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Tantric Buddhist empowerments and retreats ( San Francisco area ) by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche ( January - June 2010 )

Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:09:11 GMT

Tantric Buddhist empowerments and retreats ( San Francisco area ) by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche ( January - June 2010 )

Keywords: tantric empowerment, yoga sadhana, Mahayana, Buddhist yogic teaching retreat, Tibetan Buddhism / Nyingma lineage, Guru Padmasambhava as Wealth Lord Padmasambhava / Orgyen Khandro Norlha, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, Orgyen Dorje Den Alameda CA, Vajrayana Foundation Corralitos CA, Heart Teachings audio video resources for tantric Buddhist practice.

Tharchin Rinpoche's coming to town!
Tharchin Rinpoche's coming to town!
Tharchin Rinpoche's commminnnng to towwwn!

. . . And he is giving a large cycle of tantric transmissions and retreats this January through June, in San Francisco East Bay and at his home center in Watsonville ( down the coast from San Francisco ).
Tantra means magic and yoga, in this case in the definite context of Buddhist ethics and practice. ( I provide context and substantial information on these below. )

These tantric practices are mainly focused on the lineage of Guru Padmasambhava i.e. the Nyingma school, and lead towards or incorporate the central Awareness Yoga known as Dzogchen, the Great Perfection. To do any of these practices, personal initiation is required. That is why the teacher is of central importance.

For more background on the Great Perfection and Dzogchen, see the book
"The Crystal and the Way of Light", by Namkhai Norbu
also
"Dakini Teachings", by Padmasambhava
and view the extensive materials at
http://keithdowman.net/dzogchen/index.htm

For background on Guru Padmsambhava see
http://www.rangjung.com/authors/padmasambhava.htm
"Padmasambhava : A Short Biography by Jamgon Kongtrul the First"

The home center for Lama Tharchin is
The Vajrayana Foundation
web site
www.vajrayana.org
contact info:
Phone: (831) 761-6266
Email: office@vajrayana.org
Address: 2013 Eureka Canyon Rd., Watsonville,CA 95076

Lama Tharchin Rinpoche is a teacher of Buddhist tantra, extremely gentle and open, yet also profound and powerful. I first began taking teachings and transmissions from him in the early 1980s. This is one of my most favorite people on the entire planet. Just to see him brings real gladness to one's heart, just to remember him is greatly comforting. Please note that I do not represent him in any official sense.

I use texts and practices from his fellowship, the Vajrayana Foundation, which principally focuses on the lineage transmissions of HH Dudjom Rinpoche. HH Dujom Rinpoche was a profound Nyingma lineage holder whose efforts were of central importance in saving major parts of the Buddhist tantra during the destruction of Buddhist Tibet by the Chinese. HH Dudjom Rinpoche trained and authorized Lama Tharchin as a vajra master. Lama Tharchin can train westerners to become full fledged tantric Buddhist gurus - on a basic but functional level - in the Nyingma lineage of Guru Padmasambhava.

KT

See also
http://heartteachings.com/index.html

"Heart Teachings by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche"

"The Friends of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche have put together this site for Lama Tharchin Rinpoche's video series. The video series is the main vehicle Rinpoche uses to disseminate his vast knowledge of Buddhist teachings. Each month Rinpoche records a 1-2 hour long video.

"Anyone interested can purchase any of the past Series as an individual set, or subscribe to the Series in progress on an ongoing basis. There are also a few teachings offered as individual DVDs or DVD sets."

Note - many of these recordings require specific authorization, i.e. empowerment.

From the above site
"Turning the Three Wheels of Buddhadharma: Learning, Practice, and Teaching
Lama Tharchin Rinpoche is a Dzogchen (Great Perfection) master of Vajrayana Buddhism. He is the tenth lineage holder of the Repkong Ngakpas. This is a family lineage of yogis, or householders, and was the largest community of non-monastic practitioners in Tibet. Rinpoche was trained in His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche's monastery, engaged in five years of solitary retreat and then completed the three year retreat with three others under Dudjom Rinpoche.

"In addition to Dudjom Rinpoche, his main teachers have been Chatral Rinpoche, Lama Sherab Dorje Rinpoche, and Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche. Rinpoche left Tibet by foot with his family in 1960.

"Many of the early years of Rinpoche's life were dedicated to intensive study, practice and retreat. Mastering the many traditions of his lineage under the guidance of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche benefited countless beings through the purity of his heart and his compassionate dedication to all beings. Through many years of practice and retreat, Rinpoche developed the skills and qualities most needed to bring maximum benefit to beings in this lifetime.

"Fulfilling the request of his teacher, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche came to the West with the intention to protect the holy Buddhadharma and to plant authentic seeds of dharma in the West. With an incredible flurry of enlightened activity, Rinpoche's blessings and accomplishments have flowed like rich wisdom nectar. Founder of the Vajrayana Foundation, Rinpoche has established the College of Tibetan Buddhist Studies (Shedra), and the three-year retreat program (Drupta). He has directed study and practice retreats, given us bountiful empowerments and pure Dzogchen teachings, and he has shown us the true nature of our own minds."

From the home page of
www.vajrayana.org
with some notes and commentary

•Orgyen Khandro Norlha Wealth Empowerment and Teaching: January 23rd
Orgyen Dorje Den, Alameda,CA

Orgyen Dorje Den
2244 Santa Clara Ave
Alameda, CA 94501
www.orgyendorjeden.org

"Lama Tharchin Rinpoche has offered to give the empowerment and teachings on the Orgyen Khandro Norlha wealth practice at Orgyen Dorje Den in Alameda as a benefit for the Vajrayana Foundation. “I not only want to benefit Pema Osel Ling,” he said, “but to share this with all the sangha with my love, care and aspiration for positive results for all of us. As the whole world, and I am thinking especially of our country and sangha, are having a difficult time financially, so I would like to share Guru Rinpoche’s wisdom and compassion solution to remove obstacles; how to get success not only for short term material results but long term enlightenment."

•Namchak Putri (Vajrakilaya) Gutor and Losar Retreat: February 5 – 14
2013 Eureka Canyon Rd., Watsonville,CA 95076

Note - this is an ultimate wrathful Vajrasattva practice, commonly practiced to clear away negativity and obstacles in preparation for the Tibetan New Year, 14 February 2010.

•Spring Retreat: April 2 - 4
2013 Eureka Canyon Rd., Watsonville,CA 95076

Lama Tharchin Rinpoche to teach on Shabkar's Flight of the Garuda
Note - this is a primary dzogchen text. See part of the text online at
http://keithdowman.net/books/fg.htm

'Dzokchen, the Great Perfection, is the quintessence of the tantric paths to Buddhahood. This book contains the translation of four Dzokchen texts belonging to the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. These sacred revealed texts, never before freely available, provide inspiration and instruction for the Dzokchen aspirant. The Flight of the Garuda, which gives the collection its title, written by Shabkar Lama in the nineteenth century, comprises a series of twenty-three songs designed to inspire and instruct the yogin practising Dzokchen trekcho meditation. Secret Instruction in a Garland of Vision is one of three texts said to have been written by Padma Sambhava, Tibet's great Guru, himself, who visited Tibet in the eighth century. It belongs to the lam rim genre, a stage--by--stage description of the path to Buddhahood. An extract from Emptying the Depths of Hell, revealed by Guru Chowong in the thirteenth century, provides a Dzokchen confessional liturgy, and The Wish-Granting Prayer of Kuntu Zangpo, revealed by Rikdzin Godemchan in the fourteenth century as part of an extensive Dzokchen tantra, is a prayer for attainment of the Dzokchen goal.'

This collection includes four shiningly clear and starkly beautiful Dzogchen texts. Their common denominator is the soaring freedom of the Dzogchen viewpoint as symbolised by the Garuda -- the divine eagle that is said to fly as soon as it breaks free of its egg.' Robin Cooke in The Mirror.

•Summer Retreat: May 22- June 21
2013 Eureka Canyon Rd., Watsonville,CA 95076

Dorje Drolod: May 22 – 30
Note- this is wrathful Padmasambhava guru yoga

Throma Nagmo: June 1 – 9
Note - this is a profound and comprehensive great goddess cycle of the Buddhist Kali

Shitro Nakso: June 11– 12
Collection of Seven Treasures Drupchen: June 13 – 21

Note - This is a comprehensive cycle of Great Perfection teachings, but I cannot comment on it. The drubchen means intensive ( day and night ) practice.

------------------------------------------------

. . . And from Orgyen Dorje Den, more upcoming events

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Gutor & Losar coming soon, February 11th-14th, 2010

On February 11, 12 & 13, we will practice Vajrasattva at the request of Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche. (Just like Vajrakilaya can be done to remove negativity from the past year, so can Vajrasattva be done to purify our negativity & obscurations from the last year. Same result.)

Ven. Lingtrul Rinpoche will preside as the Vajramaster and we will practice the sadhana of Dorsem Lama Chodpa from the Dudjom Tersar tradition.
There will be 3 sessions per day and all are welcome to join.

February 14th is Losar, the New Year, according to the Lunar & Tibetan calendar.
On this day we will also practice Vajrasattva, although we will use a more concise sadhana.

Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche may join us and offer a Vajrasattva empowerment if he is available, in other words, if we have the merit!

Orgyen Dorje Den
2244 Santa Clara Ave
Alameda, CA 94501
www.orgyendorjeden.org

Dedication:

Sarva mangalam!
Siddhi rastu!

May this be greatly beneficial to all!
May the lineage of the Dudjom Tersar and of Lama Tharchin long endure!

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Portland area tantric empowerments December; also online pagan / Buddhist resources for Pacific Northwest

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:28:08 GMT

Title:
Portland area tantric empowerments December; also online pagan / Buddhist resources for Pacific Northwest

Keywords: pagan and tantric resources online, empowerment and transmission, pagan magic, tantra and highest yoga tantra, Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and vajrayana, Vajrasattva and Padmasambhava, Nyingma / Early Transmission Lineage and Palyul lineage and teacher Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso, Portland Oregon Dec 11 - 12, PDX Pagans, Northwest Dharma Association online, The Portland Buddhist Hub online.

Summary: a major teacher ( great abbot ) of the Palyul lineage will be giving major transmissions in Portland Oregon December 11th and 12th.

I do not represent this teacher, but this is a fine lineage with major global reach, in which I have received major transmissions ( from HH Penor Rinbochay ). Their main web site is at
www.palyul.org
They have a major center in upper New York state with comprehensive yogic and tantric teachings each summer. I hear only good things about their work there.

Vajraattva and Padmasambhava are two of the most important and useful tantric transmissions and practices in all of Buddhist tantra. They are universal in nature, broadly useful, powerful, and profound. These two transmissions are of central importance in three of the schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the Sakya, the Kagyu, and the Nyingma. HH the Dalai Lama has taught advanced forms of both practices.

These transmissions necessarily confer bodhisattva vows of universal service and higher level tantric vows of Buddhist yoga. By definition.

Northwest Dharma Association and The Portland Buddhist Hub are major Buddhist and pagan community resources for multiple states and provinces in the Pacific Northwest. There is also the group PDX Pagans in tribe dot net. I support their efforts without in any way formally representing them.

This information is given for informational purposes only. Although my own tantric practice relies very strongly on these two practices in particular, I cannot claim any specific benefit or expected result for anyone else.

These practices are traditionally used for inner healing, inner purification, inner guidance, and psychic protection, for purifying and strenghtening the human magnetic field and so forth. Both are extremely broad and diverse in their many forms and applications, and deep in terms of connecting practitioners with the path to primordial awareness yoga. These transmissions can involve authorizations for kundalini yoga and dzogchen, but it depends on the individual transmission.

See also my basic Vajrasattva teaching at
http://people.tribe.net/aa35e5c2-3d1f-4b92-b135-bdc41d795776/photos/29ed8d70-e1db-4172-b3e0-4b2bfc3044a6
and my continuing mantra thread on
http://tibetanbuddhism.tribe.net/thread/9a908430-dc8b-4496-bec7-2ecbbebbc093

Relevant books are
The Crystal and the Way of Light
Sky Dancer : The Life and Songs
Tantric Practice in Nying-ma
Dakini Teachings

Part of the purpose of this listing is to make known resources such as PDX Pagans, Northwest Dharma Association, and The Portland Buddhist Hub. Thus it is posted as a listing.

Sarva mangalam. Siddhi rastu.

May the Circle Be Open and Unbroken. All Our Relations.

KT

http://www.northwestdharma.org/calendar/calendarentry.php?eventId=110095

FEATURED EVENT: Vajrasattva Empowerment (AM)
Padmasambhava Empowerment (PM)
Khenchen will deliver two empowerments

•10am - Noon: Vajrasattva Empowerment
•2pm - 4pm: Padmasambhava Empowerment

Bio on Khenchen Rinpoche: In 1969 he entered the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan studies at Sarnath, near Varanasi. There he followed a nine-year curriculum in Buddhist studies and general education under his principal teacher, Khenpo Palden Sherab, and other masters. His class work included Sanskrit, English and intensive studies in the textual traditions of Indian and Tibetan Buddhism. He graduated with the degree of Acharya in 1978, ranking first overall among the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism represented at Sarnath. His Holiness the Dalai Lama honored his achievement with the award of a silver medal. After graduation he was invited to teach at Palyul Namdroling Monastery at the Tibetan settlement in Bylakuppe, near Mysore in South India. For several years he was engaged in training the young monks and teaching in the monastic college, the Ngagyur Nyingma University (Shedra). In 1983 he was enthroned as a khenpo by His Holiness Pema Norbu Rinpoche. In the Nyingmapa tradition, a khenpo is a professor of Buddhist studies.

Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso has received all of the major lineage empowerments and transmissions of the Nyingmapa school, including the Dudjom Tersar from Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche; the Longchen Nyingthig Yabshi, and Nyingma Kama from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche; and the Rinchen Terdzod and Nam Chos from Pema Norbu Rinpoche. He has done intensive dzogchen practice under the guidance of Penor Rinpoche and other eminent masters including Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche and Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche. Pema Norbu Rinpoche has authorized him to represent the monastery and to teach, to confer empowerments and to give personal instruction in Buddhist practice.

start date: 12-12-2009 end date: 12-12-2009 start time: 10:00am / 2:00pm end time: 12:00 Noon / 4:00pm
category: Other tradition: Tibetan
teacher: Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche sponsor: Portland Sakya Center
venue: Portland Dharma Center
Address: 25th & S.E. Madison (Please park on Hawthorn) City: Portland state/Prov: OR
Primary Contact: Ani Gilda Padron Taylor phone: 503.234.8887 email: loopski@gmail.com
link: cost: $25

-----------------------------------

Facilitating the Spread of Dharma in Portland
The Portland Buddhist Hub
http://www.portlandbuddhisthub.org/

As when there are timely rains and all trees and grass receive moisture and thrive, so all sentient beings derive benefits and grow by themselves. There are different methods, but they all spring from the same source. -- Master Han Shan

Many different resources are available for the study and practice of Buddhism in the greater Portland area alone. This site is intended to help those searching for a Way place, a Bodhimandala, they can call their own. If only one person by virtue of this site can find the resources to help him or her on their Way, its purpose has been fulfilled.

Homage to the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha, and the Precepts.

Contact Information
The best way to contact us is to send email to pbh [AT] portlandbuddhisthub.org

PDX pagans
public - created 11/21/03
This tribe is for heathens, pagans and free thinking individuals residing in or around Portland Oregon metro area who want to communicate with other like minded folk.

See
http://tribes.tribe.net/pdxpagans

----- end -----

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

VAJRASATTVA KARMA MANTRA, with teaching and references ( repost )

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 23:14:55 GMT

VAJRASATTVA KARMA MANTRA, with teaching and references ( repost )
repost from tribe: teaching yoga

Namaste. Om svasti.

I have uploaded a Sanskrit language text image for Vajrasattva mantra recitation at my tribe home ( "k t" ).

If you do not know about Sanskrit or Buddhist Sanskrit practices, an excellent book is
"Sacred Calligraphy of the East" by John Stevens.

There are online resources for Buddhist mantra in Sanskrit, including
<http://visiblemantra.org/>

Anyway, here is a short, casual teaching on Vajrasattva. I know, I know, it is woefully incomplete. But to actually study this teaching one needs a complete empowerment, a lot of practice, and real instruction from an authentic tantric Buddhist guru, such as commonly come from Tibet and teach in different parts of the West.

This is quite doable. I have received sixty full Vajrasattva empowerments in all different schools. I have not been to India.

Scroll down quite a bit further for several pages of classical tantric teaching. Somebody has to know how this stuff works. Back in India, this is known as "yoga", specifically "guhyamantra yoga".

As one of my many many teachers from Asia once said,
"In the final analysis, all talk is worthless. It is only the exact practice that gives a result."
He also said,
"Dharma eliminates the karma." ( You know, Dharrrrmahhh Heeeleeemeenaaates teee karrrrmmaahhh. )

All my relations! May this benefit all!

K T

Translation of the VAJRASATTVA KARMA MANTRA
( Diamond Being Action Recitation Which Is All-Accomplishing )

". . . Identical to Vajrasattva, the supreme siddhis ( powers ) are perfected in him; he attains the blissful pure land, supreme wisdom becomes his display, and he is an exemplar to gods and men; he is empowered in body speech and mind and whatever he imagines is actualized."
- - from the Thirty First Chapter of the Guhyagarbha tantra, The Chapter on Direct Perception of Vajrasattva

This mantra is quintessential to the foundational practices of Buddhist tantra ( i.e. mystical yoga ), and also is broadly and extensively used at the highest levels of Tantra, up to and including Mahamudra / Great Seal and Atiyoga/ Great Perfection.

The following text and teaching is most sacred.

Vajrasattva is the quintessence of ( all ) the Hundred Families of Buddhist tantra. It is a universal key to all the esoteric Buddhist tantric traditions of India, Tibet, China, and Japan. Vajrasattva practice distinguishes Inner Mahayana / Great Vehicle Buddhism from Outer Mahayana / Great Vehicle Buddhism, for in the latter it is either not found or very hidden.

Vajra has the sense of "indestructible, infinite, immovable, all-encompassing, timeless", ultimate awareness ( jnana ) and skillful means ( prajna ). As one of the Buddha Families it refers either to the Buddha Family of the East, or to the All Encompassing Six Families, i.e. Vajrasattva, the Five Buddha Families plus Vajrasattva.

As a ritual scepter vajra also has the sense of ultimate nobility and royal power, and the union of the Five Buddha Families and the great sacred circles ( mandala ). There are many different kinds of vajra scepters, with one, three, five, or nine prongs, and the vajra is usually part of other tantric implements such as the knife handle and bell handle. It is not realistic to practice Buddhist tantra without both a good vajra scepter and vajra bell: these are required and to be used as part of the tantric commitments.

From a practical perspective, Vajrasattva is one of the most important methods in Buddhist tantra for healing and purification on all levels of Body speech and Mind. ( Of course, no promises can be made for any specific medical condition. ) This includes purification of the practitioner to effectively practice tantra, and also to purify continuing minor infractions and even severely dangerous transgressions of the tantric commitments, which would otherwise be worse than fatal. It also includes psychic heat yoga ( Tibetan: tummo ) and in the Great Perfection full transmission, includes the quintessential precepts of Breakthrough ( dzogchen trekcho mannakde ) for direct liberation of awareness into primordial freedom and purity.

Vajrasattva is also an "All Accomplishing" ( Sanskrit: sarva siddhi ) mantra, as you can see in the translation that follows. Thus, Vajrasattva accomplishes the outer sacred circle magical activities of Purification ( Vajra Family ) , Enrichment ( Ratna Family ), Magnetization ( Padma Family ), and Eliminating Negativity and Obstacles ( Karma Family ). It also accomplishes the primary Great Work of Buddhahood ( Buddha Family or alternatively the Six Great Families, the Five plus Vajrasattva.

The most basic forms of Vajrasattva recitation are these
1) OM VAJRASATTVA AH
2) OM VAJRASATTVA HUM

There is also a basic wrathful form of Vajrasattva known as Vajrapani ( Scepter in Hand ). If one has any major Vajrasattva empowerment, this includes Vajrapani, for which the basic mantra is
HUM VAJRA PHAT
There are also variations of Vajrapani mantra, as Vajrapani is one of the principal angelic guardians ( dharmapalas ) of all the schools of Buddhist tantra across Asia, and also the Shaolin School of Ch'an Buddhist Kung-fu.

There are many images and forms of Vajrasattva, both peaceful and wrathful, and both with and without consort. The consort is for example Vajragarvi ( peaceful ) or Diptacakra ( wrathful consort of Vajrakilaya-Vajrasattva ).

Typically, the Peaceful Vajrasattva is brilliant shimmering transparent clear-white, holding a vajra ( diamond scepter ) in the right hand at the heart, and holding a ghanta ( diamond bell ) in the left hand at the left waist ( bowl up ). This peaceful Vajrasattva may then appear in union with the peaceful consort, or in the heart center of the Ultimate Wrathful Vajrasattva known as Vajrakilaya ( Diamond Dagger ).

As a ritual practice, the seed syllable ( bij mantra ) may be either HUM or AH, and there are other variants as well. The deity is visualized as oneself / an ideal being, atop one's head, and in different forms. So for example, a woman may well see herself as a female Vajrasattva, or as "Reversed Vajrasattva", i.e. as Vajragarvi in tantric union with the masculine aspect Vajrasattva.

Vajrasattva is the source deity of the Great Kalacakra mandala ( sacred circle ), and also the source deity of the Great Perfection ( Atiyoga or "dzogchen" teachings of primordial purity, the most profound, essential, and powerful awareness-yogas of the Early Translation ( Nyingma ) school.

For example, the first human teacher of Atiyoga was Joyous Vajra ( Tibetan : Garab Dorje ), a direct emanation of Vajrasattva. According to the Great Perfection / Atiyoga tradition sourced through Garb Dorje, there are six million four hundred thousand verses of teaching of Vajrasattva and the Great Perfection, of which a worthwhile fraction have been transmitted down to the present day. See for example the following
1) "The Tibetan Book of the Dead: First Complete Translation" ( i.e. the Gyurme Dorje translation and commentary ISBN-10: 0143104942 )
2) "Wellsprings of the Great Perfection", Erik Kunsang
3) many online texts, such as those available from Keith Dowman at
<http://www.keithdowman.net/dzogchen/>
These include
3a) Direct Perception of Vajrasattva ( The text that gave King Dza his enlightenment vision )
3b) The Exalted Spaciousness of Vajrasattva ( Garab Dorje's Source of all Dzogchen Precepts ).

Also, every key empowerment of Great Perfection Break Through ( dzogchen trekcho ), such as the renowned Patrul Rinbochay Tsik Sum Ne Dek ( Striking the Essence in Three Words ) includes the Vajrasattva Hundred Syllable mantra as a key practice. Finally, a greatly wrathful Vajrasattva practice is one of the Three Roots ( primary deity yoga practices of the Nyingma school ), either as Vajrakilaya or as Mahasri Heruka ( the wrathful Samantabhadra-Vajrasattva ).

In addition to the Tibetan Book of the Dead, a crucial and comprehensive teaching with many Great Perfection mantras including Vajrasattva as a primary practice , there is also a rare transmission of Guru Padmasambhava as Vajrasattva. This is the Red ( Padma ) Vajrasattva, which would look superficially similar to other Vajrasattva practices but which has a very different structure and orientation. It is a quintessential restricted practice and requires a specific Red Vajrasattva empowerment. Apart from this, all major Nyingma Great Perfection transmissions, such as Padmasambhava, Yeshe Tsogyel, Tara, Vajrakilaya, Troma, Bardo, etc. include a full Vajrasattva.

In the New Schools of Indo-Tibetan Vajrayana ( i.e. the Sarma, including Gelugpa, Sakya, and Kagyu ), the ultimate Buddha realization is embodied in the Dharmakaya ( Primordial Dimension ) Vajradhara ( Diamond Bearer ). This Buddha Vajradhara is the fully realized Vajrasattva, just as Vajrasattva is the ( sambhogakaya / angelic ) Buddha of the Tantric Path. They are two aspects of the same ultimate teaching, which is known as Mahamudra, the Great Seal.

So for example the great renunciate yogi Milarepa, who was Vajra Family in the Five Buddha, accomplished Buddhahood as Vajradhara. Accomplishing the deity Kalacakra-Vajrasattva also brings one to the level of Vajradhara. ( Accomplishing the deity Yamantaka or Hevajra brings one to this same level. There are many tantric paths to universal awareness. This is known as polytheism. )

There are also many variants of the Hundred syllable mantra, as for Tara Karma Mantra, Mahakala Karma Mantra, Yamantaka Karma Mantra the different Heruka Karma Mantra and so forth. I know directly from having received all these transmissions and the corresponding texts. Thus the Hundred Syllable mantra, like the Hindu Gayatri mantra, serves as a core for many or most other practices.

