New Stupa In California

Earlier this year, we reported on the long life stupa for the incomparable Dzogchen master, and direct manifestation of Padmasambhava, Kyabje Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche (Tarthangpa Kunga Gelek Yeshe Dorje),  then under construction at Dharma Press, in Northern California. The stupa, and its associated support installations, have now been completed.

Very impressive joinery in the bell house. You do not see that class of work in the U.S. very often anymore. This appears to be one of the bells cast in Germany, by the Rudolph Perner firm, and now installed in the U.S. and India.

I believe, subject to correction, that the Odiyan temple complex and the Dharma Press complex now collectively host over 300 major stupas. That just goes to show what people can accomplish when they usefully engage their lives in the Dharma.

Daily Tibetan Astrology: November 30, 2009

Chinese 14th, M-T-K  13th. Bird, Khen, Yellow 5. Can you believe how quickly November flew away? In the blink of an eye, 2009 will be gone. Set aside time for practice today, as you will no doubt have many diversions the rest of this month.

Published every day at 00:01 香港時間 but written in advance and auto-posted. See our Introduction to Daily Tibetan Astrology for background information. If you know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can get information about your positive and negative days by clicking here. If you don't know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can obtain that information by clicking here. For specific information about the astrology of 2009, inclusive of elements, earth spirits, and so forth, please consult our extended discussion by clicking here. The Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) this year (2009) are: December 5, 20, and next year (2010) are: January 1, 12, 16, 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009. All rights reserved.

For Sandra Olney of the Tibetan Aid Project

The Nyingma Sangha in America would like to honor the memory of Sandra Olney, who served as the director of the Tibetan Aid Project from 2001 through 2005. On November 4, 2009, Sandy passed away peacefully in Berkeley of lung cancer.

TAP thrived during the years of Sandy's leadership. Along with Laurent Manrique, she founded the annual benefit dinner, Taste & Tribute, in 2001. She also launched TAP's Light of Wisdom campaign, which was followed by the Treasures of Wisdom campaign, TAP's major fundraising initiatives. She also began the Community of 1000 Blessings, TAP's primary pledge drive.

During the course of her illness this past year, Sandy received excellent medical care and explored both alternative and traditional ways of healing. Following Sandy's wishes, Nyingma community members helped her with her medical treatments, prepared her meals, offered healing alternatives from many disciplines, and attended to her needs. Throughout this time, Sandy remained positive and focused her energy not just on healing her body, but working toward her spiritual goals and devotional practice.

The Nyingma community has already sponsored prayers at Odiyan and at the holy places of the Buddha, both during Sandy's illness and after her death. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the weeks immediately following a person's passing are set aside as a time for quiet prayer and meritorious actions dedicated to that loved one.

Now that this crucial time has passed, TAP will hold a short prayer service in appreciation of Sandy on the date of the full moon in December (December 2). Here is the schedule:

7-7:45 PM: Memories of Sandy: Short remarks by those who loved Sandy and treasured her presence will be followed by the recitation of the compassion mantra.

8-9:30 PM: Full Moon Chant: this chant includes period of silent meditation. The merit of the chant will be dedicated to Sandy's welfare in all lifetimes.

The service has been arranged by the Nyingma Trust, which was founded specifically to provide funds for medical and other needs of the Nyingma Sangha's full-time working community members, such as Sandy. Please let TAP know if you'd like to attend. If you cannot attend, you are welcome to send a short note in remembrance of Sandy. TAP people will read as many of these notes as time allows.

You may also contribute toward a prayer ceremony at Odiyan on Sandy's behalf, or make a donation in Sandy's honor to support the work she devoted herself to for so many years. Visit www.tibetanaidproject.org to make an offering.


Personal remarks: Ms Olney helped actualize the divine vision of the direct manifestation of Padmasambhava, Kyabje Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche. She followed his instructions to the letter, and also took model responsibility for keeping up her practice. There is absolutely no doubt that she has already received the benefit of her devotion and her practice, just as there is no doubt she will return to act for the benefit of all sentient beings. 

I also want to add that the Nyingma Trust is to be commended for the manner in which Ms Olney was cared for. 

There is a sharp distinction between the way they have conducted themselves, and other "Buddhist" organizations in the United States that force monastics and full-time lay vow holders to sign "hold harmless" agreements in case of illness -- stating that the host organization is not responsible for their care -- and corrupt organizations that raise funds for monastics which are subsequently diverted into business ventures, then completely lost. If you are a member of such an organization, please stop, look carefully, and note the difference between true Nyingma sangha and false claims of "sangha" that disguise a cult of personality. Please note that I am not naming any names here, but if the shoe fits, then wear it -- and if it gives you a blister, then fix it.


The Nyingma Trust quietly and efficiently "took care of their own," without becoming burdensome, or wailing with all sorts of schmaltz and angst. They did it with dignity and class-- no fanfare necessary. They did it with heartfelt purpose, genuine compassion, and direct engagement on a human level.


That is the greatest memorial I can think of for Ms Olney, for that is the way she lived her life, and that is the gift she has left behind.

Daily Tibetan Astrology: November 29, 2009

Chinese 13th, M-T-K  12th. Monkey, Dwa, Green 4. You will notice that we skipped Chinese 12th, which is omitted this month. This can be an amusing, entertaining , and productive day all the way around. Enjoy yourself. I am "in the field" as they say.

Published every day at 00:01 香港時間 but written in advance and auto-posted. See our Introduction to Daily Tibetan Astrology for background information. If you know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can get information about your positive and negative days by clicking here. If you don't know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can obtain that information by clicking here. For specific information about the astrology of 2009, inclusive of elements, earth spirits, and so forth, please consult our extended discussion by clicking here. The Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) this year (2009) are: December 5, 20, and next year (2010) are: January 1, 12, 16, 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009. All rights reserved.

