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Mandala
Ven. Thubten Chodron talks with Mandala editor Laura Miller in an audio interview about editing Wisdom Publications’ upcoming Insight into Emptiness by Khensur Jampa Tegchok Rinpoche. In their free-ranging conversation, Ven. Chodron also discusses her teacher Khensur Jampa Tegchok Rinpoche, the importance of studying emptiness and the process of editing a book among other things.
From Mandala July-September 2012
Maitripa College professor Jim Blumenthal writes the inaugural article for our new section Nalanda Masters, providing a brief introduction to the Seventeen Pandits of Nalanda Monastery. These pandits are “a grouping of seventeen of the most important and influential Mahayana Buddhist masters from India’s past.” His Holiness the Dalai Lama often refers to himself as a follower of their teachings and even wrote even wrote a poem in praise of the seventeen, “Illuminating the Threefold Faith: An Invocation of the Seventeen Great Sagely Adepts of Glorious Nalanda.”
From Mandala July-September 2012.
Thubten Yeshe (T.Y.), FPMT registered teacher, provides suggestions for students without direct access to a teacher. She also takes a look at the role of doubt on a practitioner’s spiritual path: “Doubt is an essential aspect of our practice and should not be suppressed, but rather embraced.”
From Mandala July-September 2012.
Liberated yaks just after their arrival in Rolwaling Valley, Nepal, September 2011
In 2011, more than 108 yaks’ lives were saved in Nepal through the efforts of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Geshe Thubten Jinpa and with the support from FPMT’s Animal Liberation Fund and Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore. In order to document the liberation, Geshe Jinpa brought along a camera crew and has just released an exciting new video called 108 Yaks: A Journey of Love and Freedom.
108 Yaks tells the story of the 19-day journey made by the rescued yaks from Dhudkunda, Nepal, where they were sold to Geshe Jinpa, to their new home in the lush pastures of the sacred Rolwaling Valley in northeastern Nepal, where the foot prints of Guru Rinpoche are said to be. The video takes us along on the stunning trek as a team of 22 herders and porters guides the gentle and peaceful yaks over rugged and treacherous mountain terrain.
“Rinpoche first spoke about his wish to rescue yaks in January 2011. He had heard rumours about the trading of yaks for meat up in the Himalayas of Nepal and expressed his concern,” Amitabha Buddhist Centre’s newsletter Tashi Delek reports. Rinpoche sent Geshe Jinpa to investigate. Eventually, Rinpoche arranged for the liberation of 115 yaks and for their care by the villagers living in Rolwaling.
As Lama Zope Rinpoche has advised, animal liberation is not just about saving animals from slaughter, but making sure the animals receive positive Dharma imprints for the rest of their lives through circling holy objects, hearing mantras and so forth.
Geshe Jinpa explained to Tashi Delek the reasons for rescuing the yaks and making the film 108 Yaks :
My whole point of doing this animal liberation is to dedicate for Rinpoche and the gurus’ long lives. But also it is to promote animal liberation, to tell people what animal liberation is and how it should be done. And also [share] what Rinpoche does to benefit sentient beings, with his words, his teachings and actions. Through that we contribute to the welfare of the animals. I mentioned to Rinpoche, by doing so, maybe this can get some support for Rinpoche’s animal liberation projects – building sanctuaries everywhere to accommodate these animals.
You can order 108 Yaks from The Foundation Store.
Liberated yaks in Rolwaling, Nepal, wearing cords blessed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, September 2011
With 158 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
Khensur Jampa Tegchok Rinpoche describes the simile of a cloud, a famous simile about the nature of reality from the Vajra Cutter Sutra (a.k.a. Diamond Cutter Sutra) from his new Wisdom Publications’ book Insight into Emptiness.
From Mandala July-September 2012.
FPMT makes the sutra available freely in multiple languages on fpmt.org. Also, FPMT Foundation Store has paper copies in English available for donation.
Over a dozen fresh online stories from the new issue of Mandala are waiting for you!
Here are a few highlights:
Lama Yeshe with Ven. Karin Valham, Lama Lhundrup, Lama Pasang and Kopan monks at a picnic in Bhalaju, Kathmandu Valley, 1976. Photo courtesy of Ven. Karin Valham.
In our continuing “Road to Kopan” series, Ven. Karin Valham describes her first Kopan course in November 1974: “Rinpoche’s and Lama’s teaching instantly became very personal. I was sitting way at the back having come late, and I was thinking they were talking to me, describing my life problems and giving me advice how to solve them by practicing Dharma. Lama Yeshe’s loving kindness helped us believe in ourselves and our potential as human beings. When he talked about ‘the fantasy projection of our dualistic mind,’ I knew exactly what he meant. I had found what I was looking for ‒ the Dharma ‒ and I wanted to become more like Rinpoche and Lama.”