There are also different extensions to this mantra, including that for "Purifying the Six Realms", and other versions. Most of these are sealed by the oath of tantric secrecy, which must be upheld by all initiates. The many variants of the basic mantra can be summarized in these categories:

a) with and without the optional ending seed syllables HUM and PHAT;

b) with different ordering of phrases, such as SUTOSNYO, SUPOSNYO, and ANURAKTO BE BHAVA;

c) via substitutions of different deities ( angels ) in place of Vajrasattva ( N.B.: not a simple substitution );

d) using basic substitutions for different Buddha families ( i.e. replacing each instance of VAJRA with PADMA to focus more on Lotus Family deities such as Avalokita, Hayagriva, etc. );

e) using the Tibetanization of the original Sanskrit recitation, by substituting for example BENZA for VAJRA. This is also effective as mantra. There is a close Chinese variant of the Tibetan form which is in use by four or five million practitioners.

These different permutations and combinations are all classical and valid, not mistakes in the various publications or traditions you may encounter. Nevertheless, the basic form accomplishes all aspects of spiritual purification and realization.

It is typical for committed practitioners of Buddhatantra to complete a commitment of 100,000 recitations of this long Vajrasattva mantra as a basic daily purification ( 21 x daily or 100x daily ) and as a preliminary to major empowerments and to complete many deity practice sessions ( usually 3x per session to mend mistakes ). Some people do basic Vajrasattva purification practice each full moon, others do extensive retreat entirely focused on this deity, such as for Red Vajrasattva.

Once the basic 100,000 long recitations have been completed, it is possible to go further and perform basic mandala activities ( enrichment, etc. ) or perhaps psychic heat practice or Great Perfection practice ( at some point ). Typically the advanced practices will not even begin to work without completing the long recitations first. I have completed 250,000 long Vajrasattva recitations and intend to do more. It is said that in Tibet good tantric practitioners of different schools quite commonly completed 200,000 long recitations, so this is a major practice for basically every serious tantric yogi.

An excellent text on Vajrasattva in New School Indo-Tibetan Vajrayana is
"The Tantric Path of Purification: The Yoga Method of Heruka Vajrasattva"
by Lama Thubten Yeshe, ISBN-10: 0861710207
This specific mantra authorization ( as well as the one given here ) is included in essentially all major New School Tantric empowerments, such as Kalacakra, Cakrasamvara, Hevajra, Vajrayogini, Yamantaka, Milarepa, Mahakala and so forth. However, the Heruka forms also vary between deity yoga lineages, and the Nyingma versions of Vajra Heruka vary as well.

This translation is partially based on that of the great Nyingma scholar / Dzogchen master Khetsun Sangpo Rinbochay, and also that of the great Dzogchen master Terton Sogyal Tulku Rinbochay. Khetsun Sangpo has provided an excellent commentary which brilliantly summarizes Vajrasattva practice and all the esoteric preliminary practices from the standpoint of the Old School ( Nyingma ) tradition: see
"Tantric Practice in Nying-ma"
by Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche, ISBN-10: 0937938149

Because Vajrasattva is so important in all schools and all levels of Buddhist tantra, it is quite helpful to have both these books.

The Sanskrit phonetic text following is broken out on a phrase by phrase basis without punctuation. The English interpretation follows between each phrase.

I have provided some clarification and elucidation, mostly within the parenthesized parts.

Translation follows:

> > > Begin Translation > > >

Om vajrasattva samayam anupalaya
Om Vajrasattva ( Diamond Being )! Protect the sacred commitment.

Vajrasattva tvenopatistha
Vajrasattva abide in me.

dridho me bhava
Make me firm.

sutosnyo me bhava
Grant me complete satisfaction.

suposnyo me bhava
Fulfill me ( increase the positive within me ).

anurakto me bhava
Make me compassionate ( or: be loving towards me ).

sarva siddhim me prayaccha
Grant me all siddhi ( powers and attainments, both relative and transcendent ).

sarva-karma su ca me chittam sriyam kuru
Manifest for me all ( noble ) actions. Make my mind wholly virtuous.

"hum"
"hum" ( the bijmantra, the essential vibratory wave-particle of Vajrasattva )

"ha ha ha ha"
"ha ha ha ha" ( the Four Joys, Four Immeasurables, Four Levels of Tantric Empowerment, the Four Dimensions of Sacred Being - Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya, Nirmanakaya, Svabhavivakaya )

"ho"
"ho" ( exclamation of joy at accomplishing these sets of four )

bhagavan sarva-tathagata-vajra
Transcendent Lord who embodies ( or: who is together with ) all the Indestructible Realized Buddhas !

ma me munca
Do not abandon me.

vajri bhava maha-samaya-sattva
Make me indivisible, Great and All Encompassing Pledge Being ( great angel of angels ).

"ah"
"ah" ( release into vast primordial pure wisdom-dimension beyond all limitations and obscurations )

(optional : hum phat! )
(hum phat!) Hum here means manifest great diamond power! Phat! has the sense of strike / cut through all confusion, grasping and negativity! I.e. by prajnopaya, the Union of Wisdom and Skillful Means.

< < < End Translation < < <

Sarva mangalam! Siddhi rastu.

In partial fulfillment of my received responsibilities as vajrayana guru, this was set down one as casual chatter by the inner medical tantrika and dagger priest K T, who is of the Vajrasattva ( Sixth of the Fivefold ) family.

AHHH AHHH

Tistha vajra! Samaya ho!

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 17 replies

2009 U.S. Teaching Schedule For H.E. Gochen Tulku Sang Ngak ( Tibetan Buddhist Nyingma lineage )

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:17:50 GMT

2009 U.S. Teaching Schedule For H.E. Gochen Tulku Sang Ngak ( Tibetan Buddhist Nyingma lineage )

Keywords: Nyingma, Great Perfection / Dzogchen, tantric transmissions and retreats, H.E. Gochen Tulku Sang Ngak, Ewam USA.

Here I provide details on the current 2009 teaching schedule, practice centers, and background for H.E. Gochen Tulku, a most accomplished Tibetan yogi.

His Eminence is a major teacher and incarnate guru in the Earlier Transmission ( Nyingma ) of Buddhist tantra into Tibet from India, as established by the Great Guru Padmasambhava, in particular of the Primordial Awareness Yoga known as "Atiyoga", that is, the Great Perfection, a.k.a. "Dzogchen" in Tibetan ).

For more information on esoteric Buddhist tantra in the form of Nyingma and Dzogchen materials, see Snow Lion Publications online
http://www.snowlionpub.com/
and the book
"The Crystal and the Way of Light", by Namkhai Norbu.

For current information on H.E. Gochen Tulku, his Evam USA organization and their projects and teaching schedules, see
http://www.ewam.org/

H.E. Gochen Tulku is a lineage holder and has even transmitted a major tantric / atiyoga cycle TO H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinbochay, but is not yet well known in the West. He is nevertheless a very important teacher in several western Nyingma fellowships such as Chagdud Gonpa Foundation and the Dudjom Yeshe Nyingpo.

I have seen this teacher several times from 1997 to 2000, and received numerous major transmissions, including some that are both extremely rare and very powerful. He is truly extraordinary and I strongly recommend him to those who wish to connect with the inner Early Transmission and the Great Perfection.

This year he is teaching in Montana, Colorado, and California ( see below ). This schedule includes extraordinary healing practice ( Vajra Armor ), and extraordinary goddess yoga ( White Dakini ). Note that I do *not* represent this teacher, and schedule details are subject to change.

The merit of sharing this teaching is dedicated to the life and spiritual work of H.E. Gochen Tulku, with great gratitude, and to the continued development of these tantric lineages, with the hope that it will be profoundly beneficial to many.

Sarva mangalam. Siddhi rastu!

KT

"Tulku Sang ngag Rinpoche, the sixth Gochen Tulku, is an incarnation of Gyalwa Chokyang, one of the close disciples of Padmasambhava. Recognized at the age of three, Rinpoche began learning religious rituals and liturgies, as well as traditional Tibetan medicine, at an early age.

"Rinpoche met his root guru, Tulku Orgyen Chemchok, in a Chinese prison where he was held for nine years. Here he received teachings and secret transmissions. Upon release, Rinpoche met his other root teacher, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, with whom he traveled, studied, and practiced intensively for nearly fourteen years.

Rinpoche teaches worldwide and oversees his two retreat centers in Pharping: Yuloko Nunnery and Phurpaling, a dharma center in Taiwan and his U.S. retreat center, Ewam Sang-ngag Ling, located in Arlee, Montana."

Contact info

- - Ewam USA - -

Sang-ngag Ling - Arlee, Montana
406-726-0217

PO Box 330
34574 White Coyote Road
Arlee, MT 59821
ewammontana@blackfoot.net

Samten Ling - Tuolumne, California
(near Sonora)
209-928-1326
michaelirw@mlode.com

- - Ewam Nepal - -

Phurba Sang-ngag Ling
Phone: 977-1-4710-093

Turquoise Leaf Nunnery/Yuloko
Phone: 977-1-4710-094

To contact Nepal Centers:
P.O.B. 7032
Devi G.B.S. Pharping
Kathmandu, Nepal
e-mail for both: ewamnepal@hotmail.com

- - Ewam Asia - -

Ewam Phurba Ling Taiwan
Dr. Choeji Lodoe Tashi
1F and 4F, No. 76, Sec 1. Hsiu Lang Rd
Yung Ho City, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan
Phone: (02)2928-7993 - (02)2920-5294

Ewam Taichung
Dr. Choeji Lodoe Tashi
F3, No. 105 Nan Yang Rd
Feng Yuan City, Taichung, Taiwan
Phone: 886-4-2529-5973

Ewam Hong Kong
Flat F, 18/F. Block 1, Pierhead Garden
Tuen Mun, NT, Hong Kong

-------------------------------------------------

Schedule for H.E. Gochen Tulku Sang Ngak for 2009

Buddhahood Without Meditation

Sept 8-15th, Arlee Montana
http://www.ewam.org
http://www.ewam.org/pages/directions.php

Please register by August 1st, to register and pay for this retreat, click here, see below for retreat costs. This is a restricted retreat so please contact Devi in the office for more information at 406-726-0217.

Widely known by its subtitle, Nang-jang (Refining Apparent Phenomena), presents the view of the Great Perfection through the approach known as t'hreg-chhod (cutting through solidity). The nineteenth-century master Dudjom Lingpa received these teachings in visionary dialogue with fourteen enlightened beings, including Avalokiteshvara, Vajrapani, Longchenpa, and Saraha.- The Dudjom lineage, based on the terma, or hidden treasures, revealed by Dudjom Lingpa and his immediate rebirth, His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche (1904-1987), late head of the Nyingma school of Buddhism, is one of the principal modern lineages of Dzogchen Transmission.

RETREAT COSTS:
Non-Member $560.00
Non-Member/Camping $505.00

Member $476.00
Member/Camping $428.00

White Dakini Drub Chen
with Tulku Sang ngag Rinpoche & Lama Tsultrim Allione
August 23 - 31, 2009

Tara Mandala Colorado
See http://www.taramandala.org/

White Dakini Drub Chen. For the first time in the West a Drub Chen (Great Accomplishment Ceremony) of the White Dakini ( White Goddess ) practice from Do Khyentse’s Dzinpa Rangdröl (Self-Liberation from Fixation) treasure cycle will be performed. This lineage comes directly from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche to Tulku Sang ngag who will be the Vajra Master at the Drub Chen.

We will experience a traditional empowerment given by Tulku Sang ngag, and we will be lead through an in depth process of learning and practicing the White Dakini mandala. This White Dakini practice is the union of Machig Labdron and Yeshe Tsogyel surrounded by the dakinis of the five families. During the retreat, in addition to the precious teachings from Tulku Sang gnag, Lama Tsultrim will help frame the experience through discussion and further teachings.

The White Dakini practice will be established as a key practice at Tara Mandala and links directly to Machig through Yeshe Tsogyel, her previous incarnation. This is an opportunity to be in the first group receiving this lineage transmission and is open to anyone interested. In addition, it is a strictly closed retreat and requires intensive practice and the ability to hold the container.

During the Drub Chen traditional instruments will be played, a mandala will be created, and continual mantra recitation will occur. The participants will experience deep immersion in the Vajra world. This is an exciting deepening of the tradition at Tara Mandala and we encourage everyone drawn to be here to come. Mipham Rinpoche said, ”One Drub Chen is equal to seven years of solitary retreat.”

Price
Double: $1,553 - $965
Queen Double: $1,575 - $1,080 - SOLD OUT
Queen Single: $1,685 - $1,190 - SOLD OUT
Camping: $925 - $650
Suggested Dana: $160 - $320

Guya Garbha ( Hundred Deities / Bardo ) – Shedra Retreat

Sept 20-27th
Arlee Montana
http://www.ewam.org
http://www.ewam.org/pages/directions.php

Prerequisites for these teachings are the prior Shedra retreats on the first part of a commentary on the Treasury of Precious Qualities - A Commentary on The Root Text of Jigme Lingpa. This book presents the entire Buddhist path according to the Nyingma School. Tulku Sang-ngag began giving these retreats at Ewam in 2002 and finished the text in 2007 which are available on CD. , Lama David Curtis also taught this text over the course of 3 years. This year Rinpoche's brother, Khenpo Ngawang Gelek, will continue these teachings and Rinpoche will give the empowerment. There are no translations of this part of the text yet.

If you are interested in this retreat, please contact Devi in the office as soon as possible at 406-726-0217 or via email.
( It is important to get an idea of how many people are coming to this retreat to plan accordingly. )

RETREAT COSTS: Non-Members $500.00
Non-Members/Camping $450.00

Members $425.00
Members/Camping $382.00

The Nature of Mind ( Great Perfection )
Root Text by Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche

October 14th - 19th
Ewma Samten Ling, Tuolumne California ( near Sonora )
Contact phone 209.928.1326
Email
michealirw@frontiernet.net

Vajra Armor Retreat

November 5-8
Mt. Shasta, CA
please contact John Cashman at (530) 926-5196.

"The Vajra Armor Mantra (Tib. Dorje Go-Drab), is among the most powerful healing practices in Tantric Buddhism. Long held as a secret practice, it has been practiced for over a millenium by tantric adepts and Tibetan physicians as an effective method for treating diseases, purifying negative energies and protection from misfortune.

"The Vajra Armor Mantra was first introduced into Tibet in the eighth century by Padmasambhava, who had collected various teachings and practices on this mantra from the ancient Indian Buddhist tradition. After teaching his close disciples in Tibet, he hid the Vajra Armor teachings in 124 places, to be discovered by future ‘treasure finders’ as prophesied in his writings.

"Padmasambhava predicted that a time would come when there would be a great need for this mantra and to preserve the integrity of the teachings and lineage, he hid different versions of this practice in many different places for safekeeping, until the designated treasure finder would reintroduce them to the world.

Over the past one thousand years, there have been numerous major teaching cycles of the Vajra Armor Mantra that have been revealed, including those of Dorje Lingpa, Mipham, Dudjom Lingpa, and Trak-t’hung Namkha’I Jigme. These teachings outline a deep and profound path to realization and ultimately to Buddhahood through the practice of healing and rebalancing the outer and inner elements."

----------------------------------------

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 1 reply

Two weekends of Yantra Yoga at Dondrub Ling, Berkely CA July 16-19 and July 23-26 2009

Laurel — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:18:08 GMT

Naomi Zeitz, a longtime student of Choegyal Namkhai Norbu, is an authorized teacher of Yantra Yoga, one of the oldest surviving complete systems of yoga, practiced and taught within an uninterrupted lineage of Tibetan Buddhism since the 8th century.

JULY 16 - 19: INTRODUCTION TO YANTRA YOGA
The first weekend’s introductory course is open to all. Included are working with complete breathing, which is the base of Yantra Yoga, and learning the first two preliminary series, including the Eight Movements. The Eight Movements can be used in daily life to harmonize breathing and energy and may create great benefit for all who practice them.
Thursday, July 16 9:30am – 12:00noon and 4:00pm – 6:30pm
Friday, July 17 9:30am – 12:00noon and 4:00pm – 6:30pm
Dakini Day Ganapuja, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Saturday, July 18 9:30am – 12:00noon and 4:00pm – 6:30pm
Sunday, July 19 9:30am – 12:00noon and 4:00pm – 6:30pm

JULY 23 – 26: ADVANCED YANTRA YOGA
The second weekend’s course is open to those who have received transmission from Choegyal Namkhai Norbu and who also are familiar at least with the Tsigjong and Eight Movements. Included are the First and Second Series of Yantras and their related Pranayamas: “The Four Characteristic Conditions” and “The Four Profound Applications.”
Thursday, July 23 9:30am – 12:00noon and 4:00pm – 6:30pm
Friday, July 24 9:30am – 12:00noon and 4:00pm – 6:30pm
Saturday, July 25 9:30am – 12:00noon and 4:00pm – 6:30pm
Anniversary of Dharmachakra Ganapuja, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Sunday, July 26 9:30am – 12:00noon and 4:00pm – 6:30pm

COST
$200 for both weekends with paid early registration by Monday, June 29
$250 for both weekends (after June 30)
$130 for a single weekend (eight sessions)
$20 for each session

To register, please contact Leticia Recepter at 510 292-0960 or leticiarecepter@yahoo.com.ar

Please make checks to Dzogchen Community West Coast
And mail to:
Dzogchen Community
Yantra Yoga Weekends
2728 Adeline St., Suite D, Berkeley CA 94707

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

tantric Buddhist empowerments this June & July in California and Oregon: Lama Getse ( Nyingma )

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:55:35 GMT

tantric Buddhist empowerments this June & July in California and Oregon: Lama Getse ( Nyingma )

Keywords : tantric Buddhist transmission, Nyingma lineage, Orgyen Dorje Den, Oregon, 2009 tour for His Holiness Getse Rinpoche.

From Orgyen Dorje Den ( San Francisco ):

"HH Getse Rinpoche will be visiting the U.S. in the next few weeks ( June - July 2009 ), and has been invited to Orgyen Dorje Den in Alameda, Dorje Ling in Portland, and Tashi Choling in Ashland to give empowerments and teachings. A general schedule is listed below; as details of times and events become available, we will pass them along by email. Stay tuned!

"H.H. Katok Getse Rinpoche is a highly esteemed incarnate lama of the Katok branch of the Nyingma lineage. He was recognized as a tulku by His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa, the previous Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, and Adzom Gyalsé Rinpoche. From a very early age, he received teachings and empowerments from Dudjom Lingpa’s son Tulku Nyida, Khenchen Jigmé Puntsok Rinpoche, Adzom Drukpa, Katok Moktsa Rinpoche, Khenpo Ngakchung, and H.H. the Dalai Lama. H.H. Getse Rinpoche has done many years of retreat, taught widely throughout Asia and is well known for his mastery of the Dzogchen approach. Fulfilling a request made by Chagdud Rinpoche, Katok Getse Rinpoche serves as the head lama of Katok Ritrod, Chagdud Gonpa’s retreat center in Parping Nepal."

See
http://www.orgyendorjeden.org/contact.html

N.B.: I do not represent this center nor do I know this teacher, but Orgyen Dorje Den hosts amazingly good tantric Buddhist teachers, sometimes on very short notice. These are typically of the Nyingma lineage, and the transmissions are of very high quality and power in my own experience. The transmissions may well include full Great Perfection Awareness Yoga ( atiyoga, dzogchen ) authiorization.

See the books
(1) "Crystal and the Way of Light"
and

(2) "Tantric Practice in Nyingma"
Author(s) : Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche and Hopkins, Jeffrey
ISBN : 0937938149

Publisher : Snow Lion Publications
Published : 1986
Category : Tantra: Vajrayana Buddhist
Category 2 : Tibetan Buddhism: Nyingma
Synopsis:
The essential internal and external preparatory practices required before entering the path of Great Perfection (Dzogchen), in the form of an accessible and lucid commentary on the first part of Patrul Rinpoche's "Words of My Perfect Teacher". Also included is a section on daily meditations and recitations. Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche's commentary contains the classical Nyingma presentation of the tantric practices that lead to the realization of Buddhahood.

At this time the Oregon centers do not have information available on this tour of HH Getse Rinpoche.

May this be beneficial.
Sarva manglam! Siddhi rastu!
KT

Preliminary schedule

Orgyen Dorje Den, Alameda, California: June 20-21
www.orgyendorjeden.org

Saturday: Vajrasattva empowerment and teaching
Sunday: Vajrakilaya empowerment and teaching

Orgyen Dorje Den 2244 Santa Clara Avenue Alameda, CA 95401 Phone: (510) 337-1163 Email: orgyendorjeden@gmail.com

Dorje Ling, Portland, Oregon: June 27-28
www.dorjeling.info/

Tashi Choling, Ashland, Oregon: July 3-5
www.tashicholing.org

Each dharma center will need support before, during, and after each event--if you are able to contribute time, funds, or other resources, please contact the centers through their websites listed above. Your assistance is vital in order for these unforeseen, auspicious transmissions to manifest!

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

HH the Dalai Lama ( also a Great Perfection lineage holder ) : introduction, teaching dates, and background

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:02:09 GMT

HH the Dalai Lama is currently on tour this Spring, presently in the United States and later in Europe.
He is a guru of the Great Perfection / Atiyoga / Dzogchen, and I have dzogchen empowerment from him in the form of Eightfold Padmasambhava, as do quite a few people in California, England and France. I am very grateful for this.

As a related book reference you can see his recent title
"Kindly Bent To Ease Us"
which is very good.

KT

Keywords : HH The Dalai Lama, public Dalai Lama talks on world peace, Dalai Lama resources and current schedule, Nobel Peace Prize, universal human [ secular ] ethics, deep permaculture ethics.

Summary: Provided here is (1) the current tour schedule for His Holiness the Dalai Lama [ for California, Massachusetts, New York, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, India, Germany ], (2) an introduction to the life and work of HH the Dalai Lama, (3) book references and resources, and (4) curriculum vitae.

HH the Dalai Lama:
“Never give up.
No matter what is going on.
Never give up.
Develop the heart.
Be compassionate.
Not just to your friends but to everyone.
Work for peace in your heart and in the world.
Work for peace and I say again:
Never give up.
No matter what is happening.
No matter what is going on around you.
Never give up.”

Introduction:

All Our Relations. Mitakuye Oyasin.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is one of the pivotal figures of our time. He is, more than anyone else that can be presently named, a world citizen and world teacher.

His work in ethics, human rights,world peace, psychology and education, Buddhist teaching and East West relations, is second to none in our generation.

In addition to a Nobel Peace Prize and the US Congressional Gold Medal, HH the Dalai Lama has received scores of honorary Doctorates ( in Laws, Philosophy, Human Letters, Divinity, Buddhist Philosophy, and so forth ) from major teaching centers worldwide. These include Columba, Brandeis, Universite de Paris, Benaras Hindu University, Hebrew University Jerusalem, U California San Francisco, and Rissho University Tokyo. He is an honorary citizen of Canada, of Roma Italia and so forth.

He speaks worldwide and has published more than seventy two books.

He is one of the most respected and revered persons on the the planet. On one visit to New York City some years back, forty thousand people turned out to see the Dalai Lama in the park.

When the Dalai Lama gives the Highest Yoga Tantra initiation ( abhisekha ) of Kalacakra, the attendees sometimes number 100,000 or even 200,000. HH the Dalai Lama has given this initiation thirty times in different parts of the world. In addition to being a master of the Great Seal ( Mahamudra ) lineage of Buddhist tantra, he also gives initiations of the Great Perfection ( Mahasandhi, Atiyoga ), for example in London, in San Francisco, and Paris.

You can see him this year at public talks in several areas, such as California, Massachusetts, New York, Europe, and India. A current schedule is provided below.

I have seen HH the Dalai Lama give extremely worthwhile empowerments in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and represented him to the State Legislature of Hawaii in 1993, where he was invited to give a talk, and did. I have listened carefully to him conferencing with Hawaiian elders in public and was struck by the care and attention he gave in listening to others, and in asking questions.

HH the Dalai Lama has written extremely important books on psychology and ethics, and I recommend these to the general public for self-help purposes, and also recommend some of his books to those committed to public service, especially in the area of multiculturalism, international human rights work, and the international Green Party movement.

Because of the profound confluence of modern events, global economics, environmental issues and human cultures, the importance of broader and deeper human co-operation becomes ever greater.

To obtain a broader and clearer understanding and principles for working with these issues, studying the secular works of the Dalai Lama is of great value.

Similarly, His Holiness is one of the few people who can and does speak for the diverse Buddhist populations and traditions worldwide. He has taught senior Japanese tantric Buddhist gurus of the Shingon lineage in their country, for instance. His Holiness is a paragon of the Buddhist renunciate order ( bhiksu-sangha ), of Buddhist scholarship, and of the Mahayana Great Way lineages, all of which are profoundly universal.

This teacher is one of our very very best, be you a psychologist or academic, a diplomat, a tantric yogi, or a Buddhist practitioner. He has completely revolutionized Buddhist teaching, parts of popular modern culture, the understanding of international diplomacy and so forth in our lifetime.

