Help for Gyaltrul Rinpoche

Sources close to Gyaltrul Rinpoche are reporting that a respected expert in mirror divinations was consulted regarding practices that would be supportive of Rinpoche's long life and good health. His recommendation was the accumulation of many Dakini Tsog Offerings. Practices are underway in Tibet at the monasteries of Lingtrul Rinpoche, Lama Chonam, and Lama Drimed, and we here in the United States need to do our part as well.

The Khandro Thuk Thik, Yeshe Tsogyal Dakini Sadhana from the Dudjom Tersar tradition is recommended. In particular,  accumulate the tsog offering verse known as "Accumulation of Tsog Offering Particular to the Dakini Puja." If you do not do this one, then do the one you are familiar with.

Please, do not let him down.

Ninth Ogyen Tulku: Empowerments In New York City This Weekend

The very popular and openly powerful Ninth Ogyen Tulku is winding up an extensive North American tour in New York City this weekend, March 6th and 7th. If you have not already met him, I would encourage you to do so. They say that effortless compassion and generosity are the hallmarks of great realization. If you want to see what this looks like, take the opportunity to meet Ogyen Rinpoche.

On Saturday and Sunday, at 2:00 p.m. on both days, he will be at the Nyingma Palyul Dharma Center, 121 Bowery, 3rd Floor (between Grand and Hester). On Saturday he will bestow the Black Dzambhala empowerment, and on Sunday, the Amitayus Longevity empowerment.

If you have ever wondered what it was like to meet great lamas, one-on-one, back in the 'sixties... well, now is your chance. In a few more years, when he has 100,000 students clamoring for his attention, it might not be so easy.

Tibet at the Movies

March is Akira Kurosawa month on Turner Classic Movies, during which they will broadcast a satisfying number of his finest works. We currently have guests at the San Gabriel Valley house -- this was a prior obligation -- after which I must dissolve back into my retreat with flexible boundaries. I will therefore miss Kurosawa month.

In around 1968 or 1969, I accompanied my teacher to a Kurosawa film being shown at the University of California. There was a scene in which, during the course of a sword fight, a samaurai lost an arm. Regardless, he went on fighting. Upon witnessing this scene, the lama slapped me very hard on the back of the head, exclaiming, "That's what I'm talking about! That's Vajrayana!"

This is a fond, fond memory for me.

But, that isn't why I bring up the subject of motion pictures.

At Jamyang Norbu's most excellent Shadow Tibet blog, he has done the world a service by posting "The Happy Light Bioscope Theatre," which is detailed historical overview of the cinema in Tibet. Never have I been so entertained and informed by a blog post.

Did you know that the very first reference in Tibetan to an optical entertainment device comes from Jigme Lingpa? Did you know that Lassie Come Home and Rin Tin Tin were eternal favorites among Lhasa's upper classes?

Thumbs up. You simply must give this article a careful read.

Impermanence

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, NASA scientists have concluded that the earthquake which struck Chile was so powerful it shifted the planet's axis enough to make it spin slightly faster, meaning our days will be shorter by 1.26 millionths of a second.

Just leave that thought alone, without following it.

New Supreme Head of Nyingma Reported: Updated

It is being reported that Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche (b. 1923) has been elected the new Supreme Head of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. The process by which this was determined is described here.

UPDATED:
There is now a comprehensive confirmation statement from Mindrolling, here. You can also see Trulshik Rinpoche in this National Geographic documentary.

Prayer for the Long Life of Trulshik Rinpoche

TUB TEN CHI DANG NGA GYUR ZAB SANG SOL
Lord who possesses the treasure of the essential realization of the vast expanse—

LONG CHEN GONG CHÜ DZÖ NGA DUL DZIN JÉ
The traditions of the Buddhadharma in general and especially the profound secret mantra of the Ancient Translations school—

GYUR MÉ NGAK WANG CHÖ KYI LODRÖ SHYAP
And holder of the vinaya discipline, Gyurmé Ngawang Chökyi Lodrö,

KU TSÉ TEN CHING DZÉ TRIN LHUN DRUP SHOK
May your life be forever firm, and may your enlightened activity be spontaneously accomplished!

This carries the exceptional blessing of vajra speech, being the words of the supreme all-knowing vajradhara and lord of refuge, His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Torma, Torma, Torma: Revisited

All the Sculpey (or, alternatively, marzipan) in the world cannot equal "old skool" tormas from barley flour and butter. The examples above are from Sechen; the ones below, from I know not where (somewhere in India, most likely). You would think, after forty years or so, some publisher would have the sense to put out a really massive book on tormas, but it hasn't happened yet. Of interest: the highest quality polyresin tormas in the world today are being made in the Philippines, by the same people who are making anime figurines for the Japanese market.

Udumbara Blossoms In China?

From China, comes word that Udumbara flowers have blossomed beneath a nun's washing machine at Lushan Mountain, in Jiangxi Province.

However, before we go rejoicing, take a moment to compare our own coverage of the documented  2007 Udumbara blossoming in California. These flowers have definitely been appearing in the world -- I know, because I have personally seen them -- and anything is possible, but for ficus racemosa blossoms to appear separately, or remotely from the tree is, I think, highly unusual. Also, if you compare the photo from our article with the Chinese photo, above, you will see that the real flowers stand differently, and the petals exhibit somewhat differently.

Or do they?

As our ever-alert correspondent in Oz points out, these could well be green lacewing eggs:

The lacewings (neuroptera: chrysopidae) are helpful, somewhat unusual characters, but by no means so uncommon as to render them demonstrative of rarity.

Taken on balance, I rather suspect that what the Chinese nun found beneath her washing machine were bug eggs.

 These are lacewing eggs, growing on a steel pipe somewhere in the Middle Kingdom.

