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Sunday, January 31, 2010

For Shame: Lillian Too

Lillian Too is one of those only-in-Asia, low-level occultist, self-proclaimed feng shui "masters" who make a fortune from selling solutions to problems that don't exist -- deftly picking the pockets of a legion of credulous Malaysian housewives. Above, you see one of her shops, and you probably get the idea.

Grasping Turtle mudra

It seems that now Lillian has taken to selling the Dharma. She has recently begun offering a translation of the Mahashri Sutra, for USD $96.00, calling it a "wealth plaque." The thing of it is, the translation she's selling is the work of young translator Erick Zangpo, who lives a hand-to-mouth existence in D'sala, depending on the kindness of strangers.

Let me see if I have this straight -- Lillian Too is ripping off a decent young guy who is starving, and flogging sutras so she has more cash to buy live fish in fancy restaurants, and plunge them into boiling water?

Take back your silver, lady... I cannot tell your fortune.

Hold the Religion


I received one of those Dalai Lama quotes in email today -- I suppose we all do -- and found it right on target:
"I believe there is an important distinction to be made between religion and spirituality. Religion I take to be concerned with belief in the claims to salvation of one faith tradition or another--an aspect of which is acceptance of some form of metaphysical or philosophical reality, including perhaps an idea of heaven or hell. Connected with this are religious teachings or dogma, ritual, prayers and so on.
Spirituality I take to be concerned with those qualities of the human spirit--such as love and compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, contentment, a sense of responsibility, a sense of harmony, which bring happiness to both self and others. While ritual and prayer, along with questions of nirvana and salvation are directly connected with religious faith, these inner qualities need not be, however. There is thus no reason why the individual should not develop them, even to a high degree, without recourse to any religious or metaphysical belief system. This is why I sometimes say religion is something we can perhaps do without. What we cannot do without are these basic spiritual qualities."
I sometimes think we make a grave mistake when we confuse Buddhism with religion, and in particular, when we confuse state religion with Buddhism. I have been privileged in this life to personally know and spend time with several highly realized Buddhist masters. I do not recall any of them as being particularly religious men; rather, I recall them as deeply spiritual men. Yet, in the majority of cases, these men operated within the context of organized religion.

This may be a question we'll all have to answer for ourselves in the future--

Have we, in fact, mislabeled Buddhism?

If we have, are we selling ourselves short?

Daily Tibetan Astrology: January 31, 2010


Chinese 17th, M-T-K  16th. Mouse, Dwa, Yellow 5. In Tibet, everybody is in a frenzy, getting ready for Losar before the Chinese shopkeepers pack up and go home. Some are already leaving. Beware of injury from nature on this day, i.e. sudden skids on black ice, lightning strikes... that sort of thing. Don't begin a journey today, and be particularly cautious against sudden misfortune. This is a day of obstacles.

Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.

Published every day at 00:01 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 hereIf 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. For that same discussion as it applies to 2010, the Iron Tiger Year, please click here. The remaining Ox Year baden senpo (bad day to raise prayer flags) is February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009, 2010. All rights reserved.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

A Feast to Delight the Rishis

As reported earlier, Desi Sangye Gyatso's Mirror of Beryl: A Well-Explained History of the Glorious Science of Medicine, A Feast to Delight the Rishis, has been translated into English, and published this month as Volume 28 in the Library of Tibetan Classics, by Wisdom Publications. You can find out more by clicking here.

When I learned of this happy event, I immediately purchased a copy for review. The book arrived in due course, I am now reading it every day, and I am enjoying every word.

I do not believe there is a page in this well-indexed, 661 page, hardcover volume that does not delight and instruct, imparting some new element of information. If you are expecting dry history, you will be surprised at this work's vibrancy. Desi Rinpoche was a brilliant man, given to an elegant turn of phrase, as in this description of the Fifth Dalai Lama:
Like the single sphere of the moon effortlessly showing from its path in the sky its reflections in various and separate waters on this earth simultaneously, he appeared to the minds of the beings in this cool snowy land in the form of a monk king, with not a fraction of his auspicious birth and so forth distinct from that of a perfect Buddha.
The work begins with discussion of the science of healing in India, and then proceeds to examine the early development of medicine in Tibet. This is done in rich detail, and should be regarded as definitive. Because of his position, no resource was denied to the author, and with this palette at his disposal, he painstakingly extracts and explains that which it is essential to know. As the editor of this translation establishes, Desi Rinpoche meticulously recorded and cited numerous important works, many of which no longer exist.

