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Archive for category Bodhichitta

Withholding Not a Thing

Jul 22

Posted by SarahJ in Benefitting Others, Bodhichitta, Mindfulness, Personal Transformation, Teachings, Uncategorized, Union of Dzogchen and Bodhichitta | 3 Comments

Since our Sangha began the journey of creating Rinpoche’s Dharma Center two years ago, we have displayed growing generosity. In particular, this past month, the generosity coming from near and far has been inspiring to witness. Besides the amazing material gifts, many people have stepped forward to volunteer their time, energy and talents in preparing to close on our new building and begin to make it our own. Rinpoche and Allison would like to acknowledge the beneficence of the Sangha and thank you for coming together again in creating this lovely vision which will benefit so many.

Giving is the first of the six paramitas – which are the way we practice action Bodhichitta. Rinpoche reminds us in The Union of Dzogchen and Bodhichitta that Chandrakirti said:

The cause for easing suffering
Arises from the practice of generosity.

Our destination is to escape suffering through the attainment of enlightenment, and help others to do so as well. This points to the significance of generosity as a method we should use for pacifying the suffering of ourselves and others.

We give to others through offering the actions of our body, speech and mind. This could be thought to include not only material wealth, but also protection of the defenseless, our own merit and root of virtue, and especially giving the Dharma. (Thank you, Rinpoche!) But how does generosity diminish suffering exactly?

When we give to others, we are helping ourselves by freeing ourselves of our deeply ingrained selfishness. (Are you wise-selfish or foolish-selfish? The Dalai Lama wants to know… ) When we give, we get! The karmic benefit for giving is twofold: not only has another being been helped, but also a measure of freedom from attachment has been attained. This is something we must habituate ourselves to through constant and mindful repetition. The action of generosity is a method for keeping our minds open and spacious, as it brings up the interdependence of all things. Through awareness of the needs of others combined with letting go of the things we have which can meet these needs, we can find serenity in benefiting others.

Giving from the heart is easier when we recognize the impermanent and dis-satisfactory nature of samsara. What is the use of being so attached to our selves and our things, if not to chain us to the suffering of this world? Habituated delusion is not many a splendid thing. Society at large would have us believe that material wealth and status are the source of happiness in our lives. But we have seen time and time again that beyond common needs – a basic level of living including food, shelter, clothing, and love – more material comforts do not bring us more happiness. In the best of times, they can bring fleeting happiness and stronger attachment.

An important point to consider is that although worldly generosity is proper conduct, it is not transcendent! We need the proper motivation driving our conduct to transform our generosity into transcendence. We must establish our intention in our giving to be the benefit of all sentient beings. This is the omnipotent combination of method and wisdom. Dedicating the merit to the benefit of all other sentient beings is paramount, and can be done over and over again, even when we remember an act of giving we have previously completed.

Prior mindful examination of your intention in giving will allow a shift such that your giving can come from your heart, free from the stains of hope and fear. Hope and fear diminish our generous actions, and we should guard against this contamination. Rinpoche reminds us that at the very least, we are able to aspire to one day be able to give our wealth, roots of virtue, and even our own lives, for the benefit of all.

Let us rejoice in the generosity of our kind Sangha! Let us resolve to remain in generosity unceasingly, “withholding not a thing, to being about the benefit of all sentient beings!”

Tell us how giving has helped you in ways expected or unexpected, we’d love to hear from you.

And, have a wonderful Nyungne!

With Love,
Sarah

Medicine Buddha Monlam 2011

Jun 14

Posted by SarahJ in Benefitting Others, Bodhichitta, medicine buddha, Personal Transformation, Teachings | 7 Comments

Medicine Buddha was the first ritual practice in Tibet, and likewise it has been the first large gathering for Orgyen Khamdroling, Anyen Rinpoche’s Sangha. The first Medicine Buddha Monlam in the US was in Denver in 2009, and we are now finishing the touches for our third year! Mipham Rinpoche’s “An Excellent Vase of Nectar,” composed by Mipham Rinpoche, is the specific Medicine Buddha sadhana we practice. The third Annual Medicine Buddha Monlam is coming up on June 25-27, 2011. You can find more information about it by clicking here.

Anyen Rinpoche shares an uncut lineage which can be traced to the source of the healing practice – the Buddha Shakyamuni himself! But why is this unbroken connection to the beginning of this practice important? The passage of these teachings directly, from teacher to student, all the way back tells us that that nothing has been lost; it’s a living heritage that we can count on. The blessings of this practice remain powerful and undegraded. Anyen Rinpoche wants to share these blessings with us here and now. Amazing!