Europe, Summer 2010

Looks like the summer of 2010 belongs to Europe. HH Sakya Trizin will be giving the Kalachakra Initiation in London, June 13th through the 16th, and space is already limited, so if you plan on being there, act quickly.

In times gone by, it used to be traditional to leave London in the summer, and venture about on the continent: running into Hercule Poirot, having love affairs in Tuscany, taking the waters at Baden-Baden, shooting people on trains, and even... dare I say... visiting France.

On July 13th and 14th, at Centre d'Etude de Chanteloube, one will be able to see Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche, on his first visit to France.

Of course, both events are predicated on the Chinese giving permission, but one trusts they will be feeling generous.

Daily Tibetan Astrology: November 28, 2009

Chinese 11th, M-T-K  11th. Horse, Li, Black 2. Today is a Horse day, so I'm going to go trot around -- enjoying what is left of autumn before the first snows arrive. I have a little camping trip and archaeological adventure that begins today and runs into next week, so I apologize in advance for any service interruptions. The astrology from now until December 2nd favors social activity, getting out and around, and of course, getting ready to face the holiday season. Enjoy!

Published every day at 00:01 香港時間 but written in advance and auto-posted. See our Introduction to Daily Tibetan Astrology for background information. If you know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can get information about your positive and negative days by clicking here. If you don't know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can obtain that information by clicking here. For specific information about the astrology of 2009, inclusive of elements, earth spirits, and so forth, please consult our extended discussion by clicking here. The Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) this year (2009) are: December 5, 20, and next year (2010) are: January 1, 12, 16, 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009. All rights reserved.

Buddhist Christmas

Over at the seanrobsville blog, where they successfully deconstructed Halloween last month, they have now deconstructed Christmas with equal success, and provided something I never thought I would see: A Christmas Carol as Dickens could have written it, were he a Buddhist --

"Marley's miserliness has resulted in him becoming a Preta (ghost) after death. His attachment in life was to money, and in the Preta realm his attachment manifests as fetters to chains of money-boxes, keys, ledgers and heavy purses.

"In order to help purify his karma, Marley sets out to warn Scrooge that the same destiny awaits him. Marley is assisted in his task by two peaceful Buddhas (Christmas Past and Christmas Present - Buddhas can manifest in any form that is beneficial to sentient beings), and one wrathful Buddha ('Ghost of the Future!' I fear you more than any spectre I have seen').

"The Buddhas take Scrooge through a sort of mini-Bardo experience, where he reviews his life from the perspective of what he has done to others, or not done for others, rather than what he has done for himself. He awakens into a state of mind transformed by compassion and generosity."

I really enjoyed that, and I really approve of the entire approach.

Since we live in America, I do not see anything wrong with incorporating culturally specific symbols into our offerings. For example: at Halloween and Thanksgiving, I like to make a traditional cornucopia, with gourds, Indian corn, and so forth, and then offer that. For Christmas, I like to offer pine wreaths. A Christmas tree is a kind of mandala, if you stop and think about it, and I don't see anything wrong with that. Similarly, it is always fun to give gifts to people, and practice material generosity.

In the West, I recognize that there are some people who became Buddhists primarily because they  detest Christianity. Their Buddhism is a sort of conversion reaction to something they find  absolutely distasteful; yet, in the process, they become as extreme as the brand of Christianity they despise. At Christmas, they can even break with their Christian family members, and refuse to participate in friendly celebrations.

I have seen people do this.

However, from a broader perspective, one really should try to make Christian family members or friends happy by attending events with them, even if these events have Christian themes or take place in churches, and so forth.

A midnight Mass here or there never killed anybody that I know of, and if you can't manage that, you can always task NetFlix to send Life of Brian, then pop some corn, or roast some chestnuts, and sit around feeling smug.

.

Chasing Time in Garuda Valley

German adventurer Bruno Baumann believes he has found the fabled silver palaces of the Shang Shung kings -- and the cradle of Tibetan civilization -- near the village of Kyunglung, in southwestern Tibet.

The German discoveries pre-date the recent American cave discoveries in Mustang by three years, but taken collectively, this news makes one want to pack a bag -- and some climbing gear -- and head off for the border regions.

Baumann published a book about his expedition, The Silver Palace of Garuda: The Discovery of Tibet's Last Secret, which is available from Amazon (in German). If you want to read more about the story (in English), you can check Der Spiegel's online coverage by clicking here.

Daily Tibetan Astrology: November 27, 2009

Chinese 10th, M-T-K  10th. Snake, Zon, White 1. Today is Guru Rinpoche Day. Apart from that, today is also the second Chinese 10th month, 10th day, for a double-double ten!

Published every day at 00:01 香港時間 but written in advance and auto-posted. See our Introduction to Daily Tibetan Astrology for background information. If you know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can get information about your positive and negative days by clicking here. If you don't know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can obtain that information by clicking here. For specific information about the astrology of 2009, inclusive of elements, earth spirits, and so forth, please consult our extended discussion by clicking here. The Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) this year (2009) are: December 5, 20, and next year (2010) are: January 1, 12, 16, 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009. All rights reserved.

Explain Thanksgiving to the Lama

In the early 17th century, the members of a dangerous cult religion sailed across the ocean to establish a commune in America. Since most of them were emotionally disturbed, they had trouble surviving in the new land, and by the time November rolled around, they were left destitute, starving to death.

The native peoples felt compassion for the cultists, so they came out of the forest to share food with them, and taught them how to care for themselves.

As soon as the cultists regained their strength, they rewarded the native peoples by stripping them of all their worldly goods, giving them venereal disease, and killing as many of them as they could possibly find.

To celebrate this triumph, every year at this time, people in America sacrifice millions of turkeys, watch violent contact sports, and suffer from acid reflux.

Nevertheless, through karmic consequence, the native peoples came to own and operate many  gambling casinos, which systematically strip the descendants of the cultists of all their worldly goods, leaving them destitute, and starving to death.