After recording the later development of medicine in Tibet, up to his time, he next presents a complete exposition of the study of medicine and the three sets of vows. This material, which takes up half the book, may be said to be the heart of the matter. From my own point of view, his concise discussion of the Vidyadharma Tantric Vows is among the finest ever expressed anywhere. 

Tibetan translation can be difficult. Translating medical works can seem almost impossible, because of the broad knowledge required. Translating the medical work of a man whose own broad knowledge was in some respects unsurpassed, requires a translator with formidable skill and a sense of artistry. Gavin Kilty has such gifts, and he has employed them to give this gift to all future generations.

Very well done. You will want to purchase a copy.



Daring Young Men

Saturday is "car day" in America, so here is some arcane stuff for all you Tibetan automotive enthusiasts: photographs of the first cars ever to reach Tibet. Above, is the Panchen Lama's 1907 Peugeot, seen at Gyantse, where I can almost promise you it immediately broke down. Perfume? Yes. Food? Of course. Wine? If you've never been to Napa. Motorcars? Impossible.

Daily Tibetan Astrology: January 30, 2010


Chinese 16th, M-T-K  15th. Pig, Khon, Green 4.   Amitabha Buddha Day. Full Moon. Meeting a friend is not outside the realm of possibility. All things considered, this is not a bad day for medical treatment. On the other side of the coin, this is a bad day for travel, and also subject to minor obstacles and annoyances. Face it -- this time of the year, everybody just wants to get it over with.

Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.

Published every day at 00:01 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 hereIf 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. For that same discussion as it applies to 2010, the Iron Tiger Year, please click here. The remaining Ox Year baden senpo (bad day to raise prayer flags) is February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009, 2010. All rights reserved.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Daily Tibetan Astrology: January 29, 2010



Chinese 15th, M-T-K  14th. Dog, Li, Blue 3.   You will note the skipped day in Chinese practice. Today is sojong, which is good, but it is also nyi nak, which is not so good. In particular, today presages conflict. When we see things like this, we should not worry, because we have the tools to make useful change. In any event, do not be like a sparrow who tries to fly through a closed window.


Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.

Published every day at 00:01 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 hereIf 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. For that same discussion as it applies to 2010, the Iron Tiger Year, please click here. The remaining Ox Year baden senpo (bad day to raise prayer flags) is February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009, 2010. All rights reserved.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

On Location



Well, we're back, but we're not quite back. The thing is, around the time the Nyingma Monlam ended, we still had visiting lamas, so we took the long ride up to the high country, and found ourselves occupied with doing things like burying vases, stacking up the truckload of supplies for riwo sangcho, setting out new flags, and taking extremely bumpy 4WD rides in an increasingly wet desert. We have had torrential rains around here, and all of the region's dry lakes are now filled with water. On the other side of things, the mountain locales we frequent were hit with blizzards. Because the roads were blocked, supplies couldn't get in, so everybody ran out of everything. The state responded by closing the town!


Nevertheless, where there is rain, there are rainbows, so we decided to go on location, doing all those things for which the Nyingma are sometimes criticized. Say what you like, but with Losar approaching at warp speed, it is time to chat with the local deities.

Our own useful talks culminated with a huge sang, and the sang was rewarded with a really unique atmospheric sign: a rare, 360 degree, horizontal, double rainbow. I have never seen one before.  In the photograph of our flag, above, you see the common sort of rainbow. The one that signed our sang was directly overhead, like the canopy of a tent (or the roof of a ger).  So, if you laid down on your back in the middle of the property, and looked straight up into the sky, you would be looking at the bullseye of a rainbow "target," so to speak (kindly leave all gratuitous "dzogchen" comments at the door).

The lamas were grabbing up every camera they could find to get photographs, but it was really rather difficult, owing to the rainbow's altitude. We managed to get a couple of shots, but they are low color contrast, and I recognize they don't reproduce well on the web. You can click on the picture below, save it locally, and then use your image editor to examine it closely.