What’s more, there are many examples of practitioners who have attained complete realization based solely on Medicine Buddha Practice. Anyen Rinpoche’s root lama Tsara Dharmakirti, having perfectly mastered this practice, achieved the ability to heal both him self and others. Atisha himself tells us that that among the most beneficial practices we can do in the degenerate time (i.e. now) is the Medicine Buddha. Moreover, the majority of his disciples took up Medicine Buddha as their only practice.

Another wonderful thing to know about this practice is that it is excellent for everyone, from beginners to experienced meditators. According to the understanding and capacity of each individual, there are many methods to gradually uncover the depth and subtly of this profound teaching. For example, a person new to the practice may relate best in an outer way, such as making beautiful offerings, performing the three types of cleansing, and reciting the sadhana with mindfulness to their aspiration, practice and dedication of merit. A more experienced practitioner, in addition to the outer method, may apply the inner or even the secret method, with a greater focus on faith, devotion, and visualization. Medicine Buddha is accessible for everyone, it is inclusive and flexible.

Medicine Buddha promised to protect sentient beings in the degenerate times. In “An Excellent Vase of Nectar” , the aspirations of eight Buddhas were made manifest through their devotion and vast uncommon prayers. When we read these aspiration prayers, we find that the myriad sufferings of sentient beings are described in detail. This allows us to reflect further on the common sufferings of all living beings.

Our suffering results from our afflictive emotions – and any ordinary being in samsara necessarily possesses afflictive emotions simply by taking birth in samsara. Our afflictive emotions are related to the manifestation of illness in our bodies. None of us will escape this suffering which joins us through the rivers of birth, old age, sickness and death. When we are deeply aware of our own and other’s suffering, our feeling of connection is enhanced, and our desire for freedom from suffering, both for self and others, is strengthened.

This brings us to the single most important requirement for the practice of Medicine Buddha: the perfectly pure motivation to benefit others. With this motivation, we can accomplish all things. We exchange our happiness and health for the suffering of others. We develop a strong foundation of Bodhichitta, without which we cannot attain the realization of Dzogchen.

Patrul Rinpoche tells us “ Knowing one, realize all.”

If you have attended the Medicine Buddha Monlam in the past, or are planning to attend for the first time this year, we would love to hear from you. Tell us about yourself!

Positive Actions of Mind

Oct 18

Posted by SarahJ in Bodhichitta, Karma, Mindfulness, Personal Transformation, Teachings, Uncategorized | 15 Comments

We must abandon covetousness, renounce wishing harm on others, and eliminate wrong views, while cultivating generosity and a desire to help others, as well as establishing ourselves in the true and authentic view.

Patrul Rinpoche tells us that in the case of a Bodhisattva with a mind pure and free from all selfish desires, the negative acts of body and speech are permitted. The negative actions of mind are never permitted, as turning them into a positive action with intention is impossible. He says “ Once a negative thought has arisen it always develops into something negative.”

In determining whether an action is positive or negative, as well as it’s karmic strength, the most significant factor is intention. Where does intention originate? In our minds!

An action is positive when the underlying intention is pure, although the action may appear to be negative. For example, students will have differing perceptions of the wrathful (but well-intentioned) actions of their teacher. An individual’s experience is greatly impacted by his or her devotion and pure perception.

The importance of choosing one’s actions in consideration of cause and effect cannot be understated: our actions create our karma. Authentic view will be displayed in one’s actions. Correct view necessarily implies a thorough understanding of and certainty in dependent arising.

Though my View is as spacious as the sky,
My actions and respect for cause and effect are as fine as grains of flour.
- Padmasambhava

We are reminded that Bodhicitta should pervade our actions. Without regular examination of our minds, is easy to slip back into our habits of ignorance and confusion. Proper distinction between positive and negative action requires mindfulness. We should constantly be examining our minds, asking ourselves if our action is coming from our ego or our selfishness.

Patrul Rinpoche says “However fully you have realized your view in the nature of reality, view and action should be cultivated side by side.”

Increasing our awareness of our negative and positive thoughts can be a challenge. One very focused method is to use white and black beans to represent our positive and negative thoughts. Three containers are kept, perhaps three small bags or jars on the desk at work, or carried along during the day. Creativity may be needed here to make this feasible in your daily situation. One container has white beans, one has black beans, and one container begins empty each day for accumulating both black and white. Throughout the day, with a negative thought, place a black bean in the cumulative container, and likewise, with a positive thought, a white bean. You’ll really have to pay attention! At the end of the day, you’ll have a very visual expression of the positivity or negativity of your mind’s actions.