This is someone who actually embodies many of the key principles of the United Nations treaties on human rights, and also the key Buddhist Mahayana principles and teachings. It is important to note that the Mahayana Buddhist principles and the principles of the UN human rights work are essentially identical. There are universal principles that take us all forward, individually and together. In Buddhist Sanskrit these terms are, for instance pratitya-samutpada and karma. Now you know.

The final point I wish to put forward to all is this: the Dalai Lama believes in all of us as people who *already* have sensitive human hearts that can be educated and developed, and he shows all of us a very real and practical way forward, a way based on self-understanding, listening and mutual respect, and patient co-operation.

You could do worse, and please remember that due to impermanence, this master teacher will not live forever. It is not clear how anyone anywhere can replace him.

I see no real alternative to respect and co-operation for the common good, because we are one world. For this broader and deeper reason, and not specifically because he is a Buddhist guru, I support this teacher. He was not allowed by their government to attend a recent peace conference in South Africa, but he is available to you, and he is here for All Our Relations. May he live long and may his brilliant consciousness reach many many more.

Thank you,
KT, Rio Earth Summit Green Party organizer and so forth

In partial fulfillment of my formal Mahayana teaching responsibilities.
Sarva mangalam! Siddhi rastu!
[ May it be auspicious! May there be accomplishment! ]

John David Bartoe, Challenger 8 NASA space mission, July 1985:
“As I looked down, I saw large river meandering slowly along for miles, passing from one country to another without stopping. I also saw huge forests, extending across several borders. And I watched the extent of one ocean touch the shores of several continents. Two words leaped to mind as I looked down on all of this: commonality and interdependence. We are one world.”

Some of the following materials are taken from
www.dalailama.com/
Published books and multimedia materials are available at libraries throughout the world, and from Snow Lion Publications at
www.snowlionpub.com

From the official web site:

“Universal Recognition

“His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a man of peace. In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet. He has consistently advocated policies of non-violence, even in the face of extreme aggression. He also became the first Nobel Laureate to be recognized for his concern for global environmental problems.

“His Holiness has travelled to more than 62 countries spanning 6 continents. He has met with presidents, prime ministers and crowned rulers of major nations. He has held dialogues with the heads of different religions and many well-known scientists.

“Since 1959 His Holiness has received over 84 awards, honorary doctorates, prizes, etc., in recognition of his message of peace, non-violence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion. His Holiness has also authored more than 72 books.

“His Holiness describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk.”

“Three Main Commitments in Life
“Firstly, on the level of a human being, His Holiness first commitment is the promotion of human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. All human beings are the same. We all want happiness and do not want suffering. Even people who do not believe in religion recognize the importance of these human values in making their life happier. His Holiness refers to these human values as secular ethics. He remains committed to talk about the importance of these human values and share them with everyone he meets.

“Secondly, on the level of a religious practitioner, His Holiness second commitment is the promotion of religious harmony and understanding among the world's major religious traditions. Despite philosophical differences, all major world religions have the same potential to create good human beings. It is therefore important for all religious traditions to respect one another and recognize the value of each other's respective traditions. As far as one truth, one religion is concerned, this is relevant on an individual level. However, for the community at large, several truths, several religions are necessary.
“Thirdly, His Holiness is a Tibetan and carries the name of the Dalai Lama. Tibetans place their trust in him. Therefore, his third commitment is to the Tibetan issue. His Holiness has a responsibility to act as the free spokesperson of the Tibetans in their struggle for justice. As far as this third commitment is concerned, it will cease to exist once a mutually beneficial solution is reached between the Tibetans and Chinese.

However, His Holiness will carry on with the first two commitments till his last breath.”

Upcoming Schedule
2009
Lecture in Santa Barbara, CA, USA on April 24: His Holiness will give a lecture on The Nature of Mind organized by the University of Santa Barbara at the UCSB Events Center. Contact Website: www.religion.ucsb.edu/dalailama/
Public Talk in Santa Barbara, CA, USA on April 24: His Holiness will give a public talk on Ethics for Our Time organized by the University of Santa Barbara at the UCSB Events Center. Contact Website: www.religion.ucsb.edu/dalailama/
Public Talk in Berkeley, CA, USA on April 25: His Holiness will give a public talk on Peace Through Compassion organized by the University of California, Berkeley at the Greek Theater. Contact Website: www.berkeley.edu

Public Talk in Boston, MA, USA on April 30: His Holiness will give a public talk to the Harvard University Community on Educating the Heart organized by Harvard University at the Memorial Church. Contact Website: www.harvard.edu
Inauguration of The Dalai Lama Center on April 30: His Holiness will inaugurate The Dalai Lama Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) by giving a talk on Ethics and Enlightened Leadership. Contact Website: www.thecenter.mit.edu
Panel Discussion in Boston, MA on May 1: His Holiness will participate in a panel discussion on Meditation and Psychotherapy – Cultivating Compassion and Wisdom organized by the Harvard Medical School Department of Continuing Education at Boston Park Plaza Hotel. Contact Website: www.cme.med.harvard.edu/index.asp
Teaching in Boston, MA on May 2: His Holiness will give a teaching in the morning on What Is Buddhism & Commentary on The Four Noble Truths organized by the Tibetan Association of Boston at the Gillette Stadium, Foxboro. Contact Website: www.bostontibet.org
Public Talk in Boston, MA on May 2: His Holiness will give a public talk in the afternoon on The Path to Peace and Inner Happiness organized by the Tibetan Association of Boston at the Gillette Stadium, Foxboro. Contact Website: www.bostontibet.org

Public Talk in New York, NY on May 3: His Holiness will participate in a conversation with Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and moderated by Pico Iyer on Wisdom & Compassion for Challenging Times and organized by The Tibet Fund at The Town Hall. Contact Website: www.tibetfund.org

Teaching in New York, NY on May 4: His Holiness will give a teaching on The Quintessence of Compassion organized by The Tibet House at The New Beacon Theater. Contact Website: www.tibethouse.org
Public Talk in Albany, NY on May 6: His Holiness will give a public talk on Compassionate Ethics in Difficult Times organized by the World Ethical Foundations Consortium at the Albany Palace Theater. Contact Website: www.worldethicalfoundations.org

Teaching in Copenhagen, Denmark from May 30 & 31: His Holiness will give a day and a half teaching on Nagarjuna's Commentary on Bodhicitta (jangchup semdrel) & Kamalashila's The Middling Stages of Meditation (gomrim barpa) at the Bella Center. Contact Website: www.dalailama.dk
Public Talk in Copenhagen, Denmark on May 31: His Holiness will give a public talk on Peace Through Inner Peace at the Bella Center. Contact Website: www.dalailama.dk

Public Talk in Reykjavik, Iceland on June 2: His Holiness will give a public talk on the topic on Values, Attitude and Happiness at the Laugardalsholl Sporting Arena. Contact Website: www.dalailama.is

Teaching in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on June 4: His Holiness will give a teaching on Shantideva’s Chapter 6 on Patience from A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life at the Rai Congress Center. Contact Website: www.dalailamanederland.nl
Public Talk in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on June 4: His Holiness will give a public talk on The Power of Compassion At A Turbulent Time at the Rai Congress Center. Contact Website: www.dalailamanederland.nl

Teaching in Kaza, H.P., India from July 10 to 12: His Holiness will give three-day teachings at the request of the Sakya Monastery in Kaza. On July 10 His Holiness will give a Buddhist teaching (topic yet to be decided). On July 11 and 12 His Holiness will confer the Avalokiteshvera Initiation (chenresig wangchen).

Teaching in Frankfurt, Germany on July 30 & 31: His Holiness will give a day and a half teaching on Kamalashila's The Middling Stages of Meditation (gomrim barpa). On the morning of July 31 he will confer an Amitabha Empowerment (opakmey jenang). Contact Website: www.dalailama-frankfurt.de

Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech
[ University Aula, Oslo, 10 December 1989 ] :

Your Majesty, Members of the Nobel Committee, Brothers and Sisters.

I am very happy to be here with you today to receive the Nobel Prize for Peace. I feel honored, humbled and deeply moved that you should give this important prize to a simple monk from Tibet I am no one special. But I believe the prize is a recognition of the true value of altruism, love, compassion and non-violence which I try to practice, in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha and the great sages of India and Tibet, I accept the prize with profound gratitude on behalf of the oppressed everywhere and for all those who struggle for freedom and work for world peace.

I accept it as a tribute to the man who founded the modern tradition of non-violent action for change Mahatma Gandhi whose life taught and inspired me. And, of course, I accept it on behalf of the six million Tibetan people, my brave countrymen and women inside Tibet, who have suffered and continue to suffer so much. They confront a calculated and systematic strategy aimed at the destruction of their national and cultural identities. The prize reaffirms our conviction that with truth, courage and determination as our weapons, Tibet will be liberated.

No matter what part of the world we come from, we are all basically the same human beings. We all seek happiness and try to avoid suffering. We have the same basic human needs and is concerns. All of us human beings want freedom and the right to determine our own destiny as individuals and as peoples. That is human nature. The great changes that are taking place everywhere in the world, from Eastern Europe to Africa are a clear indication of this.

In China the popular movement for democracy was crushed by brutal force in June this year. But I do not believe the demonstrations were in vain, because the spirit of freedom was rekindled among the Chinese people and China cannot escape the impact of this spirit of freedom sweeping many parts of the world. The brave students and their supporters showed the Chinese leadership and the world the human face of that great nation.

Last week a number of Tibetans were once again sentenced to prison terms of upto nineteen years at a mass show trial, possibly intended to frighten the population before today's event. Their only 'crime" was the expression of the widespread desire of Tibetans for the restoration of their beloved country's independence.
The suffering of our people during the past forty years of occupation is well documented. Ours has been a long struggle. We know our cause is just Because violence can only breed more violence and suffering, our struggle must remain non-violent and free of hatred. We are trying to end the suffering of our people, not to inflict suffering upon others.

It is with this in mind that I proposed negotiations between Tibet and China on numerous occasions. In 1987, I made specific proposals in a Five-Point plan for the restoration of peace and human rights in Tibet. This included the conversion of the entire Tibetan plateau into a Zone of Ahimsa, a sanctuary of peace and non-violence where human beings and nature can live in peace and harmony.
last year, I elaborated on that plan in Strasbourg, at the European Parliament I believe the ideas I expressed on those occasions are both realistic. and reasonable although they have been criticised by some of my people as being too conciliatory. Unfortunately, China's leaders have not responded positively to the suggestions we have made, which included important concessions. If this continues we will be compelled to reconsider our position.

Any relationship between Tibet and China will have to be based on the principle of equality, respect, trust and mutual benefit. It will also have to be based on the principle which the wise rulers of Tibet and of China laid down in a treaty as early as 823 AD, carved on the pillar which still stands today in front of the Jokhang, Tibet's holiest shrine, in Lhasa, that "Tibetans will live happily in the great land of Tibet, and the Chinese will live happily in the great land of China".

As a Buddhist monk, my concern extends to all members of the human family and, indeed, to all sentient beings who suffer. I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. We need to cultivate a universal responsibility for one another and the planet we share. Although I have found my own Buddhist religion helpful in generating love and com¬passion, even for those we consider our enemies, I am convinced that everyone can develop a good heart and a sense of universal responsibility with or without religion.

With the ever growing impact of science on our lives, religion and spirituality have a greater role to play reminding us of our humanity. There is no contradiction between the two. Each gives us valuable insights into the other. Both science and the teachings of the Buddha tell us of the fundamental unity of all things. This understanding is crucial if we are to take positive and decisive action on the pressing global concern with the environment.

I believe all religions pursue the same goals, that of cultivating human goodness and bringing happiness to all human beings. Though the means might appear different the ends are the same.
As we enter the final decade of this century I am optimistic that the ancient values that have sustained mankind are today reaffirming themselves to prepare us for a kinder, happier twenty-first century.

I pray for all of us, oppressor and friend, that together we succeed in building a better world through human under-standing and love, and that in doing so we may reduce the pain and suffering of all sentient beings.
Thank you.

[ end posting ]

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 1 reply

Question about prayer wheel

Daray — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:42:07 GMT

I have posted this also at the tribe about bön, i thought i would be helpful to post it here also;

Hi all,

I have recieved a prayer wheel in a dream, i did not know what it was. i found one at a store the next day and i bought it right away. i was always interested in shamanism (still am) and i always had the idea i had to turn my prayer wheel counter-clockwise. after a research about prayer wheels i found out that the Bön religion turns it's prayer wheels counter-clockwise, and also that Bön is shamanic from nature.
my questions are; why is the prayer wheel turned counter-clockwise? and what is the difference in prayer wheel from normal Buddhism and Bön? a normal prayer wheel has scriptures in them so if you turn them they pass along as if you can read them.. is it normal to swing a normal prayer wheel counter-clockwise?

thanks in advance!
Daray

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Vajrakilaya in California with The Venerable Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche

tygerbill — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:43:48 GMT

Annual Vajrakilaya Retreat
Transmission, Teaching & Practice of Vajrakilaya

http://vairotsana.org/
info@vairotsana.org

with The Venerable Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche & Vairotsana Lamas

Saturday, February 21

Transmission and practice of Vajrakilaya 9:00am - 12:00 Noon & 2:00pm - 5:00pm

Teaching on Vajrakilaya by Tulku Orgyen Phuntsok 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Sunday, February 22

Practice of Vajrakilaya 9:00am - 12:00 Noon & 2:00pm - 5:00pm

______________________________________________________________________

Location: Temple Sung Nghien 11561 Magnolia St. Garden Grove, CA 92841

In the performance of the meditation of the wrathful Wisdom Deity Vajrakilaya, this retreat brings supreme fortunate blessings to the locale in which the practice takes place and to all those in attendance by purifying the accumulation of the past year's misdeeds and by removing obstacles for the coming year. Join Vairotsana Foundation lamas and Sanghas for this traditional practice performed prior to Losar, the Tibetan New Year.

Tsog Offering: Tsog feasts will be offered during the afternoon sessions. If you are unable to attend, you may still participate in this meritorious activity with your donations for tsog offerings or butter lamp (light) offerings. Dedicate the merit to a friend or family member.

Donation of $50 requested for two days.
In the Buddhist tradition, no one will be turned away for the lack of funds.

For More Information: http://vairotsana.org/ info@vairotsana.org

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

2/28-3/1/09 in NYC: Younge Khachab Rinpoche teaches Simhamukha, Tummo

floragreen — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:44:33 GMT

2/28-3/1/09 in NYC: Younge Khachab Rinpoche teaches Simhamukha, Tumm Message List
Reply | Forward Message #1936 of 1966 < Prev | Next >
Rime Shedrub Ling New York City Welcomes Younge Khachab Rinpoche

Sinhamukha Empowerment, Sinhamukha Tummo Completion Stage Practice and
Dzogchen Teachings

Saturday February 28th, Sunday March1st (Sunday *Restricted* to those
who attend on Saturday)

February 28th:
First Session 10am: Simhamukha Ripening Empowerment and Tsog
Second Session: 2pm: Creation and Completion Method of Liberation
Instruction for Simhamukha practice

March 1st:
First Session 10am: ( *Restricted* Must have attended Saturday)
Simhamukha Tummo Bliss of Inner Heat
Second Session 2pm: Recognizing the Primordial Dzogchen Clear Light
through Tantra

NEW REGISTRATION: Pre-register $100 at the door for both days.
$150 at the door.
No one will be turned away for lack of funds. For those with financial
difficulties, please pre-register early for volunteering, karma yoga
opportunities.

Write Celestialwindow@yahoo.com for pre-registration and payment.

Location: Kundrolling
151 west30th Street, Suite 403 on the fourth floor
between 6th and 7th avenues

Also please note Rinpoche's 2009 teaching schedule in New York City:
Dzogchen teachings to be announced for:

May 1st, 2nd, 3rd

August 7th, 8th, 9th

October 2nd, 3rd, 4th

Mark your calendars!

Younge Khachab Rinpoche is the Younge (Yonge) family lineage holder, a
treasure–revealer and a true nonsectarian scholar and Dzogchen yogi.
He is the 7th recorded incarnation of the Khachab Rinpoche Tulku who
was known for his accomplishment of Yamantaka and his healing siddhis.
Rinpoche makes his home in the United States, and he is one of the
most qualified lineage masters alive, holding both the titles of Geshe
and Khenpo. He is known for his accessibility, youthful humor and
brilliant discourses.
For more information about Rinpoche and his teachings:
website: RimeShedrubling.org

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 1 reply

From Nyoshul Khenpo

Cliff — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:28:12 GMT

"Get Out of the Construction Business"

excerpts by Nyoshul Khenpo, adapted

Get out of the construction business! Stop building bridges across the raging waters of samsaric existence, attempting to reach the "far shore," nirvana. Better to simply relax, at ease and carefree, in total naturalness, and just go with the primordial flow, however it occurs and happens. And remember this: whether or not you go with the flow, it always goes with you.

Yet it is not so easy—or so it seems. First we must recognize this profound view, innate Great Perfection, then train in it, then attain unshakable stability in it. This is the path of practice, undistractedly maintaining the view or outlook to which one has been introduced and which one has recognized. Only then can realization progressively unfold. Thus, training implies nonmeditation, noneffort, and nondistraction, a vivid presence of mind. Innate wakefulness, nonconceptual wisdom, nondual primordial awareness—buddha-mind—is suddenly unsheathed the moment dualistic mind dissolves. This can occur gradually, through study, analysis, and spiritual practice, or suddenly, through the coming together of causes and conditions, such as when a ripe student encounters a totally realized master and inexplicably experiences a sudden awakening.

Buddha-nature is pure, undefiled, unelaborated, unconditioned, transcending all concepts. It is not an object of dualistic thought and intellectual knowledge. It is, however, open to gnosis, intuition, the nondual apperception of intrinsic awareness itself, prior to or upstream of consciousness. Adventitious obscurations temporarily veil and, like clouds, obscure this pristine, sky-like, luminous fundamental nature or mind essence—also known as tathagatagarbha, buddha-nature.

All conventional practices along the gradual path to liberation and enlightenment aim to uncover this innate wisdom by removing and dissolving the obscurations, revealing what has always been present. This is the relation between how things appear to be and how things actually are: in short, the two levels of truth, absolute and relative or conventional truth. According to these two truths, there are different levels of practice.

The subtle and profound Vajrayana view emphasizes correctly recognizing the ultimate view, the wisdom inherent within oneself; this is the renowned vajra-shortcut elucidated in the Dzogchen tantras. The approach of the various sutra vehicles depends on, and utilizes, purification of dualistic consciousness, until the mind is eventually purified and freed of obscurations and defilements. The tantric approach depends upon, and from the outset utilizes, wisdom, nondual awareness, rather than mere mind. This is a crucial difference.

The sublime view of Dzogpa Chenpo, the ultimate vehicle, is that everything is pure and perfect from the outset. This is the absolute truth, the supreme outlook or view of Buddhas, which implies that there is nothing that need be done or accomplished. Based on such recognition of how things actually are, the meditation of Dzogchen is nonmeditation, resting in the evenness of being, rather than doing any particular thing, beyond hope and fear, adopting and rejecting. The action or behavior of Dzogchen ensues from such transcendence, and is totally spontaneous, aimless, and appropriate to whatever conditions arise. The fruition of Dzogchen is the innate Great Perfection itself, inseparable from the very starting point of this swift and efficacious path: rigpa itself, one's own true nature.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

"Thoughts" and "Thinking"

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:23:28 GMT

(noticed in another forum)

How would these two be precisely defined according to Dzogchen?

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 1 reply

Nature of Mind

Cliff — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 22:20:31 GMT

ON FINDING YOURSELF IN THE NATURE OF MIND
– an edited excerpt from oral teachings given by Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, Winter 2002

In order to directly experience the nature of mind, during dzogchen
practice we try to create certain conditions within the body, speech
and mind. We use postures or movements of the physical body,
practices of the breath, and the concentration and focus of awareness
of the mind.

It is not as if the nature of mind is a separate object, a separate
place where you as a subject can take a bus, train or a plane to. It
is not like that - there is no place to go, no place to search for
the nature of mind. Nor is the nature of mind a form with a
particular shape or color that you can experience. If you are
searching for your nature in those ways, you will not find anything.
That is guaranteed. We are so conditioned to always be expecting to
see some THING. It is very, very difficult for us to rid ourselves
of the mind of ours that has expectations.

If you go out to find a job, you go with the expectation of finding
one that pays well, say. That expectation helps guide your search
toward finding the right job for you. In looking for the nature of
mind, though, it makes no sense to look with the expectation that you
will see something, because there is nothing to see.

Now you may be thinking, "There's nothing to see? Well, that's a
little discouraging." Maybe you are curious about what this means.
You are beginning to realize that you cannot experience the nature of
mind in the same way you can experience your dreams, your thoughts,
your feelings, or any kind of form. The nature of mind will not be
seen in any of those ways. It is possible that during meditation,
sometimes you will see various colors or shapes that are signs or
qualities of some experience of, or connection to, the nature of
mind, but even these are not the nature of mind.

The introduction to the nature of mind is essentially about creating
the right causes and conditions - that's really what it is. In the
same way that by placing a mirror in different locations you find
that your view changes, so too by putting your body in the right
position, your breath in the right position, and your mind in the
right position, you are able to simply find your self in that place.
But when you find your self in that place, it is not that you are
seeing something, it is only that you are being. The moment you
think that you are seeing your nature, you are actually not. You
see, one of the subtlest obstacles to resting in the nature of mind
is not being able to get rid of the seer, the one who sees. Until
you get rid of the observer, the perceiver, the subject, the nature
remains hidden.

So, you don't create or force the experience of the nature of mind;
rather, you can put the proper conditions together for finding your
self there. It would be a good idea to look at all that we
experience in our lives in that same way - understanding that we
can't always achieve the results we want by forcing them, but we can
instead try to set up the proper conditions for those results to
arise naturally. Often we ignore the advantages of setting up the
proper conditions and just struggle to force the result into
manifestation.

For example, you want to be happy. So what do you do sometimes? You
just try to force yourself to be happy, even though in a relative
sense you are simply in the wrong place to support being happy.
Let's say you are somebody who has a knack for electronics, who is
fascinated working all day long on computers and has so much
knowledge about how they work, and yet you may not be able to cook
even a cup of tea for yourself. Now, if you were put into the
position of being a chef at a restaurant, then that would definitely
be the wrong place for you to be happy. So, you don't realize you
are in the wrong place, the wrong time, the wrong situation, and all
you know is that you want to be happy. The location makes you
suffer, the situation makes you suffer, the timing makes you suffer,
and yet you simply push yourself to be happy. You just cook
furiously, and the customers continually are dissatisfied, and
eventually the restaurant has to go out of business. That forcing of
the situation would obviously be the wrong approach. What should you
do instead? Focus your effort on changing the place, changing the
timing, changing the circumstances to make them the right ones for
being happy. If you do find the right conditions, then you'll be
naturally happy. You create the causes for natural happiness rather
than futilely struggling to force the result.

Many times in our lives we get stuck simply because we don't know we
are trying to force a result that is not supported by our
circumstances. We may only be repeating to ourselves, "I want to be
happy, I want to be happy, I want to be happy." The added tension
created by trying to force your happiness actually tends to worsen
your situation. It actually creates the opposite effect, digging you
deeper into that unfortunate situation. Do you see how that kind of
narrow, result-oriented focus can be a kind of a secret obstacle for
us at times?

This is especially true regarding the practices of the nature of
mind. So, what is the introduction to the nature of mind? You
understand that it is not the same as my saying "Look at this cup"
(Rinpoche holds up a teacup). Rather, there are exercises, practices
and techniques that all create a space where there is a greater
chance to have experience. None of those techniques you learn are
the nature of mind. None of those practices are the nature of mind.
They are a very skillful means. In one important sense the only time
you will have an experience of the nature of mind is when you are not
practicing. But you must begin with the practice and then during the
session you forget the practice. How can you forget the practice?
When you come to the place where there is nothing at all you could
call effort, that is the moment when you find yourself in the nature
of mind: free from your thoughts, feelings, emotions and conditions,
abiding in the space of infinite potential, in which there is a cause
for the perfection of every experience that could arise. There is a
sense of nothing lacking, because everything is perfected. The sense
of longing, lacking, missing, not having enough - none of those
experiences are there. On the contrary, there is the sense of being
complete, perfected, whole; and you find your self.

So, regarding the introduction to the nature of mind, the important
point here is not to get too attached to the techniques or methods,
but to work with them so you can create the right position of the
body, the right breathing, the right focus of the mind. If you are
able to bring together the right conditions of body, energy and mind,
then there is no way not to experience your nature. As we always
say, there is no power or force that could possibly stop the result
when all the causes and conditions are together. The same is true
with regard to being happy. If all the causes and conditions for
your being happy are together there, you will naturally be happy, and
there is no force at all that can stop you from being happy and make
you suffer. Likewise, if those causes and conditions are not there,
if the causes and conditions are the wrong ones, then there is no
force that can make you feel good. That is why the whole notion of
cause and effect, or the law of karma, is so important in the dharma.