These are ficus racemosa blossoms. Am looking around for a better picture, and will post same if and when it becomes available.

Posted by Tenpa, who is testing the flexible boundaries today (actually a pre-planned interruption to receive a distinguished guest).

Weekly Tibetan Astrology: March 1 - 7, 2010

Entrance to one of Padmasambhava's caves: Dawa Puk

March 1, 2010 - Chinese 17th, M-T-K 16th. Horse, Li, White 8. Opposing energies today. Beware of sudden reversals.

March 2, 2010 - Chinese 18th, M-T-K 17th. Sheep, Khon, Red 9. A good day for women. Excellent energies in several respects.

March 3, 2010 - Chinese 19th, M-T-K 18th. Monkey, Dwa, White 1.  Today is zin phung. Mixed energies today. If you receive any gift today it will be auspicious.

March 4, 2010 - Chinese 20th, M-T-K 19th. Bird, Khen, Black 2.  Today is an extremely powerful day for speed. Fast action will meet with success, so today's indication is: Act Quickly.

March 5, 2010 - Chinese 21st, M-T-K 20th. Dog, Kham, Blue 3. Opposing energies today. Things will get done, but will cost more than expected.

March 6, 2010 -  Chinese 22nd, M-T-K 21st. Pig, Gin, Green 4. Today is nyi nak. Very negative energies today. Use caution in relation to the spread of disease. Tomorrow is likewise negative, so this is a good weekend to stay home. If you can't stay home, at least try to avoid strife. Take your time. All the above being said, as a Pig day it is good for empowerments, as a Gin day it is good for practicing dharma, and as Green 4 it is good for medical activities. Being nyi nak, it just isn't optimal.

March 7, 2010 - Chinese 23rd, M-T-K 22nd. Mouse, Zin, Yellow 5. Today is baden. Extremely negative energies continue from yesterday. Stay home. If you can't stay home, pace yourself, and do not permit yourself to become exhausted. Exercise caution and patience if traveling.

Naga observations for the first month: The only day to make Naga offerings this month is the lunar 25th (Dakini Day), and it should be elaborate. Do not make naga offerings on any other day this lunar month.

Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.

Published every Sunday 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 2010, inclusive of elements, earth spirits, and so forth, please consult our extended discussion by clicking here.  Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Weekly Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2010. All rights reserved.

Black Dzambhala Sadhana: Chotrul Duchen 2010

During the past several weeks, His Eminence the Ninth Ogyen Tulku Rinpoche has been kind enough to bestow the complete empowerment for Black Dzambhala at several locations in the United States and Canada. However, no English translation of this sadhana has ever been prepared. To remedy the situation, Ogyen Tulku requested the very gifted Khenpo Sonam to produce such a translation, which was just completed in late January 2010. On the auspicious occasion of Chotrul Duchen, February 28, 2010, and as our gift to the readers of Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar, and all sentient beings, we publish the translation below, asking you to understand that this sadhana cannot be performed without empowerment, and that this edited translation is copyrighted material which may not be reproduced without prior written permission. May the merit of this publication be dedicated to the welfare of all sentient beings.

NAMO GURU KRISHNA DZAMBHALAYA!
I pay homage to Guru Black Dzambhala.

In order to practice this liturgy as a propitiating recitation, relying upon the water offering to the front visualization, which is compiled from the treasure revealed by Guru Chowang, called "The Descent of the Shower of Precious Jewels:" a sadhana to accomplish the Black Dzambhala:

 

In the morning, in a clean and remote place, pleasant to one's mind, in front of yourself, place a statue of Dzambhala, if you have one, in the center of a copper bowl. In front of it arrange flowers and so forth: [incense, lamps, perfumed water, food offerings, and music] and then fill a precious vessel with pure water free from insects and microbes. Generate the assembly visualization filling the sky in front of oneself.

TAKING REFUGE:

NAMO LAMA DE SHEK DÜ PA'I KU
Homage! To the Lama the enlightened body embodiment of all
Tathagatas,

KÖN CHOG SUM GYI RANG ZHIN LA
The nature of the three precious jewels,

DAG DANG DRO DRUG SEM CHEN NAM
All sentient beings and I

JANG CHUB BAR DU KYAB SU CHI
Take refuge until enlightenment. Repeat three times.

CULTIVATING BODHICITTA:

SEM KYE DRO WA KÜN DÖN DU
Cultivating the mind for the benefit of all sentient beings,

NÖ JYIN NOR LHA DRUP NEY NI
By accomplishing the wealth deity yaksha,

GANG LA GANG DÜL THRIN LEY KYI
Through the enlightened activity befitting each and every
individual,

DRO WA DREL WAR DAM CHA'O
I vow to liberate sentient beings. Repeat three times.

ACCUMULATION OF MERIT:

HO: MA LÜ CHYOK NA ZHUK PA YI
HO Abiding in all directions,

LAMA YIDAM KHANDRO DANG
Lamas, Yidams and Khandros,

NOR DAG GÖN PO DZAM BHA LA
The wealth deity Lord Dzambhala,

NÖ JYIN TER CHANG TSHOK DANG CHEY
And the treasure keeper yakshas with their assemblies,

THUK JE'I WANG GI NEY DIR SHEK
Please come here through the power of compassion.

NYI DA PEMA'I DEN LA ZHUK
Please remain on the sun, moon and lotus seat.

LÜ NGAG YI SUM GÜ CHYAG TSHAL
I respectfully pay homage with my body, speech and mind,

CHÖ PA NAM PA DÜ MAY CHÖ
And I make offerings with various offering substances.

DIG PA THAM CHEY SO SOR SHAK
I confess and purify all negativities.

GEWA KUN LA JE YI RANG
I heartily rejoice in all virtues.

CHÖ KYI KHOR LO KOR WAR KÜL
I request you to turn the wheel of Dharma.