Khensur Jampa Tegchok Rinpoche explains the simile of a cloud from the Diamond Cutter Sutra in an excerpt from the forthcoming book Insight into Emptiness. And we talk to the book’s editor, Ven. Thubten Chodron, in the first edition of our podcast “Mandala Talk.”
Sarah Shifferd takes the path into the world of online dating. “An online dating profile is a window into a mind and a life. It can be a work of art, a brash advertisement, a dispassionate report. First and foremost, it is a marketing tool for the self,” Shifferd writes. “My online dating practice threw me right into the deep end of the wisdom pool: describe this self accurately and even intriguingly, without becoming trapped in some notion of its inherent solidity.”
I live in an incredible beautiful part of Australia: down south, near Wilson’s Promontory. It is so beautiful, and also so windy that Shallow Inlet, curving around behind the town, is considered one of the best places in the world for wind surfing. This same wind sweeps up the street and swirls around my house. Whatever the wind’s direction, it pulls off the leaves, throws the plants into a frenzy and wails around the chimney. This is not conducive to sitting outside under the veranda unless one likes wind. I installed bistro blinds. What had been a desolate, wind-swept veranda was instantly transformed into a large and congenial space.
Sometimes we need to face the elements, but sometimes they are too much.
As I increasingly experience the suffering of old age, my need for protection has become more important. My skin tears and bruises more easily. My hearing and sight are no longer accurate. Then there is my mind. Like many older people, I fear the possibility of dementia; I actually should be more fearful for the imprints, the karma, I create. Our positive karmic imprints can be fragile and need protection. The winds of desire with its graspings and aversions begin to howl and complain more loudly as our bodies crumble towards death. What to do?
My mind needs its own bistro blinds ‒ something that allows it to see the outside world without being tossed around by it, a way of staying in touch without being overwhelmed. A strong equanimity that can withstand the raging heat of desire and the painful hailstones of aversion would be good. But I cannot buy equanimity. It is something I have to make myself. It is made, so Buddha told us, from judging rightly, without bias, without attachment or aversion.
It is equanimity which gives us the chance to see the elements raging from the recesses of our minds with clarity. Our ego says, “I want everything good for me.” The stronger the ego, the more grimly we hang onto what we want, despite its impermanence, or franticly reject what we don’t want. The fierce heat of grimness, the hailstones of panic rage around. Equanimity is the first line of defence against the self-centred, self-grasping ego. Equanimity arises only when we are not concerned about our egos.
We need equanimity in so many ways. In meditation, equanimity refers to the balance between too much mental activity (excitement) and not enough (mental dullness). When we train in compassion we begin by developing the equanimity that sees all sentient beings as the same in the sense that we all want happiness and not suffering. We judge them rightly, correctly, without our tendency to label sentient beings as friend, enemy or stranger. With our clear equanimity bistro blinds, we are no longer thrown around by the turmoil that comes from such labels and our emotional reaction to the labels.
Since I cannot put up the inner bistro blinds alone, I need help, a qualified contractor. I am not alone. I call in the contractor. If we do need help, then it makes sense to ask for it. Here is a real life story:
“During my fifth year at primary school I began to experience strange voices inside my head,” Josh explained. “They seemed to replace normal sounds, such as wind in the trees or the noise of a person climbing a staircase. It was like a collision of thousands of human voices, which were aggressive and very frightening. It got so that every sound I heard was transformed into these voices, sometimes for hours on end and especially when I was trying to fall asleep at night. I felt so helpless and frightened and covered my ears with a pillow to block them out, but this only made them a little less loud. I often cried myself to sleep, but even my whimpering made them come.
“My parents didn’t know where to take me for help,” Josh continued. “Then Lama Yeshe came to Melbourne. I felt apprehensive about visiting him but he greeted me with extreme kindness and warmth. His beaming smile made me feel completely relaxed. He made me sit beside him on cushions and asked me about the voices. Then he poured some special medicine into a bowl of hot water, placed a towel over both our heads and together we inhaled the vapors. It was just like inhaling eucalyptus, and I felt wonderfully relaxed and protected by his presence. We did this for some time, then Lama gave me a big hug and told me I would never hear the voices again. I believed him and from that day on I never did.”1
Equanimity is the internal protector. It is held fast by the external protectors. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has given us lots of advice for protection from external storms, disasters and harmful energies. Much of this is available from the Foundation Store in the form of protection practices, cards, amulets and stickers. If you type “protection” in the search box at Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archives, it will come up with 160 references.