So, we must develop those causes and conditions that support the
experience of the nature of mind without being too attached to the
techniques or practices. This does not mean you don't learn how to
do the practices precisely; you do learn them - very precisely.
However, it's just like an old man who walks from one place to
another with the help of a walking stick: His goal is to arrive at
the new location, not simply to become attached to the walking stick,
right? We also know that if the old man tries to walk there without
the stick, for sure he will not reach his goal. Therefore, when
walking to the new location he makes sure he has a firm grasp of the
sturdy stick that supports him. Once he reaches his destination, the
walking stick is no longer important to him. The practices, the
techniques, are exactly like that. The methods are exactly like
that. They never lose their potential to be of benefit when the need
arises, but just don't get attached to them. Is that clear?

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 6 replies

HH Phakchok Rinpoche and the Chokling Tersar Lineage of the Great Perfection : An Introduction and 2008 Tour Notes

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:30:37 GMT

HH Phakchok Rinpoche and the Chokling Tersar Lineage of the Great Perfection : An Introduction and 2008 Tour Notes

Keywords: Esoteric Buddhist yoga ( buddhatantra ), Great Perfection / AtiYoga / dzogchen i.e. primordial awareness yoga, tantric Buddhist empowerment, non-sectarian tantric Buddhist practice ( Rimay ), HH Phakchok Rinpoche Tendzin Jigmey Drakpa, Orgyen Dorje Den Center ( San Francisco ), Chokling Tersar lineage ( Nyingma / Ancient School transmission of Indo-Tibetan vajrayana ).

NAMO GURU SRI PADMAKARAYE
Homage to Guru Padmasambhava.

This summer ( 2008 ) His Holiness Phakchok Rinpoche, a primary tantric Buddhist lineage holder, is on a major tour ( see below for events ), giving tantric Buddhist transmissions and teachings in the USA, Canada, and Europe. He is a younger major teacher in the Chokling Tersar tradition of Nyingma and Dzogchen ( see below ).

This lineage derives directly from Guru Padmasambhava, a most extraordinary Indian guru and a principal cofounder of the Buddhist tradition in Tibet. Today six million or more people practice teaching deriving from from Guru Padmasambhava, in for example the Tibetan traditions such as Sakya, Kagyu and Nyingma, including some millions of East Asians ( Chinese Buddhists of esoteric Buddhist lineage ).

This is a very magical, very powerful, and very yogic style of transmission, especially in terms of the inner practices. It is well supported by many independent practice lineages, of which the Chokling Tersar Foundation is an important example both in the USA and Europe. It is well established in California and Denmark, and several major teachers of this tradition give teaching tours.

This sangha ( spiritual fellowship ) is of major importance because Chokling Tersar Foundation has a translation / publishing organization called Rangjung Yeshe. This is one of the main sources worldwide for core Nyingma and dzogchen publications. I have and use quite a few Rangjung Yeshe practice and teaching texts. They are highest quality and indispensible for all Nyingma and dzogchen practitioners in particular, and broadly useful.

One of the most important books ever published for tantric Buddhists is
"Dakini Teachings", by Padmasambhava, and this is from Rangjung Yeshe.
Another key example, from the same source, is
"Light of Wisdom", by Padmasambhava and Jamgon Kongtrul.

For a general background on dzogchen, or "primordial awareness yoga", it is well worthwhile to obtain the book
"The Crystal and the Way of Light: Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen", written by another important master of a parallel Nyingma lineage, Chogyal Namkhai Norbu. This is about the best place to start for a book introduction to the inner teachings, which is descriptive only, and not practice per se.

Esoteric Buddhist yoga ( buddhatantra ) and Great Perfection ( dzogchen awareness yoga ) depend fundamentally on transmission, and so it is necessary to see a real teacher. Without a major transmission from an authentic guru, much or most of the teaching - and all of the yoga sadhana - does not work. Therefore I take this opportunity to make an important introduction.

( Please note that I DO NOT have any authority to represent Chokling Tersar Foundation, HH Phakchok Rinpoche, or any activity associated with this line of transmission. I am simple conveying what I know in a clear and definite way, to support this lineage and those who may benefit from it. I cannot make any promises that any of what is said here, or this kind of transmission, will solve any particular problem or give any particular result. The results are very personal and individualized. )

HH Phakchok Rinpoche Tendzin Jigmey Drakpa is not yet well known to the public, but is already having a great influence in transmitting key innermost teachings of tantra and dzogchen. Therefore it is auspicious and appropriate to make known this teacher and the availability of these teachings.

The qualifications of HH Phakchok Rinpoche are vast and profound ( see below for his autobiography ). He has highest-level authorization to give primary transmissions in both the Nyingma and Kagyu lineages, and is one of the few people who has a complete cycle of Sakya School tantric empowerments.

Two years ago I received a major dzogchen empowerment from this teacher, from within the Chokling Tersar, and personally confirm that his transmission is powerful and effective, not only as a tantric blessing / psychic cleansing, but also as a functional teaching and transmission. He is very direct and engaging and extraordinarily generous in his teaching. He is here to teach core precepts, not just bestow blessings. That means actual, whole person practice.

HH Phakchok Rinpoche gave me his card at the one time I was able to attend his transmission, so he is willing to personally engage students in a longer term sense. At that time he did lay on those present the general but significant requirement to Do A Daily Tantric Buddhist Practice, which is in fact the requirement of Guru Padmasambhava.

A daily practice typically means mantra recitation, as well as upholding ethical precepts of the Mahayana and Tantra. ( See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva_vows or better yet, the above book "Dakini Teachings" for teaching on outer and inner Buddhist ethics. ) A primary example of mantra discipline is Vajrasattva deity yoga, for which a short teaching is given at my tribe.net home under the Sanskrit picture for Hundred Syllable mantra.

A specific event listing for the Yangdak Heruka transmission and teaching to be given August 16, 17 & 18 follows. Orgyen Dorje Den can host at least 200 participants. This is a remarkably important group, and a "home fellowship" for me, though I have not seen them in many years. Their center teacher, Ven. Gyaltrul Rinpoche, is a great gift to the West. I have and use and recommend his books.

Basically, it is from the Eight Herukas Cycle which is associated with the Guhyagarbha Tantra, which was propagated as one of the primary practices of Guru Padmasambhava. This fully confers Vajrasattva, a key basic and continung practice, and *may* fully confer Great Perfection / Breakthrough as well ( no guarantee ).

Significant mantra teaching on the Eight Herukas is given in the remarkable book
"The Tibetan Book of the Dead: First Complete Translation (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) (Paperback)", Publisher: Penguin Classics; Deluxe edition (January 30, 2007 ),# ISBN-10: 0143104942.

This is written in partial fulfillment of mahayana and tantric Buddhist teaching responsibilities, in support of His Holiness Phakchok Rinpoche, Orgyen Dorje Den and Ven. Gyaltrul Rinpoche, the Chokling Tersar lineage, and the benefit of as many people as possible.

Sarva mangalam! Siddhi rastu!

Acarya KT

http://www.phakchokrinpoche.org/events.htm
Events
H.H. Phakchok Rinpoche's 2008 Teaching Calendar
For more information on any of the below programs, please e-mail us at office@phakchokrinpoche.org.

San Francisco, California: Aug 15-19
Empowerments: Yangdak Heruka & Sangtik Korsum (Teaching and Advice)
Teachings: Advice and teaching on general Development Stage
Meditation Training - at Orgyen Dorje Den, Directions to Orgyen Dorje Den
Public Talks: The Great “I” (Berkeley Shambhala Center)
Great Longchenpa
E-mail: office@phakchokrinpoche.org

Toronto: August 27-Sept 1 – with H.E. Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche
Empowerment: Sangye Won
Teachings: Jewel Ornament of Liberation
Taklung Thangpa
Public Talk: The Great “I”

H.E. Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche
Empowerments: Vajrakilaya & Tara
Prosperity Vase Blessing & Tsok
Visit: Riwoche Society, riwoche.com
E-mail: pema@riwoche.com

Vancouver: September 5-7
Teaching: VajraYogini Program [ this is restricted to those who have the empowerment ]
Public Talks: The Great “I”
Meditation and Happiness
E-mail: Mara Shnay, mshnay@telus.net

Salt Springs Island: September 7-9
Empowerment: Medicine Buddha
Meditation Retreat
E-mail: Matthew, matthewphyllis@telus.net

Europe: Poland & Germany

Hamburg, Germany: Sept 20-21
Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo (Light of Wisdom)
E-mail: Arne Schelling, arne.schellingatgmx.de

Menz, Germany: Sept 22
Public Talk on The Great “I”
E-mail: Arne Schelling, arne.schellingatgmx.de

Berlin, Germany: Sept 23-24
Life Stories of Yeshe Tsogyal and Machig Labdron
The Aspiration Prayer of Samantabhadra
E-mail: Anne Siml, annesiml@yahoo.de

Greifswald, Germany: Sept 25-27
Public Talk on Compassion
Mind Training
E-mail: Anne Siml, annesiml@yahoo.de

Rangjung Yeshe Gomde – Denmark: Sept 29-30
Lotus Essence Tantra
Heart Sutra
Questions and Answers for Meditators
Website: www.gomde.dk
E-mail: Erik Pema Kunsang, erik@gomde.dk

Warsaw, Poland: October 2-5
Kunzang Thuktig Preliminary Practice
Mind Training
E-mail: Julia E. Wahl, karmayeshetsomo@gmail.com
Mobile: +48 608 079 909

The following events will be at:
Orgyen Dorje Den
2244 Santa Clara Ave
Alameda, CA 94501
http://www.orgyendorjeden.org/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coming this weekend, August 16, 17 & 18:
H.H. Phakchok Rinpoche, head of the Taklung Kagyu lineage and son of H.E. Chokling Rinpoche, nephew of H.E. Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, and grandson of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, is coming to the San Francisco Bay Area from August 15-19 to give teachings and empowerments. Please plan to attend and spread the word regarding these precious teachings.
See phakchokrinpoche.org.
And for biographical info: http://phakchokrinpoche.org/lineage.htm
http://phakchokrinpoche.org/historyofpresentPK.htm

HH Phakchok Rinpoche will be giving the following empowerments and teachings at ODD.
Yangdak Heruka empowerment and teachings.
August 16 from 10 am to 12 pm and 2 to 4 pm.
When asked for some brief info about Yangdak Heruka, Rinpoche, translating from a text, replied the following in a phone call:
"Yangdak Heruka is the secret heart essence practice of Mahapandita Vimalamitra & Guru Padmasambhava. As a method to repair mistakes, purify broken samaya and reverse bad karma it is greater than even Vajrasattva. According to Ratna Lingpa, it is a supreme method for yogis to fulfill the root & branch samaya of vinaya, mahayana & vajrayana precepts & it will enable the practitioner to receive the 2 siddhis and have a long life. It requires accumulated merit from past lives to meet with these teachings and through practice you will see how fast the siddhis will be received. This terma is a revelation of Chogyur Lingpa--it is a short lineage--he revealed it on Guru Rinpoche Day from a Big Boulder. It is part of the Sangtik Korsum, which is a cycle of practice which also includes Vajrasattva & Vajrakilaya." This is the first time Rinpoche is giving the Yangdak Heruka empowerment in the USA.

Teachings on Sangtik Korsum cycle of empowerments, instruction on general development stage, and meditation training:
August 17 from 10 am to 12 pm and 2 to 4 pm
August 18 from 10 am to 12 pm and 2 to 4 pm
These teachings will relate to the specific cycle, Sangtik Korsum, but will also be applicable to whatever sadhana practice one is engaging.

The suggested donation is $100 for the three days, $35/ day & $20 per session.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Orgyen Dorje Den
2244 Santa Clara Ave
Alameda, CA 94501
www.orgyendorjeden.org

From
http://www.riwoche.com/phakchok_rinpoche.html

Phakchok Rinpoche's emanation-basis is the Lord of Secrets Dharmevajra, the compiler of the teachings of the Great Secrets (Vajrayana) of all buddhas; the arhat Ananda, the foremost disciple of our teacher (Buddha Shakyamuni); Lhalung Palgyi Dorje, the direct disciple of the Second Buddha of Uddiyana (Padmasambhava); (Rechung) Dorje Drakpa, the lord of siddhas; and many others.
. . .
The reincarnation of this sublime master was the seventh Phakchok Rinpoche, Tendzin Jigmey Drakpa, born in the Year of the Iron Bird, 1981, of the seventeenth year cycle. The family he was born into is, among the six original clans, the Nangchen Tsangsar of the Khepaga line which were chiefly holders of the Barom Kagyü Dharma lineage, a family line who maintained an unbroken tradition of combining Kagyü and Nyingma.
. . .

Due to his outstanding brightness and inherent qualities from former training, he comprehended reading and writing, and when he later studied the topics of knowledge with Kungo Kalzang, Karma Urgyen Rinpoche's younger brother, he gained effortless understanding by simply hearing what was said.

Here is a description of the ripening empowerments and liberating instructions Phakchok Rinpoche has received from masters of the Sarma and Nyingma schools of all traditions:

From Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche he has received longevity empowerments, the Six Volumes of Jatsön Nyingpo, Gyachen Kadzö (of Jamgön Kongtrül).

From Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche he has received the empowerments of longevity.

From Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche he has received the empowerments for the Rinchen Terdzö, the complete empowerments and reading trans-missions for the Chokling Tersar, the Dzogchen Desum, the empowerments, reading transmissions and instructions for the Kunzang Tuktig, the empowerment of awareness-display and mind-instruction for Dzogchen, the complete empowerments and reading transmissions for the Root Volumes of Nyingtig, the Hundred Chö Empowerments, and the Namkha Gojey.

From Kyabje Taklung Shabdrung Rinpoche he has received the complete empowerments and reading transmissions of the Taklung Kagyü, and the complete empowerments and reading transmissions for the collected works and terma teachings of Jedrung Rinpoche.

From Kyabje Chobgye Trichen Rinpoche he has received the empowerments and reading transmissions for the Gyüdey Kündü.

From Sakya Dagtri Drölma Podrang he has received the complete Drubtab Kündü.

From his father, Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche, he has received the complete empowerments and reading transmissions for the Chokling Tersar.

From Dzongsar Khenchen Kunga Wangchuk he has received the reading transmission for the collected works of the Five Sakya Forefathers, the Prajñamula, Madhyamikavatara, and the 400 Verses, Sakya Pandita's Tsema Rigter, Tsema Namdrel, the Higher and Lower Abhidharma and other works.

From Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche he has received the reading transmission for the Tenngyur, the Great Collection of the Translated Treatises.

From Kyabje Penor Rinpoche he has received the complete empowerments for the Rinchen Terdzö.

From Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche he has received the complete reading transmissions for the Rinchen Terdzö.

From Arik Khenchen Petse Rinpoche he has received explanation to the Guhyagarbha Tantra and the Manjushri Nama Sangirti, as well as mind-instruction.

From Kyabje Trülshik Rinpoche he has received the complete empowerments for the Collected Works of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

From Kyabje Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche he has received the Tögal Cycle of Khenpo Ngakchung's Hearing Lineage, as well as mind-instruction.

. . .

This was translated by Erik Pema Kunsang, at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery, February, 2000.

www.choklingtersar.org

http://www.rangjung.com/gl/Chokling_Tersar.htm
Chokling Tersar, the New Treasures of Chokgyur Lingpa ( copyrighted )
During the ninth century, Buddhism was introduced from India into Tibet and its literature and culture has since been preserved in a way that has been unique in accuracy and truthfulness to tradition. Four decades ago, the occupation of Tibet by Communist China began an era of repression and systematic destruction of this thousand year old Buddhist culture. Shreds of this tradition reached the countries on the southern slopes of the Himalaya ranges - India, Nepal and Bhutan - in the hands of the few refugees who managed to escape alive. During the following years these areas have been the meeting-point and a forum of exchange between a large number of people from all countries of the world.

In response to the heart-wish of Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, the Chokling Tersar Foundation was established. It is in the spirit of wishing to protect and preserve one of the important contributions to the world's cultural heritage, as well as responding to a growing demand within North America, that the members of Chokling Tersar Foundation support the foundation through donations of effort, money and prayers.

Chokling Tersar literally means the 'new treasures of Chokgyur Lingpa' and owes it name to the great Tibetan Buddhist master of the 19th century. Chokgyur Lingpa lived from (1829-1870) and was regarded by the most reputable living masters of his time as one of the major tertons (revealer of hidden treasures) in Tibetan history. His teachings are widely practiced by both the Kagyu and Nyingma schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

The collection of treasures revealed by Chokgyur Lingpa together with its connected teachings are contained in the Chokling Tersar, a body of literature filling more than forty large volumes. In English translation each of these volumes would be between seven and eight hundred pages and the total would amount to approximately 30,000 pages. The connected teachings included in these forty volumes were written over the last 150 years, chiefly by his contemporaries Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Jamgon Kongtrul, as well as by the subsequent upholders of the lineage down until today.

Kangyur - the TripitakaThe Chokling Tersar literature is meant to be studied and practiced as an addition to the traditional canonical scriptures of Tibetan Buddhism. These traditional scriptures are found in the Kangyur and Tengyur, the written words of Buddha Shakyamuni and their commentaries by learned Indian Masters. These two collections occupy respectively 104 and 273 large volumes.

In these scriptures are found detailed instructions on how to take full advantage of and imbue human life with its fullest meaning. These revealed scriptures were concealed by the 9th century Buddhist saint Padmasambhava with the expressed wish to be uncovered at specific times in the future. Many of them contain predictions for those times and which particular spiritual practices would be most beneficial for the people of those times.

Ccenters practicing the New Treasures of Chokgyur Lingpa:

Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling monastery, Boudha, Nepal.
Lamas: Tsikey Chokling, Gyurme Dewey Dorje; Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche; Phakchok Rinpoche

Pema Ewam Chogar in Bir, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Lamas: Neten Chokling and Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche.

Tsikey Gompa in East Tibet.
Lamas: Chokling of Tsikey, Tsang-Yang Gyamtso; Tersey Tulku

Chokling Tersar Foundation, USA.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

LOVE is THE Dance

Sam=Sam — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:54:48 GMT

Love is the Dance . . .
of the mystery of Source, . . .
Allowing Love2LIVE thru us, . . .
IN the moment, . . .
IN presence of NOW . . .

Dreaming of Love, or Dharma, or Truth . . . ,
Is poetry in cute words . . .
(YET Awesome as well)
lived IN a Dream . . .
is dreaming us awake . . .
(And sometimes not) . . .
A Lull in slumber-Bliss-Beauty . . .
YES . . .

Dreaming is YUMMY . . . YES,
yet is only a memory of Love Divine. . .
Like a flower that unfolds timelessly,
endlessly,
but has no juice that sustains long-term . . .

Love is living AWAKE
. . . IN . . .
And Beyond . . .
the Dream. . .
LOVE and Dreaming is for our AWAKEening . .
Both swirl about us, each upon the other . . .
Eternally interlinked . . .
Yet they differ . . .

Dance the NOW of IT . . .
As IT IS . . .
As YOU find IT
IN your . . . self . . .
Everywhere . . .

Dance the Dance
of
. . . IT . . .

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

need help with a question

justblaze — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 02:20:06 GMT

in meditation i happened to cross a thought that i am struggling with. Is a prayer for the karma of all being to basically go from seed to fruit, the thought being that it is through no karma (be it pos. or neg.) that a being is better to reach enlightenment, then on to buddhahood. My struggle is wishing the actions of karma on another being, is this an act of skillful means, or a negative thought that should be allowed to die. In my studies i have not crossed a mantra that expresses this, i was actually practicing a mantra that in short wishes peace to all beings.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 26 replies

Some call IT . . . Rigpa . . . it seems . . .

Sam=Sam — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:57:54 GMT

Dancing as sleep rests my body upon the bed . . .
Who/what is met ???
Drifting upon space in thought . . .
Whereupon smiles cut short derision, divisions,
and plain old nightmares, observed as fun . . .
As a child I wondered where were the horses in the nightmares !!?
My child found none . . .

BETWEEN the space of dream . . .
. . . and thought gone bye . . .
Drifting upon this AWARENESS felt . . .
. . . that space BETWEEN Thought and the next Thought . . . ,
and Dream and the next as well . . .
. . . . is VERY clean . . .
. . . pristine CLARITY, yes. . .
Some call it RIGPA . . .
(last week I found this WORD/MEANING. . .
Yea, that’s right,
you may have known for decades . . . that’s OK . . . )

To me IT is, just how IT IS . . .

YET, like paper planes, made to fly on the wind . . .
Thought is made to fly upon this OCEAN of Bliss . . .
Upon the Stillness . . . found . . .

Like music permeating thus winds in your surrounds . . .

Hold your hands to the sky . . .
FEEL the energy . . . slide on bye . . .
Some would say it was the Sun . . .
And yes, it maybe that !!!? . . .
Yet, more is found, IF Allowed, . . .

If perception I have Allowed is fraud . . .
Allow me to be corrected quickly now. . .
But I’m in no rush to reach anything soon . . .
You understand my drift . . .
This Dream, closing of eyes is not necessary for2ALLOW . . .
Its all a Dream . . . you see . . .

Or is IT . . . just . . .
. . . AS IT IS . . .
For all will find . . .
. . . IT . . .
. . . AS “IT” IS . . .
However YOU find this dream . . .

IT is truly . . . NOT a big deal . . .

Allowing IT 2 BE . . .
As IT IS found . . .
Then the background Stillness will be found . . .

Some call it RIGPA . . .
It seems . . .

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Dream Yoga Experiences

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 06:26:06 GMT

Howdy All,
I’ve been having some great Dream Yoga experiences,
But lately I’ve been experiencing something really cool.
I’ve gotten to the point that I start dreaming before I fall asleep…very cool!
I just lay their and watch…but I can’t manipulate anything…the dreams aren’t deep enough.

Can anyone add some information or experiences of this?

Love and prayers
Rigdzin

“A ship in the harbor is safe… but that’s not what ships are for”

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 11 replies

Please read and sign and repost this petition asking China to free the Tibetan political prisoners before the Olympic games. thank you.

Rywyn — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 22:43:48 GMT

Please sign this new petition : http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/free-tibet-2008

Please read and sign and repost this petition asking China to free the Tibetan political prisoners before the Olympic games. thank you.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Happy New Year

sahajananda — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:40:55 GMT

Tibetans and a section of Buddhists around the world will celebrate Losar on Thursday, February 7, 2008. The celebration normally lasts for three days, and it all means time for geetings, togetherness and abundant festivities, and time for prayers as well.

losar tashi delek (lo gsar bkra shis bde legs)
Ryan

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 1 reply

The Passing of His Holiness the XIth Mindrolling Trichen

tygerbill — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:36:35 GMT

His Holiness, the current head of the Nyingma has passed.

To participate with other sanghas, please practice Vajrasattva, with the view of Vajrasattva's mind and His Holiness' mind as one. Make flower, water, and light offerings at your shrine.
On Vajraattve Hung
------------------------------------
The Passing of His Holiness the
XIth Mindrolling Trichen The crown ornament of the Nyingma School, Kyabje Mindrolling Trichen Jurme Kunzang Wangyal, remained in order to benefit beings for 78 years. On the losar morning of the Earth Mouse Year, Kyabje Rinpoche bestowed his blessings upon the entire sangha of monks and nuns of Mindrolling and all the fortunate devoted ones who came for audience that morning.
At 7:00 in the evening of the 3rd day of the 1st month of Miracles, without even the slightest discomfort, with a face even more radiant than before, and with a smiling countenance, Kyabje Rinpoche gazed lovingly at all those surrounding him. Then, with the aspect of resting, Kyabje Mindrolling Trichen Jurme Kunzang Wangyal displayed the final activity of transferring his enlightened intention to another realm, in order to turn the minds of those to be tamed towards the dharma.

Kyabje Minling Trichen Rinpoche is in thug dam, the meditative samadhi of luminosity, and therefore none may offer respects to the Kudung at the moment. Once the thug dam is complete, the general public will be informed and may offer their respects to the Kudung at the Mindrolling Monastery.

With hearts united in devotion, the entire sangha of Mindrolling is performing all the ceremonies for Kyabje Rinpoche's parinirvana.