NYA NGEN MI DA ZHUG SOL DEB
I beseech you not to pass into Nirvana.

SÖ NAM DRO WA YONG LA NGO
I dedicate all merit for sentient beings.

NYING PO JANG CHUB CHOG THOB SHOG
May all attain the heart of supreme enlightenment! Repeat three
times.

MANDALA OFFERING:

NAMO: KÖ PA DZEY DEN RIN CHEN MANDAL CHOG
Homage. This supreme precious mandala with beautiful
arrangements,

RI RAB LING ZHI LING THREN NYI DA GYEN
Mount Meru, four continents and subcontinents adorned with
the Sun and Moon;

RIN CHEN DÖ NGA KUN ZNAG CHÖ THRIN TIP 
Heaped with all excellent billowing offering clouds of five
sensual pleasures,

KÖN CHOG LAMA YI DAM KHAN DRO CHÖ
I offer these to the Precious Jewels, Lama, Yidam and Dakini.

LA MEY CHÖ ZHEY CHOG GI NGÖ DRUB TSÖL
Please enjoy these unsurpassable offerings and grant us the
siddhis.

DAG SOG DRO WA MA LÜ KYAB TU SOL
Please protect all sentient being without exception.

OM AH HUNG GURU DEVA DAKINI RATNA
MANDALA SARWA PUDZA MEGHA SAMUDRA
SPHARANA SAMAYE SWAHA - Thus offer.
 
DZA HUNG BAM HO: TSHOK ZHING NAM RANG LA
THIM PAR GYUR
DZA HUNG BAM HO All of the entire assembly dissolve into
me. Contemplate this way.

Generation of the front visualization, perform the elaborate
yoga of the great compassionate one, otherwise in the concise
manner:

RANG NYI KYE CHIG GI PHAK PA THUK JE CHEN
PO KUN DOG KAR SAL ZHAL CHIG CHYAG NYI PA  /
YE CHOG JYIN DANG YÖN PEMA KARPO NAM PA  / 
DAR DANG RIN PO CHEY GYEN CHING  /  PE DA'I
DEN LA ZHAB SEM PA'I KYIL TRUNG GI ZHUK PA'I
KUR GYUR

Instantly, I am the great noble compassionate one, white in color, with a single face and two arms. The right hand is in the pose of supreme generosity, and the left is holding a white lotus. Adorned with silks and jewel ornaments and seated in the Mahasattva's pose upon a lotus seat. Contemplate in this way. 

Front visualization:

RANG GI DÜN DU PEMA DANG DA WA'O DEN LA
NOR DAG NAM MANG THÖ PA'I ZUK NOR BU KYUK
PA'I TENG DU DZAM NAG PO  /  DE LEY ÖZER CHAK
KYU'I NAM PA DRANG MEY PA THRÖ PAY JIG TEN
KHAM DANG  /  DAG PA'I ZHING GI NÖ DANG CHÜ
KYI JYOR PA DANG NGA THANG THAM CHEY ÖZER
GYI NAM PAR DÜ TEY DZAM LA THIM

In front of me upon a lotus and moon seat is the wealth deity Vaishravana emitting precious jewels surmounted by a black DZAM syllable. From it countless light rays in the form of hooks radiate out and gather wealth and power from worldly existence and pure lands in the form of light which dissolve into the DZAM syllable.

DE YONG SU GYUR PA LEY GÖN PO DZAM BHALA
NAG PO MIG MEN GYI RI WO TAR JID CHING LHUN
TUG PA  /  TRA KHAM PA GYEN DU DZEY PA  / 
CHER BU NA WA MA PHUG PA ZHO THUNG JYI PA
DREK PA'I NYAM DANG DEN PA  /   TSHEN MA GYEN
DU DRENG ZHING BA PU LANG PA

As it dissolves it turns into the black Lord Dzambhala resplendently majestic like the Eye-Medicine Mountain. His hair is brown and tied up in a top knot. He is naked and youthful like an infant, yet endowed with powerful grace. His secret organ is erect upward and the hairs of his body standing at end.

CHYEN SUM MAR LA DUM ZHING KHYIL WA  / 
ZHAL DANG SHING JAK DRIL WA  /  CHE WA ZHI
TSIK PA  /  CHYAG YE THÖ THRAG GI GANG WA
THUK KAR DZIN PA  /  YÖN PEY NE'U LE NOR BU NA
TSHOK PA LHUG LHUG KYUK PA LA YÖN PA LA
TEN NEY ZUNG WA

His three eyes are bloodshot, bulging and rolling. His mouth is wide open and his tongue curled. He bares his four fangs. With his right hand he holds a skull-cup filled with blood near his heart. Next to his left thigh, his left hand holds a Neule (mongoose) that spontaneously emits out various jewels from
its mouth.

ZHAB YEY KUM ZHING YÖN CHUNG ZEY KYANG PA 
LU CHEN PO GYEY DRUL GYI NAM PEY TRE PA  / 
YE SHEY KYI ME BAR WA'O Ü NA ZHUK SHING MI
KYÖ PEY Ü GYEN PAR GYUR

The right leg is bent and the left slightly stretched. He is adorned with the eight naga serpents. He stands amidst raging flames of wisdom fire and his head is adorned with Buddha Akshobya. Contemplate in this way.

THUG KAR DA WA'I Ü SU DOR JE TSE GU DA WA
HUNG YIG DANG CHEY PA

In the heart center, upon a moon disc, is a nine prong vajra with a crescent moon and a HUNG syllable.

