Open 24/7

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KPC has wonderful news! In a meeting with the Interfaith Advocate from Montgomery County, we were informed that we can open our doors, that visitors can come and go, taking advantage of the many blessings the temple has come to offer. The Prayer Room will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week once again for ANYONE seeking a place of spiritual refuge. You will be welcome to meditate quietly or pray, and take in the wealth of blessings offered by the statues, thangkas and crystals.

Not all functions of the temple will be able to continue until we are able to navigate the permitting process of Use and Occupancy and make the necessary renovations to ensure public safety and accessibility, but for those who have come to count on KPC as a place of peace, refuge and blessings the doors will once again be open to all regardless of faith.
We cannot hold events inside the temple, but will continue to offer events outdoors in order to continue with KPC’s mission of offering the Dharma. In just a few weeks KPC will host Khenpo Norgay who will be offering teachings and empowerments associated with Phowa, a powerful Buddhist practice to prepare for the time of death. Though this event will be held outdoors, KPC will do it’s best to ensure you are comfortable while enjoying this precious opportunity.

Please continue to support us in our effort to come into compliance with the county. The renovations required to ensure the safety of all will require everyone’s ongoing support, as they will be very expensive. Please donate. Meanwhile, all are invited to come and partake of the many blessings of KPC.
To learn more please visit: www.tara.org

Prayer for the swift rebirth of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche

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His Holiness Pedma Norbu Rinpoche
His Holiness Pema Norbu Rinpoche

I dream of the day my Guru will be reborn and found. I long for it. This Precious Incarnation is sorely missed–every day.

I have my Palyul Lineage and all our AMAZING throneholders. But HHPenor Rinpoche is my root Guru, enthroned upon the Lotus in my heart.

HHPR is present always! Through my humanness I long to see His Precious Face- hear His voice, the fragrance of His holy breath! Ah, tears…

I must satisfy my heart with His many teachings, prayers, and mixing my mind with His. Like milk with water, inseparable! The way…

I have never seen such compassion in anyone else but HHPR. He was a living Buddha, peerless. He made Palyul what it is today!

His Holiness Penor Rinpoche
His Holiness Penor Rinpoche

To His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, Tsawei Lama I pray– O great treasure of Love and Blessing, Supreme Wisdom Holder! Return for the sake of all sentient beings!

Come, lead us out of confusion into Pristine Awareness as only a true Buddha can! I await the Bliss of Your return!

Show us the way to attain Supreme Enlightenment as you have always done! Return to us! There is such suffering!

Show us how to awaken from this deep, narcotic trance- to the Pristine Primordial Nature, free of contrivance! E MA HO!

Beloved Guru, may I always, in every future time be reborn in Your Entourage and serve you and all beings with body, speech and mind.

Heart Son of Palyul: His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche

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

Shortly before Kyabje His Holiness Penor Rinpoche had His Parinirvana, He watched me watching His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche. His Holiness gave me a deep look and said “He is better than me. ”

It must be true. Tsawei Lama  said it. The more I read and pray I know it’s true. I cannot explain the gifts I’ve been given.

His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche is the inheritor, and the two other heart sons are supports. His Eminence MugsangRinpoche is for America.

OM AH HUNG BENZAR GURU PEDMA SIDDHI HUNG!

Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Norbu Lhamo All rights reserved

True Confession

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The following is an excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo called “Longing for the Guru”

If you feel that you have become deadened to that longing you once felt, if you think that you don’t long for your Teacher or long for the Buddha, if you think that you don’t long with a heartfelt longing for that awakening, then you should try to remember your childhood and the different feelings that you had.

What are some of the things that you did?  Were you promiscuous?  Did you become involved in drugs or alcohol?  Did you become very materialistic in certain ways?  And if you can remember the beginning of that, was it based on longing?  Was it based on something that you could hardly remember, but remember that it was sharp and poignant?  Was it really based on that?

If you can remember a time like that, you should spend time becoming reacquainted with the purity of that urging.  Cultivate that longing.  Not cultivate it in a false way or in a contrived way, but search for what was already there.  Feel what was felt.  Don’t make up a feeling.  That’s important, because then you’ll blame yourself again.  Instead, try to remember that feeling, even if it just numbs you to think that you have gone so far astray, you should not be ashamed because your karma is that you were born into a culture where what you felt was not acceptable and you tried to fit it into ways that were acceptable.  Those ways did not work for you and then you shut down.  You should try to go back to that original feeling and find a way to forgive yourself.  You have to confess in order to be able to fully forgive yourself.  Don’t confess: Oh, I’ve been a bad girl, or I’ve been a bad boy, I’ve done this and I’ve done that.

The confession that you should make to the primordial root Guru is: You were everywhere, and I tried to find you here.  The true confession is the lack of understanding the nature of the Guru.  The true confession is the lack of understanding as to what you are.  That’s the real confession, and that’s the real sin that was committed.  Yes, karma happened.  But that core confession and purification can bring about the end of all the karma that arose from that, truly.  It can bring about the end of all sufferings that came from that point.  You should allow yourself to remember the longing that you felt and learn to live with it.

In learning to live with it and having it be the warmth in your heart, allowing yourself to be with that and to live with that, then that longing will bring the proper result.  So long as it is diverted, so long as you refuse to feel it, so long as you do not allow yourself to be pure and then constantly cover up with feelings of impurity, so long as that condition continues, the longing cannot be satisfied.

That longing, if it’s felt in its pure way and if you can manage to get your ego out of the way, can be the very bread by which you are nurtured to continue in a firm way on your path.  That longing can be the way that provides the actual, undeniable connection with one’s own root Guru.  It perfects that relationship so that one can realize the nature of the primordial Guru and realize that they are the same.  You can understand that what you see in front of you is the miraculous touch of Lord Buddha, that the relationship with the Teacher, the relationship with the path, the relationship with all of the teaching, the relationship with your own practice can only be a result of the miraculous intention of the Buddha.  So long as we continue to understand our teaching and our path as something external, we will never understand the nature of it.  We will never be able to truly drink of the taste of that nature.  Instead, we will continue to feel separate from the mandala.

Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo.  All rights reserved

Vajra Kiss

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Good night, sweet dreams!

May Dakinis hold your hearts and grant theirbliss!

The Vajrakiss.

Can you drink the poison too? I know you do!

You might as well agree to this: That you would sell your soul for bliss.

Even I can answer this; There is no soul, there is no goal.

Even bliss is this: emptiness so profound.

The vibe of Light cannot be found!

So forgive, wake up, dispel.

There is depth to this well.

In the end..I am your friend.

Hallelujah and amen!

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