My Precious!

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I’m not gonna say I’m a big, Sci-fi geek,
but when I hear the term “Precious Human Life”
I can’t help but think of Gollum from JR Tolken’s "The Hobbit".


But when we use the phrase “Precious Human Life”
what we’re really talking about is:
#1 possessing a golden opportunity and
#2 making the most of it.

By now you’ve heard me teach you many, many times,
NOT to rely upon faith, for:
• it is connected to fear,
• it feeds on rigidity,
• it gives birth to aggression and
• leads to suffering.

So instead of taking the traditional approach,
which is steeped in fear and dogma
let’s explore a more pragmatic approach.

Yes, if you look hard enough
we can always contrive reasons for resentment and despair.
Yes, the argument could be made that neither,
our minds, hearts, bodies or circumstances are perfect.

So what?

Wouldn’t it be cool…

wouldn’t it be delightfully subversive
if our flawed, silly lives were golden opportunities for
rapidly accomplishing full enlightenment and
then helping others do likewise?

It could be very difficult to both learn and practice Dharma if
we lived in a war zone, or
our family was a war zone, or
our hearts and minds were filled with intense violence.

If right now, we enjoy freedom from those obstacles then
we have a golden opportunity.

It could be very difficult to both learn and practice Dharma if
we were dying of dehydration or
if we were enfeebled by the lethargy that comes from utter starvation.
If right now, we enjoy freedom from those obstacles then
we have a golden opportunity.

It could be very difficult to both learn and practice Dharma if
we were animals, with out the neurological capacity or even the
physiological capacity to do so.


If right now, we enjoy freedom from those obstacles then
we have a golden opportunity.

It could be very difficult to both learn and practice Dharma if
we were utter slaves, totally exploited and horribly taken advantage of.
In the 20th century in America we have it really good, don’t we?
If right now, we enjoy freedom from those obstacles then
we have a golden opportunity.

It would be very difficult to both learn and practice Dharma if
we were greedy, cruel and exploitive predators.
Then the very notion of love and compassion could be physically repulsive.
If right now, we enjoy freedom from those obstacles then
we have a golden opportunity.

It could be very difficult to both learn and practice Dharma if
we were utterly obsessed with competition and pettiness.
If right now, we enjoy freedom from those obstacles then
we have a golden opportunity.

It could be very difficult to both learn and practice Dharma if
like Thurston Howel the Third


we had no real personal experience of suffering to
nudge us forward on the spiritual path or
no real awareness of other people’s sufferings to
give birth to love or compassion in our hearts.

If right now, we enjoy freedom from those obstacles then
we have a golden opportunity.
Come, let us make the most of the golden opportunity we've received!

Have you registered for the Friday series of weekly webinars?
It begins January 7th.

May you and yours be

happy and healthy!

Om Mani Padme Hum,

Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika

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Do NOT turn a God into a Demon!

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“It is a mistake to confuse enthusiasm with wisdom.
It’s NOT uncommon for Dharma students to get so enthusiastic
that they fill their entire schedules with dharma and dharma related activities.
Big mistake.


How could that be a big mistake?
Because if we leave NO time in our schedules to
• breath,
• smile,
• play,
• screw,
• sleep and
• be an all around happy camper,
we’ll be creating the causes to be cranky bastards…
and no one wants that.

That is why in the pith instructions it is written,

“Do NOT turn a God into a Demon,”

or in other words
even something as good as Buddha’s Dharma,
if misapplied, could be profoundly destructive.

For instance, if we hold onto our understanding of the teachings too tightly
then we aren’t leaving room for greater insight and growth.
Let us explore this by way of contrast.

One student insists, “This is the truth….”
{can you sense his rigidity?}
a second student says, “This is what I was told…”
{could you sense this guy’s flexibility?}.

The more rigid we are
the less possibilities we experience,
whereas the more flexible we are
the vaster is the universe of possibility that we inhabit.

Many years ago,
I went a great period of time limiting my reading
to spiritual texts, exclusively.
That was a big mistake.

