Faith is a Trap

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Do I “know” if George Washington really is the father of my country?
No, I don’t…
but it’s a fun idea that can be empowering to play with.

Do I “know” if Buddha really existed?
No, I don’t…
but isn’t the idea of a flawed man discovering how to become much more than that
fun and empowering?

Do I “know” if Buddha’s teachings are really “true”?
All I know is that when I apply certain teachings I get favorable results.

Could you see the intention to be relaxed yet empowered?

Faith is just a reaction to a fearful outcome
that we hope to avoid.
It leads to rigidity; and as far as I can tell
the ONLY use for rigidity is Tantric sex!

Born of fear, rigidity leads to aggression
which gives birth to suffering;
and who needs that?

Come, let us dispense with the two sided coin of faith and fear
and instead explore the freedom that could come
from the play of possibility and letting go.

For instance, if you fear financial disaster,
rather then feebly striving to “trust” that it will work out…

#1 Bring your fear
into compassion’s path of taking-away everyone’s
financial lack and it’s causes;

#2 Bring your desire for morality, prosperity and safety
into love’s path of sending everyone
those selfsame blessings and their causes and…

#3 Bring what ever remains of your fear
into the path of Buddha’s wisdom of letting-go.

Now that’s spiritually productive!

The Thursday series of weekly webinars will only be offered once every year.

May you and yours be

happy and healthy!

Om Mani Padme Hum,

Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika

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Don't Miss the Meteor Showers!

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Faith can be dangerous, when it blinds us to the present moment.
When applying any spiritual technique it is crucial to be aware
of the results we are receiving.

If we are getting crap results then it’s either time
to reevaluate our application of the instructions
or simply find a new teacher.

But if our perception is held captive
by our faith fueled imagination
we will be blind to the present moment,
and all it’s important teachings…

just like the astronomer,
so busy, hunched over his charts
that he fails to look up
and see the splendor of a meteor shower.




Come let us learn from this foolish fellow’s mistake.
Let’s have the courage to take a long hard look
at the results that we experience from our daily spiritual practice.

Christ taught that the spiritually hungry would be blessed.

If we notice the ways that our current spiritual practice falls short
then we could cultivate spiritual dissatisfaction,
from that comes the hunger that could fuel both the enthusiasm and the courage
to take our next step on the journey to enlightenment.


The Wednesday series of webinars begins in just 3 weeks.

May you and yours be

happy and healthy!

Om Mani Padme Hum,

Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika

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Thursday'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. 86-87 and
let's also read from the root text on page 205.
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In today's selection from Dilgo Khyentse's commentary we can read:

"When you visualize the deity's
[the Buddha of Compassion's] vajra body,
you should NOT think of it as something solid
made of flesh, bones and blood,

but as like a rainbow,
brilliant, colorful, and clear,
yet without any substance.
This is the void aspect of
Chenrezig's nature..."

From the Dalai Lama's
"The Path to Enlightenment,"
lets read page 108-109 and
let's also read from the
Translator's Introduction on page 18.





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

"Nothing is to be taken on faith alone."


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:

In Dilgo Khyentse's commentary
he infers, what is arguably, the
most important aspect of Emptiness
or Voidness.

You see, the reason we are NOT buddhas,
the reason we are still subject to
the tyranny of sufferings
is not because we fail to comprehend

an obscure metaphysical treatise
but because we habitually grasp at
things, beings and phenomena
as if they were separate, permanent
or ultimately meaningful.

The Buddhas, on the other hand,
have made:
#1 Bliss and Letting-go,
#2 Love and Letting-go and
#3 Awareness and Letting-go

into a habit that is profoundly:
-Spontaneous,
-Effortless and
-Effective.

Hey, that's for me!
That's what I want.
How about 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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Wednesday's Recommended Reading

.
From Dilgo Khyentse's
"The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones,"
lets read from the Commentary on pg. 84-85 and
let's also read from the root text on page 203.
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In today's selection from Dilgo Khyentse's commentary we can read:

"...to attempt all these complex practices
is unnecessary, however,
for by thoroughly mastering a practice
focused upon a single Buddha

you can discover the wisdom and compassion
of them all."