And this time, nobody is coming out of the forest to share a god damn thing.

.

Blitter

Recognizing that the holiday season has now officially begun in America -- I am getting calls from my small daughter, demanding that I go buy "designer" T-shirts that cost more than T-shirts have a right to cost -- and recognizing that it is traditional (and probably bad form) to send around holiday newsletters to recount all that has happened in the year now passing, I wondered how best to wind down 2009.

I gave "social media" a fair trial, but have concluded it is not for me. I do not care much at all for Twitter or Facebook, although quite obviously, millions of people do.

Whenever I look at these things, I think of karaoke. There is a simple secret behind the success of karaoke, which is this: drunks like to sing.

The same sort of thing applies to Twitter. People like to engage in idle speech. I don't understand Facebook very well -- I still haven't figured out what it is or why it seems necessary -- but I rather suspect it is just idle speech on steroids.

I prefer "blitter," which is idle speech on a blog -- take this as an example -- much in the vein of the idle speech one sees on Twitter or Facebook, except one can use illustrations and hypertext, and the blog doesn't pop open screens demanding access to your operating system.

So, herewith... some non-commercial, family-oriented blittering:

[1] I did a great deal of traveling in 2009, and I am tired.

[2] While it seems that many things were accomplished in 2009, actually, nothing whatsoever was accomplished.

[3] Traveling around, accomplishing nothing, is a lot of fun, but did I mention that I am tired?

[4] The rabbits are fine, and send all their love.

[5] Here is a pithy quote: "The world around you is a reflection of your reaction to the world around you." Redacted for social media: "World round U reflects yr reaction 2 world round U -- Dalai Lama."

[6] Will probably try to spend most of 2010 working on The Big Book of Fake Dalai Lama Quotes: A Treasury for Credulous Collectors, to be followed by Embracing the Banal: Buddha Never Said This.

Cast iron, flying rabbit motif bird feeder. 

Better get ten... make that twenty of them.

[7] "When U 4get 2 give U 4get 2 live -- Ramses IX" Well, as long as we're making up improbable stuff...

[8] When I was in the 3rd grade, the fun thing to do was to hand somebody a piece of paper. On one side, it said, "The statement on the other side of this paper is true." Then, on the other side, it said, "The statement on the other side of this paper is false."

[9] Jean Paul Sartre also did that as a kid. He would hand somebody a piece of paper. On one side it said, "Being." The other side was blank.

[10] Buddhists try to do something they call "meditation" instead, but that's only because they can't find three-sided paper.

[11] Malfunctioning emotions are simple thoughts to which magical properties have been ascribed.

[12] Malfunctioning magic is simple thought to which emotion has been applied.

Is that a wand in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?

[13] Idle speech is defined by (a) speech motivated by defilement, (b) a straying mind, and  (c) the actual occurrence of talk leading to attachment or aversion.

[14] The types of idle speech are described as  (a) meaningless incantations, (b) speech to no purpose, such as storytelling, (c) common gossip, and (d) explaining doctrine to beings incapable of grasping its meaning.

[15] The completely developed result of idle speech is rebirth as an animal; if born as a human, one will like to chatter but no one else will like to listen. One will not be trusted. Nothing will be gained from one’s efforts, and one will experience a series of failures. The environment is unstable, with confused seasons.

[16] Oh yeah.. did I remember to tell you that it snowed last July?

Shop Black Friday at Wal-Mart!

Ganapati’s Exalted Heart-Dharani

Ganapati’s Exalted Heart-Dhārani

In the Indian Language [Sanskrit]: Ārya Ganapati Hridāya

In the Tibetan Language: Phagpa Tsogdagpo’i Zung

In the English Language: Ganapati’s Exalted Heart-Dhārani

HOMAGE TO ALL THE BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS!

Thus have I heard: at one time, the Blessed One, the Transcendent and Accomplished Conqueror, was in Rajagriha, on Vulture’s Peak Mountain, abiding together with an enormous Sangha of fully ordained monks as one expedient method.

Then, the Blessed One said to the Venerable Ananda:

“Retain this, the Heart of Ganapati! Those people who read this will accomplish all of their endeavors. All the aspirations they hold in their minds will be accomplished, as well. They will accomplish all of the secret mantras, as well. All of their wealth and resources will become abundant. Without asking or searching, whatever food and riches they want will be discovered. For this, one must recite this mantra!”

TADYATHĀ/ NAMO TUDDHE/ GANAPATI/ KATA KATA/ KITI KITI/ KUTA KUTA/ MATRA MATRA/ DARA DARA/ DHAHA DHAHA/ GHRINA GHRINA/ DABĀ DABĀ/ JAMBHA JAMBHA/ SAMAYA MANUSMARANA TUDDE TUDTRA/ BACHANAYE SVĀHĀ/ ABUTE BHIDUKSHABANCHA TANA/ BASAMA GARACHHA/ THAMAHABHAYA/ MAHĀBAYĀ/ MAHETETA KSHINIYA/ PRAKOMPAYASI/ TADYATHĀ/ OM KURU KURU/ MURU MURU/ CHURU CHURU/ NAMA NAMA SVĀHĀ

“Ananda! If any son or daughter of noble spiritual lineage, fully-ordained monk, fully-ordained nun, novice monk, novice nun, or anyone else should intone this Heart-Essence of the Powerful Lord of Gatherings every day, then that person will be endowed with bliss and happiness in this life. They will be endowed with riches and resources. The sufferings of poverty and destitution will not occur. They will be pleasing and delightful to all people. They will accomplish all of their endeavors, no matter they are, and their aspirations, as well. Both in this life and in their next life too, they will not lack wealth and resources.”

“Waking up daily early in the morning in one’s home, if this dhārani is chanted three or seven times, then one will retain what one has heard. All malevolent gods, harmful spirits, demons, and malevolent goddesses will not snatch away one’s radiance and luster. That person will be guarded and protected.”