At present, the Mindrolling Monastery is performing the Minling Dorsem, Nara Dongtru and Thugje Chenpo ceremonies. Each ceremony is being performed at Mindrolling in three different shrinerooms by hundred monks in each shrineroom. Kyabje Sakya Trizin will be presiding over the 3rd day ritual on the 12th of February and will lead the kha-chö drubchö or the Vajrayogini sadhana..

http://mindrolling.com/HisHolinessAnnouncement.cfm

AH:

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Chulen

urgyen rangdrol — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 05:59:33 GMT

Hello. I have a supply of chulen from Chatral Rinpoche's personal doctor, made for and blessed by Rinpoche himself. They are made according to a terma on Black Manjushri revealed by Ju Mipham. Please write me at urgyenrangdrol@gmail.com for more information.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Would like to share this tibetan full moon meditation tonight

Rose — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:07:47 GMT

THE GREAT INVOCATION
a universally shared meditation on this special night
1/21/08
100% of full moon

From the point of Light within the Mind of God
Let light stream forth into the minds of men.
Let Light descend on Earth.
From the point of Love within the Heart of God
Let love stream forth into the hearts of men.
May Christ return to Earth.
From the center where the Will of God is known
Let purpose guide the little wills of men -
The purpose which the Masters know and serve.
From the center which we call the race of men
Let the Plan of Love and Light work out
And may it seal the door where evil dwells.
Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Khachab Rinpoche: Portland Retreat Feb. 20th

Darren — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 09:16:11 GMT

Winter Teachings in Portland, Oregon
Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism:
Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen
The purpose of this event is to establish a Portland Sangha (community) where Khachab Rinpoche can return regularly to deepen the teachings for his students. We are honored to host Rinpoche for the first time in Portland. Your participation is appreciated and will ensure his return to take us further into the profound teachings.

Friday, Feb 22nd
Public Talk at New Renaissance Bookstore
7-8:30pm, $12 - NOTE: the cost for the Public Talk is separate from the weekend retreat and must be paid through New Renaissance Bookstore.

In this introductory public talk, Younge Khachab Rinpoche will speak on the fundamental concepts in Tibetan Buddhism: Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen. The session will provide an excellent base for development along any of these paths. Register at newrenbooks.com or call 503-224-4929

Saturday, Feb 23 and Sunday Feb 24
Weekend Retreat at the beautifully restored new location of The Crystal Temple
4525 N. Richmond Ave. in North Portland, very close to Hwy 30 and the St. John's bridge, 2.5 miles from I-5 and Interstate. See www.crystaltemple.org for facility details.

On the Weekend Retreat Rinpoche will greatly expand on the topics introduced in the Friday Public Talk, based on the abilities of students in attendance.

Weekend Retreat - $35 per session\$120 for all four sessions. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. To register with Paypal visit www.blacksamba.com/retreats.htm - You may also call 503-754-7731 or email primordialknowledge@gmail.com.

Schedule for Sat\Sun: 9am-12noon - Morning Session, 12noon-2pm - Lunch Break –
2pm-5pm - Afternoon Session

Rime Shedrub Ling is a non-sectarian and non-political center of traditional Tibetan Buddhism, studying the great masters of all lineages—Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug—under the spiritual direction of Younge Khachab Rinpoche. Our main focus is on Dzogchen meditation and teachings.

Younge Khachab Rinpoche is considered to be a highly qualified Tantra and Dzogchen teacher. His training has incorporated the view and meditations of the four main schools He believes in the transmission of the uncompromised, pure teachings of the oral and textual lineages. He represents the Rime philosophical tradition, established in part by Jamgon Kongtrul, incorporating the best the four schools in Tibetan Buddhism have to offer.

Younge Khachab Rinpoche is acknowledged as a traditional master of the Mahamudra and Dzogchen practices. He received all signs of accomplishment in the Six Yogas of Naropa, particularly Tsa Lung and Dream Yoga. He is fully able to transmit all stages of the Vajrayana path. He is known in India and Nepal for his vast knowledge of the Rime tradition.

Younge Khachab Rinpoche is also Terton, a “terma” revealer (hidden treasures of precious teaching) and is currently having these texts translated.

Sponsored by NW supporters of Rime Shedrub Ling. This event is not affiliated with any teacher or center other than Khachab Rinpoche and Rime Shedrub Ling. Visit rimeshedrubling.org for more.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

6 Month Dzogchen Lineage Internship

alex — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 22:08:30 GMT

Dzogchen Lineage Internship

A Six Month Intensive Private Dharma Training Retreat

Dates: From July 4, 2008 to January 4, 2009

at Dzogchen Retreat Center, Eugene, Oregon, USA

Conducted by His Eminence Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche

* * *

We invite all those who are interested in Buddhism to attend this Dzogchen Lineage internship program. This program is led by His Eminence Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche. It starts on July 4, 2008 and continues to January 4, 2009, and will be conducted at the sacred retreat land in Eugene, Oregon, USA.

This Dharma Training Retreat will be an intensive course of study in the view, meditation and conduct of the Buddhist Sutras and Tantras. The course will be conducted in English, yet its structure and content will be according to the traditional teachings of India's Shri Nalanda University, as inherited and transmitted by Tibet's Dzogchen Shri Singha Five Sciences University. This great tradition integrates scholastic methods with personal instruction and meditation techniques. This allows students to progress swiftly from a logical understanding of the Dharma to unwavering realization of the Dharma.

For thousands of years, these methods of training have led many Buddhist practitioners to attain the supreme result of enlightenment and become holders of the Dzogchen Lineage. This retreat will be a rare and precious opportunity for Western students to study and train in the methods of the Dzogchen Lineage.

The intensive and comprehensive approach to the teachings used in this retreat is specifically intended to help students become Tutors, Guides, & Teachers of the Dharma, and Dzogchen Lineage Holders. It will enable students to joyfully help others, teach Dharma and create world peace.

Admission to the retreat will be through an application process, with applications being reviewed by the retreat registration committee prior to acceptance. Registration is limited to the first twenty-five accepted applicants, so please register early. We invite people who wish to support the retreat by donations or volunteer labor to contact us. This type of support is necessary and greatly appreciated.

* * *

His Eminence Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche was born in Tibet. He has been recognized as the reincarnation of enlightened Tibetan master Gedun Chopel, who is the emanation of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of the Buddha's Wisdom. He began training in Buddhism at the age of five at the Dzogchen Monastery. He received the transmissions and teachings of the Sutras, Tantras and Shastras from forty-two Buddhist masters.

Rinpoche studied and taught for ten years at the Dzogchen Shri Singha Five Sciences University the five major sciences of Fine Arts, Medicine, Linguistics, Philosophy, and Buddhism, as well as the five minor sciences of Poetics, Synonymy, Prosody, Drama, and Astrology. For seven years he meditated in the Siltrom Mountain caves in the Holy Dzogchen area of Tibet.

Rinpoche is the thirty-third holder of the Dzogchen lineage, lama of Dzogchen Monastery, a Professor of the Dzogchen Shri Singha University, Spiritual Leader of Dzogchen Shri Singha International, Founder of the Dzogchen Shri Singha Dharma Centers. He has written more than thirty books on the five major sciences. He currently teaches Dharma and gives practice training to thousands of students, in more than forty countries around the world.

* * *

We invite you to Study and Practice the Dzogchen Lineage Internship Program

The following authentic Buddhist texts, together with their commentaries, will be studied and practiced at this internship program:

View Core Text:
Ornament of the Middle Way, by Shantarakshita
Supplemental Texts:
Entering the Middle Way, by Chandrakirti;
Discriminating the Middle Way from Extremes, by Maitreya

Meditation Core Text:
Words of My Perfect Teacher, by Patrul Rinpoche
Supplemental Texts:
Guide to Words of My Perfect Teacher, by Khenpo Ngakchung;
The White Path of Liberation, by H.H. Dzogchen Pema Rigdzin;
Realizing Phenomena as Buddha, by Rongzom Mahapandita

Conduct Core Text:
Entering the Path of the Bodhisattva, by Shantideva
Supplemental Texts:
Thirty-Seven Practices of the Bodhisattva, by Togmey Zangpo;
Ascertaining the Three Vows, by Ngari Panchen, Pema Wangyi Gyalpo

Additional Text:
Three Cycles of Relaxation of Dzogchen, by Longchen Rabjam

Organized by Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation USA and Dzogchen Shri Singha International Organizations

For More Information and Registration Materials, please visit the Dzogchen Lineage Website:

www.dzogchenlineage.org/internship
or contact internship@dzogchenlineage.org
USA tel: (1) 702-343-5833

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Sherab Chamma The Loving Wisdom Mother

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 10:00:23 GMT

With Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
September 27-30, 2007
Crestone, Colorado

http://www.chammaling.org/2007Chammaretreat.html

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dZogchen Samaya

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:05:21 GMT

What is it, how does one break it, etc. ?

I need to know before I proceed.

Thanks beforehand.

_/\_

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 2 replies

Major Teachings and Empowerments on August 24 - 29, 2007 by His Holiness

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 13:01:20 GMT

SHAR CHOG NGON GA'I LING
Buddhist Dharma Center of Manifesting Joy
www.BuddhistDharma.net

IS HONORED TO PRESENT

HIS HOLINESS ORGYEN KUSUM LINGPA

August 24 - 29th, 2007

His Holiness Orgyen Kusum Lingpa is a pre-eminent Dzogchen teacher
and Nyingma lineage holder. He is an authentic treasure revealer.
His title, Kusum Lingpa means "Treasure Revealer of the Three Kayas."
Concerning his life's work, His Holiness said recently: "Much earlier
in my life, I made a pilgrimage to Samye. There, due to the good
karma and auspicious coincidence in conjunction with the needs of
these times, I saw all my past and future lives. I recalled all the
teachings I had received directly from Guru Padmasambhava when I was
his disciple, and I saw all the hardships and difficulties of the
time in which I am now living. This made it possible for me to reveal
these teachings which are of particular benefit to everyone, in this
time of terrible suffering."

Join us for this exceptional visit by one of the greatest living
treasure revealer of the innermost esoteric yoga of Primordial
Awareness (Tibetan: Dzogchen Pema Nyingtik). Each of these three
transmissions can be of extraordinary value in transforming
consciousness, developing inner guidance, developing authentic inner
spiritual life, and most especially learning the classical Buddhist
deity yogas of liberating ones mind, body and spirit.

VAJRAKILAYA EMPOWERMENT - Friday, Aug 24th (6PM - 8PM)

The practice of Vajrakilaya blazes at the very heart of the ancient
Vajrayana traditions of Tibet. The wrathful Heruka Vajrakilaya is a
Deity who embodies the enlightened activities of all the Buddhas,
manifesting in an intensly wrathful yet compassionate form in order
to subjugate the delusion and negativity that can arise as obstacles
to the practice of Dharma.

In fact, the practice of Vajrakilaya is famous in Tibetan Buddhism as
an exceptionally powerful method to remove obstacles, destroy the
forces hostile to compassion, and purify the spiritual pollution so
prevalent in this age. Vajrakilaya practice is extremely powerful in
removing outer, inner and secret obstacles on the Dharma path and is
said to bring swift ordinary and extraordinary spiritual
accomplishments. It can also avert misfortunes such as war, disease
and famine. The practice of this deity makes it very easy to progress
on the path, since all obstacles are naturally dispelled and one can
achieve the supreme siddhi without any fault.

In summary, the practice of Vajrakilaya reigns supreme amongst
Meditational Deities. Practitioners of Vajrayana should all receive
this most excellent empowement.

AMITABHA EMPOWERMENT and PHOWA TRANSMISSION
Saturday, Aug 25th (10AM - 12PM)

Phowa is the profound path to Buddhahood without meditation, where
the student learns how to transfer his or her consciousness directly
to the pure land at the time of death without having to go through
the experiences of the intermediate state or fall into any one of
the six realms of samsara. This is a skillful method through which
anyone with faith may swiftly be liberated.

Through this Empowerment, the seeds are planted in the students mind
streams so they may practice conscious dying at the time of death,
through their faith and devotion in the Lama and the practice of
P'howa one may be able to bypass rebirth and go to the pure land of
Amitabha, the Buddha of Limitless Light.

SHI-TRO EMPOWERMENT - Saturday, Aug 25th (2:30PM - 4:30PM)

This empowerment into the Mandala of the 42 Peaceful and 58 Wrathful
Enlightened Deities grant blessings beyond expression. It introduces
us to the display of the peaceful and wrathful energies of the
enlightened mind as they appear to beings in the intermediate state,
or Bardo, between death and the next rebirth.

This empowerment will truly be a priceless opportunity to affirm our
connection with the enlightened Deities, to purify damaged or
impaired samaya and strengthen our spiritual connection. It is
recommended for all students who wish to progress along the path of
secret mantra and purify their defilements and negative karma of
body, speech, and mind. The Shi-tro Empowerment is highly suggested
for all who attend the Bardo teachings.

EXTENSIVE BARDO TEACHINGS - Sunday - Wednesday
Aug 26th - 29th (10 AM - 12 PM and 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM)

Join us for 4 days of extensive teachings on the Six Bardos, or
intermediate states, including the Bardo of Birth, the Bardo of
Dreaming, the Bardo of Meditation, the Bardo of Dying, the Bardo of
Dharmata, and the Bardo of Becoming. Each of these six bardos
presents us with opportunities for recognizing the true nature of our
mind and being liberated from the duality of
self-clinging and subject-object grasping.

Receiving these teachings from a living master who has direct
realization of this is a rare and priceless gift. Through these
instructions, there is opportunity for finding enlightenment when
encountering these bardos, rather than being overwhelmed by them or
frightened by the appearances of the dying state and so forth. This
is a precious opportunity to prepare ourselves for that moment of
death we will all have to face, and to make a connection with a Vajra
Dharma Master who can guide us along the path of liberation.

Please reserve seating in advance since space is limited.
Contact: Anthony (425.772.3488) or Denise (425.772.3317)
Email: DorjeTar@...

Suggested Donation: $30/Empowerment and $10/Teaching
(No one turned away)

Location: 1111 Harvard Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122 (Harvard & Seneca
St.)
(Park free in "U-Park" lot after 6 PM Aug 24 and all day 25th -
26th. Register parking space.)

*Your donations / offerings will go toward expenses related to the
Dharma events and hosting His Holiness, the Lamas and translators.

Driving Instructions:

Seattle First Baptist Church is located in Seattle's First Hill
Neighborhood at 1111 Harvard Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122.

The Buddhist Dharma Center has reserved the parking lot for Friday
Aug 24th starting at 6 PM and all day Saturday and Sunday August
25th - 26th. The parking is located adjacent to the rear of the
church in the U-Park lot. Attendees may ONLY park in this location
for free from Friday evening ? Sunday during the Teachings and
Empowerments. Donations may be made to defray parking costs are
greatly appreciated.(There are handicap entrances on the Harvard and
Boylston sides of the building.)

Directions to: Seattle First Baptist Church:

Coming South on I-5: Take the UNION ST. exit- EXIT 165B. Stay
STRAIGHT to go onto UNION ST. Turn RIGHT onto 7TH AVE. 0.1 mi. Turn
RIGHT onto PIKE ST. Go 0.5 mi. Turn RIGHT onto HARVARD AVE. go 1.5
blocks to the Church. Turn RIGHT onto SENECA ST., there is a parking
lot to the west side/BOLYSTON AVE. of the Church.

Coming North on I-5: take the MADISON ST. EXIT and turn RIGHT on
MADISON ST. go 0.2 mi. Turn LEFT onto BOYLSTON go 0.1 mi. Turn RIGHT
onto SENECA AVE. go 1 block. Turn RIGHT onto HARVARD. The Church is
on the corner of HARVARD and SENECA. The parking lot is just behind
the Church on BOYLSTON AVE.

What to Bring:
We have lots of chairs but not many cushions. Bring your favorite
sitting cushions.

Accomodations nearby for out-of-town attendees:
The Buddhist Dharma Center has limited sleeping space and would need
special approval and reservations in advance. Please bring your own
sleeping bag.

Hotels and Motels nearby:
Reserved for Dharma Sangha Members is the Inn at Virginia Mason. This
is the sister property of the Baroness Hotel below. Please call (800)
283-6453 for reservations. Mention you are with the "Tibetan
Teachings" or "Group Number 18" to get special rates.
Website: www.innatvirginiamason.com/innWelcome.html

Nearby, the most affordable lodging may be at the Baroness Hotel.
They mostly cater to those visiting the nearby medical facilities.
For reservations please contact us at 1-800-283-6453.
Website: www.baronesshotel.com/index.htm

The nearest hotel is the Silver Cloud which is one block away from
the event location. Reservations: 800.590.1801.
Website: www.silvercloud.com/broadway.htm

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Fitting into a sangha,

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 20:01:45 GMT

Fitting into a sangha,

Hello All,
I’ve always had a problem fitting into sanghas I’ve attended.
I am a simple working man with simple values and never met a person I didn’t like.
I’ve tried fitting into to many sanghas around the United States but always seem to run into the same thing. I find the members judgmental, cold, self involved, and competitive.
I’m not writing this to complain…I wish only to gain an understanding so I can possible find a sangha I could belong to.

Part of me wonders if it’s just that Buddhism in America draws introverted and or intellectual people that may have problems interacting genuinely and warmly with others.
Then there’s also the thought that great practitioners are without attachment and don’t need these ritualistic pleasantries. But that doesn’t seem to go along with the bodhisattva ideal.

I once read,
A student asks his teacher: how can I tell the level of a person’s realization?
The teacher say: it’s easy, look to the level of their kindness.

I find regular working folks including those of other religions much warmer and compassionate the Buddhist practitioners in the west. Isn’t the feeling of warmth, compassion and love a manifestation of connecting with others (our goal)?

I don’t find these qualities in the Lamas I’ve met and traveling abroad I didn’t get this feeling from practitioners in India, Nepal and Tibet. All these Lamas and practitioners seemed very warm, kind, and genuinely engaging.

Anyone have points of view that will help me understand this?

Love and prayers,
Rigdzin

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 26 replies

Chöd Tribe

bbarry — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:20:28 GMT

New 'round here I started a Chöd Tribe if anyone's interested.

http://tribes.tribe.net/chodtribe

Cheers

Barry

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Mahabodhisattva Manjusri ( & Wrathful Manjusri / Yamantaka ) resources : scripture and commentaries ( repost )

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:56:11 GMT

Mahabodhisattva Manjusri ( & Wrathful Manjusri / Yamantaka ) resources : scripture and commentaries
( repost from tribe buddhism )

Om Svasti!

AH

Since this has been brought up ( by Ron in tribe buddhism ), and there is interest, I will say a little about Manjusri. This is a great bodhisattva, whose name means "Smooth and Glorious". He is the archetype of Bodhisattva wisdom ( prajna ) and his consort is the Hindu / Buddhist Sarasvati.

The basic mantra is
OM A RA PA CA NA DHI
and the seed syllable is
DHI

Here is the meaning of this mantra:
"The Large Sutra on Perfect Wisdom sets out the following meanings for the first syllables:
A is a door to the insight that all dharmas are unproduced from the very beginning (adya-anutpannatvad);
RA is a door to the insight that all dharmas are without dirt (rajas);
PA is a door to the insight that all dharmas have been expounded in the ultimate sense (paramartha);
CA is a door to the insight that the decrease (cyavana) or rebirth of any dharma cannot be apprehended, because all dharmas do not decrease, nor are they reborn;
NA is a door to the insight that the Names [i.e. nama]" of all dharmas have vanished; the essential nature behind names cannot be gained or lost."

The mantra in Sanskrit letters is given at
http://www.visiblemantra.org/manju.html

This mantra is pervasive in the Mahayana world. It is used equally by "Chinese" Buddhists and "Japanese" Buddhists. I have a practice commentary and the hand mudras from Chinese lineage.

The primary source text for Manjusri is the Manjusri Namasamgiti. It is possible to recite this text in Sanskrit. I have Dr. Alex Wayman's commentary and translation back in 1986 or so, under the title
"Chanting the Names of Manjusri"
and should be available in inexpensive paperback form. The text in Sanskrit is a long mantra. It also includes a number of Manjusri mantras that are very valuable but little known or used.

Translations and commentaries are available for free ( without the Sanskrit ). They can be found at
http://kalachakranet.org/resources_english.html

At that page scroll down to the following line items, which are associated with clickable downloads. See
a) "Manjushri Namasamghiti, translated by Ronald M. Davidson."
b) "Study Guide to the Namasamgiti, With Reference to the Vimalaprabha, edited and tabulated by Phillip Lecso"

There is a specific empowerment for the Namasamgiti, which I have in the Sakya tradition. However, there are many ways to obtain a Manjusri initiation, and also many ways to obtain a wrathful Manjusri / Yamantaka initiation. I also have received the grand two day Yamantaka initiation ( Ra Lotsawa lineage ) in the Sakya school. This is a central transmission in Sakya lineage, and absolutely primary in the Gelugpa school.

Many wrathful Padmasambhava initiations include a full Yamantaka. Also, all Vajrakilaya initiations include a full Yamantaka. From these alone I have received about thirty full Yamantaka initiations. The Fivefold Cakrasamvara initiation of the Shangpa Kagyu school includes a full New School ( Sarma ) Yamantaka.

However, I have never seen a Kagyu practice text for Yamantaka. Only last year was I able to get a good Nyingma text for Manjusri + Yamantaka.

There is a comprehensive web site for Yamantaka practice texts and commentaries. See
www.yamantaka.com

These many practice texts and commentaries are absolutely wonderful and can serve as primary materials.

The site is restricted to those who can say they have received a full Yamantaka empowerment, by which is meant full Yamantaka in the New School, not the Old School ( Nyingma ). Technically, I do not see that the Old School Yamantaka would work differently from New School Yamantaka, but I do not have detailed Old School commentaries or teachings. It may be similar or the same in practice, but I cannot aver this based on lack of evidence.

What follows is a copyrighted text for Manjusri Namasamgiti which includes some Sanskrit accomplishment mantras for Manjusri. It is provided for personal use only.

Sarva mangalam. Siddhi rastu.

In partial fulfillment of my teaching responsibilities,

K T

http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/advanced/kalachakra/practice_texts/guru_yoga_prayers/concert_names_manjushri.html

Copyright the Berzin Archives
Donations to the Berzin Archives can be made. See
http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/about/help/donations.html

A Concert of Names of Manjushri
('Jam-dpal mtshan-brjod, Skt. Manjushri-namasamgiti)

translated from the Tibetan, as clarified by the Sanskrit
Alexander Berzin, 2004

Homage to Manjushri in youthful form.
Sixteen Verses on Requesting Instruction

(1) Then the glorious Holder of the Vajra,
The most superb tamer of those difficult to tame,
The hero, triumphant over the world’s three planes,
The powerful lord of the thunderbolt, ruler of the hidden,

(2) With awakened white-lotus eye,
Fully bloomed pink-lotus face,
Brandishing over and again
The supreme vajra with his hand –

(3) Together with countless Vajrapanis,
With features such as brows furrowed in fury,
Heroes, tamers of those difficult to tame,
Fearsome and heroic in form,

(4) Brandishing blazing-tipped vajras in their hands,
Superb in fulfilling the aims of wandering beings,
Through great compassion, discriminating awareness,
And skillful means,

(5) Having happy, joyful, and delighted dispositions,
Yet endowed with ferocious bodily forms,
Guardians to further the Buddhas’ enlightening influence,
Their bodies bowed – together with them

(6) Prostrated to the Guardian, the Vanquishing Master Surpassing All,
The Thusly Gone One, the Fully Enlightened,
And standing in front, his palms pressed together,
Addressed these words:

(7) “O Master of the All-Pervasive,
For my benefit, my purpose, from affection toward me,
So that I may obtain
Manifest enlightenment from illusion’s net

(8) For the welfare and attainment
Of the peerless fruit for all limited beings
Sunk in the swamp of unawareness,
Their minds upset by disturbing emotions,

(9) O Fully Enlightened, Vanquishing Master, Guru of Wanderers,
Indicator, Knower of the Great Close Bond and Reality,
Foremost Knower of Powers and Intents,
Elucidate, please,

(10) Regarding the enlightening body of deep awareness
of the Vanquishing Master,
The Great Crown Protrusion, the Master of Words,
The embodied deep awareness that is self-produced,
The deep awareness being, Manjushri,

(11) The superlative Concert of His Names,
With profound meaning, with extensive meaning,
with great meaning,
Unequaled, and supremely pacifying,
Constructive in the beginning, middle, and end,

(12) Which was proclaimed by previous Buddhas,
Will be proclaimed by future ones,
And which the Fully Enlightened of the present
Proclaim over and again,

(13) And which, in The Illusion’s Net
Great Tantra,
Was magnificently chanted
By countless delighted great holders of the vajras,
Holders of the hidden mantras.

(14) O Guardian, so that I (too) may be a holder
Of the hidden (teachings) of all the Fully Enlightened,
I shall preserve it with steadfast intention
Till my definite deliverance,

(15) And shall elucidate it to limited beings,
In accord with their individual intents,
For dispelling disturbing emotions, barring none,
And destroying unawareness, barring none."