1. Josh Aitken, quoted in Adele Hulse’s Big Love and related in conversation with me many years ago. He is now a father himself and has had no more voices in his head or other signs of schizophrenia.
His Eminence Choden Rinpoche is a compelling figure in the world of Tibetan Buddhism, known for meditating secretly in his small, dark, empty room for 19 years in occupied Tibet. At the request of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Choden Rinpoche has now visited the West several times to give teachings and lead retreats.
From Mandala July-August 2000.
Choden Rinpoche will be giving various teachings at Ananda Dharma Center, in San Jose, California in June, July, and August.
FPMT News Around the World
Saka Dawa light offerings in Bodhgaya, India, organized by Root Institute. Photo courtesy of Root Institute.
FPMT centers, projects and services around the world celebrated Saka Dawa, the day commemorating Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana, yesterday. We rejoice in all of the events and activities that took place!
Here are highlights from a very few celebrations of Saka Dawa:
At the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodhgaya, India, the Festival of Lights and Merit (FLAM) offered 100,000 lights June 3-5. FLAM is a project of Root Institute and makes light offerings and prayers during the four great Buddhist festivals. In addition to the 100,000 rainbow-colored electric lights that are carefully hung among the trees and walls of the entire Mahabodhi Stupa grounds, offering and dedication prayers are made on the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, increasing the power of the offerings even further.
Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore reported on Facebook that on Saka Dawa they liberated “about 800,000 lives (about 7 tons of la-la [clams] and cockles).”
Saka Dawa food offerings at Sera Je Monastery in India. Photo courtesy of FPMT Sera Je India.
FPMT Sera Je India shared photos on Facebook of Saka Dawa food offerings at Sera Je Monastery in India. [In other rejoicing news: This month, FPMT’s Sera Je Food Fund received US$115,000, which covers the next six months’ worth of meals for all 2,600 monks currently studying at Sera Je.]
On Saka Dawa, Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (ILTK) consecrated their new Geshe Jampa Gyatso stupa. Geshe Jampa Gyatso taught 27 years at ILTK. Jhado Rinpoche presided over the cemerony. You can see more photos from the creation of the stupa on ILTK’s Facebook page.
Consecration of Geshe Jampa Gyatso stupa, Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy, June 2012. Photo by Sirianni.
FPMT International Office celebrated Saka Dawa online by inviting students and supporters of Lama Zopa Rinpoche around the world to contribute to the Work a Day for Rinpoche fund, which supports the continuing realization of Rinpoche’s vast compassionate vision. Response thus far has been fantastic.
With 159 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
Is it possible to be a Buddhist and compete in your job? Or spread the Dharma in the workplace? Depending on your field, your motivation and your karma, it may not be easy. Or it may.
From Mandala September-November 2002
Consider putting the inspiration of this article into action by supporting Work a Day for Rinpoche, celebrated on Saka Dawa (today!), the day commemorating Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana. Donations made to this fund go to FPMT International Office, which works to support Rinpoche’s vast vision. If you are inspired by Rinpoche’s limitless compassion, please consider making a contribution to the Work a Day for Rinpoche Fund.
Is work necessarily mundane? Is there a way to make it sacred? Psychologist Karuna Cayton explores the relationship between work and spirituality.
From Mandala June-July 2005.
FPMT News Around the World
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Tushita Meditation Centre, May 15, 2012. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala has been abuzz with activity. FPMT’s spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s two-week visit earlier this month brought with it many blessing for Sangha and students. On May 15, he gathered the 100 students there for the course together to share with them a piece of the torma (ritual cake) from Khadro-la’s retreat.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Tushita Meditation Centre, May 15, 2012. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Two days earlier, Lobsang Sangay, the Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister of Tibet), visited Rinpoche at Tushita with Kalon Pema Chinnjor (the Minister for Religion and Culture). They met privately, and then Rinpoche led the Kalon Tripa on a tour of the center. Ling Rinpoche also paid Lama Zopa Rinpoche a visit at Tushita on May 10. Ling Rinpoche received a tour of Tushita as well and took time to address students.
Tushita celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The center offers a full range of courses for both beginner and experienced Dharma students. In 2011, more than 9,000 people from all over the world attended their residential courses, retreats and drop-in sessions, with many more visiting for personal retreat and special events. Tushita will be featured in the next issue of Mandala, which comes out soon.
You can see many more photos from Rinpoche’s visit to Tushita, find links to recent teachings and learn about other happenings at the center on Tushita’s Facebook page.
With 159 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.