Initially you may feel frustrated should you see proportionally more black beans at the end of the day. But keep doing this practice, starting again each morning, and in a month’s time you will see improvement. Plus, this indicates that your awareness is increasing – you can’t transform something if you don’t even know it is there. Change experienced in your practice depends upon your diligence and patience. Cultivating this practice for 100 days would be a good period of time to observe a change.

How long would it take you to gave only white beans at the end of the day? Now that would be something! (As for me, please don’t hold your breath, it may be a while. And don’t laugh at my 8# bag of black beans.)

Has anyone already worked on this practice, and if so, would you share your experience with us? What other methods can we use to increase our awareness of the thoughts that pass through our minds?

Taking what is not given

Jul 5

Posted by Anyen Rinpoche in Anyen Rinpoche Biography, Bodhichitta, Global Community, Karma, Mindfulness, Personal Transformation, Teachings | 9 Comments

From Patrul Rinpoche’s Words of My Perfect Teacher, the section on the ordinary or outer preliminaries, in the second section of the chapter called “Actions, Cause & Effect,” Patrul Rinpoche describes the second physical action to be avoided: taking what is not given.

There are three ways that we can take what isn’t given: by force, by stealth, or by trickery.   The examples given in the text are common sensical.  Taking by force is to confiscate property or overpower in order to take someone’s wealth (a land grab after a coup, for example); taking by stealth is to take secretly (burglary); taking by trickery is to lie or deceive someone into giving their property (in a business deal, for example).

I actually think there are other ways that we take from others, that go beyond these examples.  For example, we sometimes take what isn’t give through trickery when we manipulate another person emotionally, so that we can get what we want.  Maybe there are other ways you can think of that we take what isn’t given (although we may go slightly outside the realm of pure physical actions).

Patrul Rinpoche’s chapter is pertinent to modern practitioners in that it points out how obsessed we are with “money and calculations.”  We are so obsessed that we will still die deluded, he says.  We also lie and cheat others for our own financial benefit, whether doing business or otherwise.

Patrul Rinpoche says, “Nothing could be more effective than trade and commerce for piling up endless harmful actions and thorougly corrupting you.”   Any thoughts about this?

Anyen Rinpoche tells each and every one of us that we must find a way to bring the Dharma into our work life, as in every other part of our life.  How do we reconcile this instruction with the reality of 21st century life, where each and every one of us must play a part in commerce?

Bodhichitta anyone?

Looking forward to the retreat this week!  Allison

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Guru Yoga

Jun 14

Posted by Anyen Rinpoche in Anyen Rinpoche Biography, Bodhichitta, Personal Transformation, Teachings, Tibet | 3 Comments

There is something magical about the practice of Guru Yoga.  For those who do not know the history of this practice, it was taught by the great master Padmasambhava directly to his consort-heart student Yeshe Tsogyal just before he went to the land of the Copper-Colored Mountain, and left her behind in Tibet overwhelmed by grief and longing.

Following Yeshe Tsogyal’s example, we train in the Lama as an indivisible expression of Padmasambhava in order to receive his blessings, train in unfaltering faith and devotion, and train in one-pointedness that is an expression of profound shamatha, imbibed with glimpses of the uncontrived view.

Padmakara did an exquisite translation of Yeshe Tsogyal’s biography:

http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Lotus-Born-Enlightenment-Yeshe-Tsogyal/dp/1570625441/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276573664&sr=8-1

Guru Yoga is taught as part of the ngondro, but we are instructed to take up this practice daily for as long as we live.  In other words, it is the only of the series of 100,000 that we never complete.  Anyen Rinpoche emphasizes Guru Yoga as a daily practice, as do many other Nyingma masters.  Once, Gyatrul Rinpoche offered me this advice: If you are not taking up Guru Yoga on a daily basis, you are not engaging in an authentic practice of the Secret Mantrayana path.  I believe, through experience, that this is fundamentally true.

Indeed Guru Yoga is so effective, so magical, that if you do it on a daily basis you can feel the difference when you skip even one day.  There is a tangible lack of spiritual connection, a difficulty in touching one’s faith or generating bodhichitta.   For that reason, it has always been my favorite practice for many years now; a good one to focus on at any and every time, and helps us to face any obstacle or difficulty.  What a joy to practice!

We are so looking forward to the nyungne retreat and look forward to seeing you there!

Allison

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Medicine Buddha Monlam

Jun 2

Posted by Anyen Rinpoche in Anyen Rinpoche Biography, Benefitting Others, Bodhichitta, Global Community, medicine buddha, Personal Transformation, Teachings | 2 Comments

We are so thrilled to be hosting the second annual Medicine Buddha Monlam this weekend in Denver!  For all of you who aren’t able to join us, we’ll be practicing from 7:30 am to 6 pm during the day, and then again in the evenings.  We’ll be meeting Saturday, Sunday and Monday.   Feel free to join in from where ever you are!   And we hope many more of you will be able to join us in person next year!