TREL WAR OM  /  CHEY LA DZAM  /  PUNG PA YE
PAR BHA  /  YÖN PAR LA  /  THUK KAR DZA  /  TE
WAR LEN  /  NGAR DONG YEY PAR DRA  /  YÖN PAR
YA  /  BOL GONG YE PAR SWA  / YÖN PAR HA  /  DE
NAM LEY ÖZER THRÖ PEY YE SHEY PA CHYEN
DRANG PAR GYUR

On the forehead is OM; DZAM on the tongue; BHA on the right shoulder, LA on the left; DZA at the heart; LEN at the navel; DRA on the right shin, YA on the left; SWA on the right ankle, HA on the left. Lights radiate out from all these syllables and invite the wisdom deities.

HUNG  JANG CHYOK NÖ JYIN DÜ PA'I CHYIR
HUNG   To summon the yakshas in the northern direction,

CHOM DEN GÖN PO M KYÖ PA
Lord Bhagavan Akshobya

THUG JE KUR TRUL DZAM BHA LA
Manifesting as Dzambhala through your compassion,

KHOR CHEY NEY DIR SHEK SU SOL
Together with your assemblies, please come here.

OM ARYA DZAMBHALA VAJRA SAMAYA DZA
SAMAYA HO SAMAYA STOM

DZA HUNG BAM HO NYI SU MEY PAR GYUR
DZA HUNG BAM HO They become non dual. Contemplate in
this way.

Rendering the homage:
 HUNG DÖ NEY NGÖN PAR SANG GYE KYANG
HUNG Although you have always been enlightened from the
primordial beginning,

SA GYE WANG CHUK SEM PA'I TSHUL
Yet you emanate in the form of a eighth bhumi powerful
bodhisattva.

NOR DAG GÖN PO DZAM BHA LA
Lord of wealth, Dzambhala,

KHOR DANG CHEY LA CHYAG TSHAL LO
I pay homage to you and your retinue.
ATI PU HO Thus pay homage in this way.
 PRATICCHA HO Contemplate that your homage has been
acknowledged.
DE NEY RANG GI LAG PAR BAM LEY JYUNG WA'I
TER CHEN PO'I BUM PA ZANG PO DÜTSI'I CHU
GYUN GYI PAG PA'I THRIG MAR OM  /  BUM PA'I
NANG DU DZAM  /  BUM PA'I NANG DU DZAM  / 
DZUB MO LA BHA  /  GUNG MO LA LA /  SIN LAG LA
DZA  /  THE'U CHUNG LA LEN  /  THEY BONG LA DRA 
THRIG MA'I TSHAM SU YA  /  DE'I YE SU SWA  /  YÖN
DU HA  /  THAM CHEY DA WA DÜTSIY GANG WA LA
NEY PAR GYUR

The right hand holding the great excellent treasure vase that appears from BAM syllable is fed by a stream of ambrosia. At the neck of the vase is OM, inside the vase is DZAM. BHA on the index finger, LA on the middle finger, DZA on the ring finger, LEN on the little finger, and DRA on the thumb. YA is in between SWA on the right and HA on the left on the neck of the vase. All of these syllables remain like a moon filled with nectar.

RANG GI KHYOR WA'I CHU DOR JE'I NGAK KYI DE
WA CHEN PO'I RANG ZHIN DÜTSI'I GYUN ZEY MI
SHEY PAR GYUR PA DÜN GYI DZAM BHA LA'I ZHAL
DU PHUL WEY SHIN TU NYE SHING TSHIM NEY NOR
GYI NGÖ DRUB MA LÜ PA TSAL WAR GYUR
 

The water poured by my hand combined with the vajra mantras turn into an inexhaustible stream of nectar, the nature of supreme bliss. As I offer this into the mouth of Dzambhala in front, it extremely delights and satisfies him. He then grants wealth without limits. Contemplate in this way.

OM DZAMBHALA DZALENDRAYE SWAHA then,

OM INDRANI MUKHAM BHAMARI SWAHA - Bless with
this mantra. 

OM DZUM LUM SWAHA - Make offerings with one hundred
and eight mantras.

Then the offerings:

HUNG ME TOG THRENG SOG RIN CHEN DANG
HUNG Flower garlands, so forth and precious jewels,

DÜG PÖ NANG SAL DRÖN ME'I Ö
Incense, lamps and radiance of lights,

DRI CHOG ZHAL ZEY DÖ YÖN TSHOK
Exquisite scents, food offerings and sensual pleasures in
abundance,

BÜL LO NGÖ DRUB MA LÜ TSÖL
I offer to you, please bestow the siddhis without exception. 

OM DZAM BHALA SAPARI WARA PUSHPE DHUPE
ALOKE GANDHE NAIWIDYE SHAPDA PUDZA
SARWA SAMAYA HUNG Thus offer in this manner.

Then the praises:

HUNG MI KYÖ YE SHEY DOR JE SEM PA NI
HUNG The Wisdom Vajrasattva Akshobya

DRO WA DÜL CHYIR NÖ JYIN WANG PO'I TSHUL
Manifests as the powerful yaksha in order to tame sentient
beings.

NAM KHA'I DOG CHEN MA KYE CHÖ KU'I NGANG
He is in the color of the sky symbolizing the continuum of
unborn Dharmakaya,

LONG CHYÖ DZOK DZEY THÖ THRENG NE'U LE
NAM
He holds a blood filled skull-cup and a mongoose symbolizing
the perfect Sambhogakaya.

TRUL PA'I THUK JEY SEM CHEN ÜL PHONG SEL
Through compassionate emanation he dispels the poverty of
sentient beings.

ZHÖN DÖN LA ZHENG ZHAP NYI KYANG KUM
TSHUL
He has two legs with the (right) bent and (left) extended in the
aspect of benefitting others.

GEK CHING ZHÖN DANG THRO WO'I NYAM DEN
PEY
He is proud and youthful with a wrathful grace,

DRUB PO'I RE KONG THRIN LEY LHUN GYI DRUB
He spontaneously fulfills the wishes of practitioners through his
enlightened activities.