So my teacher recommended that I lighten up
and read both novels as well comic books
such as “Calvin and Hobbes” or “Garfield.”


I followed my teacher’s guidance,
and so ushered into my life,
a new series of playfulness, ease and consequentially realizations and growth
that had been impossible when I was over-working myself.

Yes asceticism can wear many masks,
including that of an enthusiastic scholar or a rigid dogmatist.
Come let us follow Buddha’s example and traverse the middle way
between asceticism and over indulgent foolishness.

But how can we know whether an activity is beneficial or destructive?
Simply dialog with the Buddha of Compassion.

You don’t know how?
Then find a lama to teach you this easy technique,
that you too might walk in the footsteps of:
• Chandragomin,
• Chandrakirti,
• Gelongma Palmo,
• Tsongkhapa,
• Jigme Lingpa,
• Kyergangpa, and
• Mingyur Namkhai Dorje.

The Friday series of weekly webinars begins January 7th.

May you and yours be

happy and healthy!

Om Mani Padme Hum,

Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika

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Monday's Recommended Reading

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From Dilgo Khyentse's
"The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones,"
lets read from the Commentary on pg. 76-77 and
let's also read from the root text on page 195.
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In today's selection from Dilgo Khyentse's commentary we can read:

"The literal meaning of Guru Yoga is

'union with the teacher's nature.'

To blend your mind with the teacher's mind is
the most profound of all practices and
the shortest path to realization.

It is the life-force of the path and
the one practice that includes all others.

It was through relying on a spiritual teacher that
all the Bodhisattvas of the past
generated the mind of enlightenment and
reached perfection.

The Bodhisattva Tak-tu-ngu, the
'Ever-Weeping One,' for example,
was willing to give anything,
even his own flesh and blood,
in order to be accepted by his teacher..."

From the Dalai Lama's
"The Path to Enlightenment,"
lets read page 98-99 and
let's also read from the
Translator's Introduction on page 13.





In today's selection the 14th Dalai Lama explains:

"How did the Enlightened Ones
attain the state of omniscient buddhahood?

By purifying and expanding their minds
through the practice of Dharma,
which out of compassion they later teach.

Our Buddha, Shakyamuni, trained under many masters
over a string of lifetimes.
Eventually his practice of Dharma
transported him to enlightenment.

Thus it is said that Dharma is the actual refuge,

the Enlightened Ones are
the teachers of refuge, and

the Sangha are
the friends of refuge.

If we admire the Enlightened Ones,
how can we NOT admire the force that
brought them to enlightenment?"


The easiest way to contact me is at:
http://www.FaceBook.com/LamaJigme

In today's exploration of
the " Intermediate Collection of Practices "
we could consider:

The Prayer of Refuge and Bodhichitta

Eternally “I” go for refuge
to Bud-dha, Dhar-ma and Sang-ha.
For the sake of every living being
may I accomplish Chen-re-zig.



I invite you to share your feelings and insights with
my other students at: Buddha's Quick Path


Om Mani Padme Hum,
Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika


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Saturday's Recommended Reading

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From Dilgo Khyentse's
"The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones,"
lets read from the Commentary on pg. 74-75 and
let's also read from the root text on page 193.





In today's selection from Dilgo Khyentse's commentary we can read:

"All the Buddhas of
the past, present, and future
have achieved and will achieve enlightenment
by relying upon a spiritual teacher.

The most profound of all teachings,
the Ma-ha-mu-dra [the Great Seal] and
the Great Perfection
[Dzok-chen or Ma-ha-san-dhi],

are realized through devotion rather than
through the fabrication of the intellect.

With unwavering and single-minded devotion,
see the teacher as the Buddha himself and
everything he does as perfect;
then his blessings,

the wisdom of the all the Buddhas' minds,
will flow effortlessly into your being.

Practice in accordance with his
instructions, and, as all the
clouds of doubt and hesitation are
cleared away, the sun of his compassion will

shine through,
warming you with happiness."

From the Dalai Lama's
"The Path to Enlightenment,"
lets read page 97 and
let's also read from the
Translator's Introduction on page 12.