Here’s an offering for each of you…Medicine Buddha wallpaper for your computer!

http://www.fpmt-osel.org/gallery/medicine.htm

May all beings benefit!

Allison

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For the Benefit of Others

May 26

Posted by Anyen Rinpoche in 4 Mind Turnings, Anyen Rinpoche Biography, Benefitting Others, Bodhichitta, Personal Transformation, Teachings | 4 Comments

One of the quintessential truths of the Vajrayana path is whatever we do for the benefit of others also indirectly benefits ourselves.  This teaching is called “accomplishing the two benefits.”  Thus, it is through reaching out to others and doing our best to help them through pain, suffering and difficulty–or even on occasions of happiness–that we also find happiness.  Despite the focus on individualism we have in Western culture, I think it is still most people’s experience emotionally that this is true.

Practices such as Medicine Buddha (which we are planning to practice intensively at the Medicine Buddha Monlam starting June 4 in Drnver) have us focus on and pray to alleviate all of the myriad sufferings in the world.  Additionally practices such as Tonglen instruct us to aspire to take on those experiences of suffering ourselves.  It is amazing how mentally and emotionally content we feel when we spend time focusing on the troubles of others and praying for their dissolution.

Western culture has a wonderful focus on actual service to benefit others, through the offering of our own time, money and effort.  Buddhist culture has an additional focus on cultivating bodhichitta and compassion, that we might one day be able to directly take on the sufferings of others so that they may not have to experience pain and hardship.  As practitioners, we are most benefitted by taking up both these kinds of activity–actual work as well as aspiration that is other-focused.

How are you working to train in both of these types of activity in your own life? We’d love to hear from you!

We will be excited to have Anyen Rinpoche back in Colorado for the Medicine Buddha Monlam the weekend after next.  Hope to see you all there!

Allison

www.anyenrinpoche.com

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Bodhichitta in Action

May 17

Posted by Anyen Rinpoche in Anyen Rinpoche Biography, Benefitting Others, Bodhichitta, Global Community, Teachings | 8 Comments

Sometimes we don’t feel like reaching out to other people…sometimes all we want to do is stay at home with the door shut!  There are so many aspects of our modern lives that make it difficult to reach out to others.  Or maybe I should say, that make it easier for us not to reach out to others.   I’m sure you can add to my list–but text messaging and internet shopping are huge ones.  Add video games onto that.  And how about  telecommuniting…?  Which I also love, by the way.  There are just so many ways to stay inside of ourselves and not venture out into the realm of humanity.

We are actually constructing a world where, one day, we may not ever have to interact with another human being.  What would that be like?   Or perhaps you think my view is too extreme.  We are simply making choices to limit who we interact with.

Is modern technology enhancing our lives?  Yes, obviously.  No one could say that technology is a negative thing in and of itself.  But what are we losing as a result of constructing a world that enables us all to be introverts?

One thing is for sure.   In our modern world, we lose many chances to practice bodhichitta in action.  We have fewer chances to brighten someone’s day by giving them a smile, a kind word, or a hand.  We also lose the chance to practice patience, to deal with difficulties face to face, and to become better at human relationships.  We lose chances to become more skillful at intimacy and friendship.

Personally, I love to shop on the internet.  I love those websites where I can compare every gadget that is similar to the one I want, literally hundreds of choices at my finger tips.  But in light of this, I’m also glad I have Dharma.   Dharma is the perfect compliment to modern technology.  It keeps us grounded, human and in relationship to others.  It reminds us that the difficult situations are worth engaging in, and that it enriches us to give our time and energy to others.  This weekend at our sangha garage sale, we all enjoyed the hard work–and doing that hard work together.  I heard people comment on it more than once.  That made the event successful!  Thanks to everyone who pitched in, and especially Ananda, who pitched in the most.

One more plug for the Monlam–register now!

http://www.anyenrinpoche.com/menla.html

How have you put Bodhichitta into action today?

Allison

www.anyenrinpoche.com

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Longchen Rabjam

May 3

Posted by AnyenRinpoche in Anyen Rinpoche Biography, Benefitting Others, Bodhichitta, Mindfulness, Personal Transformation | 8 Comments

First of all, Happy Birthday, Rinpoche!  May your life be long and free of obstacles, and your dharma activity continually increase!