The Blessed One spoke thus, and the entire retinue: the whole universe, with its gods, humans, demi-gods, and gandharvas, rejoiced; they vividly praised what had been spoken by the Bhagavan, the Transcendent and Accomplished Conqueror.

THE EXALTED DHĀRANI OF GANAPATI, THE LORD OF GATHERINGS, IS COMPLETE.

Translated by Erick Sherab Zangpo.

\o/*\o/*\o/*\o/*\o/

Earlier, we posted something about Eric Sherab Zangpo, who is sitting over in India, studying Tibetan and translating up a storm. We asked you to donate some money to help the kid along, and maybe one or two of you managed to scrape up some pocket change.

Sorry, but here it comes... on the arm....

Maybe you have never had the experience of sitting in India, studying Dharma, and watching the money dwindle down to a few bucks until you are flat broke. We have, and we remember what it feels like when you haven''t eaten in a week, and the landlord is knocking on the door.

Eric is a kid in his twenties, giving it his best.  We don't know him and have never met him -- but, because he reminds us of going hungry in Asia whilst writing poetry in the glorious 'Sixties, we have adopted his cause.

Here is how it works -- you go to your PayPal account, and send the kid some money to emptyelephant [at] yahoo.com 

I am really counting on you for this one, so don't go Cheap Charlie on me. You know you got it... you just don't want to give it up for some poor kid studying Tibetan in India. You're sitting there on Thanksgiving, eating turkey until it comes out your nose, while the kid is sitting on some  cold floor, eating watery lentils if he's lucky.

And you call yourself a fan of DTBA....

Wait until I tell the rabbits.

Tibetan 2012, Prophecy, Annotated Translation

You will recall our Stunning Mystery Lotsawa recently favored us with notes from the future past. Subsequently, this annotated revision was forwarded along, for the benefit of all sentient beings:

A prophecy of bLo gros rab 'phel,
an emanation of 'Jam mgon kon sprul blo gros mtha' yas

In the expanse of space, the realm of great space
A thousand lights blaze in the dot of great joy
In the spacious expanse of pure virtual reality
Resonate sounds of vision and void undivided.
The hidden facts of the future,
As vajra chains of empty awareness --
Chains of words everywhere --
Shine forth, vajra signs.

A blazing mass of flame is destroyed
By the saliva of a blue dragon.
Fiercely dancing on a mountain peak,
It is good to use golden ornaments. [1]

[If] on the seventeenth's stairs to be counted [2]
There is happiness at a restful place.
If in the West and Northwest flowers rain down
If held as an adornment above that is good.
Dark poison pounded in a deep hole billows, bringing darkness.

At the black castle's [2a] root six serpents coil;
The jewel [at their] head[s] has a ray shooting out.[2a.i]
The Candala envelops the great golden dome.[2b]
The ray-spikes could also be of clear light.[2b.i]

The neck of dharma-havens will wither and
[something] yellow that causes an increase of hunger[3],[3a]
Might be hit by the light from crystal that produces light.[4]

The rotten smell of an ocean of blood
Would be dried up by the point of a Kila, perhaps.

The rainbow-tiger[s] will fade in the sky. [4a]
The glorious vase will be consumed with poison.[5]
The edge of the fangs of an angry monster
Could strike the head of a lord. [6]

The eastern forests will be consumed by fire [7]
And a glorous flower could be born.

The Western Water-God's snake lasso, if placed
On a high throne of red lights, will dispel the darkness. [8]

The forests of Kong [po] will be destroyed by blades;
The hairy genital knots are surrounded by metal; [9]
Mountain boulders collect on the earth of Bon.

The stone enclosures are disturbed from within.
Leaves grow on the wishfulfilling tree.
If the ocean is struck by a golden ray,
Thirteen light phenomena could rise in the sky.

If the emissary dressed in a monkey-skin
Stays during the seventeen enumerated,
On the great snowy plains of the earth
The excellent Sal tree will reach for the heavens.
The ocean waves will mix with the clouds
The King of Mountains' peak will be stuck under the earth.
If one knows well how to plant spikes underground,
The white snows of the King of Mountains will blaze with light.
The Yaksha holding a wheel of iron
Grows in the great lotus garden to the South.
A rain of honey falls on the Naga Realm to the west.
In the south the tune of emptiness-Dharma resounds.

If the compassionate light Kalachakra finds good circumstances
It will remain for three hundred years,
Or at least for one-hundred eighty.

The sharpness of the teeth of the iron Wealth-Protector
With a poisonous breath -- how terrible!
The manifestations of compassionate light of Orgyen
Shall not deceive -- EMAHO.

The Queen of space Varahi has spoken
These secret signs of circumstance.

[1] Or, 'destroys [the fire] with its saliva'

[2] bgrang gya bcu bdun them skas. 'Seventeenth' is used here with the assumption that seventeen is not the number of the stairs to be counted, but of the seventeenth cycle of 60 years according to the Tibetan calendar (beginning with fire-hare in 1987).

[2a] 'Black Castle' (mkhar nag) may not be, as I recently suggested, a reference to India and China. According to the Rangjung Yeshe Dictionary, "mkhar nag rdo rje rgyal po - the vajra king of Karnak [local deity of Tsurphu]". This is obviously significant.