In today's selection the 14th Dalai Lama explains:

"A spiritual aspirant requires a model,
something he or she can look up to as
an ideal and thus find guidance and inspiration.

In Buddhism this the the Triple Gem,
the Three Jewels of Refuge:
the Buddhas, Dharma and Sangha.

When we think of the fully enlightened Buddhas -
the beings who have purified their minds
of all stains and obscurations and
who have expanded their wisdom to
the limits of existence -

we feel very attracted and awed;
but somehow there always seems to be a
great distance between the Buddhas and us.

Therefore, there is the refuge of the Sang-ha,
the community of spiritual aspirants,
the assembly of practitioners
dwelling in the various stages of
practice and attainment.

These beings provide us with a
perspective on the path.
We have to look up to the Sang-ha,
but NOT as far as to the Buddhas.

The Sang-ha make us think,

'This person is NOT that far ahead of me.
If I just make a bit more effort...' .

They give us confidence for spiritual practice.
Sometimes they make us feel like we can even
race them to enlightenment.
These are the Sang-ha of spiritual friends.

Thoughts of the Buddhas make us
numb with admiration;
thoughts of the Sang-ha cause us to
jump to it and to apply ourselves with
zeal to the spiritual path.

This path and the methods for traversing it
are the third Jewel of Refuge, the Dhar-ma.
This is the collection of
the teachings to be practiced and
the realizations to be attained."


The easiest way to contact me is at:
http://www.FaceBook.com/LamaJigme

In today's exploration of
the " Intermediate Collection of Practices "
we could consider an excerpt from:

Lama Praise

Beyond being defiled by the two
obscurations of pride and jealousy,
you pretend to still be purifying them.
Having certainly reached the sublime path’s very end,
you insist that you are still learning.

Beyond the extremes of Sam-sa-ra and Nir-va-na,
you still manifest here in Sam-sa-ra.
Peerless teacher,
I bow before you.


Why could some Full realized teachers
occasionally pretend to still be on the path?

The Dalai Lama's excerpt could infer
that in their compassion they
do NOT wish to overwhelm their students.



I invite you to share your feelings and insights with
my other students at: Buddha's Quick Path


Om Mani Padme Hum,
Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika


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Friday's Recommended Reading

.
From Dilgo Khyentse's
"The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones,"
lets read from the Commentary on pg. 72-73 and
let's also read from the root text on page 191.





In today's selection from Dilgo Khyentse's commentary we can read:

"The six-syllable mantra, too,
can be recited as an offering to
the Three Jewels {Buddha, Dharma and Sangha}
and to all sentient beings;

it has the power to bring
infinite benefit.

Even the most ruthlessly cruel and
arrogant beings,
completely lacking the slightest inclination
toward the Dhar-ma,

can be tamed and helped
with this mantra,
for it is the source of the Bo-dhi-chit-ta,
whose infinite power of compassion always
succeeds where force and violence fail."

From the Dalai Lama's
"The Path to Enlightenment,"
lets read page 94-95 and
let's also read from the
Translator's Introduction on page 11.





In today's selection the 14th Dalai Lama explains:

"The sufferings of the animal realms
are obvious to us.
Work and farm animals experience being
driven, beaten, killed, and eaten by human beings.

We would go to an institution and
claim our human rights if
someone tried to do these things to us, but
animals can do nothing but look on pathetically.


The fish in the Kangara Lake are
NOT respected as the owning the lake;
to the humans they are merely sources of food.

We forget they are living beings who,
like us, grasp at an "I" and
aspire to happiness.

We forget that they do NOT want pain and
do NOT want to die,
and we pull them out of the water on hooks and in nets,
causing them to die in fear and agony.

The same is the case with chickens,
cattle, goats and so forth."


The easiest way to contact me is at:
http://www.FaceBook.com/LamaJigme

In today's exploration of
the " Intermediate Collection of Practices "
we could consider:

The Bowing Prayer

Lord, white in color, unstained by faults,
a perfect Buddha adorning your head,
you look upon all beings with eyes of compassion.
Chen-re-zig, we bow to you!