GÖN PO DZAM BHA LA LA CHYAG TSHAL TÖ
To you, Lord Dzambhala I pay homage.

DAG LA NOR DANG LONG CHYÖ NGÖ DRUB TSÖL
Please bestow on me wealth and possessions.

DZE MEY YIG GI CHAR CHEN BEB PAR DZÖ
Please make the great rainfall of inexhaustible wish-fulfilling
jewels.

OM DZAMBHALA DZALENDRA YE SIDDHI SIDDHI
GUNA HUNG HUNG

Thus offer praises and supplications in this way.

Inside the copper bowl, once again back to the beginning:
"The right hand holding the great excellent treasure vase that
appears from the BAM syllable……." repeat until the praises and
supplication. 

In the end, join the palms of your hands together in the praying
pose:

MA NYE YONG SU MA TSHANG DANG
For whatever was lacking or incomplete

TSO WO NÜ PA MA CHIY PA
And mainly for not being able to generate the power of practice,

DIR NI GYI PA GANG NONG PA
Whatever mistakes that I have made here,

DE KÜN KHYÖ KYI ZÖ DZEY RIG
I request you to excuse me for all these.

Repeat this and the one hundred syllable mantra.

OM VAJRA SATTVA SAMAYA MANU PALAYA
VAJRASATTVA TENOPA TISHTHA DRIDHO MEBHAWA
SU TO SHYO MEBHAWA
SU PO SHYO MEBHAWA
ANU RAKTO MEBHAWA
SARWA SIDDHIM MEPRA YACCHA
SAR WA KARMA SU CA ME
CITTAM SHRE YAM KU RU HUNG
HA HA HA HA HO
BHA GA WAN SARWA TATHAGATA
VAJRA MAME MUNCA
VAJRI BHAWA MAHA SAMAYA SATTVA AH

If you have an object supporting the practice like a shrine or
statues etc, then recite:

OM DIR NI ZUK DANG LHEN CHIG TU
OM Together with this form of support

KHOR WA SID DU ZHUK NEY KYANG
Until the existence of samsara remains,

NEY MEY TSHE DANG WANG CHYUG DANG
May there be no sickness, but longevity and power,

CHOG NAM LEG PAR TSAL DU SOL
And may all supreme accomplishments be bestowed perfectly.

OM SUPRATISTHRA VAJRAYE SWAHA

Otherwise..

DAM TSIG PA RANG LA NYI SU MEY PAR THIM PEY
THÜ TOP DANG ZI JI PHUN SUM TSHOK PAR GYUR

Wisdom deities dissolve inseparably into me Samayasattva.
Their power, strength and splendor are accumulated perfectly in
abundance. Contemplate in this way.

GE WA DI YI KYE WA KÜN
Through this virtue, may all beings

SÖ NAM YE SHEY TSHOK DZOK SHING
Perfect the accumulation of merit and wisdom.

SÖ NAM YE SHE LEY JYUNG WA'I
Through merit and wisdom

DAM PA KU NYI THOB PAR SHOG
May the two bodies of enlightenment be attained! Recite other
dedication prayers and prayers of aspiration.

BEY DANG TSÖL WAY MA GÖ PA
Unsullied by effort and exertion,

YID ZHIN NOR BU PAG SAM SHING
Like wish-fulfilling jewels and trees

SEM CHEN RE WA KONG DZEY PA'I
Fulfilling the desires of sentient beings,

SAM PA DRUB PA'I TRA SHI SHOG
May there be the auspiciousness of accomplishing all wishes.

Thus recite auspicious prayers. MANGALAM!

The signs and benefits of accomplishing this practice as mentioned in the teachings are:

If one performs this practice hundreds, thousands or hundred thousand times, one will dream of crossing rivers, discovering treasures, fields of crops and abundant blossoms and forests; together with these signs one's wealth will increase. So recognize these signs.

From the cliff "Tamdring Gul (Neck of Hyagriva)," the speech emanation of the Lord, Guru Chokyi Wangchuk revealed this treasure teaching on the liturgy of the propitiating recitation relying on the water offering to the Black Dzambhala. Based on this teaching, I, Khyentse Wangpo, a follower fulfilling the wishes of the Lotus Born Lama, compiled this recitation practice. May this be a cause for beings to completely enjoy the nectars of the two accumulations!

KEYWORDS: Dzambhala, Zambala, Dzambala, Zambhala, Black Dzambala Sadhana, sadhana, English translation
Copyright (c) 2010 Haspori Press. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Remember Padmasambhava: Chotrul Duchen 2010

DZAM LING JE WA TRAG GYAI ZHING KHAM SU
OR GYAN PE MA JE WA TRAG GYAI KU
GANG LA GANG DUL DE LA DER TON PAI
DRO DON GYE DZED OR GYAN RIN PO CHE

In the thousand million realms
There are a thousand million forms of Orgyan Padma
Who teach whatever is necessary for taming each individual being

--Prayer of the Stainless Biography

Mi Kha Dra Dok: Chotrul Duchen 2010

THE CONDENSED RITUAL FOR

AVERTING THE ENEMIES OF GOSSIP

Karma Raga Asyepa

(Karma Chakme)

RANG NYID THUK JE CHHEN PO'I THUK KA NAY OD ZER JANG GU THRO PAY TAM NGEN MI KHA THAM CHAY DOK PAR GYUR

From the heart-center of myself as the Great Compassionate One, there radiate green rays of light, which cast away all negative rumors and gossip.

OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH!

OM AH: HUR THUM MI KHA TAM NGEN THAM CHAY DOK

OM AH: Avert all trouble-making, negative rumors and gossip!

RILI! RILI!

OM MAHA DHEVA: DRA WO NI TRI NI SROK LA BAY CHHOD

OM MAHA DHEVA: Enemies, NITRINI! Completely sever their life-force!