This weekend, many of us were lucky to hear Anyen Rinpoche’s commentary on a text by Longchen Rabjam called “30 Piece of Heart Advice” in Santa Fe.  This short text, Rinpoche told us, contains Longchenpa’s vision for the path of the Secret Mantrayana.  Indeed, we had the opportunity to discuss almost every aspect of the path as we heard commentary on the thirty verses.  There are some nice translations of these verses here:

http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Teachings_on_Longchenpa%27s_Advice_from_the_Heart

Longchenpa is one of the greatest yogis in the history of Tantric Buddhism.  The incredible hardship he undertook to attain realization in one lifetime, and the vast realization that he expressed in his texts and vajra songs stand out as marvelous gems for us to admire and aspire to.  Longchenpa’s relationship to his spiritual teacher, Lama Kumarantza, is also an example of giving oneself wholly to the teacher.  How marvelous to hear commentary on his teachings!   Here’s some more about Longchenpa’s life and vast Dharma activity:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longchenpa

One particularly interesting conversation that came up during the talks was around a piece of advice in which Longchenpa told us to avoid intimacy and hostility, and to relate to all beings impartially through our speech and actions.  One student in attendance, Louise, asked Rinpoche how we are to make sense of such advice, when our culture places such importance on intimacy.

Rinpoche’s answer wss that intimacy in Western Culture (as opposed to the Buddhist idea) is often ego-driven; it is us wanting something from another person because we do not know how to deal with our own minds or our own emotions.   In other words, intimacy can be a utilitarian expression.  Rinpoche said that whenever we attempt to use a relationship for our own purpose or to get something for ourselves, we complicate the relationship, and this results in conflicts between ourselves and our loved ones.

From the Buddhist point of view ( here, embodied by Longchenpa’s words), impartiality (in other words, seeing all beings as equal)  enables us to achieve authentic intimacy.  When we engage in the relationship without trying to get something for ourselves, relationships are more simple and easy.  With the ego out of the way, we have more insight into what to say or not say to a particular person.  We know when to move closer and when to back away.  Anyen Rinpoche also said to develop intimacy in a Buddhist way, we should discern who is a proper person to attempt intimacy with, and examine our words before we speak to another.   We should share our hearts and minds in situations in situations where our words won’t harm or cause pain to another.  We should speak directly to those whom we trust and have built a deep relationship, who will understand and respect our words.    Following these ideas, Rinpoche said, we will achieve harmony in our closer as well as our distant relationships.

Monlam plans are going well…hope to see some of you there!

Allison

www.anyenrinpoche.com

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Medicine Buddha Monlam

Apr 27

Posted by AnyenRinpoche in Anyen Rinpoche Biography, Benefitting Others, Bodhichitta, Teachings | 1 Comment

I am so excited to be in the midst of planning the second annual Medicine Buddha Monlam (prayer gathering) in Denver, Colorado, June 4-7.  The year has gone by quickly…I forgot how much there is to do to prepare for such a large event!

Medicine Buddha is a unique practice not only because it is one of the four most powerful practices that can be done for the benefit of others during the “degenerate” (otherwise known as the present) time, but also, because  it can be done by any practitioner regardless of experience.  All that is required is a genuine aspiration of love and compassion in the heart; this is the basis of the whole weekend of practice.  I would describe the essence of the Monlam as a time when practitioners of all faiths and backgrounds can come together and recite the Medicine Buddha sadhana composed by the great Nyingma master Ju Mipham, and focus our common intention of love, healing and peace on beings who are suffering throughout the world.  Although Monlams exist in India and Nepal (and traditionally, in Tibet), we are able to attend and support the tradition of a Monlam in America by joining this gathering!

Here’s an article published by Snow Lion on the Medicine Buddha Monlam:

http://www.snowlionpub.com/pages/N89_11.html

Last year, I think all the practitioners who attended had an amazing experience.  There was a feeling among the group that we could truly “move mountains,” that our prayers had transcended mere aspiration and were directly beneficial to others.   It is rare that we have the chance to feel our own prayers amplified so much–but having the energy of all the others in the group as a support was enough to cause a small seed of faith to sprout in even the most doubtful of beings.

This year, we hope that even more people will join us in Denver for the event.   We are able to coordinate housing for most people–last year, no one had to stay in a hotel as our local sangha hosted all the out of town visitors.  And, also, if you live in Denver and are able to host someone, please let us know.

More information is available here, as well as the link for registration:

http://www.anyenrinpoche.com/menla.html

We’re looking forward to seeing lots of you at the Monlam this summer.  And feel free to let others know about it–the more people we gather together, the more healing energy we will generate and build as a group!

Allison

www.anyenrinpoche.com

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