[2a.i] {mgo yi nor bu zer shig 'phro} 'The jewel of the head {mgo yi nor bu} emits {'phro} a {shig} ray {[g]zer} [of light]' On the other hand {mgo} means 'head'; {yi nor} could mean {yid bzhin nor bu} or HHDL; or perhaps a reference to the previous Karmapa. {bu} means 'boy'; {shig} means among many other things a unit of weight, so {bu shig} could mean 'consideration of the boy' or also, "destroy the boy!"; one meaning of {zer} is 'rumor' or 'emphatic statement' or 'expression of discontent or disapproval' 'gossip' or 'rumour'. {'phro} means 'radiate' {'tser ba} when juxtaposed to {zer} or {'od zer} but it also means by implication 'to speak, broadcast, shout' {'tser ba=zer ba}. The word {shig} here is possibly juxtaposed to the previous word {gzhig} 'to analyze' or 'be destroyed', e.g. the blue dragon. {shig} could easily be construed colloquially as the imperative of {gzhig} 'to investigate'. So {bu shig zer 'phro} has the sense of 'go and investigate/find the boy, alright already!'

[2b] Maybe not a reference to Islam after all. {g.yung po ba gam ser chen 'dril}, it says here. g.Yung po means, among other things, 'servants' or 'followers'. {ba gam} means 'dome' or 'multitiered palace'. {Ser chen} could mean 'large hail' but in context it easily suggests a gold-leaved chorten. {'dril} could mean to surround, etc., but also to "make round" or "bring together". Now I think it refers to the construction of a stupa.

[2b.i] {zer ma me 'od gsal yang srid} has a totally new sense taking {zer} as 'speech' and not as 'light[rays]', etc. Taking {zer} as 'statement', {ma me} as Sanskrit for 'mine' (surely the previous Kongtrul knew some sanskrit!) {'od gsal} simply as 'clear as day' and {yang srid} in its usual sense as "tulku", the line means something completely different than it would just reading it according to meter. It means, basically, 'A statement -clear as day-of my tulku'.

[3] /chos mtshams ske 'bri skem spel ser/ /'od byung me shel 'od 'phog srid/ Note that ser_ske is a type of yellow fly that is attracted to feces during monsoon acc. to TDC.

[3a] {chos mtshams ske 'bri skems 'phel ser} like the previous line should be read out of meter to make sense of it, with the first syllable being medium voiced and second emphasized, instead of the first strong and the second weak as would be customary. {chos} could refer to a lot of things, but it doesn't really matter here, it's a placeholder term anyway. Let us make it mean {chos gos} 'dharma robe' for the sake of argument. {mtshams ske} would then mean '[that which is  in] the gap [mtshams] between the neck [ske] and the robe'. In other words, the [in]famous letter. {'bri} means 'female yak' or 'declined, damaged' but also 'to write'. {'bri skem} means 'withered writing', 'damaged letter', or 'dried-out letter'. It's not a big stretch to make it out. {'phel} means 'increase' or here, 'incite'. {'phel ser} suggests increased envy {ser sna} or 'monks {ser, 'yellow' [robed people] incited to action {'phel}. We all know the story.

[4] {'od 'byung me shel 'od 'phog srid } Light {'od} of the element {'byung me} - passed through a lense or magnifying glass --normally called {me shel} 'fire crystal', but here simply as {shel 'od} preceded by {'od 'byung me}-could strike {'phog} or ignite it. The point is, close or forensic examination of the letter could ignite a whole host of additional conflict.

[4a] /stag gi 'ja' ris mkha' la yal/ Note that _'ja' ris_ is possibly synonymous with _rnam 'gyur_ ('display, transformation') which names the Metal-Tiger year (2010).

[5] /dpal gyi bum pa dug gis zin/ Referring perhaps to the poisoning of oceans and/or ground water; or to rain clouds. Also, _bum pa_ refers to the sign of Aquarius.

[6] /srin po khros pa'i mche ba'i zur/ /dbang po'i mgo la theb kyang srid/. _srin po_ or 'rakshasa' is the Wood-Hare (2035); _dbang phyug_ or 'Ishvara', 'Lord' is 1997. Cf. the similarity of these lines to the imagery of the Bhagavadgita: [ insert reference].

[7] /shar gyi nags tshal me yi zin/ possibly a reference to the Fire-Rat year (='dzin byed').

[8] /'od dmar khri 'phangs 'khod na thang/ Here is possibly a refrence to _'phang thang_, an ancient name of a former Tibetan capital at sne gdong rdzong.

[9] /spu yi sba bdud lcags kyi bskor/. 'spu yi sba mdud' or 'hairy genital knots' could be a reference to one of the monkey years, and 'metal' to metal years before and after, e.g., the Metal-Snake [2001] precedes Wood Monkey year [2004], after which the next metal year is Metal Tiger (2010).

Daily Tibetan Astrology: November 26, 2009

Chinese 10th, M-T-K  9th. Snake, Zon, White 1. Today is zin phung. Today is also Thanksgiving, when many folks in America will be home, praying for all sentient beings, and arguing with their relatives. Apart from that, today is also Chinese 10th month, 10th day.

Published every day at 00:01 香港時間 but written in advance and auto-posted. See our Introduction to Daily Tibetan Astrology for background information. If you know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can get information about your positive and negative days by clicking here. If you don't know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can obtain that information by clicking here. For specific information about the astrology of 2009, inclusive of elements, earth spirits, and so forth, please consult our extended discussion by clicking here. The Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) this year (2009) are: December 5, 20, and next year (2010) are: January 1, 12, 16, 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009. All rights reserved.

Thinley Norbu Rinpoche Tour Continues

His Holiness Thinley Norbu Rinpoche has left Bhutan (above) and traveled to Nepal, where he continues to draw massive crowds. There is an amusing eye-witness account of his visit to the stupa at B'nath this past Friday that you really must read.

While in Bhutan, His Holiness visited with His Majesty the King. It is inspiring to consider that Thinley Norbu Rinpoche is 79 years old at present, yet despite some reported health issues, still manages to keep a schedule that would tire someone half his age.

We hope His Holiness will quickly return to the United States, where it is anticipated he will spend some time in Southern California's desert region, before traveling on to his home in New York.