BHYO: MI KHA NGEN PA GYUR

BHYO: Destroy all malicious bad rumors!

MI KHA NGEN PAY DRA WO MA RA YA

The enemy of malicious bad rumors, MARAYA!

THUM! THUM!

SHIK! SHIK!

Be gone! Be gone!

BAY BAY DRIL DRIL BHYO BHYO DOK

Send away! Send away! Throw out! Throw out! BHYO! BHYO! Avert!

GYA YI MI KHA DOK

Avert the negative rumors of a hundred!

TONG GI THRAM CHU DOK

Avert the lying lips of a thousand!

GYA KHA YER YER DOK

Avert the hundred mouths immaculately!

TONG KHA MER MER DOK

Avert the thousand mouths comprehensively!

NAY NA DOK

Avert the various kinds of illnesses!

DRA NA DOK

Avert the various kinds of enemies!

GYOD NA DOK

Avert the various kinds of disputes!

KUN NA DOK

Avert the various kinds of thieves!

MAK NA DOK

Avert the various kinds of wars!

NYI MA CHHOK ZHI TSAM GYAY KYI MI KHA TAM NGEN THAM CHAY DOK

Avert all of the negative rumors and gossip in the sun's four cardinal and eight intermediate directions!

NGEN SEM TSUR LA CHANG WAY DRA DRE THAM CHAY LA BAY BAY

Send away, send away all enemies and negative spirits who hold on to malicious intent!

DRIL DRIL

Throw them out! Throw them out!

THUM! THUM!

SHIK SHIK

Be gone! Be gone!

BHYO! BHYO!

DOK DOK

Avert! Avert!

BHYO DOK CHIK

BHYO: May they be averted!

This was composed by Karma Raga Aseypa. Virtue!

Translated by Erick Sherab Zangpo

Copyright reserved. May not be reproduced without prior written permission.

Best Wishes: Chotrul Duchen 2010

We send heart-felt prayers and all good wishes for your vigorous health, prosperity, happiness, and peace of mind in the year to come, with the knowledge that -- in accordance with our understanding and beliefs -- this will be multiplied ten million times on this most auspicious day, Chotrul Duchen, February 28, 2010.

The commemorated event stems from a circumstance in which the leaders of India's six principal philosophical schools challenged Buddha to a contest. Buddha displayed a different miracle each day for fifteen days, defeating his opponents, and inspiring many to embrace the Dharma. Today is reckoned as the final day of the fifteen.

The Condensed Hindrance-Averting Ritual

Jamgon Ju Mipham Rinpoche

MRA WAY SENG GE DAK GYUD JIN GYI LOB

Lion Amongst Orators, bless my mental continuum!

SRI KEG THAN TAY NGEN GYUR DU SOL

Please obliterate all spirit harm, hindrances,

bad omens, and negative signs!

GYAL PO'I CHAY PA PHAY KYI JIK PA LA SOK

Punishment by kings, the fears of opposing parties,

and so on,

TSAM DRU TSOD DANG GOL WA DOK TU SOL

Bickering, fighting, and contention:

avert them, I pray!

This was done by Mipham

Translated by Erick Sherab Zangpo

Copyright reserved

Ninth Ogyen Tulku in Washington This Weekend

His Eminence the Ninth Ogyen Tulku Rinpoche will be in Washington, D.C. this weekend, February 27 and 28, as the very honored guest of Palyul Changchub Dargyeling: the formally sanctioned Palyul lineage center serving the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia,  personally established by the late Kyabje Penor Rinpoche as the legitimate lineage seat in the region, and now under the spiritual direction of Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche.

Ogyen Tulku will bestow the Guru Rinpoche as Medicine Buddha (Urgyan Menla) empowerment on the 27th, and will lead a Shower of Blessings puja on Chotrul Duchen, the 28th. Further details may be had by clicking this link to PCD's brochure.

If you are in the region, and wondering what to do for Chotrul Duchen, this is the place to go.

Posted by Anila

Mongolian Muffler: Updated

From Don Croner comes word that an extremely large truck lost its muffler near Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia, creating a traffic jam. According to the Mongolian Highway Patrolman at the scene, above, "Road hazards must be quickly attended to, before they are misidentified as UFOs by credulous Westerners. Its in the manual."

In a situation where over 2 million animals have died, you would think people might have better things to think about. That story has been buried, while the "Mongolian UFO" story gets the ink (or pixels, as the case may be).

Thanks to Don, who has been trying to get the word out that Mongolia needs help, for bringing such disparities to everyone's attention.

UPDATED: Thanks to an observant reader in Australia, we also now have the following:

"Two metal objects, one cylindrical and a smaller round one, crashed near Buren Soum in the Tuv province of Mongolia, in an empty field, on 19 February. They are parts of an American Delta II rocket stage (nr. 35939, 2009-052C) that launched the military STSS Demo 1 & 2 satellites in September 2009. Both articles linked above say that the larger of the two objects is 7.5 meters in diameter, but in this photo it looks more like 7.5 feet. It is marked with the serial number '02728.' (The military STSS program is intended for space-based detection and tracking of missiles.) In the months leading up to the February 19 orbital decay over Mongolia, the fall of the rocket stage was followed by amateur satellite trackers. Based on their final orbit determinations just hours before the decay, the decay must have occurred near 3:32 UTC on February 19."

Bardor Tulku Suffers Stroke: UPDATED X2

The Third Bardor Tulku Rinpoche (b. 1950) has suffered what is described as a "serious" stroke, and is presently in Benedictine Hospital, in Kingston, New York.

UPDATED: One of our readers informs us: "Just found out that he is resting at the hospital and will likely be released in a few days. Good news, under the circumstances."