I mentioned that we buried vases, and indeed we did. After a lengthy divination process, and immediately following the sang, our visiting tulku buried one he brought from Tibet, and also one of Khyentse Rinpoche's peace vases. Since Khyentse Rinpoche likes to collect photographs of each vase being buried, we documented the process. Below is a documentary photo of the documentary photo. The reason why I do this is because I feel compelled to protect the privacy of guests, and since we ain't selling anything, who cares?


Whenever events like these are in progress, I am always keeping our readers in mind -- and that means you -- visualizing that you are there with us, sharing in the process. Actually, I take all of you with me, wherever I go -- even (and maybe especially) you naughty ones. So, if anybody asks you what you've been doing lately, you can say that you've been chasing rainbows, burning an unimaginably large mountain of offerings, and burying vases.


You could also quite truthfully say that you've been blessing space, which of course has already blessed itself, so your blessing could usefully be understood as your spiritual presence on location, at many auspicious events in far away places, dedicating the merit of activity for all sentient beings.

Like the man said -- there is no auspicious or inauspicious, but as there is auspiciousness free of any reference, so let it be thus.


Daily Tibetan Astrology: January 28, 2010



Chinese 13th, M-T-K  13th. Monkey, Zin, White 1.   If there is an upside on today in terms of earth stability, I don't see it. Today is baden, so no prayer flags. Too much thinking, too much disagreement, and general discord lead to lousy monkey days like today. In terms of medical astrology, this is a day for strokes and injuries to the extremities. I would get up, wash my face, grab a couple of mindless comedy DVDs, and get back in bed to watch them. Well, either that or actually practice. Trying to get anything else accomplished today might test your patience.


UPDATED: A 6.0 earthquake occurred 91 miles from Pandan, Catanduanes, Philippines on Jan 28, 2010 3:49:35 My interest in such matters should never be misconstrued as morbid; rather, I am interested in the remarkable precision with which Tibetan astrology has been able to predict these earthquakes. With the exception of those who habitually like to inflict calamity, nobody likes to see other beings suffer from calamity.


Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.

Published every day at 00:01 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 hereIf 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. For that same discussion as it applies to 2010, the Iron Tiger Year, please click here. The remaining Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) are January 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009, 2010. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Daily Tibetan Astrology: January 27, 2010


Chinese 12th, M-T-K  12th. Sheep, Gin, Red 9.   Today is an excellent, and very necessary day to rest. It is likely that there has been some disruption in one's ordinary practice over the past few days, and today is the day to get back into the regular swing of things. Today is generally auspicious for matters requiring cooperation between friends and acquaintances.

Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.

Published every day at 00:01 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 hereIf 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. For that same discussion as it applies to 2010, the Iron Tiger Year, please click here. The remaining Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) are January 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009, 2010. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Daily Tibetan Astrology: January 26, 2010


Chinese 11th, M-T-K  11th. Horse, Kham, White 8.   This is a uniquely auspicious day (drubjor), so you can feel free to raise flags, do pujas, buy a new car, get married, and so forth.

Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.

Published every day at 00:01 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 hereIf 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. For that same discussion as it applies to 2010, the Iron Tiger Year, please click here. The remaining Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) are January 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009, 2010. All rights reserved.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Thank You


Thank you to everyone who attended, and helped make successful, the special events in Southern California this past Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. You know who you are, and we hope you also know how very grateful we are.

To our readers: we also want to thank you for your patience while we were closed. We put in a couple of auto-posts to keep up your interest... because we get letters like, "Hey! I read this blog with coffee first thing every morning! At least write something!"

We actually had a couple of readers at the events -- a really handsome sang, pujas, and three empowerments, held variously in San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles -- and it was so nice to see you, and hear what you like, and more importantly, what you don't like, about Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar. We will particularly take to heart your comments about "mix" on this blog.


Yammer Boys


One of the delights of living in California's San Gabriel Valley, is that you don't need an alarm clock. If you live in the town of Arcadia, then every morning at 7:00 a.m., what I call the "Yammer Boys" will wake you from your slumbers with the most aggressive cacophony of screeching this side of Twitter.

The "Yammer Boys" are Red-Crowned Amazon Parrots, or Amazona viridigenalis, and although they have been waking me up (and ruining my fruit trees) for years now, I never really got to know them.