From the Dalai Lama's
"The Path to Enlightenment,"
lets read page 106-107 and
let's also read from the
Translator's Introduction on page 17.





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

"...strong faith...
somewhat contradicts Buddha's advice..."


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:

Come, let us NOT believe in belief;
for both Faith and Fear are
two sides of the same coin of
the contrivance that often fights against:
circumstance, physiology, emotion and reason.

How then are we to advance upon the path?
Receive teachings, follow the instructions and
notice their results.
If effects are abysmal, find a new teacher.

But when the results are positive,
then you’ve found an effective teacher.

Who are you working with, one-on-one, every week?


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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Easier than it Seems

Ms. L. wrote:

Dear Lama-Jigme,

I wrote you a message about your opinion on death and the sorrow I feel/felt
for yesterday was the 4th year of my Dad's passing.
I now feel that I must look within myself
for that answer I am seeking about death.


Dear Ms. L, please do Not look within yourself.
Rather look within the teachings of Lord Buddha.
Looking within yourself could just create
more confusion and distraction masquerading as the spiritual-path.


Ms. L. wrote:

I must rid myself of thoughts
that are hindering me from growing.


Dear Ms. L, please do Not try to get rid of thoughts…
for that sounds far too much like a lobotomy!

Just say “no” to home lobotomies!

Ms. L, back away from the power drill,
and no one will get hurt.

Who we are is NOT determined
by what emotions pop into our hearts
or by what thoughts jump into our heads.

Buddhism is NOT about
freedom from the Presence of unpleasant emotions,
as much as freedom from their Tyranny.

The question is NOT
“Do you Feel sorrow or fear over the loss of your father?”
of course you do,
you’re not make of wood, are you?

The real question is,
“O.k., now that your Feel sorrow and fear, what are you going to DO with them?
How are you going to harness their energy to progress even further
upon Buddha’s path of clarity, devotion, bliss, insight, love, peace and happiness?”


Ms. L. wrote:

I must trust myself and The Buddha
that I am on the right path for myself
for no one can help me fully
if I cannot let go and live in the NOW.


Dear Ms. L, rather than just have us trust blindly,
Buddha advises us to enthusiastically apply his teachings
and then notice the results they give us.

Do they increase our Sorrow, Fear, Anger, Pride and Control-issues,
or do they increase our clarity, devotion,
bliss, insight, love, peace and happiness?

Nope, Buddha did Not teach a path of blind faith
but of profoundly effective Mental-yogas
that can profoundly increase our Love, Peace, Insight and Happiness.

Ironically, Ms. L; if you are truly serious
about learning the science of effectively letting go and living in the now,
you will have to rely upon the instructions of one who has already gotten real good
at effectively letting go and living in the now.


Ms. L. wrote:

I thank you for your kindness
and look forward to your wonderful {classes}…


Dear Ms. L,

Rather than mucking about
with home lobotomies and blind faith
why not practice the union
of contemplation and invocation?

#1 Identify what you are probably feeling right now
{in as few words as possible and without concerning yourself with “why!”}.

#2 Explore the possibility that your sorrow and fear
might not be satisfactory.

#3 Explore the possibility that your sorrow and fear
might not be you.

#4 Explore the possibility that sorrow and fear
might not be separate from anything.

#5 Explore the possibility that sorrow and fear
might Not be permanent.

#6 Imagine even the possibility of letting go
of your sorrow and fear.

#7 Imagine the possibility of everyone
letting go of their sorrow and fear.

It's easy
and I teach it in the 5th beginning lesson.

Oh how I look forward to you learning
this technique that is as powerful
as it is easy!


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

P.S
Today could you Pre-register for the next Beginning series
of 7 weekly Conference-call/ Tele-seminars,
starting Monday, the 27th of August?

http://www.lamajigme.com/Teleseminar-Schedules.html

P.P.S.
Whether you invoke: Kwan Yin, Kuan Yin, Quan Yin,
Avalokiteshvara, Chenrezig or the Great Compassionate One
using the Six syllable mantra pronounced
as “ Om Mani Padme Hum “ or “ Om Mani Peme Hung “ ;
the Buddha of Compassion is always there for you.

P.P.P.S.
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you are welcome to subscribe to my Newsletter at
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