Sometimes, we make the mistake of remembering people as they appear in photographs, frozen in time. We forget that they age, and the precious opportunity they represent is slipping away like sand through an hour-glass. Indeed, we forget that we are aging the same way.

Mercy for the Blind

Tibetan Volunteers for Animals (TVA) are reporting that Nepali followers of the goddess Gadhimai will sacrifice half a million animals on November 24th and 25th. You can get full details on this by visiting the TVA web site.

Apparently, this event could not be prevented. One shudders to think what will befall the region in result.

When people hear of this, of course the first thing one thinks is "What can I do?" The site has some suggestions, and to these I would like to add the idea that we -- each of us -- could double our efforts to be of benefit to all sentient beings in every meaningful way possible, and in particular, say prayers for the people who are committing this outrage.

The animals will achieve fortunate rebirth, but the murderers... ?

With this thought in mind, I now wish to comment that killing 500,000 animals in Nepal is nothing compared to the seventy or eighty million turkeys that American followers of the Thanksgiving holiday will cause to be slaughtered this week.

I suppose it is easy to send off letters of protest to Nepali officials, and then sit down to roast turkey with all the trimmings.

Daily Tibetan Astrology: November 25, 2009

Chinese 9th, M-T-K 8th. Dragon, Zin, Red 9. Today is for Tara and the Medicine Buddha. Unfortunately the slaughter of animals in Nepal continues today, with the most horrific possible consequences for all those involved. If I were in Nepal, I would invest in steel shutters for the doors and windows. The divinations indicate rioting in the future.

Published every day at 00:01 香港時間 but written in advance and auto-posted. See our Introduction to Daily Tibetan Astrology for background information. If you know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can get information about your positive and negative days by clicking here. If you don't know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can obtain that information by clicking here. For specific information about the astrology of 2009, inclusive of elements, earth spirits, and so forth, please consult our extended discussion by clicking here. The Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) this year (2009) are: December 5, 20, and next year (2010) are: January 1, 12, 16, 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009. All rights reserved.

Makes Scents

I've been spending some time up at the mountain property, and may well decide to do another "Herb Camp" this coming spring. The one we did in the Angeles National Forest in 2004 was seemingly successful. I am thinking another one might be a good idea, if only to inventory what is nearby.

Lately, I am particularly interested in plants that are steam distilled for essential oils and hydrosols.

Many years ago, I lived in New York City. Over on the East Side, somewhere in the high eighties or low nineties, there was an interesting firm that specialized in the raw materials for perfumery and cosmetics. No doubt it is long gone.

When you walked in, it was like stepping back in time. There were all sorts of exotic things, presided over by a man who was ninety if he was a day. I liked this place, and I liked him, so I stopped in every day to pester him. He gave me a lovely book, which I still have: George William Askinson's Perfumes and Their Preparation (1900). Thus began a lifelong interest in the subject -- a rather odd hobby of mine, I admit.

Traditional perfumery is a dying art. This seems a strange thing to say when one observes that hundreds of perfumes are available, but these mostly employ synthetics. There is a very close historical relationship between perfume and medicine, so people who fancy the study of traditional medicine often study traditional perfumery, as well.

In places like Grasse, in the old days, they used to have the rather civilized custom of putting alembic stills out in the middle of lavender fields, and steam distilling the fresh lavender right then and there. What a lovely thing to do. In California, which has a substantial commercial lavender industry, they are now trying to revive the practice.

In Grasse they also had huge workrooms dedicated to an extraction technique called enfleurage. If you thoroughly understand enfleurage -- how it works and why it works -- then you have achieved some degree of mastery in certain, subtle aspects of the Unani pharmacy that eventually crept into the Tibetan pharmacy.

In enfleurage, one uses glass trays, called chassis,  of cold fat, called the corps, which consist of one part purified tallow and two parts lard. One next painstakingly inserts fresh flower petals in the fat, and then places another tray on top, so that the delicate scent from the petals permeates the layer of fat above. This would go on for about seventy days, with the flower petals being changed every day, and the trays being rotated. They used this technique for essences of jasmine, or gardenia, or mimosa. This is because distillation of such flowers yields no oils. At the end of the process, the result would be pomades, and these were dissolved into extraits, by means of alcohol.

So, the interesting thing is how the fat captured the scent, you know?

This little mystery is at the heart of some of the world's earliest medicines, which were administered transdermally. This is a secret we really owe to Alexander, with his famous, captured chest of pomades. If you want to delve into it a bit, you can look up in Dioscorides, De Materia Medica, and study the chapters in Book One.

There are other aspects to this story -- chiefly having to do with bees -- but, I will restrain the temptation. I am often criticized for discussing Buddhism that isn't clearly labeled as such. Very highly credentialed people might say, "Oh! Now the old fool is writing about perfume of all things!"

Anyway... I have to go fix the offerings on the altar. I always forget how, you know? Let me think... it starts out water, water, flowers, incense, light... and something else...

It will come to me.

.

Shangrila

I have this idea that anywhere you are is Shangrila, or Shambala, or any other idealized postulate of place, because I have this idea that everywhere you are is a buddhafield -- or, to say it another way, that buddhafields are ubiquitous, so what we are really invoking with our Shangrilas or Shambalas is the quality of buddhafields.  You wake up one day, and look around, and you realize you have been in perfect circumstance all along.

Everywhere we go, we are surrounded by that which we consider precious and rare. What we  ordinarily "see" is only a fraction of this perfection.

The mistake comes when we turn Shangrila or Shambala into a hope, or a dream we have to "find," instead of a perfection that we can just relax into.

Nevertheless...

Sunday, I watched the PBS broadcasts of the National Geographic documentaries treating the Bon and Buddhist caves and cave temples in Mustang. I know many people watched these, and if you missed them I am sure they will be re-broadcast. Actually, you can pre-order a DVD by clicking here.

What can one say? To go technical climbing up near the Tibetan border and rescue an ancient library... this is a purpose worth a lifetime. To walk in Padmasambhava's footprints? Really... what can one say?