This morning, the crazy crew in the above snapshot came a bit early, so I decided to use a few spare moments to learn a bit more about their story. I quickly found that the story of their introduction is the stuff of urban myth, variously attributed to parrot smugglers (we have quite a few of those in Southern California), a fire in Bel Air (alternately, a fire at the zoo), and irresponsible parrot owners. My vote is with the last.

These birds occasionally find themselves in trouble, and when they do, the Arcadia Bird Sanctuary steps in to give them help. I see they do very good work, so may I suggest we step in to help them help the Yammer Boys with a donation?

I'm going back to sleep now.

Daily Tibetan Astrology: January 25, 2010



Chinese 10th, M-T-K  10th. Snake, Khen, Red 7.   Guru Rinpoche Day. Today concludes the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo in Bodhgaya. 



Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.


Published every day at 00:01 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 hereIf 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 the Ox Year, inclusive of elements, earth spirits, and so forth, please consult our extended discussion by clicking here. For that same discussion as it applies to 2010, the Iron Tiger Year, please click here. The remaining Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) are January 28; February 8, 2010. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009, 2010. All rights reserved.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Rabjam Rinpoche to Head Nyingma Monlam


Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche has been elected to serve as Chairman of the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo for a term of three years. Attendance reports for this year's event vary between 11,700 (registered) to 15,000 (registered and unregistered attendees), so he clearly has his work cut out for him.


Daily Tibetan Astrology: January 24, 2010



Chinese 9th, M-T-K  9th. Dragon, Dwa, White 6.  We are closed in observance of the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo, but will reopen day after tomorrow. Today is not so good for journeys across mountain passes, but is nevertheless favorable for religious practice, consecrations, and monastic ordinations. Using other evaluative methods, today is good for traveling, prayer and prosperity rituals. Under the interpretation of today as fire-fire, it is a favorable day. Under the interpretation of today as fire-wind, it is likewise quite favorable. Tomorrow, of course, is Guru Rinpoche Day.





Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.


Published every day at 00:01 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 hereIf 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. For that same discussion as it applies to 2010, the Iron Tiger Year, please click here. The remaining Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) are January 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009, 2010. All rights reserved.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Daily Tibetan Astrology: January 23, 2010



Chinese 8th, M-T-K  8th. Rabbit, Khon, Yellow 5. Tara Day. Medicine Buddha Day. Happy 49th birthday to someone near and dear. I am happy to say this concludes your obstacle year, and I am sending numerous prayers for your long life, perfect health, and complete happiness in this coming year of the Iron Tiger.  We are closed in observance of the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo, but will reopen in three more days.





Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.


Published every day at 00:01 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 hereIf 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. For that same discussion as it applies to 2010, the Iron Tiger Year, please click here. The remaining Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) are January 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009, 2010. All rights reserved.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Cutting Out the Undergrowth



An uninformed relationship with the elements caused many to experience some considerable misery this past week. As predicted, the water element went to excess in many locales, with resulting disturbance of the earth element.

So, how did we see this?

Well, this Muddy Cow Year, now ending, consists of earth, fire, earth, water, fire. You see that wood and metal are missing, and earth is doubled up. The Steel Kitty Year, now coming, consists of wood, wood, metal, metal, water, with fire and earth missing.

Earth controls water, wood destroys earth, and water is reinforced by metal. Now, as the New Year approaches, earth is weakened and water comes to the fore. We have a double wood, double metal circumstance, so this is an exaggerated effect. There is almost a collision.

This is happening on a coarse level, but our reaction also impacts the subtle level. The subtle level may also be simultaneously experiencing imbalances due to various other factors. So, in the present case, while we seem to be observing singularity in the coarse elements, we are also observing latent singularity in the subtle elements. We will see a rise in mental disturbances: mentally ill people will become agitated as the year transitions, and will hatch various plots in their grandiose attempts to control that which cannot be controlled. Low-level occultists, pay-to-pray spiritualists,  crystal crazies, and New Age "healers" will abound, offering "solutions" to the credulous.

You know, I had rather an interesting discussion with a lama just the other day, and he raised a point that seems connected. We were discussing the perception among Tibetans that Tibetan Buddhism as expressed by Westerners resembles mental illness more than it resembles Buddhism as understood by Tibetans.

He stated that if a situation becomes vexatious and we decide we want to bring a lawsuit, we can research the situation and find the troublemaker. Then we can bring the lawsuit with considerable precision.

This is very easy to do: using something in the nature of a tool, to cut into a circumstance.

