Showing posts with label bodhichitta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bodhichitta. Show all posts

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Sunday's Recommended Reading

.
From Dilgo Khyentse's
"
The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones,"
lets read from the Commentary on pg. 66-67 and
let's also read from the root text on page 185.





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

"It is said that when those who are
afflicted in the prison of Sam-sa-ra
generate the thought of enlightenment,

they are instantly adopted by the Buddhas
as their sons and daughters,
and they are praised by both men and gods.

The whole of their existence
takes on a new meaning.
This is all due to the measureless power of
the jewel-like Bo-dhi-chit-ta.

Bo-dhi-chit-ta is the essence of
the eight-four thousand sections of
the Buddha's teachings,
but at the same time it

is so simple, so easy to understand and
practice, even for a beginner.

Absolute Bo-dhi-chit-ta is the
inseparability of voidness and
uncontrived compassion.

It is the simplicity of the natural state,
beyond all concepts
and intellectual limitations,
out of which

spontaneous, objectless compassion arises,
benefiting all sentient beings. "



From the Dalai Lama's
"
The Path to Enlightenment,"
lets read page 88-89 and
let's also read from the biography of
the 3rd Dalai Lama on page 220.





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

"It is NOT difficult to recognize
the certainty of death.
The world is very old,
yet there is NO sentient being we can point to
who is immortal.

The very nature of our body is
vulnerability and impermanence.

Beautiful or ugly, fat or thin,
we all steadily approach death, a
nd nothing can avert it.

Physical power, flattery, bribery,
and all things of this world can NOT
persuade it {death} to turn away."



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:


What about the Fourth "I"?
That is for "Inclusion."

Whether you are practicing the
Concise, Middling or Extensive versions of
"Buddha's Three Cauldrons"
found in either the

Beginning, Intermediate or Advanced
collections of practices
you are embracing the essence of
all that Buddha Taught.

The Theravadans have cyclopedically organized
Buddha's teachings
as have the Tantrikas
who call it "Lam Rim" or "gradual steps upon the path."

Whether you catagorize Buddha's teachings as:
-Sutra and Tantra,
-Renunciation, Love and Wisdom,

-View, Meditation and Action,
-Concentration, Compassion and Contemplation,
-the Two Bodhichittas or
-Devotion, Awareness, Love and Letting-go;

the fourth "I" {inclusion}
is all about effectivly putting into practice
the essence of all Buddha taught.

What then is the path of
NON-sectarian Devotion to the Buddha of Compassion
in a nut shell?

#1 - Inscription,
#2 - Inquisition,
#3 - Invocation and
#4 - Inclusion!



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



.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Saturday's Recommended Reading

.
From Dilgo Khyentse's
"
The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones,"
lets read from the Commentary on pg. 64-65 and
let's also read from the root text on page 183.





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

"How does one start to
generate aspiration Bo-dhi-chit-ta,
the feeling of compassion for all beings that
inspires in us the wish to attain enlightenment
for THEIR sake?

First, take Chen-re-zig as a witness of
your determination to attain realization in
order to benefit others.

Next, try to overcome the attitude of
only wanting to help those close to
you while rejecting the needs of
people you dislike.

This becomes possible when you
realize that, in all your infinite previous
existences, every being, without exception,
must have been your mother or father
at least once.

Each one of these beings,
down to the smallest insect,
wants only to be happy and NOT to suffer;
but what none of them know is that

suffering is caused by negative actions and
happiness is generated by a virtuous mind.

When you think about all those beings who
are sinking hopelessly in suffering like
blind people lost in a vast desert,
you can NOT help but feel
great compassion for them all."



From the Dalai Lama's
"
The Path to Enlightenment,"
lets read page 87 and
let's also read from the biography of
the 3rd Dalai Lama on page 219.





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

"When we contemplate death and
the impermanence of life,
our minds automatically begin to
take an interest in spiritual achievements,

just as an ordinary person becomes apprehensive
upon seeing the corpse of a friend.

Meditation upon impermanence and
death is very useful,
for it cuts off attraction toward
transient and meaningless activities,

and causes the mind to turn
towards Dharma."



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:


If the First "I" is Inscription, and
the Second "I" is Inquisition then
the Third "I" is Invocation.

You see there are two ways of doing anything:
humanistically or spiritually.
We can rely upon our limited insight or
the Buddha of compassion's infinite wisdom.

We can lean upon our petty sentimentality or
Chen-re-zig's infinite love.
We can implement what strength we seem to posses or
A-va-lo-ki-te-shva-ra's infinite power.

Do you like "Show me" jokes?
I love 'em.
I'm reminded of one that goes...

"You show me a 'self-made-man' and
I'll show you the Frankenstein monster!"


That is why we,
of the "Rime Manipa Tantrikas"
rely upon:

#1 Contemplative notation,
#2 Power-questions and
#3 Invocations of the Buddha of Compassion
either by name or mantra.

What about the Fourth "I"?
That will wait until another lesson.



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



.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Sunday's Recommened Reading

.
From Dilgo Khyentse's
"
The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones,"
lets read from the Commentary on pg. 46-47 and
let's also read from the root text on page 171.





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

"In the past,
anyone who took monastic vows,
wore robes
- the glorious emblem of the Buddha's teachings -
and practiced the Dhar-ma properly

would earn everyone's
approval, respect, and support.

But if anyone does that nowadays,
people assume either that he is showing off or
that he is some inadequate personality
who cannot adjust to the world."