(16) Having requested the Thusly Gone One with these words,
The lord of the hidden, Vajrapani,
Pressed his palms together
And, bowing his body, stood in front.
Six Verses in Reply

(17) Then the Vanquishing Master Surpassing All,
Shakyamuni, the Able Sage,
The Fully Enlightened, the Ultimate Biped,
Extending from his mouth
His beautiful tongue, long and wide,

(18) Illuminating the world’s three planes
And taming the four (mara) demonic foes,
And displaying a smile, cleansing
The three worse rebirths for limited beings,

(19) And filling the world’s three planes
With his sweet Brahma-voice,
Replied to Vajrapani, the magnificently strong,
The lord of the hidden:

(20) “Excellent, O glorious Holder of the Vajra,
(I say) excellent to you, Vajrapani,
You who possess great compassion
For the sake of the welfare of wandering beings.

(21) Rise to the occasion to hear from me, now,
A Concert of Names of the enlightening body of deep awareness,
Manjushri, the great aim,
Purifying and eliminating negative force.

(22) Because of that, Overlord of the Hidden,
It’s excellent that I’m revealing it to you;
(So) listen with single-pointed mind.”

“O Vanquishing Master, that’s excellent,” he replied.
Two Verses of Beholding the Six Buddha-Families

(23) Then the Vanquishing Master Surpassing All,
Shakyamuni, the Able Sage,
Beholding in detail the entire family of great hidden mantra:
The family of holders of hidden mantras
and of mantras of pure awareness,
The family of the three,

(24) The family of the world and beyond the world,
The family, the great one, illuminating the world,
(That) family supreme, of (mahamudra) the great seal,
And the great family of the grand crown protrusion,
Three Verses on the Steps of Manifest Enlightenment by Means of Illusion?s Net

(25) Proclaimed the verse of the Master of Words,
Endowed with the sixfold mantra king,
(Concerning) the nondual source
With a nature of non-arising:

(26) “ A a, i i, u u, e ai, o au, am a:.
Situated in the heart, I’m deep awareness embodied,
The Buddha of the Buddhas
Occurring in the three times.

(27) Om – Vajra Sharp,
Cutter of Suffering,
Embodied Discriminating Deep Awareness,
Enlightening Body of Deep Awareness,
Powerful Lord of Speech,
And Ripener of Wandering Beings (Ara-pachana) – homage to you.”
Fourteen Verses on the Great Mandala of the Vajra Sphere

(28) Like this is the Buddha (Manjushri),
the Vanquishing Master Surpassing All,
the Fully Enlightened:
He’s born from the syllable a,
The foremost of all phonemes, the syllable a,
Of great meaning, the syllable that’s deepest,

(29) The great breath of life, non-arising,
Rid of being uttered in a word,
Foremost cause of everything spoken,
Maker of every word perfectly clear.

(30) In his great offering festival, great longing desire’s
The provider of joy to limited beings;
In his great offering festival, great anger’s
The great foe of all disturbing emotion.

(31) In his great offering festival, great naivety’s
The dispeller of the naivety of the naïve mind;
In his great offering festival, great fury’s
The great foe of great fury.

(32) In his great offering festival, great greed’s
The dispeller of all greed;
He’s the one with great desire, great happiness,
Great joy, and great delight.

(33) He’s the one with great form, great enlightening body,
Great color, great physique,
Great name, great grandeur,
And a great and extensive mandala circle.

(34) He’s the great bearer of the sword of discriminating awareness,
The foremost great elephant-hook for disturbing emotions;
He’s the one with great renown, great fame,
Great luster, and great illumination.

(35) He’s the learned one, the bearer of great illusion,
The fulfiller of aims with great illusion,
The delighter with delight through great illusion,
The conjurer of an Indra’s net of great illusion.

(36) He’s the most preeminent master of great generous giving,
The foremost holder of great ethical discipline,
The steadfast holder of great patience,
The courageous one with great perseverance,

(37) The one abiding in the absorbed concentration
of great mental stability,
The holder of a body of great discriminating awareness,
The one with great strength, great skill in means,
Aspirational prayer, and a sea of deep awareness.

(38) He’s the immeasurable one, composed of great love,
He’s the foremost mind of great compassion,
Great discrimination, great intelligence,
Great skill in means, and great implementation.

(39) Endowed with the strength of great extraphysical powers,
He’s the one with great might, great speed,
Great extraphysical power, great (lordly) renown,
Great courage of strength.

(40) He’s the crusher of the great mountain of compulsive existence,
The firm holder of the great vajra;
The one with great fierceness and great ferociousness,
He’s the great terrifier of the terrifying.

(41) He’s the superlative guardian with great pure awareness,
The superlative guru with great hidden mantra;
Stepped up to the Great Vehicle’s mode of travel,
He’s superlative in the Great Vehicle’s mode of travel.
Twenty-five Verses, Less a Quarter, on the Deep Awareness of the Totally Pure Sphere of Reality

(42) He’s the Buddha (Vairochana), the great illuminator,
The great able sage, having great sagely (stillness);
He’s the one produced through great mantra’s mode of travel,
And, by identity-nature, he (himself) is great mantra’s mode of travel.

(43) He has attainment of the ten far-reaching attitudes,
Support on the ten far-reaching attitudes,
The purity of the ten far-reaching attitudes,
The mode of travel of the ten far-reaching attitudes.

(44) He’s the guardian, the powerful lord
of the ten (bhumi) levels of mind,
The one established through the ten (bhumi) levels of mind;
By identity-nature, he’s the purified ten sets of knowledge,
And the holder of the purified ten sets of knowledge.

(45) He’s the one with ten aspects, the ten points as his aim,
Chief of the able sages, the one with ten forces,
the master of the all-pervasive;
He’s the fulfiller of the various aims, barring none,
The powerful one with ten aspects, the great one.

(46) He’s beginningless and, by identity-nature,
parted from mental fabrication,
By identity-nature, the accordant state; by identity-nature,
the pure one;
He’s the speaker of what’s actual, with speech of no other,
The one who, just as he speaks, just so does he act.

(47) Non-dual, the speaker of nonduality,
Settled at the endpoint of what’s perfectly so;
With a lion’s roar of the lack of a true identity-nature,
He’s the frightener of the deer of the deficient extremists.

(48) Coursing everywhere, with his coursing meaningful,
(never in vain),
He has the speed of the mind of a Thusly Gone One;
He’s the conqueror, the full conqueror, with enemies conquered,
A (chakravartin) emperor of the universe, one that has great strength.

(49) He’s the teacher of hosts, the head of hosts,
The (Ganesha) lord of hosts, the master of hosts, the powerful one;
He’s the one with great strength, the one that’s keen (to carry the load),
The one that has the great mode of travel,
with no need for travel by another mode.

(50) He’s the lord of speech, the master of speech,
eloquent in speech,
The one with mastery over speech, the one with limitless words,
Having true speech, the speaker of truth,
The one that indicates the four truths.

(51) He’s irreversible, non-returning,
The guide for the mode of travel
of the self-evolving rhino pratyekas;
Definitely delivered through various (means)
of definite deliverance,
He’s the singular cause of the great elemental states.

(52) He’s a (bhiksu) full monk, (an arhat) with enemies destroyed,
Defilements depleted, with desire departed, senses tamed;
Having attained ease of mind, having attained a state of no fear,
He’s the one with (elements) cooled down, no longer muddied.

(53) Endowed to the full with pure awareness and movement,
He’s the Blissfully Gone, superb in his knowledge of the world;
He’s the one not grasping for “mine,” not grasping for a “me,”
Abiding in the mode of travel of the two truths.

(54) He’s the one that’s standing at the far shore,
beyond recurring samsara,
With what needs to be done having been done, settled on dry land,
His cleaving sword of discriminating awareness
Having drawn out the deep awareness of what’s unique.

(55) He’s the hallowed Dharma, the ruler of the Dharma,
the shining one,
The superb illuminator of the world;
He’s the powerful lord of Dharma, the king of the Dharma,
The one who shows the most excellent pathway of mind.

(56) With his aim accomplished, his thought accomplished,
And rid of all conceptual thought,
He’s the nonconceptual, inexhaustible sphere,
The superb, imperishable sphere of reality.

(57) He’s the one possessing positive force, a network of positive force,
And deep awareness, the great source of deep awareness,
Possessing deep awareness, having deep awareness
of what exists and what doesn’t exist,
The one with the built-up pair of networks networked together.

(58) Eternal, the ruler of all, he’s the (yogi) yoked to the authentic;
He’s stability of mind, the one to be made mentally stable,
the master of intelligence,
The one to be individually reflexively known, the immovable one,
The primordial one who’s the highest,
the one possessing three enlightening bodies.

(59) With an identity-nature of five enlightening bodies, he’s a Buddha;
With an identity-nature of five types of deep awareness,
a master of the all-pervasive,
Having a crown in the identity-nature of the five Buddhas,
Bearing, unhindered, the five enlightening eyes.

(60) He’s the progenitor of all Buddhas,
The superlative, supreme Buddhas’ spiritual son,
The womb giving rise to the existence of discriminating awareness,
The womb of the Dharma, bringing an end to compulsive existence.

(61) With a singular innermost essence of firmness,
by identity-nature, he’s a diamond-strong vajra;
As soon as he’s born, he’s master of the wandering world.
Arisen from the sky, he’s the self-arisen:
The great fire of discriminating deep awareness;

(62) The great-light (Vairochana,) Illuminator of All,
luminary of deep awareness, illuminating all;
The lamp for the world of the wanderers;
The torch of deep awareness;
The great brilliance, the clear light;

(63) Lord of the foremost mantras, king of the pure awareness;
King of the hidden mantras, the one that fulfills the great aim;
He’s the great crown protrusion, the wondrous crown protrusion,
The master of space, the one indicating in various ways.

(64) He’s the foremost one, an enlightening body
with the identity-nature of all the Buddhas,
The one with an eye for the joy of the entire wandering world,
The creator of diverse bodily forms,
The great (rishi) muse, worthy of offerings, worthy of honor.

(65) He’s the bearer of the three family traits,
the possessor of the hidden mantra,
He’s the upholder of the great close bond
and of the hidden mantra;
He’s the most preeminent holder of the three precious gems,
Indicator of the ultimate of the three vehicles of mind.

(66) He’s the totally triumphant, with an unfailing grappling-rope,
The great apprehender with a vajra grappling-rope,
With a vajra elephant-hook and a great grappling-rope.
Ten Verses, Plus a Quarter, Praising Mirror-like Deep Awareness

He's Vajrabhairava, the terrifying vajra terrifier:

(67) Ruler of the furious, six-faced and terrifying,
Six-eyed, six-armed, and full of force,
The skeleton having bared fangs,
Halahala, with a hundred heads.

(68) He’s the destroyer of death (Yamantaka),
king of the obstructors,
(Vajravega,) vajra might, the terrifying one;
He’s vajra devastation, vajra heart,
Vajra illusion, the great bellied one.

(69) Born from the vajra (womb), he’s the vajra lord,
Vajra essence, equal to the sky;
Immovable (Achala), (with matted hair) twisted
into a single topknot,
Wearer of garments of moist elephant hide.

(70) Great horrific one, shouting “ha ha,”
Creator of terror, shouting “hi hi,”
With enormous laughter, (booming) long laughter,
Vajra laughter, great roar.

(71) He’s the vajra-minded (Vajrasattva),
the great-minded (mahasattva),
Vajra king, great bliss;
Vajra fierce, great delight,
Vajra Humkara, the one shouting “hum.”

(72) He’s the holder of a vajra arrow as his weapon,
The slasher of everything with his vajra sword;
He’s the holder of a crossed vajra, possessor of a vajra,
Possessor of a unique vajra, the terminator of battles.

(73) His dreadful eyes with vajra flames,
Hair on his head, vajra flames too,
Vajra cascade, great cascade,
Having a hundred eyes, vajra eyes.

(74) His body with bristles of vajra hair,
A unique body with vajra hair,
With a growth of nails tipped with vajras,
And tough, (firm) skin, vajras in essence.

(75) Holder of a garland of vajras, having glory,
He’s adorned with jewelry of vajras,
And has long (booming) laughter “ha ha,” with loud sound,
The vajra sound of the six syllables.

(76) He’s (Manjughosha,) with a lovely voice,
enormous volume,
A tremendous sound unique in the world’s three planes,
A voice resounding to the ends of space,
The best of those possessing a voice.
Forty-two Verses on Individualizing Deep Awareness

(77) He’s what’s perfectly so, the lack of identity-nature,
the actual state,
The endpoint of that which is perfectly so, that which isn’t a syllable;
He’s the proclaimer of voidness, the best of bulls
Bellowing a roar, profound and extensive.

(78) He’s the conch of Dharma, with a mighty sound,
The gong of Dharma, with a mighty crash,
The one in a state of non-abiding nirvana,
Kettledrum of Dharma in the ten directions.

(79) He’s the formless one, with an excellent form, the foremost one,
Having varied forms, made from the mind;
He’s a glory of appearances in every form,
The bearer of reflections, leaving out none.

(80) He’s the impervious one, with great (lordly) renown,
The great powerful lord of the world’s three planes;
Abiding with a lofty arya pathway of mind,
He’s the one raised on high, the crown banner of Dharma.

(81) He’s the body of youth unique in the world’s three planes,
The stable elder, the ancient one, the master of all that lives;
He’s the bearer of the thirty-two bodily signs, the beloved,
Beautiful throughout the world’s three planes.

(82) He’s the teacher of knowledge and good qualities to the world,
The teacher of the world without any fears,
The guardian, the rescuer, trusted throughout the world’s three planes,
The refuge, the protector, unsurpassed.

(83) The experiencer (of experiences) to the ends of space,
He’s the ocean of the deep awareness of the omniscient mind,
The splitter of the eggshell of unawareness,
The tearer of the web of compulsive existence.

(84) He’s the one with disturbing emotions stilled, without an exception,
The one crossed over the sea of recurring samsara;
He’s the wearer of the crown of the deep awareness empowerment,
Bearer of the Fully Enlightened as adornment.

(85) He’s the one stilled of the suffering of the three kinds of suffering,
The one with an endless ending of the three,
having gone to the liberation of the three;
He’s the one definitely freed from all obscurations,
The one who abides in space-like equality.

(86) He’s the one past the stains of all disturbing emotions,
The one understanding the three times as non-time;
He’s the great (naga) chief for all limited beings,
The crown of those wearing the crown of good qualities.

(87) Definitely freed from all (residue) bodies,
He’s the one well established in the track of the sky;
Bearer of a great wish-fulfilling gem,
He’s master of the all-pervasive, ultimate of all jewels.

(88) He’s the great and bounteous wish-granting tree,
The superlative great vase of excellence;
The agent fulfilling the aims of all limited beings,
the wisher of benefit,
He’s the one with parental affection toward limited beings.

(89) He’s the knower of what’s wholesome and what’s unwholesome,
the knower of timing,
The knower of the close bond, the keeper of the close bond,
the master of the all-pervasive;
He’s the knower of the faculties of limited beings,
the knower of the occasion,
The one skilled in the three (kinds of) liberation.

(90) He’s the possessor of good qualities, the knower of good qualities,
the knower of the Dharma,
The auspicious one, the source of what’s auspicious,
He’s the auspiciousness of everything auspicious,
The one with the auspicious sign of renown,
the famous, constructive one.

(91) He’s the great breath, the great festival,
The great joy, the great pleasure,
The show of respect, the one showing respect, the prosperous one,
The supremely joyous, the master of fame, the glorious one.

(92) Possessor of the best, he’s the provider of the best,
the most preeminent,
Suitable for refuge, he’s the superlative refuge,
The very best foe of the great frightful things,
The eliminator of what’s frightful, without an exception.

(93) Wearing his hair in a bun, he’s the one with a bun of hair,
Wearing his hair in mats, he’s the one having matted locks,
He’s the one draped with a munja-grass sacred cord,
the one wearing a crown,
The one with five faces, five buns of hair,
And five knotted locks, (each) crowned with a bloom.

(94) He’s the one maintaining great taming behavior,
the one with shaved head,
The one with celibate Brahma(-like) conduct,
the one with superlative taming behavior,
The one with great trials, the one who’s completed the trials,
The one who’s taken ablution, the foremost, Gautama.

(95) He’s a brahmin, a Brahma, the knower of Brahma,
The possessor of a Brahma-nirvana attainment;
The liberated one, he’s liberation,
the one with the body of full liberation,
The fully liberated one, the peaceful one, the state of peace.

(96) He’s nirvana release, the one with peace,
the one released in nirvana,
He’s the one most definitely delivered and nearly (brought to an end),
The one who’s completed bringing to an end pleasure and pain,
The one with detachment, the one with (residue) body consumed.

(97) He’s the invincible one, the incomparable one,
The unmanifest one, the one not appearing,
the one with no sign that would make him seen,
The unchanging, the all-going, the all-pervasive,
The subtle, the untainted, the seedless.

(98) He’s the one without a speck of dust, dustless, stainless,
With faults disgorged, the one without sickness;
He’s the wide-awake one, by identity-nature, the Fully Enlightened,
The Omniscient One, the superb knower of all.

(99) Beyond the nature of partitioning primary consciousness,
He’s deep awareness, bearer of the form of nonduality;
He’s the one without conceptual thought,
spontaneously accomplishing (without any effort),
The one enacting the enlightening deeds of the Buddhas
throughout the three times.

(100) He’s the Buddha, the one without a beginning or end,
The (beginning) primordial Adibuddha, the one without precedent;
The singular eye of deep awareness, the one with no stains,
Deep awareness embodied, he’s the One Thusly Gone.

(101) He’s the powerful lord of speech, the magnificent speaker,
The supreme being among speakers, the ruler of speakers,
The best of those speaking, the very best one,
The lion of speakers, inconquerable by others.

(102) Seeing all around, he’s supreme joy itself,
With a garland of brilliance, beautiful to behold;
He’s the magnificent light, the blazing one (Vishnu, beloved of Shri,)
the curl at the heart,
The illuminator with hands (that are rays) of blazing light.

(103) The best of the great physicians, he’s the most preeminent one,
The unsurpassed remover of (thorny) pains;
He’s the celestial tree of all medications, with none left out,
The great nemesis of the sicknesses of disturbing emotions.

(104) He’s the beauty mark of the world’s three planes, the lovely one,
The glorious one, with a mandala of lunar and zodiac constellation stars;
He’s the one extending to the ends of space in the ten directions,
The great ascending of the banner of Dharma.

(105) He’s the unique extension of an umbrella
over the wandering world,
With his mandala circle of love and compassion;
He’s the glorious one, the Powerful Lord of the Lotus Dance,
Great master of the all-pervasive, the one with an umbrella of precious gems.

(106) He’s the great king of all the Buddhas,
Holder of the embodiments of all the Buddhas,
Great yoga of all the Buddhas,
Unique teaching of all the Buddhas.

(107) He’s the glory of the empowerment of the vajra jewel,
Powerful lord of the sovereigns of all jewels;
Master of all (Lokeshvaras,) the powerful lords of the world,
He’s the sovereign of all (Vajradharas,) the holders of the vajra.

(108) He’s the great mind of all Buddhas,
The one that is present in the mind of all Buddhas;
He’s the great enlightening body of all Buddhas,
He’s the beautiful speech (Sarasvati) of all Buddhas.

(109) He’s the vajra sun, the great illuminator,
The vajra moon, the stainless light;
He’s great desire, the one that begins with non-desire,
Blazing light of various colors.

(110) He’s the vajra posture of the Fully Enlightened,
The bearer of the Dharma, the concert of the Buddhas;
He’s the glorious one, the one that’s born from the lotus of the Buddhas,
The keeper of the treasure of omniscient deep awareness.

(111) He's the bearer of diverse illusions, he's the king;
He's the bearer of Buddhas' pure awareness mantras,
he's the great one;
He's the vajra sharp, the great sword,
The supreme syllable, totally pure.

(112) He’s the Great Vehicle (Mahayana), the cutter of suffering,
He’s the great weapon, Vajra Dharma;
He’s (Jinajik,) the triumph of the triumphant, vajra profound,
He’s vajra intelligence, the knower of things and how they exist.

(113) He’s the perfected state of every far-reaching attitude,
The wearer of all (bhumi) levels of mind as adornment;
He’s the lack of a true identity-nature of totally pure existent things,
He’s correct deep awareness, the core light of the moon.

(114) He’s great diligence (applied), Illusion’s Net,
Sovereign of all tantras, the one that’s superb;
He’s the possessor of vajra (postures and) seats, without an exception,
He’s the bearer of enlightening bodies of deep awareness,
without an exception.

(115) He’s the all-around excellent (Samanta-bhadra),
he’s excellent intelligence,
He’s the womb of the earth (Kshiti-garbha),
the support of the wandering world;
He’s the great womb of all of the Buddhas,
The bearer of a circle of assorted emanations.

(116) He’s the supreme self-nature of all functional phenomena,
The bearer of the self-nature of all functional phenomena;
He’s the non-arising existent, with purposes diverse,
The bearer of the nature of all existent things.

(117) Great discriminating awareness in a single moment,
He’s the bearer of comprehension of all existent things;
The clear realization of all existent things,
He’s the able sage, with foremost intelligence,
the endpoint of that which is perfectly so.

(118) He’s the immovable one, extremely pure, by identity-nature,
The bearer of the purified state of the Perfect, Fully Enlightened Ones;
He’s the one having bare cognition of all Buddhas,
The flame of deep awareness, the excellent clear light.
Twenty-four Verses on Equalizing Deep Awareness

(119) He’s the fulfiller of wished-for aims, he’s superb,
The one totally purifying all of the worse rebirth states;
He’s the ultimate of all limited beings, the guardian,
The complete liberator of all limited beings.

(120) He’s the hero in the battle with disturbing emotions,
the unique one,
The slayer of the insolent arrogance of the enemy “unawareness”;
He’s intelligence, bearer of an enamored tone, the one with glory,
Bearer of forms with heroic and disdainful tones.

(121) He’s the one pounding with a hundred clubs in his hands,
He’s the dancer with a pounding-down of his feet;
He’s the one with glory, the user of a hundred (user) hands,
The dancer across (the sectors used in) the expanse of the sky.

(122) He’s the one standing on the surface of the mandala of the earth,
Pressing down on the surface with a single foot;
He’s the one standing on the nail of his large toe,
Pressing down on the tip of Brahma’s (egg-like) world.

(123) He’s the singular item,
the item regarding phenomena that’s nondual,
He’s the deepest (truth) item, (the imperishable powerful lord,)
the one that lacks what’s fearful;
He’s the item with a variety of revealing forms,
The one that has a continuity
of mind and of partitioning consciousness.

(124) He’s joyful awareness of existent things, without an exception,
He’s joyful awareness of voidness, the highest intelligence;
The one gone beyond the longing desires, and the likes,
of compulsive existence,
He’s great joyful awareness regarding the three (planes of)
compulsive existence.

(125) He’s the pure white one – a brilliant white cloud,
With beautiful light – beams of the autumn moon,
With an exquisite (face) – the mandala orb of a (youthful) sun,
With light from his nails – a great (passionate) red.

(126) With sapphire-blue hair knotted on top,
And wearing a great sapphire on top of his locks,
He’s the glorious one with the radiant luster of a magnificent gem,
Having as jewelry emanations of Buddha.

(127) He’s the shaker of spheres of hundreds of worlds,
The one with great force with his extraphysical powerful legs;
He’s the holder of the great (state of) mindfulness
as well as the facts of reality,
He’s the ruler of the absorbed concentrations
of the four types of mindfulness states.

(128) He’s the fragrance of the love-blossoms on the branches
(leading) to a purified state,
(The cream atop) the ocean of good qualities of the Thusly Gone Ones;
He’s the one knowing the mode of travel
with the eightfold pathway minds,
The one knowing the pathway mind of the Perfect, Fully Enlightened.

(129) He’s the one having great adherence to all limited beings,
But without having adherence, like the sky;
He’s the one entering the minds of all limited beings,
Having speed in accord with the minds of all limited beings.

(130) He’s the one with awareness of the powers
and objects of all limited beings,
The one who captures the hearts of all limited beings;
He’s the one with awareness of the items and reality
of the five aggregate factors,
The one who holds the full purity of the five aggregate factors.

(131) He’s the one standing at the end of every definite deliverance,
The one who’s skilled in that which brings every definite deliverance;
He’s the one standing on the path for every definite deliverance,
The one who’s indicating every definite deliverance.

(132) He’s the one who’s uprooted compulsive existence
with its twelvefold links,
The holder of their purification having twelvefold aspects;
Having the aspect of the mode of travel of the fourfold truths,
He’s the holder of the realization of the eightfold awareness.

(133) He’s the points of truth in twelvefold aspects,
The knower of reality in sixteen aspects,
The Fully Enlightened through twenty aspects,
The Enlightened Buddha, the superb knower of all.

(134) He’s the one making knowable millions
Of enlightening emanation bodies of innumerable Buddhas;
He’s the clear realization of everything in a moment,
The knower of the objects of all moments of mind.