However, if a person has become crazy through reading thousands of books, how can we search back through those thousands of books to find the one that made them crazy?

These are rich metaphorical statements.

The "books" could be experiences, or interactions between the coarse and the subtle, which have issued perverse instruction to an already imbalanced mind -- compounding delusion, if you will. If a situation is clear cut, we can bring a "lawsuit,"  i.e. we can instruct to the point of bringing remedy. However, if something -- or, more to the point, someone -- is thoroughly damaged and uncooperative, and we cannot find the origin of the damage, then how can we fix this?

Failing to recognize the root cause of suffering, we are buffeted to and fro. Every drop of rain becomes another chapter in the book of imaginary storms. Sometimes, we read that it isn't raining, and that the sun is shining. We become very happy. Sometimes, we read that it is raining terribly, and that more rain is on the way. We become very anxious.

So, although the crazy tree appears to have diverse limbs, many leaves, and an abandoned bird's nest, actually it has one root. The limbs, leaves, and even the nest are just elaborations. That one root is where we need to place emphasis. We don't necessarily place emphasis by "doing" or "not doing;" rather, we place emphasis by letting things be, according to their nature, without taking a position.

The further metaphor of cutting the root is often employed, and when we hear of cutting, we naturally hear of axes, or swords, or knives. Whenever you hear this, try to bring this comment from Thinley Norbu Rinpoche to mind:
"...[T]he Buddha manifested many tools or symbols, not just one sword or one symbol but swords without limit. We make a limit if we completely trust to one certain sadhana, one graspable knife, one breakable vessel. But wisdom is never limited. We use certain particular sadhanas and texts to realize unobstructed limitless wisdom display. If we do not use our own inherent wisdom weapons, we must rely on symbolic weapons to destroy obstructions. But symbolic weapons are limited. If we realize our inherent wisdom weapon, we do not need to use certain gross element means to penetrate everywhere."
Lovely turn of phrase, isn't it? A philosopher is one thing, but a poet-philosopher is quite a treasure.

Daily Tibetan Astrology: January 22, 2010



Chinese 7th, M-T-K  7th. Tiger, Li, Green 4.   This is a superb day in every respect; however, this is also zin phung. We are closed in observance of the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo, and will reopen on January 26th.




Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.


Published every day at 00:01 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 hereIf 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. For that same discussion as it applies to 2010, the Iron Tiger Year, please click here. The remaining Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) are January 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009, 2010. All rights reserved.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Naturally Empty Identity


"As for these present appearances of stones and rocks, mountains and forests, trees and plants, and so forth, do not believe them to be anything at all, and do not assert them to be anything at all. Do not deny what appears, and do not assert them to be or not to be. Their appearance is a natural appearance, and their emptiness is a natural emptiness. Like the identity of space, let their identity be naturally empty, and let their appearance be devoid of a self-nature."
-- Padmasambhava

This mid-interval auto-post is for all the loyal readers of Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar who continue to check in, even though we are closed in observance of Nyingma Monlam Chenmo.

We are closed but we are not idle. In fact, we have never been busier, and when we return on January 26th, it will be with news of that which has occupied our attention these past few days.


Daily Tibetan Astrology: January 21, 2010



Chinese 6th, M-T-K  6th. Ox, Zon, Blue 3.   We are closed in observance of the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo.  We will resume regular broadcasting on January 26th. This is a good day to receive packages and visitors, and to settle preparations for a three-day period  of intense activity beginning tomorrow. By the way: I wanted to mention that I found an interesting site today, entitled "Ancient Astrology & Divination." Not much on Asian astrology, but useful links to the Greeks. Very useful, if you like this sort of thing.


Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.


’DZAM LING CHI DANG YÜL K’AM ’DI DAG TU
In the world at large and in these regions in particular,

NE MUG TS’ÖN SOG DUG NGÄL MING MI DRAG
May not even the names ‘sickness’, ‘despair’ and ‘war’ be heard.

CHÖ DEN SÖ NAM PÄL’JOR GONG DU ’PEL
May the meritorious qualities, honour and prosperity of those who act in accord with Dharma greatly increase,

TAG TU TRA SHI DE LEG P’ÜN TS’OG SHOG
And may there always be an absolute perfection of good fortune, happiness and auspicious circumstances.