Pete Athans : a guy with a big, big heart.

Tremendously inspiring and uplifting... watching the films almost irresistibly makes one wish to head off for hidden valleys.

I also watched Michael Wood's PBS documentary on the In Search of Myths and Heroes program, "Search for Shangri-La," or some such, and I do admire the man's fortitude. We are roughly the same age, so it does me good to watch him negotiating some of the trails I visited when I was much younger.  I began following his career with the thing he did on Alexander of Macedonia, and then the thing he did on India. This latest adventure is quite simply remarkable, and I do recommend it to you very highly.

Daily Tibetan Astrology: November 24, 2009

Chinese 8th, M-T-K   7th. Rabbit, Gin, White 8. Today is baden: no prayer flags today. Today is a doubled 7th day in Tibetan practice, so the 8th day indications for Tara and Medicine Buddha are properly for tomorrow.

Published every day at 00:01 香港時間 but written in advance and auto-posted. See our Introduction to Daily Tibetan Astrology for background information. If you know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can get information about your positive and negative days by clicking here. If you don't know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can obtain that information by clicking here. For specific information about the astrology of 2009, inclusive of elements, earth spirits, and so forth, please consult our extended discussion by clicking here. The Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) this year (2009) are: December 5, 20, and next year (2010) are: January 1, 12, 16, 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009. All rights reserved.

Gentle Hearts, Valiant Spirits

The cover blurb reads, "This remarkable book will make you look at rabbits differently - they are powerful teachers." Indeed they are, and this book is an excellent introduction to what they have to teach.

Rabbits: Gentle Hearts, Valiant Spirits has been named as Finalist in the 2008 Benjamin Franklin Awards, Best New Voice (Nonfiction) category, from PMA, the Independent Book Publishers Association.

The author has given us twenty inspiring stories based on actual events. The stories are about rabbits originally rescued by the House Rabbit Society, Best Friends Animal Society, Brambley Hedge Rabbit Rescue, or the Rabbit Sanctuary. Although the stories begin with rescues from traumatic situations, the happy endings of these true accounts are what give this book distinction. You will learn that rabbits have resilient natures, and how their personalities flourish when coupled with compassionate human care.

Of course, when I read this book to my rabbits, I got all sorts of remarks. They are really sarcastic sometimes, so I kept hearing, "You think that's interesting? That's a big deal to you? Well, you should hear what happened to my uncle!"....  but for humans, I think it is very good.

Animal rescue stuff is always so negative, so it is nice to see positive stories --- this makes people want to participate by adopting, and so forth.

Thinley Norbu On Vajrasattva

“The Daily Yogic Method for the Accomplishment of Lama Vajrasattva, 

the Vajra Warrior”

Excerpt from a commentary by Thinley Norbu Rinpoche

Vajrasattva is white, radiant like a diamond, and possessing the nine peaceful
qualities:
1) A subtle body (the sign that pride has
been purified).
2) A perfectly proportioned body (the sign
that hatred has been purified) .
3) A well-toned body (the sign that desire
has been purified).
4) A pliant body (the sign that ignorance
has been purified).
5) Youthful appearance of the body (the
sign that jealousy or envy has been purified.
6) A clear body (the sign that the defect of
stains has been purified).
7) A radiant body (the sign of containing all
Excellent qualities) .
8) An attractive body (the sign of having the perfection
of all the 32 excellent marks and the 80 minor signs).
9) Splendor and blessing of the body (the
signs of vanquishing all things).
These qualities are not possessed by oneself
as Vajrasattva alone. All beings of peaceful, illusory,
enlightened awareness possess these qualities. Thus one
should meditate.

There are also nine wrathful qualities possessed by the illusory beings of enlightened awareness. Wrathful deities show:
1) lustful, coquettish, flirtatious, demure aspects (in
order to lead those beings who have desire out of
samsara);
2) wrathful, brave aspects (in order to lead those
beings who have hatred);
3) awful, repulsive aspects (in order to lead those
beings who have ignorance);
4) coquettish, demure laughing sounds (in order to lead
those beings who have desire);
5) harsh, threatening sounds (in order to lead those
beings who have hatred);
6) wrathful sounds like thunder (in order to lead those
beings who have ignorance);
7) compassion (in order to lead those beings who have
desire);
8) magnificence (in order to lead those beings who
have hatred);
9) equanimity and peace (in order to lead those beings
who have ignorance).

If all these qualities are even slightly understood, the symbolic meaning of these beings will be understood. If western students understand the meaning of the peaceful and wrathful ones, then whether they are painting thankas or creating any other Dharma imagery, they will understand the meaning of what they are doing, and it will be of benefit to their spiritual practice. All of this is clearly explained in my book, The Small Golden Key. Western students have great pride. But don't be too prideful-please read this book. Although I am a poor person and writer, if students have the right, pure intention and read my book, then although I have no qualities to speak of, they might possibly be benefited. The Small Golden Key is very brief and concise because if there were too many details, it would have too many pages. Yet, though it is very brief, it is clear and can be of great benefit for some readers. For others, however, the fact that it is concise might make it difficult to understand; for others, if it were extensive, it would be too difficult. Although it is very brief, it was written to give the essence.


Not only Vajrasattva, but all peaceful deities possess the nine peaceful characteristics. Similarly, all wrathful deities possess the nine wrathful characteristics. The teaching on these characteristics can be found in my book. Check there without having great pride. Great, prideful people look down on others who are humble and lowly. No matter how kind one is to those with great pride, it makes no difference. They think they are like great, high lamas or famous people. Even though they don't have the ability to teach the Dharma in a deep way, they lie about their qualities. People like this really love power and fame. Even if a teacher teaches something very minor, these people think it is the deepest, most profound teaching they ever heard. Except when trying to steal your pure awareness or qualities, they would never think that you had been kind to them. Even if they have a bit of interest, they do nothing but ridicule.