(135) He’s the skillful means of the modes of travel
of the various vehicles of mind,
The one who makes knowable the aims of the wandering world;
He’s the one who’s definitely delivered threefold,
through the vehicles of mind,
The one who’s established as the fruit of (Ekayana,)
the single vehicle of mind.

(136) He’s the identity-nature totally pure of the spheres
of disturbing emotions,
He’s the depleter of the spheres of karma;
He’s the one who has fully crossed over the ocean of currents,
The one who’s emerged from the wilderness by means of the yogas.

(137) He’s the one fully rid of the disturbing emotions,
the auxiliary disturbing emotions,
And the general disturbing emotions, together with (all) their habits;
He’s discriminating awareness and great compassion as skillful means,
The one fulfilling the aims of the wandering world,
meaningfully (without fail).

(138) He’s the one with objects of all conceptual discernment
gotten rid of,
The one with objects of partitioning consciousness brought to a halt;
He’s the cognitive object (in reference to) the minds of all limited beings,
The one that abides in the minds of all limited beings.

(139) He’s the innermost stand of the minds of all limited beings,
The one who’s passing as the equality of their minds;
He’s the one bringing satisfaction to the minds of all limited beings,
He’s the joy of the mind of all limited beings.

(140) He’s the culminating point of actualization,
the one with confusion departed,
He’s the one with every mistake dispelled;
He’s intelligence not indecisively wavering, the one that is threefold,
The one (fulfilling) everyone’s aims,
with an identity-nature of three constituents.

(141) He’s the object (in reference to) the five aggregate factors,
the one throughout the three times,
The one that makes things individually knowable in every instant;
He’s the one with manifest total enlightenment in an instant,
The bearer of all the Buddhas’ self-nature.

(142) He’s the one with an enlightening body that’s incorporeal,
the foremost of enlightening bodies,
The one that makes knowable millions of enlightening bodies;
He’s the one exhibiting everywhere a variety of forms,
He’s the great gem, (Ratnaketu,) the crowning jewel.
Fifteen Verses on the Accomplishing Deep Awareness

(143) He’s the one to be realized by all the Fully Enlightened,
He’s the purified state of a Buddha, the peerless;
He’s the one that isn’t a syllable, the one comes forth
from hidden mantra’s womb,
The triad of families of great hidden mantra.

(144) He’s the creator of every significance of hidden mantra,
He’s the great creative energy-drop, that which isn’t a syllable;
He’s the great void, having five syllables,
And the creative-drop void, having six syllables.

(145) He’s the possessor of all aspects, that which hasn’t an aspect,
He’s the bearer of the sixteen creative drops, and half of their half;
He’s the one without phases, beyond count,
Holder of the peak of the fourth level of mental stability.

(146) He’s the advanced awareness of the phases of all levels
of mental stability,
The knower of the families and castes of absorbed concentration;
He’s the one with the enlightening body of absorbed concentration,
the foremost of the enlightening bodies,
The ruler of all (Sambhogakaya,) Enlightening Bodies of Full Use.

(147) He’s the one with a (Nirmanakaya,)
Enlightening Body of Emanations,
the foremost of the enlightening bodies,
Holder of the lineage of Buddha’s emanations;
He’s the one issuing forth various emanations in the ten directions,
The one fulfilling the aims of the wandering world,
whatever they may be.

(148) He’s the chief of the deities, the deity over the deities,
The chief of the gods, the overlord of the (devilish) non-gods,
The chief of the immortals, the guru of the gods,
The destroyer, and the powerful lord of the destroyers.

(149) He’s the one with the wilderness of compulsive existence
crossed over,
The unique indicator, the guru for the wandering world;
He’s renowned throughout the world’s ten directions,
The master of generous giving of the Dharma, the great one.

(150) Armored with the armor of love,
Coated with a coat-of-mail of compassion,
Wielder of a sword of discriminating awareness and a bow and arrow,
He’s the one who finishes the battle against disturbing emotions
and unawareness.

(151) He’s the heroic one, enemy of the (mara) demonic forces,
subduer of the maras,
The one who brings fear of the four maras to an end;
Defeater of the military forces of all maras,
He’s the Fully Enlightened, the leader of the world.

(152) He’s the one worthy of offerings, worthy of praise,
the one for prostration,
Worthy of (being honored) forever in paintings,
Worthy of shows of respect, most worthy of veneration,
Worthy for homage, the highest guru.

(153) He’s the one traversing the world’s three planes in a single stride,
The one striding forth endlessly, just like space;
He’s the one with triple knowledge, (proficiency in the sacred,)
clean and pure,
Possessor of the six types of heightened awareness
and the six types of close mindfulness.

(154) He’s a bodhisattva, a great-minded (mahasattva),
The one with great extraphysical powers,
the one gone beyond the world;
(Situated) at the endpoint of far-reaching discriminating awareness
(prajnaparamita),
He’s the one who’s come to reality through discriminating awareness.

(155) He’s the one with all knowledge of self
and knowledge of others,
Helpful to all, the foremost person (of all);
He’s the one who’s gone beyond all comparison,
The superb sovereign of knowing and what’s to be known.

(156) He’s the master of generous giving of Dharma,
the most preeminent,
The one who shows the meaning of the fourfold (mudra) seals;
He’s the one most fitting to be helped and shown respect by the worldly
And by those traversing the three (pathways of) definite deliverance.

(157) He’s the purity and glory of the deepest truth,
The portion of excellence of the world’s three planes, the great one;
The one bringing all enrichments, the one having glory,
He’s Manjushri, (the lovely and glorious,)
supreme among those possessing glory.
Five Verses on the Deep Awareness of the Five Thusly Gone Ones

(158) Homage to you, granter of the best (boon), the foremost vajra;
Homage to you, the endpoint of what’s perfectly so;
Homage to you, the womb of voidness;
Homage to you, the Buddhas’ purified state.

(159) Homage to you, the Buddhas’ attachment;
Homage to you, the Buddha’s desire;
Homage to you, the Buddhas’ enjoyment;
Homage to you, the Buddhas’ play.

(160) Homage to you, the Buddhas’ smile;
Homage to you, the Buddhas’ (shining) laugh;
Homage to you, the Buddha’s speech;
Homage to you, the Buddha’s (state of) mind.

(161) Homage to you, rising from non-true existence;
Homage to you, arising from the Buddhas;
Homage to you, rising from space;
Homage to you, arising from deep awareness.

(162) Homage to you, illusion’s net;
Homage to you, the Buddhas’ dancer;
Homage to you, everything for everyone;
Homage to you, enlightening body of deep awareness.
The Mantras

Om sarva dharma ‘bhava svabhava,
vishuddha vajra chakshu, a a am a:

Om – the total purity of all existents,
By self-nature, non-truly existent,
Through the vajra eye – a a am a:

Prakrti parishuddha:
sarvadharma yad uta
sarvatathagata jnanakaya
manjushri parishuddhitam
upadayeti

That which is the completely pure nature
Of all existents takes the form, indeed,
Of the completely purified Manjushri,
The enlightening body of deep awareness
of all Thusly Gone

A a: sarvatathagata hrdayam
hara hara om hum hri:
bhagavan jnanamurti
vagishvara mahapacha
sarvadharma gaganamala
suparishuddha dharmadhatu
jnanagarbha a:

A a: – the heart of all the Thusly Gone,
Take out, take out – om hum hri:
Vanquishing master surpassing all, embodied deep awareness,
Powerful lord of speech, the great one who ripens,
The complete total purity of all the existents, stainless like space,
Womb of deep awareness of the sphere of reality – a:
Five Verses as an Epilogue

(163) Then the glorious Holder of the Vajra,
Joyful and delighted, with palms pressed together,
Bowing to the Guardian, the Vanquishing Master Surpassing All,
The Thusly Gone One, the Fully Enlightened,

(164) Together with the other guardians of many (varied) sorts,
Lords of the hidden, Vajrapanis,
Kings of the furious,
Loudly proclaimed these words of praise,

(165) “We rejoice, O Guardian,
Excellent, excellent, well said.
For us, the great (guardian) aim has (now) been fulfilled,
The attainment of a perfect, full enlightenment state;

(166) And for the wandering world also, lacking a guardian,
Wishing for the fruit of complete liberation,
This excellent and pure pathway mind has been shown,
The mode of travel of Illusion’s Net.

(167) This cognitive object indeed of the Buddhas,
Having a profound and extensive broad scope,
The great aim, fulfilling the aims of the wandering world,
Has been expounded by the Perfect, Fully Enlightened One.”

A Concert of the Deepest Truth Names of the Vanquishing Master Surpassing All, the Deep Awareness Being Manjushri, expounded by the Vanquishing Master, the Thusly Gone One, Shakyamuni, is hereby completed.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

the emergence of new radiant heart

forrest — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 04:18:14 GMT

www.energeticawareness.com

presentations originating from pure awareness, providing energetic information for the activation of rememberance, embodiment and unification, while delivering one's unfoldment towards evolved wholeness

deliverances of a creative language of energetic awareness are presented here upon the wave of creation's invitation that arises within us to abide within the unifying force

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Byron Katie's "The Work" and Dzogchen's View

cosmicdance — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 21:44:13 GMT

I have been studying Dzogchen for years (and even wrote a book that's endorsed by a Dzogchen master) and think I have a good understanding of its philosophy and outlook, though I have yet to achieve the realization of the view within my everyday experience. A couple months ago I learned of a woman named Byron Katie when I was booking guests for a national talk radio show I used to do (on summer break right now). Katie's people sent me both her books and a bunch of recordings of hers and I familiarized myself with all of it so that I could prep for the episode she was coming on. That was the first I ever learned of "The Work."

I have known for about a year that the Course in Miracles workbook is actually a great Dzogchen mind training technique, especially for people who come from Christian childhoods (oh, the horrors of self-hatred taught in Christianity, which the course addresses as a foundation for its teachings on the view of a luminous emptiness). But I am now beginning to think that Katie's method may be even more effective.

Last night she came to the island and gave a public session of her work and there were quite a few very dedicated, long time students in attendance. One was a woman who years ago came to me and asked me how she might achieve a taste of rigpa mind. She said she had been going to teachings for years but had never experienced it. I tried to tell her what I would do internally whenever I went up for the "pointing out" instruction from the lama, but it never worked the same for her.

Well she was there last night and told me she had recently returned from a 10 day training with Katie and had finally achieved an experience of her pre-conceptual mind during the training! It stands to reason that if it is an effective method at all, it would be effective at bringing out the clear light nature, since it certainly aims at that. And it seems it is an effective technique.

If you aren't familiar with it, check out http://www.thework.com and take a look at the 4 questions and the turnaround. (They send out a little booklet by donation if you don't want to buy a book or attend an event to learn how to do the method.)

If you are familiar with it, I am interested in your feedback on whether you think it might be a good adjunct practice for Dzogchen practitioners. My lama, who is from Tibet, always likes to emphasize that everything he is teaching is straight Buddhism, even though he is knowledgable about New Age spiritual practices after living in the U.S. for over a decade and being fluent in English. Part of me wants to have his same dedication to one singular path that is fully intact for over 1000 years, but part of me also wants to use whatever will work, so long as there is no conflict between them and I won't be taken off my path.

One thing I see in many long time practitioners of Buddhism is that they have all kinds of great, insightful, philosophical ideas and understandings, but they don't embody the teachings. Perhaps the techniques for mind training coming from the West will be more effective in training the Western mind, so long as their philosophy is consistent with that of Buddhism. Whether Course in Miracles, Non-Violent Communication, or "The Work" -- maybe there is something we need to be doing besides just contemplating the teachings on the view and sitting in meditation so that we develop the view, or other traditional Buddhist practices.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 2 replies

major empowerments by HH Orgyen Kusum Lingpa in Seattle this month

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 03:21:03 GMT

Event Announcement
Keywords : Healing empowerment, Seattle Washington, Tibetan Buddhism, tantric deity yoga, Nyingma and Dzogchen, Medicine Buddha, Padmasambhava, Tara, Amitabha, HH Orgyen Kusum Lingpa, "Shar Chog Ngon Gai Ling".

Three Tibetan Buddhist Healing Empowerments in the Great Perfection Lineage of Guru Padmasambhava
Given by His Holiness Orgyen Kusum Lingpa, from his rare and powerful treasure lineage, the "Dzogchen Pema Nyingtik".

Seattle Washington area, March 16th - 18th, 2007
Location for all events: Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th Street Southwest, Lynnwood WA 98036
( due north of Seattle )

Hosted by "Shar Chog Ngon Gai Ling", a spiritual fellowship dedicated to the teachings of the Nyingma Tibetan School and HH Orgyen Kusum Lingpa.

Join us for this exceptional visit by a major lineage holder of the innermost esoteric yoga of Primordial Awareness ( Tibetan: Dzogchen Nyingtik ).
Each of these three transmissions can be of extraordinary value in transforming consciousness, developing inner guidance, developing authentic inner spiritual life, and most especially learning the classical Buddhist deity yogas of healing.
The classical meaning of tantric Buddhist empowerment ( Sanskrit: abhisekha ) includes not only authorization to engage esoteric yogas, but also ( Sanskrit : abhisinca ) the cleansing or washing away of psychological distress, physical sickness,and negative karma.
Although no claim can be made regarding any western clinical condition, this "healing power of transmission" can definitely be felt by those already attuned to the tantric transmissions, particularly when bestowed as a major empowerment by a high lineage holder.

His Holiness has had a tremendous impact throughout North America for quite a few years. He has repeatedly bestowed many ultimate transmissions again and again, particularly throughout the American West Coast.
This event is intended to be the first in a series of tantric Buddhist teachings and events sponsored in the Seattle area by "Shar Chog Ngon Gai Ling".

Please confirm in advance to reserve seating, which is limited.
Contact: Anthony Vu or Denise
Email: dorjetar@yahoo.com
Phone: 425-772-3488 ( Anthony ) or 425-741-3580 ( Denise )

Cost: $30/Day or $60/3 Days ( to defray event costs ) with the opportunity for each to make personal offerings to the Guru as well.

Please plan to arrive early ( no late entrance allowed ), free of contaminations such as cigarette smoke, alcohol, and drug use.

Day One, Friday 16 Mar 2007
"Medicine Buddha / Padmasambhava Empowerment and Teaching"

Time: 7 pm
Cost: $30
Empowerment and teachings for the Medicine Buddha and his retinue of seven Tathagatas. This is based on the sacred revelations ( gongter ) of His Holiness concerning the Healing Buddha emanation of Padmasambhava ( Tibetan: Orgyen Menla ).
The practice of Great Guru Padmasambhava is especially effective during this time of pollution, social upheaval and severe conflict.
The transmission of Guru Padma serves as a most direct way to connect with many profound yogas, including the Ati Yoga /Great Perfection ( i.e. Dzogchen ) which is manifesting with astonishing power everywhere. An example is the deity yoga of Vajrasattva, which is central to all esoteric Buddhist practice.
The classical Mahayana teaching of Guru Medicine Buddha taught by Guru Sakyamuni spread throughout Asia, but only the Indo-Tibetan lineages of Buddhism fully carried the inner medical sciences of Hindu-Buddhist Ayurveda, which is truly profound and ultimately valuable.
Among all transmissions of deity yoga and healing, this is an extraordinary and wonderful sacred occasion because Guru Padmasambhava is revered by millions worldwide as the embodied essence of a vast ocean of spiritual powers.

Day Two, Saturday 17 Mar 2007
"The Twenty One Taras Empowerment and Teaching"

Time: empowerment at 10 am, teachings at 2pm
Cost: $30
Empowerment and teachings of the Twenty One Taras.

There are a vast number of Tara practices for developing spiritual wisdom, compassion, and power, accomplishing the sacred circle activities of magical deeds, and meeting many kinds of life challenges through spiritual practice.
Many of these become immediately authorized by receiving this empowerment, including a great many translated Tara ritual texts of deity yoga and magical power.

Day Three, Sunday 18 Mar 2007
"Longevity Deities Empowerment ( Amitayus, Ushnishavijaya and White Tara ) and Teaching: Aspirations for Rebirth in Sukhavati ( the Land of Ultimate Bliss )"

Time: empowerment at 10 am, teachings at 2pm
Cost: $30

The Deities of Long Life are Amitayus ( Lord of Infinite Life, a manifestation of Amitabha Buddha ), Ushnishavijaya ( the Goddess Victorious Crown Knot Tara ) and Goddess White Tara.
This combined practice is considered by Buddhists to be especially effective in purifying the sources of sickness, physical degeneration, psychic distress and dangerous circumstances.
A major aspect of these practices is the development of spiritual energy which manifests as greater physical life force to meet various life challenges.

Sukhavati is the Buddhist "pure land" ( heavenly realm ) established by Buddha Amitabha which is beyond any and all sufferings of cyclic existence. It is also the nearest and most accessible Pure Land.
Most Buddhists worldwide either rely on Amitabha Buddha to be reborn in this Land of Ultimate Bliss, or dedicate their various practices to this end. Over seven million practitioners have achieved rebirth in the Pure Land of Sukhavati.
The Method of Amitabha Buddha was first taught by Guru Sakyamuni Buddha and became central to Mahayana ( Universal ) Buddhism throughout Asia. While these three Long Life Deities are honored throughout the Buddhist world, the transmission to be given is of the inner esoteric practice of Tantra.

Sarva mangalam! [ May All Beings Benefit! ]
Siddhi rastu! [ May There Be Accomplishment! ]

[ end announcement ]

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Laughing Our Way to Enlightenment

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 23:27:46 GMT

Q: Why don't Buddhists vacuum in the corners?
A: Because they have no attachments.

Love and prayers
Rigdzin

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 8 replies

I Miss My Feet

lhundrub — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 05:05:35 GMT

I have been overlooking them for awhile. They are clearly tired and demand attention.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 3 replies

PIONEERS (Longer-term Volunteers) NEEDED FOR BAJA DZOGCHEN COMMUNITY LAND AT THE TSEGYALGAR WEST WINTER GAR, JARDIN DE LOS NARANJOS, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR, MEXICO

aquamarinedreamqueen — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 14:33:30 GMT

www.bajasangha.org

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

I miss my lama stories

lhundrub — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 18:39:37 GMT

Since my lama KDL passed away last May I have missed him. I recently was repeating the A Ho Ye and got something in my eye. It took a minute before I remembered than my lama had an eye problem. The gist is the lama is not separate from this instant! Maybe you have such stories. Give

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 2 replies

though this may be of interest

tashidorje — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 22:49:55 GMT

...many people, critical of Dzogchen, question why we need to practice at all if, as according to Dzogchen, the primordial state is already the enlightened state. If our true nature is already Buddhahood, what is the need to cultivate enlightenment? We cannot side-step these criticisms since, according to Dzogchen, Buddhahood is indeed our natural state; we do not create it, but simply discover it through our meditation. But if we simply agree with our critics, this would mean there is no need to practice. These are important things to think about. We must answer that although the natural state of the mind is primordially pure, there are two ways of being pure. Defilements, or obscurations, are not in the nature of the mind (sems nyid) but in the moving mind (sems), so they can be purified. It is as in the Tibetan story of the old beggar woman who slept on a pillow of gold every night: she was rich, but since she did not appreciate the value of gold, she thought she was poor. In the same way, the primordial purity of our mind is of no use to us if we are not aware of it and do not integrate it with our moving mind. If we realize our innate purity but only integrate with it from time to time, we are not totally realized. Being in total integration all the time is final realization. But many people prefer thinking and speaking about integration to actualizing it.

--from Wonders of the Natural Mind: The Essence of Dzogchen in the Native Bon Tradition of Tibet by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, Foreword by H.H. the Dalai Lama, edited by Andrew Lukianowicz, published by Snow Lion Publications

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Dungse Rigzing Dorje - Son of Kunzang Dechen Lingpa - Wealth Deity, Garuda, Chod Tour in LA, CA, Nov 96

lhundrub — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 23:02:44 GMT

Dharma friends.

I know there are many lamas in town, but if you are not otherwise engaged, please come to one of the remaining events on Dungse Rigzing Dorje Rinpoche's "CUTTING THROUGH OBSTACLES" Tour. Dungse Rinpoche and the Monks and Nuns of Zangdokpalri Monastery are only in the LA area for another week! (http://zangdokpalri.org/2006tour.html)

Rinpoche will be bestowing rare Dzogchen and Garuda teachings at Hale Mana in Topanga and giving another Healing Chod at the very nice Golden Bridge Yoga center (http://www.goldenbridgeyoga.com/)

"This Healing Chod was one of the most beautiful, important things I have done for myself. Rinpoche's tremendous kindness is healing in itself." - Sharon Salzberg

DUNGSE RIGZIN DORJE RINPOCHE

Rinpoche is the son and spiritual heir of the late Kyabje Kunzang Dechen Lingpa. Rinpoche is 44 years old and, like one vessel filled by another, has been receiving all of his father's precious revealed teachings since childhood. He has done many years of solitary retreat and has focused especially on the practice of Chod. Since his father's paranirvana, Dungse Rinpoche has become the lineage holder of all the profound practices that his father revealed. It is very fortunate to be able to make connection with such a pure stream of blessings.

November 1, 7:30-9:30pm - Dzogchen Teachings $40*
Dzogchen, or the Great Perfection, is the name for the profound pinnacle teachings of both Tibetan Buddhism and the pre-Buddhist Tibetan religion of Bon. Dzogchen is a complete set of teachings which bring the practitioner to recognition of their true nature, which is no different than the true nature of all phenomena. This recognition is the starting point of a path that culminates in the ultimate attainment of 'Rainbow Body', where the physical form dissolves into a body of light.

Dungse Rinpoche will be giving rare Dzogchen teachings from his father's terma cycles.

Garuda
November 2, 7:30-9:30pm - Empowerment and Teachings $40*
November 3, 7:30-9:30pm - Practice and Teachings $40*
The profound practice of Garuda is a Mind Treasure revealed by Kunzang Dechen Lingpa in Topanga in 2002 at the request of a local student. The Garuda is the wrathful manifestation of pure awareness itself. Engaging in the practice of Garuda allows one to access and actualize the power of their own awareness to purify and directly eliminate their own ignorance, removing the causes of illness and ultimately leading to enlightenment. Hale Mana, where the Garuda empowerment and practice are being held, is also the place where the practice was originally revealed, so the blessings of receiving this practice will be uniquely powerful on this occasion.

The first night (or having previously received empowerment into this practice) is a pre-requisite to attending the second night's practice and teaching session.

Dzogchen and Garuda teachings will take place at:
Hale Mana
21505 Colina Drive
Topanga, CA 90290
http://halemana.org/
David (323) 851-4311

Healing Chod $195*
November 4 - Saturday - 1:30-3:30 and 5:00-7:00pm
November 5 - Sunday (full moon!) 1:30-5:00pm

Golden Bridge Yoga
6322 De Longpre Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90028
http://www.goldenbridgeyoga.com/
323 936-4172

ABOUT THE HEALING CHOD
Ever since the late Kyabje Kunzang Dechen Lingpa Rinpoche came to the United States 5 years ago and began performing the Healing Chod Ceremony, thousands of Americans have found the ceremony helpful for all kinds of problems, from simple sadness to chronic disease. Rinpoche's son and spiritual heir, Dungse Rigdzin Dorje Rinpoche, has been receiving his father's esoteric teachings all his life long, since childhood, and he has done spiritual practice for many years, often in solitary retreat, with a particular focus on the practice of Chod. It is Rinpoche, assisted by the monks and nuns who were his father's students, who will be conducting the four healing rituals over a period of two days.

Just bring a pillow and blanket, or mat, and then lie down and relax. Healing Chod is suitable for all, young and old. Participation in all four sessions is recommended for best results; a brief explanatory lecture will be given between each of the sessions. Please note that tuition includes all four sessions.

For more information
about all events in the LA area
Call David Scharff (323) 851-4311
yeshe@tibetanbuddhism.com

* all donation amounts are suggested; no need to pre-register

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

anyone from Utah?

Laughing Out Loud!! — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 15:03:34 GMT

Hello,
I am new to this tribe. I am wondering if any of you are from Utah?

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Vehicles of Dharma are teaching but also stages of the practitioners mind?

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 07:19:56 GMT

Howdy All,
I noticed that the vehicles of Dharma are teaching but also stages of the practitioners mind.

At the beginning my mind was Hinayana; My mind was about myself and my goals.

Then at the beginning of Mahayana; I said my mind was about others, compassion, gentleness and kindness.

At the middle of Mahayana; My mind became truly about others, compassion, gentleness and kindness.

At the end of Mahayana; My mind found clear light, pure awareness, peace, compassion,
The end of goals, the realization of no thought and loss of suffering.

Now I believe my mind is becoming Tantric; A very assertive, almost aggressive clarity and insight. An intensity that does not supersede the Mahayana, but compliments it. A feeling of great Vajra-pride an dignity… But this may also be my discovery of male and female energies in myself.

Can anyone add some clarity to this for me?