From the Dalai Lama's
"
The Path to Enlightenment,"
lets read page 70-71 and
let's also read from the biography of
the 3rd Dalai Lama on page 211.





In today's selection the Third Dalai Lama explains:

"The practice of guru yoga means that
one ignores any negative traits that
the guru may SEEM to have,
and that one meditates upon
his or her positive qualities.

If we can develop the habit of
always seeing the guru through
his or her good qualities,
our confidence naturally grows,

and eventually we become able to
take our preconceptions about faults
he or she SEEMs to display
and transform them in to spiritually useful tools.

Perceptions of faults in the guru
should NOT cause us to feel disrespect,
for by demonstrating faults to us
the guru is actually showing us
what we should abandon."



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 claim to be arousing Bo-dhi-chit-ta, but
it still has not taken root in me.
I have trained in the path of the Six-perfections,
yet have remained selfish.

Bless me, and all petty beings like me, that
we may accomplish: the
Spontaneous, Habitual, Effortless and Effective
Mind of Love and Letting-go."




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



.

Monday, February 4, 2008

What is Conventional bodhichitta?


.



Meditation and the Spiritual path - idea # 141
from your Buddhism expert



Bliss and Openness pt. 22
What is Conventional bodhichitta?



Happy Gratitude-Monday!


We return to the classic passage:


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



Conventional Bodhichitta is all about compassion and love,
which are really two sides of the same coin. Compassion is
the choice to take-away another’s sufferings {in the most
wonderful way
}. Love is the decision to lavish another with blessings {in the
most wonderful way
}.

Why do I keep redundantly repeating the phrase, “in the most
wonderful way”?

Because in every religion, on every continent there are only
two kinds of teachers:
• Love-givers
• and Fear-mongers.

Who could be a great example of a Love-giver: Saint Francis
Assisi. On the other hand, who could be a great example of a
Fear-monger; Torquemada of the Spanish Inquisition… not one
of your more lovable fellows.

Over the centuries the Torquemadas of the world have worked to
convince us that if we take-away another’s sufferings we could
be cheating them of the opportunity to “work out their own
karma.” Who taught that? Certainly not Avalokiteshvara!

The Torquemadas have also argued that if we are too giving or
even long to be too giving it could harm or “spoil” others. And yet, you’ll never hear Kuan Yin teach that.

Hey, could you remember reading “The Monkey’s Paw” in Junior
High School? In this creepy tail by Edgar Allan Poe, every wish
made over a magical amulet came true, but in a consistently,
twisted and tragic manner.

Like wise, the Fear-mongers of this world have convinced us that
if our compassion or love is unbridled, then only harm can come
from it. But guess what kids… Buddha NEVER taught that.

And that is why I persist in using the phrase “…in the most wonderful way.

How else could we have been insidiously infected by the
frightening lies of the Torquemadas? We’ll explore that tomorrow.



We are exposed to Fear-inducing lies every day.
Could there be a way to replace those feelings with something much better?

Could there be a way to use one simple exercise to generate:
• a profound, physical calmness,
• a dynamic, energetic centeredness
• and a fun, mental resourcefulness?

You could find out, by going to:
http://www.lamajigme.com/Change-90.html




Lama Jigme’s tips and teachings… they’re free!
Be sure to Forward to a friend.



To receive the FREE daily e-mail,
“Lama Jigme's Tips on meditation and the spiritual path”
you could subscribe at:
http://www.LamaJigme.com




May you and yours be happy and healthy!

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



Download FREE practice materials?
http://www.LamaJigme.com

What is the EASIEST way to Learn to Meditate?
http://www.lamajigme.com/Beginning-Series.html

Change how you Feel in less then 90 seconds?
This month ONLY:
http://www.lamajigme.com/Change-90



.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

What is Dharma?


.



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




Lama Jigme’s tips and teachings… they’re free!
Be sure to Forward to a friend.



To receive Lama Jigme's FREE tips on meditation and
the spiritual path you could subscribe at: http://www.LamaJigme.com




May you and yours be happy and healthy!

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



What is the EASIEST way to Learn to Meditate?
http://www.lamajigme.com



Download FREE practice materials?
http://www.LamaJigme.com



.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Bliss and Openness


.



Meditation and the Spiritual path - idea # 137
from your Buddhism expert



Happy Impermanence-Tuesday!

There are so many Buddhist practices! There are practices of Renunciation, practices of Love, practices of Concentration, practices of Sight, practices of Sound, practices of Sensation and practices of Devotion. How easily one could squander their: time, wealth and energy always chasing after the next teaching like a child running to find the end of a rainbow.

I am so glad that Patrul Rinpoche, the great Tibetan devotee of the Buddha of Compassion provides an essentialized path for us to traverse:

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


So that is the essence of all Buddha’s teachings, huh? But what does it mean?
We’ll explore that on Tomorrow.



How could your next rebirth be perfectly auspicious, advantageous, blissful, happy and profound?
To find out, go to: http://www.LamaJigme.com



I’m preparing special “Thank you” gifts for everyone who donates in February…
which is almost here.



Lama Jigme’s tips and teachings… they’re free! Be sure to Forward to a friend.



To receive Lama Jigme's FREE tips on meditation and
the spiritual path you could subscribe at: http://www.LamaJigme.com



May you and yours be happy and healthy!

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



What is the EASIEST way to Learn to Meditate?
http://www.LamaJigme.com

Download FREE practice materials?


.