I invite you to share your feelings and insights with
my other students at: Buddha's Quick Path


Om Mani Padme Hum,
Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika


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Friday's Recommended Reading

.
From Dilgo Khyentse's
"The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones,"
lets read from the Commentary on pg. 62-63 and
let's also read from the root text on page 183.





In today's selection from Dilgo Khyentse's commentary we can read:

"Through faith and devotion
in the Three Jewels,
we will come to realize that they are NOT
three separate entities,

but the body, speech and mind of
Chen-re-zig, the Buddha of Compassion.

His mind is the Buddha,
his speech the Dhar-ma, and
his body is the Sang-ha.

Even though at present we
can NOT meet Chen-re-zig in person,
we should be aware of his limitless qualities
as they are described in the sutras and tantras.

We should also remember that
Chen-re-zig is inseparable
from our teacher,
who instructs us in the precious Dhar-ma.

Deeply appreciating this great kindness,
praying to him and
reciting the Six-syllable mantra,
there is NO doubt that all our

karmic obscurations and negative emotions
can be cleared away.

The time will come when we will
actually be in the presence of
Chen-re-gig in his Buddhafield [pure land],
where he turns the wheel of

the Ma-ha-ya-na Dhar-ma
for his retinue of Bo-dhi-sat-tvas."


From the Dalai Lama's
"The Path to Enlightenment,"
lets read page 84-85 and
let's also read from the biography of
the 3rd Dalai Lama on page 218.





In today's selection the 14th Dalai Lama explains:

"Compassion that does NOT understand
the nature of Sam-sa-ric existence is
a healf-hearted compassion."


The easiest way to contact me is at:
http://www.FaceBook.com/LamaJigme





In today's exploration of
the " Beginning Collection of Practices "
we could consider:


Affirmations simply don't work.
You could recite, "I am very peaceful."
all you want
but it won't really change how you feel.

Now, a properly worded, assumptive question,
is a horse of another color.

By way of example,
let's play with these Power-questions.

"What are some of the reasons
I Could feel peaceful?"

"What could be some of the benefits
of feeling peaceful?"

"If I was now profoundly peaceful;
what could that feel like?"

"If I was now profoundly peaceful;
what could that sound like?"

"If I was now profoundly peaceful;
what could that look like?"

Yep, that is exactly why
it has been said that sometimes,
"Questions are the Answer."

And that, my friend, is why the second "I"
is "Inquisition."



I invite you to share your feelings and insights with
my other students at: Buddha's Quick Path


Om Mani Padme Hum,
Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika


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Thursday's Recommended Reading

.
From Dilgo Khyentse's
"The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones,"
lets read from the Commentary on pg. 44-45 and
let's also read from the root text on page 211.





In today's selection from Dilgo Khyentse's commentary we can read:

"When you are criticized,
accept it as an opportunity
to acknowledge your hidden faults
and increase your humility.

As it is said,

'Blame and ill treatment
are the root
of the meditation flower.'

They are your teacher,
destroying attachment and craving.

If brought to the path,
harsh words and blame
will inspire your practice
and strengthen your discipline.

How can you ever repay such kindness?"


From the Dalai Lama's
"The Path to Enlightenment,"
lets read page 68-69 and
let's also read from the biography of
the 3rd Dalai Lama on page 210.





In today's selection the Third Dalai Lama explains:

"There are many examples of people
who have attained full enlightenment
in one short lifetime

by correctly devoting themselves
to a master [teacher],

and if you please your teacher
with the offerings of material things,
devotion and
intensive practice,

there is NO reason why you could not
do the same."


The easiest way to contact me is at:
http://www.FaceBook.com/LamaJigme





In today's selection from
"The Healing Power of Love and Letting-go"
we can read:


"I have taken Refuge in
the Bud-dha, Dhar-ma and Sang-ha, but
have little heartfelt enthusiasm.

I follow the trainings of body, speech and mind but
have let my commitments slip.