Those of you who have some sense of humility, do not ridicule your teacher. You have very great pride. If your pride becomes too great, then great obstacles will arise for you. No harm will come to your teacher. When your pride is great and swollen, you can only see the sky. However, to be as great as you think you are, you need qualities. Yet, you cannot even see good qualities in others. When those who ridicule others and are prideful are not able to see the good qualities of others, they will be unable to have good qualities themselves. So check very carefully in my book and review the nine characteristics of the peaceful and wrathful ones. The wrathful characteristics do not need to be applied in this practice because the deity is peaceful.


Since the peaceful characteristics do apply here, check their meaning carefully. The deity also possesses the 32 major and 80 minor marks of a buddha. A detailed explanation of these marks would amount to many pages. If you want an extensive understanding of these marks, you should consult the mNgon.rtog.rGyen or the mKas.pa.la jug. pa. In fact, these major and minor marks are explained in my book. They are taught in both the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions. The major and minor marks are a sign of the Sambhogakaya Buddha. Most people think that these marks are the signs of the full Nirmanakaya Buddha. In actuality, however, these marks are the signs of the Sambhogakaya Buddha of the two qualities of separation and maturation, the quality of separation is the Dharmakaya and the quality of maturation is the Rupakaya. The 32 major and 80 minor marks belong to the Rupakaya. Thus, concerning the explanation of these marks, if one wishes to follow the Hinayana or Mahayana traditions, one can find the teachings in the mnGgon rtog rGyen. If one wishes to follow the Vajrayana tradition, the teachings can be found in the Sang wa'i Nying po. In the Sang wa'i Nying po, the 32 major and 80 minor marks relate to the main deity and the entourage of deities gathered in his/her mandala. There is ac ommentary to the Sang wa'i Nying po known as the Chokchu Minpa Selwa, in which this is explained extensively. One can follow either the Sutrayana or the Vajrayana tradition regarding these marks.


The deity is adorned beautifully with the five silken garments the silken scarves, upper robe, sleeves, and so forth, as well as the eight jewelled ornaments of the crown, earrings, necklace, shoulder armlets, and so forth. His hair is in a knot at the crown and is clasped by a precious blue jewel. In his right hand he holds a vajra to his heart; in his left he holds a bell at his hip. Hig legs are in the vajra asana. He is embracing his consort,Nyema Karmo. Nyema Karmo is sixteen years of age, endowed with the qualities of youth. The youthful Sambbogakaya beings in general are endowed with the fine qualities of health, pleasing disposition, passion and purity. (But I do not know if all 16-year old women are like this.) In addition to possessing all the fine qualities, she is extremely pleased and passionately smiling. She is wearing the ornaments of the five mudras, such as the wheel at the crown, the necklace, the bracelets, the anklets, and so forth. In her right hand she holds a vajra blade which is around the neck of her consort and in her left she holds a skull cup filled with nectar which she offers to him. Her two legs encircle her consort's waist.


Vajrasattva and Nyema Karmo are united in the unfailing, exhaustless great bliss. In speaking of exhaustless bliss, I am not referring to our own exhaustible worldly desire, such as intoxication, game playing, or acts of sexual desire which arises from holding onto conceptualization, desire, and attachment. Worldly bliss is happiness which is exhaustible. Exhaustless bliss is without conception, without attraction or attachment; it is beyond suffering and is liberated from ordinary bliss. Thus it is called the exhaustless great bliss. Vajrasattva and consort are united in this kind of exhaustless great bliss. This is the union of the male and female principles, the union of bliss and emptiness. The true nature of bliss is emptiness. This emptiness is not nihilistic emptiness: It is not just empty like the sky, with no substance whatsoever. This bliss is the bliss of intrinsic awareness; It is extremely expansive. Vajrasattva and consort are joined in the union of this exhaustless bliss and emptiness. Their aggregates and their sensory elements are enriched with the peaceful and wrathful conquerors. 

To illustrate this further, the five aggregates represent the five Buddhas. The five Buddhas represent the five buddha families: the Buddha family, the Vajra family, the Ratna family, the Padma family, and the Karma family. The five elements-earth, water, fire, air, and spacerepresent the consorts: Sangye Chenma (earth); Mamaki (water); Gur Karmo (fire); Damtsig Drolma (wind); Ying Chukma (space). Thus, the five elements are the five Consorts of the five Buddhas from each of the respective five families. Similarly, all of the sensory elements represent the eight male bodhisattvas. The sense organs represent the eight mind beings. Each organ has an object (i.e., the hearing organ has its particular object, the taste organ has its particular object, etc.). The eight objects of the eight sense organs are the eight female bodhisattvas. Allof the branch sensory elements represent the wrathful male and female deities. All of the aggregates and sensory elements that make up the human form are in essence the vast assembly of the mandala and entourage of the various peaceful and wrathful conquerors who are all spontaneously and naturally residing there.


From within the pure, clear, spontaneous appearance of Vajrasattva and his heavenly realm (the vast mandala as well as the forms that are present within it, together with the realization that all of this pure appearance is spontaneously born), limitless blazing light rays spring forth through the vast expanse of phenomena. The blazing light rays naturally fill up the mandala. Not just one mandala but all mandalas from all of the buddha families are filled so that there is no boundary or limit. The great one, Vajrasattva, thus pervades the widest reaches of all deities and all mandalas. He is the being endowed with limitless compassion. His compassion is measureless, without limit, and beyond definition. These are Vajrasattva's qualities. His appearance, and the emptiness of his appearance, is seen clearly as the illusory being of enlightened awareness. His emptiness is naturally unobstructed. His appearance is not impure but is fully purified. His appearance is like a rainbow of light and not gross like ordinary substances. His form is emptiness and appearance in union-the illusory form.