UPDATED: The following statement has just been issued by Kunzang Palchen Ling:

Dear Friends,
As some of you have already heard, Bardor Tulku Rinpoche experienced stroke-like symptoms the night before last. The effect was mild and the prognosis for full recovery is good. Rinpoche is tired but but comfortable. He has a room at the Benedictine Hospital where he is undergoing further testing. He may remain in the hospital for another couple of days.
Rinpoche appreciates everyone’s concern but he wishes to assure you all that he is feeling better and there is no need for anxiety.
Please do not call Rinpoche’s family but refer to updates on the KPL website.
With warm regards,
Lama Jim Dowiat
Vice President/Treasurer
Kunzang Palchen Ling

Song Through the Window

'Liberation' is when you understood the mistake. 

-- H.E. IXth Ogyen Tulku

A few years ago, I was staying in a lovely house, on top of a hill the folks thereabouts were pleased to call a mountain. American orographers will reckon that "mountains" start at 1,000 feet, but I suppose that is another argument for another time.

I don't know what it was about the place. All summer long: on the hill that, in exaggerated thinking, pretended to be a mountain, the sparrows kept trying to fly through the windows. It was hot that summer, the aircon was running full blast, and the windows were tightly closed. 

This did not dissuade the sparrows.

I tried all sorts of remedies. I hung bells in front of the windows. I cut up tin foil into eccentric Shinto strips, and thumbtacked them to the eaves. I put up any number of prayer flags. It did not make any difference. You cannot, and most probably should not, waste a whole lot of earnestness trying to foolproof samsara.

Usually, when a bird strikes a window, it is knocked senseless. The bird recovers in a while. Not infrequently, they break their necks and die on the spot. These birds, which are so clever in most other matters, seem to learn nothing from experience. The ones who are knocked unconscious, and recover, seem not to pass knowledge of the experience on to their fellows. Indeed, you will often see the same bird repeatedly throwing itself at the same window. I am sure there is a scientific explanation, but I am too lazy to Google it out.

Maybe this is what becomes of kamikaze lovers.

The great guru inside of us, speaking to us through the dream of suicidal sparrows, loves with a continuous love that requires no self-sacrifice, because there is no self left to sacrifice. I would hesitate to call this love "immortal" because I am not deceived by clocks. So, I will call it a general, unfocused, self-replicating model: something like a river. What do we know about rivers? Well, we know one can never cross the same river twice. 

"Although one may meet a master and receive teachings, 

it is rare to recognize one's essence... ."

--Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche

Although the interior illustrator speaking to us through suicidal sparrows seemingly loves with a love like a river,  maybe it is not a love "like" anything at all. Maybe it is just the way things are, and does not need a whole lot of elaboration. What goes on inside, goes on inside. What we do to or for each other in the name of what goes on inside is not a river but a swamp. Trying to police others' experiences is like playing barefoot with the alligators in that swamp. 

A swamp is where a river dies. 

"General mental disorder has a cure, but religion madness has no cure."

-- H.E. IXth Ogyen Tulku

In our delusional, disordered thinking about the sublime dharma, in which we absolutely fetter ourselves with religion at the expense of spirituality, we expend all sorts of time and energy dreaming about who is teaching who. We have all these fabulous role models, like Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa, Milarepa; we have eighty-four really specific case studies; we have all sorts of advice about guru this and guru that.

Yet, one fine day, when it is right in front of us -- when it is right in front of us -- we miss the whole damn thing. We've read so many books, and listened to so many talks, that we've become intellectuals. Rather timid, cowardly pseudo-intellectuals, at that. If Tilopa shows up, we're locking the door. If Naropa starts any crap, we're calling the cops. Marpa? Call the lawyers. Trungpa Tulku? Carve him up and sell the pieces.

Intellectuals, like armchair generals, are rather bloodthirsty, aren't they? Always broadcasting their opinions hither and yon, contending with one another; chattering like simians, breaking off branches, and pounding them on the ground. They never really get anywhere, and they never really recognize anything. They just stay in suspension. They screech in imitation, like parrots, but the sound is meaningless. I was going to say they twitter like sparrows, but one does so wish to avoid assaulting the metaphor any more than is strictly required.

One also wishes to avoid assaulting the window, when it is ever so simple to turn around, fly away, count one's blessings, and mind one's own business.

If, having achieved your goals, you now take up the benefit of others without distinction, this is of course a rather different case. However, unless your recognition of the nature of mind is greater than that of a confused bird in blind flight, you might wish to avoid disturbing the magicians in the hills with the self-inflicted sickness of syllogistic thinking.

"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

I pitied the birds that summer, so I opened the window, and listened to whatever I might hear.

Maybe some sounds are no longer heard: maybe we have tampered the environment so thoroughly 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 images employed to evoke other images -- to go past intellectualizing, into experience. Later, of course, we stop that nonsense: we stop trying to make something. Yet, for a time, it is useful.

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 streets, but upon close examination, it seems they were just barking to hear themselves bark.

In the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, 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. As between a pack of dogs and any other matter there may be this analogy, but that is really as far as it goes.

Actually, there is one more thing -- which is to say that if there is something wrong with the pups, there is something wrong with the bitch.

Heard that in a Harry Potter movie.

When one is accustomed to dog dharma, coming face to face with authenticity can be confusing,  intimidating, and actually terrifying. One tends to project all of one's negativity into the experience: to make a punching bag of the experience. One believes that punching bags do not punch back, so one strikes out before retreating back to the safety and comfort of more familiar surroundings. One then tries, often repeatedly, to explain away one's failure by cowardly intellectualizing that one has "asserted" one's self.

Sooner or later, this degrades into ugliness. One becomes entangled in a large, poisonous vine.

There is no happy ending.

Autoposted

Drikung Kyobpa Choling Nears Completion

After four years of very hard work, the Drikung Kyobpa Choling Monastery, in Escondido, California is nearing completion. This is one of the finer, jewel-like projects in the United States, and like all things, they could certainly use your help. Click here and take a look around.

