Enlightenment is not far off

We humans are actually not that far from enlightenment. Our five senses are like the Emanation Body of a Buddha; our dream body, which is similar to the after-death form, is like a Buddha’s Beatific Form; and the basis of both of these is the subtle mind of clear light which shares the nature of a Buddha’s Wisdom Body. All we have to do is learn to transform these ordinary elements into their pure natures. Then buddhahood naturally comes into our hands.

H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama, The Path to Enlightenment

Read Full Post »

A quip about highest yoga tantra

Student: “If the inner offering is empty of inherent existence already in the generation stage, what is it transformed into in the completion stage?”

Geshe Jampa Gelek (Instituto Lama Tzong Khapa): “Being inherently existent”.

Read Full Post »

Wasting food is wasting merit

Geshe Losang Dhargye of Do Ngak Kunphen Ling in Redding, Conn., said that wasting food on your plate at the end of a meal is like throwing away your hard earned merit. The only reason we are fortunate to have food to eat is because of merit that we accumulated in this and former lives. So if your eyes are bigger than your stomach and you pile too much food on your plate and toss it, you’re essentially wasting your merit (and money).

Americans waste 33 million tons of food a year, according to a 2012 report on food waste that aired on National Public Radio. That’s a lot of trashed merit!

And while childhood obesity is also a serious problem in America, in stark contrast, on the other side of the globe in Somalia, 260,000 people perished in the 2011 famine — a famine that may have been caused by climate change as well as social factors (see the April 29, 2013 Huffington Post article).  It is heartbreaking that a high percentage of these deaths were children under five.

Read Full Post »

Golden Light Sutra: governing in accordance with Dharma

Chapter 12 of the Golden Light Sutra titled, “Chapter on the Royal Treatise entitled The Immeasurable Commitments of Divine Kings” explains how kings should rule their countries in accordance with Dharma. Should the king allow evil acts to go unpunished, non-virtue will proliferate and destroy the land. The gods will become angry and withdraw their support.

Shooting stars will rain down;
Likewise, mock suns will shower.
Fear of foreign armies
And famine will greatly occur.

His valued minister, beloved elephant
And cherished camels will die too.
People will pillage on another,
Seizing homes, resources, and wealth.
Region by region throughout the land,
They will slay one another with arms.

This chapter seems eerily familiar and accurately describes our world today. Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche encourages us to read the Sutra of Golden Light to help put an end to war and famine and other calamities. Chapter 12 seems like a particularly good choice.

Read Full Post »

Well-known mind training quote

May I watch my speech when among many. May I watch my mind when alone.

Written by the glorious master of India, Atisha Dipankara,

Heart of Perfect Wisdom, Illuminator Who is Entirely Good.

Thus, “The Bodhisattva’s Garland of Jewels” is complete.

Translation from the Tibetan by Jesse Fenton, Nov. 1997, Seattle, under the guidance of Geshe Yeshe Tobden.
Revised July 2005, Dharmsala, India.

Read Full Post »

a commuter’s wisdom

Your enemy is your greatest friend

- spotted on a Washington D.C. commuter’s back pack (he must be a good mind training practitioner)

Read Full Post »

On Seeing Your Own Faults

Just as our own eyes can’t see each other, we must rely on other people to point out our faults so that we can improve ourselves.

~ Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche, March 2013

Read Full Post »

On Buddhahood

It’s not a question of whether or not we will attain Buddhahood — we will definitely all become Buddhas, the real question is simply, when.

~ Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Losang Jampa, March 2013

Read Full Post »

Taking refuge

We should take refuge in the Triple Gem – the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha the way a child regards her mother. When she’s fearful, she cries and runs to her. When she’s very happy, she shares her delight with her. Likewise, in another way, the Triple Gem protects us from all harm and leads us to permanent happiness.

~ Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Losang Jampa, March 2013

Read Full Post »

A Yogi’s Perspective on Dharma

The Dharma lives within the yogi,

The yogi follows the Dharma.

If you really follow the Dharma, nothing can harm you.

Even if they take this life, they can’t take your next life.

~ Drupon Samten Rinpoche

(source: the film, The Secret Yogis of Tibet)

Read Full Post »