Bless me, and all who have been
faint-hearted like me, that
our spiritual ambition may be
firm and irreversible."



I invite you to share your feelings and insights with
my other students at: Buddha's Quick Path

Om Mani Padme Hum,
Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika


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Tuesday's Recommended Reading

.
From Dilgo Khyentse's
"The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones,"
lets read from the Commentary on pg. 42-43 and
let's also read from the root text on page 209.





In today's selection from Dilgo Khyentse's commentary we can read:

"Dhar-ma practice and positive actions
are also NO more real than illusions and dreams,
but through these dreamlike merits
we will reach the dreamlike fruit
of enlightenment."


From the Dalai Lama's
"The Path to Enlightenment,"
lets read page 66-67 and
let's also read from the biography of
the 3rd Dalai Lama on page 209.





In today's selection the Dalai Lama explains:

"Were all the Buddhas and
lineage masters [teachers] of the past
to manifest before us at this very moment,
we would NOT be able to recognize them
as enlightened beings.

Due to our NOT having a sufficiently strong
karmic connection with them,
they would be unable to affect us.

The guru performs the great kindness of
coming to us in an ordinary form
which we can perceive and
to which we can relate,

and carries out the work of the Buddhas
in our lives.

The fact that a donkey like us
is brought into the family of spiritual beings
is purely due to the kindness of the guru.

The Buddhas can only come to us
through him or her.
Thus if we do NOT respect the guru and
heed his or her teachings,
what hope do we have?

We should meditate upon
the guru's unexcelled kindness
and give birth to
profound appreciation."


The easiest way to contact me is at:
http://www.FaceBook.com/LamaJigme





In today's selection from
"The Healing Power of Love and Letting-go"
we can read:


"I have met a Sublime Teacher, but
let myself down by my negative behavior.
I have found the best path, but
I wander on precipitous byways.

Bless me and the foolish like me, that
our minds may be tamed by Bud-dha’s Dhar-ma."



I invite you to share your feelings and insights with
my other students at: Buddha's Quick Path

Om Mani Padme Hum,
Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika


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What is Dharma?

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Meditation and the Spiritual path - idea # 138
from your Buddhism expert



Bliss and Openness pt. 20
What is Dharma?



Happy Interconnection-Wednesday!

When we read Patrul Rinpoche’s, words:

“…one Dhar-ma, Bo-dhi-chit-ta, embodies all practices of the development and completion stages...”

the first question that comes up is, “what is ‘Dhar-ma’?” For most of us, the first time we heard the word “Dhar-ma” was in that T.V. show a few years ago called “Dharma and Greg.” Could you remember that? I liked it, it was funny.

Like most Sanskrit terms “Dhar-ma” has many meanings. It can mean
“phenomena” as in the phrase “the Enlightened one’s Teachings on the ultimate nature of all phenomena.” Wow, such a mouthful! No wonder it was simply shorted to “Buddha-Dharma” and then to simply “Dharma.”

You’ll notice it does not refer to the conventional truth of all things. Dharma is not like some encyclopedia-galactica! My friend it won’t tell us how to
make a longer lasting light-bulb. Well then, what it is good for?

Buddha’s teachings are perfect if what we want, if what we really desire is FREEDOM from the tyranny of foolishness, selfishness, confusion, pain, sorrow, fear, anger and turmoil in our lives.

That is the function of Buddha’s teachings. Not to become a psudo-spiritual Know-it-all, not to become the master of eastern trivia, NOT to swap the culture we were born into for the culture of: Thailand, India, Tibet, Nepal, China, Korea or Japan.

So what is this “Bodhichitta” term?
We’ll explore that Tomorrow.



What are the:
• verbal,
• Semi-verbal and
• silent meditations
that could be perfect for whatever life throws at you?

To find out, go to: http://www.lamajigme.com/Beginning-Series.html



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May you and yours be happy and healthy!

Om Mani Padme Hum,
Lama Jigme Gyatso - Tibetan-Buddhist: Monk, Teacher, Healer and Tantrika



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