Posted by Anila

Dudjom Rinpoche: On Meditation

So, here is a transcript of Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche, Padmasambhava's Regent, teaching meditation. It is difficult to explain what that was like. These snippets and translations we find scattered around are, of course, rather magnificent, but they still cannot compare to the experience of being in his presence, listening to him speak.

He "took you with him," so for example, when he is speaking about relaxing and feeling spaciousness, you would begin to feel relaxed and spacious. What others sell, he gave quite freely. He would defy schedules, and planning, and if people wanted he would take as much time as seemed necessary. He did this because this is what he came here to do.

I found the following on the web, and my immediate thought was that I wanted to share this with you.

I set this up to auto-post today. While you are reading this, I am still on my "flexible boundary" retreat, fooling around with stupas, and pujas, and empowerments, and answering the odd question here or there (that is the flexible part), and the rest of the time just sitting around (that is the retreat part).

What are you doing?

o-0-o-0-o

Since everything originates in the mind, this being the root cause of all experience, whether “good” or “bad," it is first of all necessary to work with your own mind, not to let it stray and lose yourself in its wandering. Cut the unnecessary build-up of complexity and fabrications which invite confusion in the mind. Nip the problem in the bud, so to speak.

Allow yourself to relax and feel some spaciousness, letting mind be, to settle naturally. Your body should be still, speech silent, and breathing as it is, freely flowing. Here, there is a sense of letting go, unfolding, letting be.

What does this state of relaxation feel like? You should be like someone after a really hard day’s work, exhausted and peacefully satisfied, mind contented to rest. Something settles at gut level, and feeling it resting in your gut you begin to experience a lightness. It is as if you’re melting.

The mind is so unpredictable – there’s no limit to the fantastic and subtle creation which arise, its moods, and where it will lead you. But you might also experience a muddy, semi-conscious drifting state, like having a hood over your head – a kind of dreamy dullness. This is a manner of stillness, namely stagnation, a blurred, mindless blindness.

And how do you get out of this state? Alert yourself, straighten your back, breathe the stale air out of your lungs, and direct your awareness into clear space in order to bring about freshness. If you remain in this stagnant state you will not evolve, so when this setback arises clear it again and again. It is important to develop watchfulness, to stay sensitively alert.

So, the lucid awareness of meditation is the recognition of both stillness and change, and the quiet clarity of peacefully remaining in our basic intelligence. Practice this, for only by actually doing it does one experience the fruition or begin to change.

View in Action

During meditation one’s mind, being evenly settled in its own natural way, is like still water, unruffled by ripple or breeze, and as any thought or change arises in that stillness it forms, like a wave in the ocean, and disappears back into it again. Left naturally, it dissolves; naturally. Whatever turbulence of mind erupts- if you let it be – it will of its own course play itself out, liberate itself; and thus the view arrived at through meditation is that whatever appears is none other than the self display or projection of the mind.

In continuing the perspective of this view into the activities and events of everyday life, the grasp of dualistic perception of the world as solid, fixed and tangible reality (which is the root cause of our problems) begins to loosen and dissolves. Mind is like the wind. It comes and goes; and through increasing certainty in this view one begins to appreciate the humor of the situation. Things start to feel somewhat unreal, and the attachment and importance which one signifies to events begin to seem ridiculous, or at any rate lighthearted.

Thus one develops the ability to dissolve perception by continuing the flowing awareness of meditation into everyday life, seeing everything as the self-manifest play of the mind. And immediately after sitting meditation, the continuation of this awareness is helped by doing what you have to do calmly and quietly, with simplicity and without agitation.

So in a sense everything is like a dream, illusory, but even so humorously one goes on doing things. If you are walking, for instance, without unnecessary solemnity or self-consciousness, but lightheartedly walk towards the open space of suchness, truth. When you eat, be the stronghold of truth, what is. As you eat, feed the negativities and illusions into the belly of emptiness, dissolving them into space; and when you are pissing consider all your obscurations and blockages are being cleansed and washed away.

So far I have told you the essence of the practice in a nutshell, but you must realize that as long as we continue to see the world in a dualistic way, until we are really free of attachment and negativity, and have dissolved all our outer perceptions into the purity of the empty nature of mind, we are still stuck in the relative world of “good” and “bad," “positive” and “negative” actions, and we must respect these laws and be mindful and responsible for our actions.

Post-Meditation

After formal sitting meditation, in everyday activities continue this light spacious awareness throughout and gradually awareness will be strengthened and inner confidence will grow.

Rise calmly from meditation; don’t immediately jump up or rush about, but whatever your activity, preserve a light sense of dignity and poise and do what you have to do with ease and relaxation of mind and body. Keep your awareness lightly centered and don’t allow your attention to be distracted. Maintain this find thread of mindfulness and awareness, just flow.

Whether walking, sitting, eating or going to sleep, have a sense of ease and presence of mind. With respect to other people, be honest, gentle and straightforward; generally be pleasant in your manner, and avoid getting carried away with talk and gossip.

Whatever you do, in fact, do it according to the Dharma which is the way of quieting the mind and subjugating negativities.

Caesar of Ling?

For an example of what research can mean, click the link to visit yet another tour-de-force from the Tibet O' Logic blog (that is the Irish version), and watch as Gesar (or is that "Caesar") is expertly delimited and defined by a master.

Visiting the Tibet-o-Logic blog (that is the automatic version) is like attending a virtual shedra.

Dalai Lama in Los Angeles

The Dalai Lama is in Los Angeles this weekend, where he will speak today on behalf of children. In an interview with Los Angeles Times reporter Mitchell Landsberg, he reports "no progress" as a result of his recent visit with Obama.

Posted by Anila