--Dudjom Rinpoche


Published every day at 00:01 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 hereIf 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. For that same discussion as it applies to 2010, the Iron Tiger Year, please click here. The remaining Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) are January 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009, 2010. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Daily Tibetan Astrology: January 20, 2010



Chinese 5th, M-T-K  5th. Mouse, Zin, Black 2.  We are closed in observance of the Nyingma Monlam ChenmoWe will resume regular broadcasting on January 26th. Happy 62nd birthday to someone near and dear. Not a good day for divinations. Travel at night is dangerous, particularly in wet weather.


Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.


T’EG CHOG SER GYI ’KOR LO TSIB TONG CHEN
The thousand–spoked golden wheel of the supreme vehicle

T’UB TEN LING SHI’I KA’ LA YONG P’AG TE
Is absolutely foremost in the skies above the four continents of the teachings of the Muni.

’JIG DRÄL CHÖ KYI GYÄL SI ’JOR WA’I PUNG
May the heaped abundance of the sovereignty of the Doctrine Beyond All Fear

CH’OG LE NAM GYÄL TRA SHI PÄL’BAR SHOG
Gloriously blaze up as auspicious victory over all directions.


--Dudjom Rinpoche

Published every day at 00:01 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 hereIf 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. For that same discussion as it applies to 2010, the Iron Tiger Year, please click here. The remaining Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) are January 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009, 2010. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Daily Tibetan Astrology: January 19, 2010



Chinese 4th, M-T-K  4th. Pig, Gin, White 1.    We are closed in observance of the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo.  We will resume regular broadcasting on January 26th 2010. In the meantime: every day is a good day, and today is a good day for sang  in the foothills.



Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.


Published every day at 00:01 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 hereIf 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. For that same discussion as it applies to 2010, the Iron Tiger Year, please click here. The remaining Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) are January 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009, 2010. All rights reserved.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Daily Tibetan Astrology: January 18, 2010



Chinese 3rd, M-T-K  3rd. Dog, Kham, Red 9.   The second of a duplicated Chinese lunar day. National holiday in the U.S. We are closed in observance of the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo. Be particularly warned that the water element is about to go out of balance, and into excess,  affecting the earth element.


Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.


Published every day at 00:01 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 hereIf 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. For that same discussion as it applies to 2010, the Iron Tiger Year, please click here. The remaining Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) are January 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009, 2010. All rights reserved.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Daily Tibetan Astrology: January 17, 2010



Chinese 3rd, M-T-K  2nd. Dog, Kham, Red 9.   The first of a duplicated Chinese lunar day. We are closed in observance of the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo.  The water element is about to go out of balance and impact the earth element.


Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.


Published every day at 00:01 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 hereIf 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. For that same discussion as it applies to 2010, the Iron Tiger Year, please click here. The remaining Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) are January 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009, 2010. All rights reserved.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Barking Dogs

"If you think, 'I will have no karmic ripening even if I engage in the ten unvirtuous acts,' you should be able to accept the ten unvirtuous acts of others directed towards you -- even if it might result in your death. Can you do that?"
--Guru Shri Singha,
as quoted by
Guru Padma of Uddiyana
The Treasure of the Lotus Crystal Cave

Maybe some sounds are no longer heard: maybe we have tampered the environment so greviously that some sounds have gone missing, or maybe it is simply that the times have changed.

Clip clop.

I remember a lazy morning in San Francisco, many years ago, the sun streaming in the windows of the house out in the Richmond District, and my friend asking me, "What in the world is that?"

It was only the mounted policemen, riding down Ba Muoi Sau Avenue, on their way to the stables over near the lake. The clip clop of horse hooves in the City That Knows How was once so common as to be unnoticed, but my friend ran to the window with her camera to take a photograph, thinking it a rare occasion.

These are little currencies that are often spent in the dharma lectures: these things employed to evoke other things.

Bow wow.

In the old days, it was not uncommon to hear dogs bark at night. This was quite distinctive. First one dog would start up, and then another. You would hear the barking progress through all the dogs in the neighborhood, and then fade away through distant dogs. Sometimes you might fancy that the dogs were tracking the progress of a stranger through the neighborhood, but upon close examination, it seems they were just barking to hear themselves bark.

In the literature, the inference is made that the dogs do not know why they bark. The one hears the other one, so he just barks without knowing what the other one perceives.

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