Love and prayers,
Rigdzin

A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are for.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 18 replies

New Member

eSpiral — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 15:48:12 GMT

Hi All,
I am a Nyingma/Dzogchen practioner. Some of you seem to know Lama Tharchin RInpoche. He is my teacher. I have been studying with him since 93. I also study with Anam Thubten Tulku who I know from Lama Tharchin.

I live in upstate new york. I also have interest in Tibetan shamanism.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

What qualities should be apparent in evaluating a new teacher?

Sat, 29 Apr 2006 06:07:48 GMT

What qualities should be apparent in evaluating a new teacher?

I know this sounds like just another dull post but let’s get creative.
This is a deep and important topic: The different types of teacher are vast;
Mahayana teacher / Tantric teacher / wrathful / loving / spiritual friend / Root Lama
Or maybe share an experience you had with a great master.

Love and prayers,
Rigdzin

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 12 replies

Intersection -- A New Tribe

Nandi — Thu, 11 May 2006 20:22:00 GMT

There are many parallels and intersections between Hinduism and Buddhism. This tribe has started of the acknowledgement of similarities, as well as differences between these two traditions. In a society and historical time where so many cultures are all coming to meet one another at the dinner table, many practioners may feel drawn to different aspects of Hinduism and Buddhism. This tribe has been created in honor of both traditions as a space where discussion can occur respectfully and freely about these spiritual philosophies, as well as what its like to draw one's practice from these two different paths. Feel free to bring up teachers and sources of inspiration to you in Buddhism (all its forms....Tibetan, Zen...), Yoga, Martial Arts, Ayurveda, Rumi, Hafiz, Kabir, Shamanic practices, modern day teachers such as Eckhart Tolle and David Deida, science of Siegal and Goleman, Zen Therapy, Transpersonal Psychology, Somatic Psychology, Carl Jung. Where do we all draw from and how does it all fit together???? Let's meet at the intersection....

http://tribes.tribe.net/theintersection

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Laughing Our Way to Enlightenment

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 07:36:11 GMT

QUESTION: WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?
• KINDERGARTEN TEACHER: To get to the other side.
• DARWIN: Chickens, over great periods of time, have been naturally selected
in such a way that they are now genetically disposed to cross roads.
• EINSTEIN: Whether the chicken crossed the road or the road
moved beneath the chicken depends upon your frame of reference.
• FREUD: The fact that you are at all concerned that the chicken crossed
the road reveals your underlying sexual insecurity.
• PLATO: For the greater good.
• ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross roads.
• HIPPOCRATES: Because of an excess of phlegm in its pancreas.
• RALPH WALDO EMERSON: The chicken did not cross the road .. it transcended it.
• TIMOTHY LEARY: Because that's the only trip the establishment would let it take.
• BUDDHA: Asking this question denies your own chicken nature.

Love and prayers,
Rigdzin

A ship in the harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are for.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 2 replies

New Tribe - SF Bay Area Buddhism and Meditation

snowleopard — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 21:47:41 GMT

Hey Folks,

I have started a tribe called "SF Bay Area Buddhism and Meditation". When wanting to post about NoCal-specific Buddhist events, I noticed that there was a gap beteen the "SF Yoga" tribe, on the one hand, and all the (location non-specific) Buddhism and meditation tribes on the other.

The blurb I wrote for the tribe description says, "A tribe for discussion of the deep Buddhist and meditation scene in the San Francisco Bay Area. Feel free to post or ask about a teacher or center, to announce upcoming events, to ask for rides and sitting partners, etc. Posting about Bay Area-specific topics of interest to Buddhist oriented people (i.e. things happening with Transpersonal Psychology, Hinduism and Taoism, yoga and martial arts, Eckhart Tolle and Rumi, that sort of thing) welcome also, but a main focus on Buddhism and on Buddhist practice is the intention. ¡Vive le Buddhisme et le trésor triple!"

I invite anyone who lives or spends time in Northern California and with an interest in The Buddha Way to join this new tribe. It's public, so you can just sign yerself right up - http://tribes.tribe.net/sfbaybuddhism

Adam

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Feeler with speech difficulty

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 05:11:13 GMT

Today I met the mother of my daughters boy friend. My daughter had been dating her bfriend now for 2 years and I am only meeting his mom now after all this time. It's awkward because we are only meeting since my daughters bfriend's sister wanted to spend the night at my place to be with my daughter so that they can get to know each other better. Anyway, so my daughters bfriend 's mother is stopping by my place for the first time to pick her daughter up to take her back home. When she had arrived at my place I was in doing my thing in the ladies room and she (the mom of the other two kids) entered my apartment with my daughters invitation without my knowledge. By the time I had come out of the ladies room they were all sitting nicely in my living room talking and I walked in and introduced myself to the mom. Just before this happening my daughter had a negative conversation with her bfriend the son of the mom who is now in my living room and I felt weird because I wanted her to feel welcomed but at the same time I know how she sides with her son and not my daughter so I didn't know what to say to her. She brought me a basket of fruit for Easter and wished me the best. I stood there sort of frozen and just smiled and nodded. Then my daughters bfriend's sister got upset at me because I did not respond back to her mom when she wished me happy easter. Lord I felt ill. I wanted to show them love and kindness which is what I felt for this family yet something causes my tongue to be tied and the result is I say nothing but smile and nodd with almost a tear in my eyes.

Just so everyone here knows. I can speak that's why it gets to me when something inside holds my tongue. What's that about? It'd like the heart wants to speak and my mind keeps it from happening?

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 14 replies

HELP! TEEN SPIRIT!

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 21:50:04 GMT

In a couple days I will have three teenaged girls in my little apartment over this Easter break. Any helpful ideas on how I can make this cold apartment vibrate warmth and good spirits to counter act the whole gossip, comparing, competition school stuffs, loud music, arguments etc (the so called teen spirit).

Thanks a lot,
Lehua Honey.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 17 replies

Laughing Our Way to Enlightenment

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 07:23:59 GMT

"Thank God I'm a Buddhist."

Love and prayers,
Rigdzin

A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are for.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Experiment - Sleep Positions

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 15:38:02 GMT

See http://www.lucidity.com/DreamYoga.html

The Best Sleep Posture for Lucid Dreaming: A Revised Experiment Testing a Method of Tibetan Dream Yoga
Sleep Posture, the Nasal Cycle, and Lucidity

For over 1,000 years, the Tibetan Buddhists have been practicing lucid dreaming as a means of approaching enlightenment. In this pursuit, they have developed elaborate techniques for inducing lucidity. Some of these are esoteric beyond the capacity of the uninitiated Western mind to conceive, let alone practice. However, others bear a striking resemblance to the techniques now employed by Western oneironauts, for example, frequent reflection throughout the day on the dreamlike nature of reality.

We are very grateful to the Fetzer Institute, which has provided us with funding to investigate the value of ancient Tibetan lucid dreaming induction techniques in the West. One such avenue which has been little explored to date is that of posture during sleep. Some Tibetan lore suggests that men and women should sleep on opposite sides, "because their energy channels are reversed." We would like to find out to what extent this is so. Previous Lucidity Institute studies on sleep posture, nasal laterality, and lucid dreaming have in fact yielded certain unexpected differences for men and women, but we need more participants to know whether those results were random variations or reproducible.

For the last year, we have offered a version of the experiment investigating sleep posture and nasal laterality (an ancient Yogic technique for influencing states of mind) requiring a series of early morning naps. Although the nap version of the experiment was designed to yield the highest rate of lucid dreaming, it evidently was too difficult for most people to schedule into their busy lives. Thus, we have modified the experiment once again, making it much easier to collect data in the course of one's usual sleeping schedule. If you have already started the previous version (LR3060.pdf) of the experiment, please finish it and send in your results. You may also participate in the new version of the experiment even if you have already completed a previous variation.

If you would like to participate, just enter your email address and click Send...

http://www.lucidity.com/DreamYoga.html

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 4 replies

Pardon all my Irate Listings

timthemighty — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 03:52:49 GMT

I realize my chastisement of tribe for their new TOU is probably not the best mindset to cultivate dreams of clarity, yet, that is part of the waking dream.

The practice of awake- natural light- influences the practice of the dream state.

Sometimes I get on a rant. Free speech seems like a worthy rant subject.

This tribe seems far removed from that torrent, which is nice.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 3 replies

New Members Introduction

Sun, 02 Apr 2006 00:03:58 GMT

Howdy Timmy,
Awesome work your doing with this Tribe site. I thought a topic for new members to introduce themselves would be cool.

Howdy All,
I'm a new tribe member, My name is Rigdzin Osel and I'm living in Boulder, Colorao, USA
I love to share what I know of Buddhism; but hoping no one is disappointed with my lack of knowledge, I’m just a silly old man with a very slow mind; but I do have a great passion for Buddhism.

I studied Buddhism in California at the Vajrayana Foundation ( Nyingma-Dzogchen) with Rinpoche Lama Tharchin. Currently I’m sitting in on some classes at the Boulder Shambala center and finishing my Dodjum Terar Ngondro.

Kindness, awareness and compassion are at the hart of my path; abandoning all I am to serve all sentient beings.

I'd love to add some memmbers to my friends list :)

Love and prayers,
Rigdzin

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 3 replies

Dzogchen and the Three Vital Points with Kali Ma

Nandi — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 19:04:25 GMT

Grass Valley Weekend Transmission with Kali Ma

Dzogchen and the 3 Vital Points
March 25th - 26th
The Grass Valley Dharma House
11886 Paddock Lane, Grass Valley, CA, 95959

The Dzogchen Tantras focus on the most direct, essential and immediate access to realization. Join Kali Ma for the auspicious opportunity to receive these precious teachings on the nature of mind, the nature of self, of love, of life; the nature of all things.

For more information please visit www.tantricsiddhas.org.

Pre-registration required, e-mail register@tantricsiddhas.org or call 888-Tantra-Yoga.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Sleep Yoga and the Practice of Clear Light; Taught by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

Dionysus — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 23:06:47 GMT

Sleep Yoga and the Practice of Clear Light; Taught by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche offers the second of two weekend teachings from the Mother Tantra (Ma Gyud), the highest tantra in the Bön tradition, on the practices of dream yoga and sleep yoga, and their relationship to death.

Rinpoche will explain what clear-light is and how one can recognize it during sleep. Once recognized as one’s own essence, further practice of the yoga positively transforms all emotions and conditions. While the dream practice prepares the practitioner to awaken in the near-death bardo, the sleep yoga prepares one to awaken in the clear-light bardo, as well as in life, right now. Rinpoche will give simple practices that can be immediately applied by the practitioner. There is no prerequisite for this teaching.

Time: May 6-7, 2006, 9:30am-5:30pm

Location: El Cerrito Veteran's Memorial, 6401 Stockton, El Cerrito, CA

Contact: Laura Shekerjian email (510)849-2373

http://home.comcast.net/~clearway/Bon/BayArea/Events.html

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Introduction to Trul Khor: The Yoga of the Bon Tradition

Dionysus — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 21:57:05 GMT

I've seen the names of N. Norbu and Tenzin Wangyal on this tribe and I know some of us have had at least a little contact with bon (N. Norbu's last incarnation is said to be of the bon master Adzom Drugpa, Tenzin Wangyal is a bon teacher has been a student of N. Norbu's among others and both have written and taught on dream and waking yogas). Tenzin Wangyal sometimes gives teaching in the Bay Area and his student Laura (who he has authorized to teach) is offering this series (initially at least N. Norbu's local center).

Introduction to Trul Khor: The Yoga of the Bon Tradition

Taught by Laura Shekerjian

Tsa Lung Trul Khor, or "channels, vital breath and magical movements" is the physical yoga of the Bon tradition and works with the balance of body, breath and mind. Harmonizing the vital breath and guiding its flow through the physical and energetic dimensions of our being is a powerful practice which can clear longstanding physical, energetic and mental obstacles and facilitate the spontaneous arising of clear awareness both in meditation and everyday life. It is a wonderful support for all practitioners, not just those with a particular interest in the physical yogas.

Part 1: Feb. 11-12, 2006 9am-4pm, 9am-1pm
Part 2: Jun. 3-4, 2006 9am-4pm, 9am-1pm

Also visit our website for more detailed information about Bay Area Bon events:

http://home.comcast.net/~clearway/Bon/BayArea/Events.html

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 1 reply

call for a Free Tibet action

Peter — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 02:24:28 GMT

Dear friends,

It's time to rise up and help to end the occupation of Tibet.

Help to save the vanishing Tibetan people and culture.

Today's global communications made possible for us to be heard from many people around the world. We can reach others who can help to free Tibet - Chinese government officials, local government officials responsible for Chinese relations, the United Nations and other international organizations, activists around the world - with just sending an email.

Be aware of any China-related events in your area and take action. Show the people in your community that China is not a free and democratic country, as the Chinese government is trying to show us, but a Nazi dictatorship conducting a genocide in Tibet.

Go to the local Chinese embassy or consulate and tell the Chinese officials to end the occupation in Tibet. Use any possible event, with non-violent action, to show that China is not welcome anywhere until Tibet is free.

Boycott "made in China" products. Don't buy anything that has been made in China. Chinese economy depends heavily on foreign markets. You can help your local economy by buying products made in your country. As you do so, others will follow you and soon enough it will become a massive movement.

Become a Free Tibet activist. Educate yourself, your friends, and the people in your community about the true situation in Tibet. Read news from Tibet, available in the internet, and inform local media. Organize movie screenings, put out posters and flyers, raise awareness by any non-violent means about the struggle of the Tibetan people.

For those of you who can travel the world: the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 are the perfect occasion for action. The whole world will be watching China and we can show them what is really going on in Tibet and China.

Be creative and use any non-violent means to raise awareness and pressure the Chinese government to free Tibet.

links:
www.savetibet.org
www.studentsforafreetibet.org
www.tibet.net
www.boycottmadeinchina.org
www.2008-freetibet.org

F R E E T I B E T !

F R E E T I B E T !

F R E E T I B E T !

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Waking Life

timthemighty — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 08:54:48 GMT

Part of what inspired this tribe was the movie Waking Life, directed by Richard Linklatter. It is a wonderful philosphical ride and touches on aspects of dream yoga, yet not too directly. Some of the commentary is really quite profound.
Has anyone else seen Waking Life?

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 6 replies

Very new

el_tortugo — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 18:39:43 GMT

Hello,

I joined this tribe a little while ago because I had a faint idea about what it is and wanted to learn more. I havn't read much here since.

Recently a few people recomended I look into this further so I am back.
Any leads to good introductions on this practice would be very appreciated.

As far as my dream practice goes.... I have a hard time just recalling my dreams though I know I am pretty busy while sleeping. So any pointers on lucidity and recall would be appreciated as well.

Thank you.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 3 replies

daily life.

vajraheart — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 01:32:19 GMT

Below is a beautiful teaching given
by His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche:
Dzogchen Practice in Everyday Life

The everyday practice of dzogchen is simply to develop a complete carefree acceptance, an openness to all situations without limit. We should realize openness as the playground of our emotions and relate to people without artificiality, manipulation or strategy. We should experience everything totally, never withdrawing into ourselves as a marmot hides in its hole. This practice releases tremendous energy which is usually constricted by the process of maintaining fixed reference points. Referentiality is the process by which we retreat from the direct experience of everyday life.
Being present in the moment may initially trigger fear. But by welcoming the sensation of fear with complete openness, we cut through the barriers created by habitual emotional patterns. When we engage in the practice of discovering space, we should develop the feeling of opening ourselves out completely to the entire universe.
We should open ourselves with absolute simplicity and nakedness of mind. This is the powerful and ordinary practice of dropping the mask of self-protection. We shouldn't make a division in our meditation between perception and field of perception. We shouldn't become like a cat watching a mouse. We should realize that the purpose of meditation is not to go "deeply into ourselves" or withdraw from the world. Practice should be free and non-conceptual, unconstrained by introspection and concentration. Vast unoriginated self-luminous wisdom space is the ground of being - the beginning and the end of confusion. The presence of awareness in the primordial state has no bias toward enlightenment or non-enlightenment. This ground of being which is known as pure or original mind is the source from which all phenomena arise. It is known as the great mother, as the womb of potentiality in which all things arise and dissolve in natural self-perfectedness and absolute spontaneity.
All aspects of phenomena are completely clear and lucid. The whole universe is open and unobstructed - everything is mutually interpenetrating. Seeing all things as naked, clear and free from obscurations, there is nothing to attain or realize. The nature of phenomena appears naturally and is naturally present in time-transcending awareness. Everything is naturally perfect just as it is.
All phenomena appear in their uniqueness as part of the continually changing pattern. These patterns are vibrant with meaning and significance at every moment; yet there is no significance to attach to such meanings beyond the moment in which they present themselves. This is the dance of the five elements in which matter is a symbol of energy and energy a symbol of emptiness.
We are a symbol of our own enlightenment. With no effort or practice whatsoever, liberation or enlightenment is already here. The everyday practice of dzogchen is just everyday life itself. Since the undeveloped state does not exist, there is no need to behave in any special way or attempt to attain anything above and beyond what you actually are.
There should be no feeling of striving to reach some "amazing goal" or "advanced state." To strive for such a state is a neurosis which only conditions us and serves to obstruct the free flow of Mind. We should also avoid thinking of ourselves as worthless persons - we are naturally free and unconditioned. We are intrinsically enlightened and lack nothing. When engaging in meditation practice, we should feel it to be as natural as eating, breathing and defecating. It should not become a specialized or formal event, bloated with seriousness and solemnity.
We should realize that meditation transcends effort, practice, aims, goals and the duality of liberation and non-liberation. Meditation is always ideal; there is no need to correct anything. Since everything that arises is simply the play of mind as such, there is no unsatisfactory meditation and no need to judge thoughts as good or bad.
Therefore we should simply sit. Simply stay in your own place, in your own condition just as it is. Forgetting self-conscious feelings, we do not have to think "I am meditating." Our practice should be without effort, without strain, without attempts to control or force and without trying to become "peaceful." If we find that we are disturbing ourselves in any of these ways, we stop meditating and simply rest or relax for a while. Then we resume our meditation.
If we have "interesting experiences" either during or after meditation, we should avoid making anything special of them. To spend time thinking about experiences is simply a distraction and an attempt to become unnatural. These experiences are simply signs of practice and should be regarded as transient events. We should not attempt to re-experience them because to do so only serves to distort the natural spontaneity of mind.
All phenomena are completely new and fresh, absolutely unique and entirely free from all concepts of past, present and future. They are experienced in timelessness. The continual stream of new discovery, revelation and inspiration which arises at every moment - is the manifestation of our clarity.
We should learn to see everyday life as mandala - the luminous fringes of experience which radiate spontaneously from the empty nature of our being. The aspects of our mandala are the day-to-day objects of our life experience moving in the dance or play of the universe. By this symbolism the inner teacher reveals the profound and ultimate significance of being. Therefore we should be natural and spontaneous, accepting and learning from everything. This enables us to see the ironic and amusing side of events that usually irritate us.
In meditation we can see through the illusion of past, present and future - our experience becomes the continuity of nowness. The past is only an unreliable memory held in the present. The future is only a projection of our present conceptions. The present itself vanishes as soon as we try to grasp it. So why bother with attempting to establish an illusion of solid ground?
We should free ourselves from our past memories and preconceptions of meditation. Each moment of meditation is completely unique and full of potentiality. In such moments, we will be incapable of judging our meditation in terms of past experience, dry theory or hollow rhetoric.
Simply plunging directly into meditation in the moment now, with our whole being, free from hesitation, boredom or excitement, is enlightenment.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 3 replies

tah symbol...

Wed, 31 Aug 2005 01:00:05 GMT

Can anyone explain the beautiful image in the photo section that says tah underneath it?

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 4 replies

dZogchen and politics

timthemighty — Sat, 16 Oct 2004 19:34:08 GMT

Recently, I've had a few "dreams of clarity" that are influenced by current world events.
Strangely, or not, in lieu of our current political climate, I was having a talk with John Kerry, or really, I was sending him healing energy and giving him protective energy for his battles with the dark side. This was over the summer. When I saw the first debate, it was amazing, like he was acknolwedging that many people had done similarly on a psychic level.
Again, I do not want to politicize this tribe, yet that was the content of my dream and it has reoccured several times since. I had not gone to sleep with the conscious intent of doing so, only of the practice of Natural Light.

Kerry is also a skier, so I felt that there was a connection in that dream there as well. I often have lucid dreams of skiing (sometimes with messages of obstacles to doing it).

It seems that our dream life is so open to these cross references over space and time.
Does anyone else have any similar experiences?

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 5 replies

nice dream links

Sat, 11 Jun 2005 03:40:29 GMT

http://www.natural-connection.com/resource/yoga_journal/dream_yoga.html

and

http://www.eckankar.org/dream.html

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Kick starting the dreaming

Mon, 30 May 2005 10:30:16 GMT

I've raised my intentions more than a few times lately to have some lucid dreams, as starting points for more practice (20 + years now). Problem is, the strong dreaming I used to have when I was younger seems lost to me now. I don't seem capable of becoming aware in my dreams anymore. I rarely remember any of my dreams anymore.

I found out the other day I have a deviated septum (likely caused from a bad mountain bike accident years ago) and that this may be causing my sleep to be so very light. I am a very light sleeper these days. Getting enough sleep is always an issue now.

I tried steroids (Flonase) for the nose, but that made breathing much worse. I'm looking for a natural means for clearing the clogged left sinus. A nettypot barely does anything to help.

Any thoughts -- bits of advice?

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 1 reply

this Tribe is under construction....

timthemighty — Wed, 08 Sep 2004 20:14:57 GMT

really, I've had no time to develop it- thus the 4 members and no posts.

too much dream time?

who can say.

offer your thoughts and dreams here!

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 15 replies

Dream plants

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 15:03:42 GMT

I posted this on another tribe...

http://seattle.tribe.net/thread/764258ed-fee7-4f9c-a8cf-f3d968815459?tribeid=72f52350-1697-4155-9d2f-78e135f43f05&threads=true&r=10302#$message.id

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 3 replies

Online instruction in dream yoga

kanch_bud — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 02:34:00 GMT

Does anyone know some links to good instructions on this subject?

Kind regards,

PB

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 2 replies

My first Lucid Dream practice

timthemighty — Sat, 16 Oct 2004 19:28:36 GMT

I started dZogchen practice over 10 years ago, and recently got back into it on a more intense level.

When I first began doing the exercises of Natural Light, I had th emost amazing dream of floating in a warm ocean, swimming with dolphins, and coming ashore to a pebbled beach whence a lama or tulku warmly greeted me. All the while there was a moistness in the air and I kept seeing rainbows. I awoke and could almost not believe that I just experienced this.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 3 replies

Dreams and Manifestation

timthemighty — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 06:45:36 GMT

Ok, this is a big one.
To get this ball rolling, I will only offer what good ol' Rob Brezny wrote this week:

"If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet," said author Toni Morrison, "then you must write it." In the event that you're a writer, Libra, I direct her counsel to you. It's timely advice. But if you're not a writer, take heed instead of the following: If there's a world you want to live in or a gift you want to receive or a deed you want to benefit from or an adventure you want thrust upon you, make it yourself."

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Share your lucid dreams!

timthemighty — Sat, 31 Jul 2004 07:31:42 GMT

This is the start of a lucid dream forum.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 5 replies

awesome! welcome to the dream yoga tribe!

timthemighty — Sat, 16 Oct 2004 19:18:35 GMT

glad to see so many have joined!
I have been consumed with work and using dream yoga to get Bush out of office and John Kerry in office-- NOT that I want to politicize this forum or tribe, that is just where my psychic/spiritual energy is these days.

thanks so much for joining!

PB

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 2 replies

Practice even when under duress...

timthemighty — Fri, 12 Nov 2004 18:21:31 GMT

So, my previous examples regarding dream yoga in the world of politics look rather stupid, yet, oh well, that's what I get for putting effort into it.

That might not be the best application of the practice, anyway.
I would say that it is important to keep at it even when distracted or when under duress- this is important in any teaching of mind training or spiritual development.

Any one else have any thoughts about this? Are we really living in a world of doom? I don't think so, my sarcastic political side notwithstanding.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 0 replies

Free Lucid Dream Forum

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 15:55:14 GMT

Here's a great online forum sponsored by the Lucidity Institute -- see http://www.novadreamer.com/discus/messages/board-topics.html

Stephen LaBerge participates in discussions there. Also, you will need to register (free) to use the forum -- go to http://www.novadreamer.com/cgi-bin/discus/board-profile.cgi to register

The Lucidity Institute, Inc. was founded in 1987 by lucid dreaming researcher Dr. Stephen LaBerge to support research on lucid dreams and to help people learn to use them to enhance their lives. Lucid dreaming means dreaming while knowing that one is dreaming and allows people to consciously guide the direction of their dreams.

The Lucidity Institute's primary mission is to advance research on the nature and potentials of consciousness and to apply the results of this research to the enhancement of human health and well-being.

posted in dZogchen Waking Life - 1 reply